Don’t be afraid of the Middle East in the summer. It’s always hot, so its infrastructure is built accordingly. Rest assured, you’ll be comfortable. Summer is low season and you’ll find hotels are deeply discounted. We booked 5 Star hotels for a fraction of the prices charged during high season, with rates as much as 75% off. If you want to get your feet wet in the Middle East, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the two cities to do it in. They are clean, safe cities with some of the best shopping and finest dining in the world. And no one does hospitality quite like the Middle East. Go.
DAY 1 (Dubai)
Morning: Desert Tour
Afternoon: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall
Evening: Souk Al Bahar & The Dubai Fountain
DAY 2 (Abu Dhabi & Dubai)
Morning: Sheikh Zayed Mosque (Abu Dhabi)
Afternoon: Burj Al Arab
Evening: Resort
DAY 3 (Dubai)
Morning: Wild Wadi Waterpark
Afternoon: Mall of the Emirates
Evening: Resort
Desert Tour
You didn’t come all the way to the Middle East to skip the desert. Book a morning dune tour before midday heat, and get out of the city and into the stillness of the desert. Sunset tours last significantly longer and include dinner and a show. We didn’t want to be captive that long, nor were the food and entertainment reviews compelling. Our morning tour included dune driving, sand boarding, camel rides, ATVs, and a refreshment stop. Opt for fresh coconut water chopped open with a machete. Request a drop at Dubai Mall just in time for lunch. Fun Tours accepts requests to not dune bash. Read dune bashing reviews carefully before you book to decide for yourself which is right for you. Risk of injury and vomiting during vacation? Pass.
Burj Khalifa
The world’s tallest building with over 160 stories stands 3 times as tall as the Eiffel Tower. Burj is the Arabic word for tower, and this tower is something to behold. Book tickets to the 124th Level outdoor observatory via the world’s fastest double deck elevators cruising at 10m/s. Enjoy 360 degree panoramic views looking both into the desert and out onto the Arabian Gulf. Same day tickets purchased on site are more expensive, and it’s almost twice as expensive to visit after 6pm. Enter through lower level of the Dubai Mall (LG Level).
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
Just an hour’s drive from Dubai is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful mosques with a seating capacity for 40,000. With 82 domes, over 1,000 columns, 24 carat gold gilded chandeliers, and the world’s largest hand knotted carpet, it is absolutely gorgeous and would be a tragedy to miss. Your hotel can book a driver. The mosque is open daily to visitors, unlike many mosques in the UAE. Proper attire is required and also provided by the mosque upon entrance. At the end of your visit cool off at the gift shop cafe with camel milk ice cream.
Burj Al Arab
Arguably the world’s most iconic hotel, a visit to Dubai would not be complete without seeing “The Burj”. You don’t have to spend 4 digits a night to experience the hotel. Booking a reservation at one of their restaurants will get you in. There are a number to choose from, and Scape is as affordably priced as any dining establishment. It sits overlooking the Arabian Gulf, with quite possibly the most beautiful view from a restaurant bathroom in the world. Arrive early to explore the hotel before your meal because you will be escorted out upon completion.
Madinat Jumeirah
For accommodations, look no further. There’s a reason many Dubai tours include a stop at the Madinet Jumeirah Resort. Set on its own private beach stretching 2 kilometers along the Arabian Gulf, the resort is a recreation of ancient Arabia. Nothing short of massive, it’s comprised of 3 grand hotels, 29 Arabian Summerhouses, 7 private villas, a Spa, a Fitness Club, a Theater, a Souk, 3 km of waterways, and over 50 restaurants and bars. It’s indeed a mini city, and sits adjacent to it’s world famous sister property, the Burj Al Arab and Wild Wadi Waterpark. Complimentary transportation around the resort grounds is provided via golf cart buggies and abras, and complimentary shuttle bus service is available to all guests to the Mall of the Emirates. In addition to free entrance to Wild Wadi Park, summer deals also include meals, and are worth every single penny. The buffet spreads are truly endless with every type of cuisine and desert imaginable. It would be hard to eat, stay and play for less anywhere else with everything Madinet Jumeirah has to offer. This is how you do Dubai.
Palace Downtown
Maximize your time by staying in the midst of it all in this downtown Dubai oasis. Connected to the Dubai Mall, and the Souk Al Bahar, this opulent Middle Eastern palace resort looks onto the dancing Dubai Fountains and has unobstructed views of the Burj Khalifa. Dine like royalty at the abundant breakfast buffet of traditional delicacies, laze by the palm-fringed swimming pool overlooking the world’s tallest building, wander through the oh so fragrant Arabic Souk next door, people watch at the Dubai Mall, and cap the day watching the Dubai Fountain show from your room. All of the day’s sightseeing in one location makes for a truly relaxing day.
