Dubai September

[Tigerj]

We are stoping off in Dubai for 4 nights in September on the way to our honeymoon. We had a layover and figured whilst we were stoped there to have a few days to take a look.

We are staying in the marina.

I have seen an excursion out to the dunes with a desert camp visit that looks interesting.

Having never been there before and quite a short amount of time. Are there any must do things?

[Kenty]

Quite a list of things to do but very varied! Been there quite a few times now and
Always seem to find something new. What we found the best -
Day at Atlantis water park ( we stay at Atlantis usually)
Trip up Burj Khalifa, meal in restaurant around lake in evening and see the sound light show.
Desert trip with falcon display, camels, Arab mezze
Buffet dinner at the Atlantis Royal, ask for table outside on patio
Dinner at Seafire steakhouse at the Atlantis.
Museum of the future
Boat trip from Marina
Dinner at Nobu (Atlantis hotel)
The Madinat jumeirah

[Rob 131 Sport]

When we had guests over, the one attraction that never failed to disappoint was taking a small dow across the creek and soaking up the atmosphere with the souks of old Dubai.

[Blib]

Rob 131 Sport said:

When we had guests over, the one attraction that never failed to disappoint was taking a small dow across the creek and soaking up the atmosphere with the souks of old Dubai.

So, dont do that then..

[Rob 131 Sport]

Blib said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

When we had guests over, the one attraction that never failed to disappoint was taking a small dow across the creek and soaking up the atmosphere with the souks of old Dubai.

So, dont do that then..

I shouldn’t post having just woken up

It’s a great experience that never disappointed. There was also a museum in the area of an old house as I recall.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

My eldest son has to go to Riyadh on business in August. He asked if they could fly him back to London from Dubai instead of Saudi and they agreed. So he's going to pay to fly from Riyadh to Dubai and spend 5 days there for a short holiday. The wife and I are thinking of flying out to arrive in Dubai on the same day as him. And spending 5 days in Dubai with him. He's been before so knows the score.

Only thing putting us off is the temperature. It's very hot in August. We're still mulling it over. If we do it, we'll fly back to LHR on the same Emirates flight as he's booked on, and he's said he'll sit with me in economy and his mum can have his business class seat.

[Countdown]

Kenty said:

Quite a list of things to do but very varied! Been there quite a few times now and
Always seem to find something new. What we found the best -
Day at Atlantis water park ( we stay at Atlantis usually)
Trip up Burj Khalifa, meal in restaurant around lake in evening and see the sound light show.
Desert trip with falcon display, camels, Arab mezze
Buffet dinner at the Atlantis Royal, ask for table outside on patio
Dinner at Seafire steakhouse at the Atlantis.
Museum of the future
Boat trip from Marina
Dinner at Nobu (Atlantis hotel)
The Madinat jumeirah

I’d agree with most of those apart from the Burj Khalifa; long queues, good views but spoiled by everyone and their dog taking selfies

[Prisoner 24601]

Rob 131 Sport said:

When we had guests over, the one attraction that never failed to disappoint was taking a small dow across the creek and soaking up the atmosphere with the souks of old Dubai.

Very true. It's a shame as September is the most humid month of the year, which makes it tricky. Generally I have always recommended the following, but it is very far from the marina and it'll be humid, so not sure. But for anyone stumbling across this thread in the future, we recommend heading in a taxi to Al Fahidi historic district, or Bastakiya. Have a mooch around for a while, then head to the waters edge and turn left, walk along the creek until you hit this spot:

MAZMi Coffee & More

https://share.google/GQaatJmDUozvKSDeh

Have coffee and cake. After that, catch a water taxi, dhow, across to the other side for a few hours, then either dhow back and taxi home, or taxi straight home (hotel). At least if you do this you'll have seen something genuine and not something many other tourists will have experienced.

Edited by Prisoner 24601 on Monday 28th July 22:06

[Juan B]

Blib said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

When we had guests over, the one attraction that never failed to disappoint was taking a small dow across the creek and soaking up the atmosphere with the souks of old Dubai.

So, dont do that then..

That made me chuckle

I thought the fountain show is quite cool with the music and everything so would recommend that

[Count897]

September is still mentally hot..

[TwigtheWonderkid]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

My eldest son has to go to Riyadh on business in August. He asked if they could fly him back to London from Dubai instead of Saudi and they agreed. So he's going to pay to fly from Riyadh to Dubai and spend 5 days there for a short holiday. The wife and I are thinking of flying out to arrive in Dubai on the same day as him. And spending 5 days in Dubai with him. He's been before so knows the score.

Only thing putting us off is the temperature. It's very hot in August. We're still mulling it over. If we do it, we'll fly back to LHR on the same Emirates flight as he's booked on, and he's said he'll sit with me in economy and his mum can have his business class seat.

