There’s more to Dubai than big buildings, if you know where to look
Oozing with luxury and a steadfast conviction that bigger is always best – from the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, to the biggest shopping mall, Dubai Mall – the city of riches has a reputation that precedes it.
Deep diving
Attempting my first scuba dive by myself wasn’t on my list of things to do for 2024, but when in Dubai ... Of course, the city with the world’s fastest rollercoaster and largest indoor theme park also has the world’s deepest swimming pool, at 60 metres – Deep Dive Dubai. Here you can snorkel, free dive or, like me, undertake a beginner’s scuba-diving experience.
After you’ve ticked off Dubai’s “big” things, spice markets and gardens await. Credit: Stocksy
Within the two-hour session, I was briefed, kitted up, and after a few failed attempts and much guidance from my patient instructor, Mustafa, I dived to 12 metres. Underneath the surface of the pool is another world – a fake, abandoned city. There, I played a game of one-sided chess, rode a motorbike, and took a fully wet-suited bath.
Garden grows
I’m not a green thumb but Dubai Miracle Garden – the world’s largest flower garden, which houses over 150 million blooms – doesn’t fail to impress. It’s reminiscent of a scene from a more colourful Edward Scissorhands – finely manicured flowers and hedges shaped into elephants, archways and ballerinas that pirouette, as well as a life-sized Emirates A380 jet. The garden is beyond photogenic.
Dubai’s Miracle Garden has more than 150 million flowers.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Spice world
Colourful, aromatic and bustling, Dubai’s famous and historic markets are an experience for the senses, offering seemingly everything and anything imaginable. Located on either side of the Dubai Creek in Old Town Dubai, the souks are a must-see, providing a different perspective of the city and a glimpse of the traditional UAE, through architecture, street art and the array of museums.
The souks themselves are like an Aladdin’s cave: alleyways and stalls jam-packed with beautifully presented spices, gold, jewellery, dried flowers, textiles and perfume – some unique, others replicating designer scents.
Lively, friendly and persistent sellers call out variations of “hello” in multiple languages, attempting to establish your homeland and tailor their sales pitch accordingly, while stray cats navigate their way among the many pathways and sets of feet.
Tea time
Emirati hospitality involves a large serving of attentiveness, along with the meal. This was displayed at its finest at the Arabian Tea House, a short walk from the Textile Souk in Old Town Dubai. Besides the photos of high-profile guests, such as US entrepreneur and personality Martha Stewart, displayed at its entrance, the front façade is unassuming. If you didn’t know the Arabian Tea House occupies the building and a rear outside courtyard, you’d probably walk right by. But once you step inside, you are transported to a time long past.
With turquoise benches, white rattan chairs, lace curtains and beautiful flowers, the setting is stunning, but the food is even better. There are endless choices, from salona deyay – chicken cooked with tomato, potato, coriander, onion, lentils and Gulf spices, served with rice; traditional bread filled with eggs, cheese and served with honey and a different style of cheese; karak chai (milk tea with strong spices); and gahwa (traditional Arabic coffee).
The writer was a guest of Dubai Economy & Tourism.
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