Dubai: shopping, dining and kids itineraries – 08/03/2023 – Tourism

Superlative, Dubai has established itself as an eclectic destination for those who want a mix of the West and the East, offering experiences in the desert, safari and shopping.

Between January and September 2022, the number of Brazilians going to the United Arab Emirates grew by 311% compared to the same period in 2021, according to Anac, the National Civil Aviation Agency. See some attractions of the city of Dubai.

Desert Safari Experience
The Rub’ al-Khali tour with Platinum Heritage takes a full day (695 dirhams, or R$987). The view of the dunes at sunset is breathtaking. Traveling on top of a car, feeling the wind, is an experience. The guide teaches you several curiosities about the place, such as which plant to eat to hydrate and which to rub on a wound, in case you are stung by a scorpion. It is at the Rub’ al-Khali that visitors can watch a show with hawks and understand their connection with the Bedouins. Tourists still live the Bedouin culture, wear scarves, ride a camel, try regional food and watch typical dances.

dubai mall
It is the biggest mall in the world. As soon as you enter it, it is inevitable to bend your neck to contemplate its immensity. It has a variety of stores, from department stores to designer brands, and is frequented by tourists and Arab families. There is also an underwater tunnel under a tank filled with sharks and stingrays.
It is located in the Burj Khalifa complex, the largest building on the planet. There, it is possible to taste typical foods — such as the delicious hummus with flatbread, fatuche, tabbouleh, babaganuche — while enjoying the view of the Dubai fountain show.

Dubai Miracle Garden
Keeps colorful flowers throughout the year. There are more than 150 million in an area of ​​72 thousand square meters. Tickets cost 75 dirhams (R$ 106). There are several sculptures scattered throughout the garden, most of which are always changing, but there are some that are fixed, such as the Airbus A380, the largest commercial plane in the world, covered in flowers. According to officials, around 100,000 flowers make up the work.

Dubai Safari Park Tour
The tour showcases over 300 species of animals and is ideal for the family. The park is divided into five villages and offers the possibility to feed giraffes. The highlight is the safari, which takes about 45 minutes on a bus. There are hundreds of animals such as lions, zebras, hippos and monkeys. The animals seem to be used to the daily human presence, but one or the other is more mischievous and approaches the bus.

Museum of the Future
Founded in February 2022, it invites you to imagine the world 50 years from now. Already on the outside, it causes a surprise with its huge oval sculpture with Arabic calligraphy in 3D. Visitors are invited to board an elevator, which turns out to be a journey with missions that propose solutions for the planet. The rooms sharpen the senses: you can lie down on a structure on the floor while listening to relaxing sounds or step on grains of sand on an artificial beach. It is still possible to stop in front of a machine, take a picture and see yourself as an astronaut. Tickets cost 145 dirhams (R$ 206).

Old Dubai
It is the old Dubai that is closer to what one imagines to be a traditional Arab city, with cobblestone streets, tents and mud walls. The area is separated from contemporary Dubai by a creek.
A mandatory tourist stop, this is where you can try traditional Arabic coffee and buy scarves and other souvenirs, but not before negotiating and haggling a lot —the vendors even expect you to do so.

Sky Views Dubai
At Ad Sky Views, by the company Emaar, it is possible to have access to restaurants and an outdoor pool. Located one kilometer from the Burj Khalifa, this is where the Sky View observatory is located, with a 360º view of the city and 219.5 meters high. The site offers the experience of walking on a glass platform 53 floors above the ground and hanging tied to protective equipment.

Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai
The water park tour takes the whole day, as it has several pool options for children of different ages, in addition to toboggans, from the lightest to the most extreme. and an artificial beach. Tickets start at 269 dirhams (R$ 382). And here is worth a comment about bathing suits. As Dubai is a gateway between East and West, from the most covered to the most daring outfits are seen and released, as long as they are appropriate for bathing.

The journalist traveled at the invitation of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Economy.