Dubai: The Pearl of the Middle East
- Jenny Fauteux
- May 31, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 10, 2024
We were supposed to take this trip in 2020 for Hannah's high school graduation trip but Covid delayed our trip until June of 2022. The average temperatures in Dubai in June are 103F (high) and 82F (low) and the best times to visit are considered to be from November to March when its a little cooler. However, when you have to coordinate work and school schedules for 6 people and a daughter who is determined to go to Dubai, you travel when schedules align.
Dubai was a destination unlike any other and our days were filled with adventure and relaxation. Although Dubai is known for luxury and shopping, we wanted to try the the more extreme activities that Dubai had to offer. Prepared for the heat, we scheduled our activities in the morning and spent the afternoons cooling off at the hotel pool.
Length of Stay: 10 Days
Where we Stayed: The Ritz Carlton Dubai
Activities:
The Ritz Carlton Dubai
Location: We wanted a relaxing place to stay in an area where there was a lot going on. We chose the Ritz Carlton Dubai, which is in the Dubai Marina District and only a short 10-12 minute walk to The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) where there are a lot of activites, shopping, and dining options.
Rooms: There were 6 of us, so we booked 3 rooms. We had 2 Ocean View Rooms (538 square feet) and a One Bedroom Gulf Suite with an Ocean View (968 square feet). Everyone had their own luxiorius space and the suite was a great place to gather as it had a separate living room. All rooms had a spacious balcony with great views. The girls view included the Ain Dubai, which was beautiful lit up at night!
Amenities: The Ritz Carlton Dubai has 350,000 meters (approximately 86 acres) of landscaped lawns and gardens, 350 meters of beachfront, 9 restaurants/bars, 6 pools, a luxurious spa, 4 tennis courts, and a nice selecton of activities including yoga, watersports, and birdwatching (Hilariously, I was actually attacked by a bird!). You really never have to leave the property, but that is not why you come to Dubai!
We spent most of our free time in the afternoons at the pools staying cool. Our favorite was the pool La Baie Lounge because of the private cabanas, extra cold pool water, cold tub, and the service. However it is considered a bar and Dubai is very strict about allowing anyone under the age of 21 in a bar. Since we had a couple of 20 year olds, we hung out at the other pools and enjoyed every minute. We only ate on property when poolside due to other reservations, but we did take advantage of the Library Bar for cocktails and the occasional late night room service.
Sky Diving
Skydiving has never been on my bucket list, in fact, it was on my not-to-do list. However, my family continues to push me further and further out of my comfort zone on every trip. Skydiving over the Palm Jumeriah, one of Dubai's palm tree shaped man-made islands, was one of the main drivers for our trip to Dubai. We decided to skydive on the first full day of our trip since a few of us were a bit nervous. The boys had all been skydiving before but it was the first jump for Hannah, Margo, and me (the nervous ones). Even with 2-years to mentally prepare, I was really anxious about it. However, as soon as we arrived at the Ritz Carlton, my nerves began to ease because the Skydive Dubai airstrip was visible from our hotel and it was obvious they had the skydiving experience down to a science. Planes go up about every 15 minutes with a new group of tandem skydivers and we were able to watch back-to-back successful dives all day!
We arrived for our 7am reservation and were divided into 2 groups. John and I were assigned to one plane and Connor, Hannah, Trevor, and Margo were assigned to go together in a seperate plane. After checking in, we waiting in the cafe and outdoor viewing deck for our groups to be called to suit up and go through the safety training. You immediately met your professional tandem partner and photographer. They both made you feel very comfortable throughout the entire experience.
Once on the plane and in the air, your tandem partner straps you together. There are nice views out of the plane but I was too busy watching the first groups jump. Once it was our turn, we made our way to the open door. It was me, my tandem partner, and my photographer. They did an amazing distracting me with encouragement and smiles, so when the light turned green and we jumped out of the plane to began our free fall, I was all smiles and not nervous at all. We jumped from around 13,000 feet and the free fall lasted for about 60 seconds. We did a fun spin during the freefall, then the parachute was released and I enjoyed the beautiful views during the approximately 5-minute descent to the drop zone. The highlight for me was having an aerial view the Palm Jumeriah, but we also had a birdseye view of the Burj Al Arab, the World Islands, Ain Dubai, and the skyscrapers and hotels that line JBR and the Dubai Marina.
I would highly recommend SkyDive Dubai for first time and experienced sky divers. It was a highlight of our trip and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Company: SkyDive Dubai
Where: The Palm Drop Zone is located at Al Seyahi Street, Mina Seyahi, Dubai, UAE
There is another drop zone in the desert if you would prefer a desert dive. It is located outside of Dubai.
Time: 3-4 hours from arrival
Price: 2,599 AED per person (~$700 USD per person). Add the video package for 250 AED per person (~$70 USD per person).
What to bring: Please check their website before your visit. The only things listed as of this writing are listed below. Also, if you have friends or family that don't want to participate but would like to watch, they are welcome and can watch from the observation deck.
a valid government issued id
a gift certificate if you are using one
a stamped declaration of fitness if you are over 70 or have certain medical conditions
What to wear: We wore comfortable athletic wear. Leggings and a t-shirt for me. You want to be comfortable and wear clothes that protect you from the harness. Closed toed shoes are required and be sure to check the website for any other requirements.
