Dubai Off-the-Beaten-Path Guide: Have Fun Without Shopping!

📍 Dubai · 👁 4108 reads

🌟Dubai Visa Information:

Chinese tourists enter Dubai visa-free: Since November 1, 2016, Chinese citizens holding a passport valid for more than 6 months can enter Dubai visa-free. Upon entry, Chinese citizens do not need to apply for a visa and are not charged any fees, and can stay in the UAE for 30 days. Moreover, using a Chinese passport to enter Dubai, you can also get a 1GB SIM card.

🌟Dubai Currency/Payment:

The commonly used currency in Dubai is the AED dirham. WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, Visa, and Mastercard are all accepted. The payment methods in Dubai are really China-friendly!

🌟Dubai Transportation:

Taxi: Hail a taxi on the street or use the Careem app (cheaper than Uber). The daytime starting fare is around 5 dirhams, and at night it's 20 dirhams. Recently, Dubai also integrated all RTA taxis into Alipay payment, which is very convenient!

Metro/Tram: You can buy a local transport card for 25 dirhams (including a 6 dirham card fee and 19 dirhams of balance).

Bus: Also pay with the transport card. You can use Google Maps along the way to avoid missing stops.

Chartered Car: Suitable for those who want to spend more time taking photos. You can contact a travel agency to charter a car, costing about $200 USD per day.

🌟Dubai Clothing/What to Bring:

If you plan to visit a mosque, be sure to bring long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Otherwise, normal attire is fine. Dubai is very hot, so remember to bring sunscreen, a small fan, a sun hat, sunglasses, and a parasol. The indoor air conditioning is strong, so prepare a light jacket. You can also bring a water bottle, as many attractions have free drinking water. A power bank and cooling patches are a must, as phones tend to overheat easily.

We stayed at the five-star Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, with the Museum of the Future and the tram right downstairs, making transportation very convenient. The hotel offers a dreamy view of Dubai's sunrise and sunset! The hotel breakfast is also very China-friendly, with dumplings, siu mai, and steamed buns rotating daily. If you have a Chinese palate, consider this hotel.

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Dubai is a diverse city. In just four days, we tasted Arabic, German, and Chinese cuisine, haha. Whatever you like, you can find it here! Don't worry about your stomach not adjusting; we even saw Coco and Chayan Yuese in the mall.

🌟2023 Michelin Restaurant: Al Fanar Seafood Restaurant

📍Address: Inside Al Barsha Pond Park

🕐Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

💰Average per person: 140 AED

This restaurant is very famous in the UAE. We went to the one at Pond Park. As soon as you enter, you can see the history of the restaurant's construction. We ordered their most popular dishes: CHICKEN MACHBOOS and MUTTON MACHBOOS. It's actually yellow rice with chicken and lamb chops, cooked with local spices. The portion is really large; even two people couldn't finish it.

🌟German Cuisine: Ernst Biergarten

📍Address: 25hours Hotel Dubai One Central - Trade Center St

🕐Business Hours: 12:00 PM - Midnight

💰Average per person: About 180 AED

This German restaurant is on the rooftop of the 25hours Hotel. It has outdoor seating and is really chill. The pork knuckle and sausage platter are delicious! The desserts are also great!! Cake with cinnamon powder and ice cream is a top-tier delight, no refusing. Its feature is that it stays open late, suitable for those who like a late-night meal.

🌟Australian Cuisine: Jones the Grocer

📍Address: Palm Jumeirah - The Palm Jumeirah (next to Five Palm Beach)

🕐Business Hours: 7:30 AM - Midnight

💰Average per person: 100 AED

For brunch on the Palm, you can go to this place. It's by the sea on the Palm, offering views of Dubai's buildings on the opposite shore. You can enjoy the sea breeze, eat burgers, drink coffee, or just sit for an afternoon doing nothing. Their mini burgers are really good! Just the right size! This restaurant is also pet-friendly!

🌟Chinese Cuisine: Din Tai Fung

📍Address: The Dubai Mall - Financial Center Rd

🕐Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

💰Average per person: 80 AED

There are many Din Tai Fung branches in Dubai. We went to the one in the mall. I have to say, Dubai's malls stay open very late, and so do the restaurants. No need to say much about Din Tai Fung! The taste is the same as in China! Just order according to your preference.

🌟Hotpot: Haidilao

📍Address: 57WJ+H6 - Downtown Dubai - Dubai Mall

🕐Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 1:00 AM

💰Average per person: 80 AED

Haidilao in Dubai is located in the Dubai Mall, which is great for shopping. Unexpectedly, they also have subject three and dancing... it really opened my eyes... The Haidilao staff are very nice, and you can log in with your domestic membership. The five of us spent about 140 RMB per person and were very full!

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Although Dubai is located in the desert, it actually has many different attractions!! Before leaving, I thought Dubai only had deserts and malls, but I didn't expect to find a "tropical rainforest" and a "72,000-square-meter garden." The greenery is truly stunning!!!

