The last time I was in Dubai was during the pandemic. On a recent visit, I noticed a few remarkable changes. Here’s an update:
The new holiday maker on the horizon: Who’s coming to Dubai now? Well, there’s a new — for me — holiday maker on the horizon. A lot of British tourists who would otherwise have probably gone to Spain are now coming to Dubai. They stay at resorts at The Palm, along Jumeirah Beach, in Ras al Khaimah, or Fujairah. They don’t move from the resort, generally. They take half board and enjoy the guaranteed sun, the fantastic facilities in terms of spa and water sports and, of course, great food.
Best time to visit Dubai: Well, we visited in September… still a bit hot. I would go any time between the end of October to the end of March. This is the safe five-six month window. Any other time stretches from quite hot to unbearable.
The dress code in Dubai has evolved significantly: Today, men in shorts and sandals are fully accepted, even in upscale restaurants. Women’s attire has also shifted, with shorter, form-fitting skirts and even more polished appearances.
Do download the Careem’s taxi app: Dubai is becoming quite expensive in terms of taxis. If you can use the Metro and Careem’s, your wallet will be slightly better off.
Shopping: There is life outside Dubai Mall and Mall of Emirates. We stayed at the Palm and went to Nakheel Mall… a delightful size with all the big brands, as well as a big Waitrose and Monoprix. In Ras al-Khaimah, we went to Manar and Al Hamra, new and very few people.
Business lunches: What to do in Dubai except burn a hole in your wallet while eating, drinking, and shopping? Well, there are the business lunches, so I suppose that’s eating, but amazing value for money. Jones the Grocer at the Mall of Emirates where a three-course lunch will set you back by 99 AED only. Roka, At.mosphere at the top of Burj Khalifa, Fouquet's Le Toit, L’Atelier, Robuchon, Amazonica, Zuma, Coya, they all have fabulous business lunches, all competing against each other.
Check this out: New for me was the Dubai Design District, a glitzy avantgarde-ish area with galleries and designers and outdoor cafes.
The best of global chefs: Everybody who’s anybody in terms of culinary talent has a restaurant in Dubai. This is probably the best place to taste the food from around the world. One of my favourite all-time chefs, Anne-Sophie Pic, has a restaurant La Dame de Pic Dubai at the new One&Only Za’abeel, and Mauro Colagreco, whose restaurant Mirazur was till recently number 1 in the world, has a restaurant called Celebrities (what else?) and a beach grill and bar in the One&Only Royal Mirage.
Explore the beautiful beaches and beach blubs: To name a few, Twiggy by La Cantine, Sal at Burj al Arab, Nammos at the Four Seasons, Bohemia Beach Club at Five Palm Jumeirah.
Cocktails at At.mosphere in Burj Khalifa: This gets you into the world’s tallest building and you’ll benefit from incredible views of the city without having to visit the observation deck. Ditto with SUSHISAMBA at St Regis.
Safe space: Lastly, UAE is one of the safest places to visit, thanks to the UAE’s strict regulations. On beaches, resorts abide by the strictest measures, especially regarding water sports, and visitors can feel secure with minimal concerns about theft or unusual behaviour, making it particularly reassuring for solo travellers, especially women.