Yacht Rental
We wanted to spend a day exploring Dubai by water, specifically the Palm Islands. We rented a private yacht and toured around the JBR Coastline, the Dubai Marina, the Palm Jumeriah and took advantage of great photo opportunities of the Burj Al Arab. We also anchored off the coast of Jumeirah Beach to enjoy swimming and the boat's waterslide with a perfect backdrop of the JBR Marina skyline.
Company: Asfar Yacht
Where: Confirm the boat location with Asfar Yacht before the trip. The trip will begin and end at the same place.
Time: Reserve online based on your schedule.
Price: We rented a 75 foot yacht for 4-hours at 1699 AED per hour (around $460 USD/hour). This is crazy cheap when you compare renting yachts anywhere else in the world! They have yachts that can accommodate up to 150 people, depending on your occasion. Catering is available and extra. Adding a water slide or other water sports is also an additional charge. We added a water slide for 799 AED (around $220 USD) and it was super fun!
What to bring: Soft drinks, water, and ice are inlcuded. Catering is available for an extra charge, which we took advantage of. We only brought cameras and towels!
What to wear: You can rent a yacht for parties and special occasions. We rented it just to tour around and have fun so spent the day in our bathing suits!
Snow Skiing
Dubai has it all, including an indoor ski resort. What a great way to cool down in a desert destination! Ski Dubai has a snow park, a ski slope, and a penguin encounter. Having more experience with water sports than snow sports, we signed up for the ski school. The boys decided to try snowboarding and the girls decided for ski lessons since this was Hannah's first time ever attempting a snow sport. We did 1-hour private lessons and had a great time. If you have snow skiing experience, you can book a 2-hour or full-day slope pass.
Company: Ski Dubai
Where: Ski Dubai is inside the Mall of the Emirates
Time: Hours can be found here under the Getting to Ski Dubai section
Price: We did a 1-hour Ski and 1-hour Snowboard private lesson which are 630 AED (~$172 USD) + 170 AED (~$46 USD) for each additonal person. You also need to rent ski gear. Prices for all activities can be found on their website. I recommend booking online in advance as it is a popular spot.
What to bring: We didnt bring anything as we rented all the equipment. You do have to sign a waiver.
What to wear: We wore clothes that would be comfortable under ski attire and to shop in after!
Dubai Desert Safari
This was hot! I have no idea how these two looked so cute in this picture. Visiting the desert in Dubai is sort of a must do, however, due to the extreme heat, this was my least favorite activity. I would suggest doing this another time of year for a better experience. We booked a tour that included Dune Bashing (driving really fast in an SUV through the desert), a camel ride, and sand boarding. You can add quad bike rides as an optional activity (we did not). In my opinion, the sand boarding was the most fun of the three activities. The guys may vote for the Dune Bashing. Although I love adrenaline filled activities, that is not my thing. We have ridden camels in different places around the world and this one wasn't enjoyable to me because of the temperature. In all, I am glad we went but I was happy to get back to the hotel pool. It was a one a done for me!
Company: Ocean Air Travels
Where: Pick-up from your hotel is included. It is then a 45-minute drive to the desert camp
Time: Book online at your preferred time. If you go during the really hot months, please choose the morning!
Price: 198 AED per person (~$54 USD per person)
What to bring: Comfortable shoes, I would recommend clothes toed shoes. Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen
What to wear: Cool clothes that protect you from the sun
Wakesurfing
Hannah had been working on her wake surfing this summer, so we all decided to give it a try and take private wake surfing lessons. We had a great instructor and all were able to get up. A few of us (not me) were able to let go of the rope and surf. It was a lot of fun and the instructors were good at explaining the technique to maximize the chance of success. It was a great way to spend time on the water and cool off while enjoying a fun activity. John's favorite part was convincing the company to sell us the employee "Wake Dubai Coach" water shirts. We all have one, but I think he gets the most use out of his!
Company: Wake Dubai
Tour: 2 hour private wakesurfing lesson
Where: Once booked, they will tell you where to meet the boat. The most popular locations are the Dubai Marina and Dubai Creek.
Time: Call or send them a Whatapp message to book at your preferred time. Their hours are 6am - 6pm
Price: 650 AED per hour (~$177 USD per hour)
What to bring: Towels and water
What to wear: Athletic bathing suit
World's Longest Urban Zipline
It's not everyday that you get to zipline off of a skyscraper! One of the last activities we did in Dubai was the world's longest urban zipline! After checking in at the Dubai Marina Mall, you are escorted to the take-off platforms which are 170m (~558 feet) above the ground on one of the Amwaj Towers. There are parallel lines, so two of you get to go at a time in a superman flight position. I wasn't nervous at all after skydiving earlier in the trip. However, I did get a few butterflies when laying on the platform. Once you are released, it is so much fun! You are flying over the Dubai Marina and speeds can reach up to 80KM/Hour. Your helmet is equipped with cameras to capture the entire experience so you can just relax and enjoy the speed and the views!
Company: X Dubai
Tour: X Dubai Line
Where: Check in is located in the Dubai Marina Mall
Time: Reserve in advance online. Open hours are listed in the FAQ.
Price: 499 AED per person (~$136 USD per person)
What to bring: You will be asked to leave everything in a small locker. You are allowed your camera/phone up to the platform but cannot take it on the zipline.
What to wear: Comfortable clothing and close toed shoes. We wore athletic shorts and t shirts. Remove jewelry before going so you can keep in hotel safe vs locker.
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