I recommend Day 1 itinerary:

Miracle Garden ~ The Green Planet ~ Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa

🌟Miracle Garden

📍Address: Street 3 - Al Barsha - Al Barsha South

🕐Business Hours: This year from October to around May next year

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM

💰Ticket: 95 AED (tickets can be purchased on various domestic apps)

It's recommended to come to Miracle Garden early! Because later it gets crowded and hot. Besides foreign tourists, many locals also come here. If you want to take photos as if in a fairyland, come early! As soon as you enter, it feels like stepping into a fairy tale world. Photos can't capture its magnificence. Themed with flowers, it has over 150 million flowers and at least 120 plant species, covering about 72,000 square meters. The most Instagram-worthy spot in Dubai Miracle Garden is the Guinness World Record-breaking floral sculpture of the Emirates A380 aircraft.

🌟The Green Planet

📍Address: City Walk - Al Wasl

🕐Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

💰Average per person: About 155 AED (recommend buying tickets online for a discount)

The Green Planet is definitely one of the most niche spots in Dubai! It's an entire indoor tropical rainforest, perfect for visiting during the hot and sunny midday! It houses over 3,000 species of plants, animals, and birds. Most importantly!! The animals here are completely unafraid of humans. They move freely in the open rainforest, making you feel like you've entered their home rather than a viewing attraction. It's divided into four levels: Canopy, Midstory, Forest Floor, and Flooded Rainforest. These four areas are built around the world's largest artificial tree. You can spend about 2 hours slowly exploring.

🌟Burj Khalifa

📍Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd - Downtown Dubai

🕐Business Hours: Open 24 hours

💰Average per person: Prices vary by floor; you can buy tickets online. We went to the 124th floor.

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. It's a must-visit in Dubai! It stands 828 meters tall. Going up to the observation deck on the 124th floor is quick. Next to it is The Dubai Mall, so you can visit both. I recommend coming at sunset; you can see the city's sunset from a 360-degree view.

🌟The Dubai Mall

After visiting Burj Khalifa, you can come down to watch the Dubai Mall fountain show, starting at 6 PM and every half hour. Then you can explore the mall. The mall has almost everything you can buy; remember to get tax refunds!!! Haidilao is also here. The mall is incredibly large, with an aquarium, and you can't finish exploring it in one night.

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The Palm Islands are the collective name for three artificial islands in Dubai. We went to Palm Jumeirah. There is the super popular 360-degree sky pool, which Cristiano Ronaldo has visited. Tickets for the pool are hard to get; if you can't book, you can go to The View next. In the afternoon, you can go to the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.

I recommend Day 2 itinerary:

Morning: Palm Jumeirah: The View at the Palm ~ Aura Skypool

Afternoon: Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve

🌟The View at the Palm

📍Address: Palm Jumeirah Rd, The Palm Tower - 52nd Floor - The Palm Jumeirah

🕐Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM

💰Ticket: 100 AED (recommend buying the ticket that allows access to the 54th floor! The 52nd floor has a larger railing)

As soon as you enter, you can see the entire history of the Palm Islands' construction, with various high-tech immersive visuals. It really makes you admire Dubai's rapid development. Going up to the 52nd and 54th floors, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the entire Palm. One particularly thoughtful detail is that they provide parasols and wet wipes for visitors.

🌟Aura Skypool

📍Address: Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Tower - 50th Floor - The Palm Jumeirah

🕐Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

💰Average per person: Varies by month; must book at least one month in advance on the official website

The pool is on the rooftop of the St. Regis Hotel, but it operates independently with its own admission fee. There are four zones, each with different charges and views. You can swim while enjoying the view of the entire Palm. The towels are from Boss. The sunset view is the most beautiful and also the most crowded. I recommend coming in the morning when it's less crowded and good for photos.

🌟The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR)

💰Book in advance online. Travel agencies include: Al Maha Desert Resort, Arabian Adventures, Lama Tours, Platinum Heritage, and Alpha Tours. Professional travel agencies offer different packages; choose according to the desert activities you want.

The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is one of the largest government-protected nature reserves in the UAE. Covering 225 square kilometers, it's really big!! Activities include hiking, desert safaris, falconry, horseback riding, camel riding, camping, sandboarding, and culinary experiences. We chose dune bashing. Before entering the desert area, the car tires are deflated, then we drove over the dunes (it was really thrilling, like a roller coaster; I was scared to death!).

Along the way, we saw many oryx. It was my first time seeing oryx in the desert—very magical. I wondered if the tree I planted in Ant Forest also had an oryx accompanying it. The sunset was magnificent and grand. I took many photos with my camera, and the driver also proactively helped us take pictures, which was really nice!

After watching the sunset, you can go to a traditional Arabic restaurant. The entire restaurant has a "One Thousand and One Nights" vibe. The meal is buffet-style, and you can eat while watching three performances. There is also free henna painting.

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The center of Dubai is really wonderful. It has a large ski resort and also a historic district. You can feel the mix!