Youtube has made us come to the conclusion that Dubai in August is not for us. My son's been a couple of times before so his plan is just to sit around the pool and relax and swim. But we've never been , so want to explore the city and well as chill out, and i'm not sure that's a great idea in 45c heat.

[Alorotom]

Afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab is quite a special undertaking and well worth the money - I’ve done it a couple of times and would absolutely do it again.

[Mr MXT]

I’ve just got back from a work trip. My expectations were very low but it was actually quite good. I’d go there on a lay over for sure.

I wouldn’t bother with the Burj Khalifa tbh - the view isn’t exactly awe inspiring!

[Count897]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Youtube has made us come to the conclusion that Dubai in August is not for us. My son's been a couple of times before so his plan is just to sit around the pool and relax and swim. But we've never been , so want to explore the city and well as chill out, and i'm not sure that's a great idea in 45c heat.

Our winter definitely the best time for a visit. March probably last month before the heat gets crazy.

That said Aug trips seem very cheap (for a reason) or go in Ramadan.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Count897 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Youtube has made us come to the conclusion that Dubai in August is not for us. My son's been a couple of times before so his plan is just to sit around the pool and relax and swim. But we've never been , so want to explore the city and well as chill out, and i'm not sure that's a great idea in 45c heat.

Our winter definitely the best time for a visit. March probably last month before the heat gets crazy.

That said Aug trips seem very cheap (for a reason) or go in Ramadan.

Yes, some fabulous looking hotels we available for under £100/night with breakfast, or £150 half board with a choice of half a dozen restaurants in the hotel.

[eein]

Mr MXT said:

I ve just got back from a work trip. My expectations were very low but it was actually quite good. I d go there on a lay over for sure.

I wouldn t bother with the Burj Khalifa tbh - the view isn t exactly awe inspiring!

Its best if you go in the morning when it's still dark and watch the sunrise.

Evening is boring and too busy.

[ecs]

Countdown said:

Kenty said:

Quite a list of things to do but very varied! Been there quite a few times now and
Always seem to find something new. What we found the best -
Day at Atlantis water park ( we stay at Atlantis usually)
Trip up Burj Khalifa, meal in restaurant around lake in evening and see the sound light show.
Desert trip with falcon display, camels, Arab mezze
Buffet dinner at the Atlantis Royal, ask for table outside on patio
Dinner at Seafire steakhouse at the Atlantis.
Museum of the future
Boat trip from Marina
Dinner at Nobu (Atlantis hotel)
The Madinat jumeirah

I d agree with most of those apart from the Burj Khalifa; long queues, good views but spoiled by everyone and their dog taking selfies

Unless you book into Atmosphere lounge for cocktails or food (there are resturaunts on the same level, but I've not been to them). It's on the 122nd floor so you're at roughly the same level as the 'At the top' but it's far more civilized.

One of the things we enjoy doing is an evening rooftop swim. There are a few options; One&Only Zabeel, Atlantis the Royal, Aura and Address Beach Hotel - I think Address Beach hotel is one of the nicest followed by One&Only. The one at Atlantis is a bit disappointing given how good the hotel is (and I've never been to Aura but heard it's busy). Address is at the end of JBR near Bluewater so close to Marina area too.

The only thing to add is the Dubai Fountain is unfortunately closed until October.

Edited by ecs on Wednesday 6th August 09:45

[Saweep]

If you've never been here or to a country like this during the Summer, think very hard.

The heat is more insane than you can imagine and the humidity in September means sitting outside even at 10/11pm is pretty damned horrible. Especially the beginning of Sept. Some lunatic will come along and say it's fine but it really isn't.

Of course if you just want to experience beautiful hotels and restaurants and all the other indoor stuff there is to do, it's a great time to be here as it will be quieter and easier to get good prices and reservations blah blah.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Just on your dune buggy / desert excursion - there are a LOT of total dogst providers.

The two well recommended (priced accordingly....) are

Arabian Adventures
Platinum Heritage.

They have a variety of length / fanciness options.

or book through airline / emirates as they usually have quality check teams.


Or you can risk it on the 50 AED (10 quid!) ones . Check reddit.

[eein]

Another thing I'd recommend is hiring a car and driving across to the east coast, loop round and back. Stopping at beaches over that side, some of the hotels are nice for lunch, there's some heritage things along the road that's interesting, and of course the 'friday market' to buy rugs - you can haggle mega hard here, aim for <50% of asking, you can get to 25% at the end of the day.

I've done this trip in 2006 when there on holiday, and again various times living there 10 years later. My partner did it many times when living in Sharjah in 1980 as the east coast beaches were cooler in the warmer weather.