Dubai - United Arab Emirates

This is probably more of a trip report, but here goes. I would state that if one is a leisure traveler, steer clear of Dubai, really wasn't that interesting (with the exception of the educational items I did). Perhaps as a business traveler, if conducting business, Dubai is an attractive place to be, for a leisure traveler no doubt about it, Dubai is WAY overrated.

After seeing some of the unique buildings (I've heard the term "Vegas on steroids" used) or the indoor ski slope http://www.skidxb.com/English/default.aspx (was neat to see for 5 minutes as it even has a chairlift, all indoors), but once the latter is done, for Dubai proper, what's next??

Sun? (get that many other places and for cheaper, less $$), Nice Resorts/hotels (again get that many other places and for cheaper, less $$), Malls (not cheap but expensive and big whoop, all the same stuff I can get at home), Culture? (not in Dubai).

If anyone is interested in the Middle East as a leisure travel destination forget Dubai, take in Jordan, Israel, or Egypt where one can taste, touch, feel the history & culture.

Day One:
Visited the following:
Bastakiya neighborhood
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding http://www.cultures.ae
Bar Dubai Souq

Day Two:
Jumeirah Mosque
Boat ride to Dhow Wharves
Deira Souks

Day Three:
Mall of the Emirates (& Ski Dubai)
Souk Madinat Jumeirah

The boat ride, Jumeirah Mosque tour, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding were the highlights of my Dubai trip, EVERYTHING else was ehhh.

Boat ride was really only pleasurable because it felt refreshing to be out on the water (hot & sandstorm that day), the scenery along the river is really nothing beautiful nor contains any wow factor.

Jumeirah Mosque http://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-R ... ah-Mosque/ was very educational, the mosque itself is plain in an architectural sense. It is small, very simple and because it was built in 1978, the workman & materials used were not the same quality at all of some of the earlier built mosques I had the good fortune to visit in Istanbul (another person I was speaking with on the tour made the same remark). The speaker (Emiratee male named Nasif (sp?)) was fantastic and gave great insights into the aspects of Mosque prayer and behavior.

The other highlight was the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding http://www.cultures.ae which is located in the contrived Bastakiya area. The centre had a luncheon I went to (on certain days they offer lunch, other days breakfast), the centre was again very interesting, the speaker (an American woman who converted to Islam & married an Emiratee) was very fun and also upfront about what life is like as an Emiratee woman of Islamic faith. Her mother in law actually cooked the 7 dishes we enjoyed for lunch, so this was true Emiratee food, most "middle eastern" food in Dubai is Persian/Lebanese.
The 7 dishes of Emiratee food we enjoyed were:
2 types of grilled fish
3 types of rice dishes – one with chicken, one with lamb, one that was almost a dessert
Fresh dates
I forget the name but a paste-like dish (consisted of shredded chicken, bread, spices, pounded together to form a paste) This was actually the favorite among our group.
Arabic Coffee (different as the beans are not roasted and cardamom is added)
Tea

The other food I had in Dubai was unfortunately so-so and really nothing to write about.

yeah, I can't imagine why anyone would go to Dubai for fun, I go there for work 2-4 times a year. you can find pretty good food, but you really have to know where to go, and the best food is going to be lebanese, indian and egyptian, representing the largest minorities in the emerate. I really have to put together some of my files and post some information about some of the better places to eat there.

Globetrotter, I'm retiring in a year. If you need someone to carry your bags for you I would be glad to help out!

So if one finds them selves in Dubai and really wants to get a feel for home you can do the following.

Wake up and go to one of many Caribou Coffe Houses located throughout Dubai. Then make a trip the the Dubai mall and grab a quick snack of Garrett's Popcorn, walk around the mall for oh 6-8 hours and finish off with a deep dish Uno's Chicago Pizza.

I am not suggesting, I just saying!


If I am lucky enough to have at least one good meal I will be sure to post but it's not looking good.
Regards,

Bourbon

if you want a tip, I can get you one or two good meals. what are you thinking of?

globetrotter wrote:if you want a tip, I can get you one or two good meals. what are you thinking of?

I am going in April for 2 days, as a stopover. What would you recommend? I prefer local or some of the ethnic of any sort. There are "migrate" workers from all over, so I understand that they have good Thai, Indian, etc. As far as local, either Emirates or Persian is great, too.

Perhaps some casual small eats/lunch spots and middle to fine dining.

Any info you can provide will be a great help.

Thanks in advance!

petite_gourmande wrote:

globetrotter wrote:if you want a tip, I can get you one or two good meals. what are you thinking of?

I am going in April for 2 days, as a stopover. What would you recommend? I prefer local or some of the ethnic of any sort. There are "migrate" workers from all over, so I understand that they have good Thai, Indian, etc. As far as local, either Emirates or Persian is great, too.

Perhaps some casual small eats/lunch spots and middle to fine dining.

Any info you can provide will be a great help.

Thanks in advance!

here's what I would suggest -

lebanese - wafi gourmet at the Dubai Mall. this is an excellent mini-chain, really high quality lebanese food. this particular one is next to the fountain at the Dubai mall, so you sit in the shadow of the tallest mall in the world watching the biggest dancing fountain in the world. if you want to get the same food, slightly cheaper, the Wafi mall has one, too.

egyptian - Grand Abu Shara - near the hilton hotel on the creek. what you want to get is the pigeon

Persian - the best persian that I have had is right next to the Abu Shara, there is a hotel with 3 different perisan places in it, and they are all very good. I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the hotel.

indian - in the Sheraton 4 points in the creek area is a fantastic indian place. frankly, I had a lot of trouble finding a good low end indian place, for some strange reason.

those are the cuisines that I would stick with, but if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

globetrotter wrote:

petite_gourmande wrote:

globetrotter wrote:if you want a tip, I can get you one or two good meals. what are you thinking of?

I am going in April for 2 days, as a stopover. What would you recommend? I prefer local or some of the ethnic of any sort. There are "migrate" workers from all over, so I understand that they have good Thai, Indian, etc. As far as local, either Emirates or Persian is great, too.

Perhaps some casual small eats/lunch spots and middle to fine dining.

Any info you can provide will be a great help.

Thanks in advance!

here's what I would suggest -

lebanese - wafi gourmet at the Dubai Mall. this is an excellent mini-chain, really high quality lebanese food. this particular one is next to the fountain at the Dubai mall, so you sit in the shadow of the tallest mall in the world watching the biggest dancing fountain in the world. if you want to get the same food, slightly cheaper, the Wafi mall has one, too.

egyptian - Grand Abu Shara - near the hilton hotel on the creek. what you want to get is the pigeon

Persian - the best persian that I have had is right next to the Abu Shara, there is a hotel with 3 different perisan places in it, and they are all very good. I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the hotel.

indian - in the Sheraton 4 points in the creek area is a fantastic indian place. frankly, I had a lot of trouble finding a good low end indian place, for some strange reason.

those are the cuisines that I would stick with, but if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

That's a great start. I love Middle Eastern food, so it will be a great treat to taste the authentic versions. I will report back, and hopefully with good results from my scrounging.