I recommend Day 3 itinerary:

Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood ~ Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding for lunch ~ Al Shindagha Museum & Perfume Museum ~ Ride an abra ~ Gold and Spice Souk ~ Ski Dubai

🌟Al Fahidi Historical District (AL Fahidi Street)

📍Address: Near Sharaf DG Metro Station

You must walk around Al Fahidi when in Dubai. This area represents Dubai's olden days, with wind towers and old walls, full of exotic charm. No admission fee. Many people come here for photos, especially at Starbucks. I recommend going in the morning; after noon, it gets crowded. There are many shops here; bargaining is a must—cut the price in half. I bought an Iranian carpet and a carpet bag for 450 AED total. I was delighted!

🌟Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCC)

📍Address: Al Mussallah Rd - Al Fahidi

🕐Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM

💰Average per person: Book online; Cultural Meals cost 130 AED per person.

The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is located right in the Al Fahidi Historical District. It's really a niche spot! Many people don't know about it! We booked the Cultural Meals, where you can learn about UAE culture and history while having lunch. We also taught them how to make a heart gesture, hahaha.

🌟Al Shindagha Museum

📍Address: 288-Dubai

🕐Business Hours: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

💰Average per person: 50 AED

If you want to learn about Dubai's history, you must visit Al Shindagha Museum. It has various multimedia installations about Dubai's history, so it's not boring at all. This museum is not a single building but a complex of several museums connected together, with a total of 22 small pavilions. We also visited the Perfume Museum, which was really interesting!

The rose scent was really nice; when pressed, it felt like a hundred roses blooming beside you.

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🌟Abra Boat

💰: 1 AED

After exiting the Al Shindagha Museum, walk a bit forward to Al Ghubaiba Marine Station, where you can take an abra to the opposite side's spice souk. There are two routes. The journey takes about 5 minutes. I recommend taking it at sunset, as you can see many seagulls by the dock. Sitting on the boat with a gentle breeze is very pleasant.

First route: From Deira Old Souk Abra Station (near Spice Souk) to Bur Dubai Abra Station (west of Textile Souk).

Second route: From Al Sabkha Abra Station (southwest of Baniyas Square) to Dubai Old Souk Abra Station.

🌟Gold Souk & Spice Souk

📍Address: Deira - Al Ras - Dubai

🕐Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

The Gold Souk and Spice Souk are connected. There are many handmade gold and silver jewelry items here, dazzling and astonishing. If you like exploring markets, you can come here!

🌟Ski Dubai

📍Address: Inside the Mall of the Emirates - Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Barsha - Al Barsha 1 - Dubai

🕐Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM - Midnight

💰Average per person: Different activities have different prices, roughly 200 AED to 2000 AED.

Believe it or not, you can ski in the desert! The snow at this ski resort is replaced daily. There are many activities: playing with penguins, building snowmen, snow tubing, riding the twin-track bobsled, or exploring snow caves. Many kids come here!

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🌟Secret Beach

📍Address: 664M+42 - Jumeirah 2 - Dubai

🕐Business Hours: Open 24 hours

💰: Free

Dubai has many beaches. We went to Secret Beach, which has fewer people than Kite Beach. The water is crystal clear. You can also sunbathe here.

🌟Topgolf Dubai

📍Address: Topgolf - Emirates Hills 2 - Dubai

🕐Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM; Weekends: 9:00 AM - 2:00 AM

💰: Varies by package; average per person from 140 AED onwards.

I used to resist playing golf (because I was afraid of the dress code), but my friends took us to Topgolf Dubai. It's a three-story entertainment golf range at Emirates Golf Club. It has electronic scoring that shows your shot trajectory. Many local families come here for parties. I hit the ball into the hole on my first try, hehe!

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We were especially lucky this trip to Dubai! We encountered the 7th Dubai Fitness Challenge. For the first time, I felt the atmosphere of the entire city being active in sports—it was so wonderful! Especially when we went to the Palm Jumeirah Golden Mile Square, we saw many people running voluntarily, and others boxing. I couldn't help but let out a "Wow~" like Yu Shuxin.

The challenge ran from October 28 to November 26, 2023, lasting 30 days. It encourages residents and visitors to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 30 consecutive days. There are free fitness villages, community centers, classes, and activities on the schedule.

That means! If you come, there are plenty of free sports and fitness activities! Fitness enthusiasts will be thrilled!!! The Dubai Fitness Challenge is a premier fitness event initiated by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council. It includes "Dubai Run" and "Dubai Ride" as well as the newly added "Dubai Stand Up Paddleboarding." Participation fees are all free!

The day we went coincided with Dubai Run, so I also went to watch! Check-in started around 4 AM, and the run began around 6 AM. Everyone was so enthusiastic!!! Many parents ran with their babies, and there were also elderly people. 220,000 people ran together, and along the way, you could see different views of Dubai. Dubai Run had two routes: 5 km and 10 km. I heard that many people saw His Highness during the run!

It was more like playing than running. It was my first time participating in the biggest city run, without aiming for any results. I was truly infected by their happiness!

Travel Directory:

1. Dubai Travel Tips

2. Dubai Food

3. Day 1: Dubai Attractions

4. Day 2: Dubai Attractions

5. Day 3: Dubai Attractions (Part 1)

6. Day 3: Dubai Attractions (Part 2)

7. Other Fun Things in Dubai

8. Dubai 7th Fitness Challenge

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