Editor’s Note: Terry Carter and his wife and writing partner, Lara Dunston, have written half a dozen travel guides to Dubai and the UAE and have made it their home base since 1998. We asked Terry to write about top local / off-the-beaten-path travel tips for Dubai. You can also check out their recent post about “Top Things to Do in Dubai“.

Dubai Tip #1: Dip your toes into the Arabian Sea

Dubai Tip #8 — Expat Volleyball

We’d like to say that it’s invigorating, but we’d be so wrong. The truth is that most of the year the water is as warm as a baby’s bath, but remember, it’s the Arabian Sea! You can surf, kite surf or just take advantage of the photo op with the Burj Al Arab as a backdrop. While it’s calm most of the time, there are strong currents – and you don’t want to be drifting off towards Iran with the US warships and pesky pirates around. If you do float to Iran, remember to call it the Persian Gulf not the Arabian Gulf. Just so you know.

Dubai Tip #2: Catch a local bus

Most visitors to Dubai never catch the local buses, probably due to the fact that you can actually melt into a sizzling puddle on the sidewalk waiting for one. But it’s a great way to mix it with Dubai’s expat workers – not the ones on the executive packages. You’ll see the neighbourhoods where they live and get a feel for the different expat communities. It’s also a great way to find those authentic workers cafés. Just look for the crowds around a hole-in-the-wall and get off. There is a double-decker hop-on-hop-off bus that does the main routes, but that’s cheating.

Dubai Tip #3: Let’s do brunch

When a Dubai resident says ‘let’s do lunch’, it’s not an empty threat. If you’re in Dubai on a Friday or a Saturday, brunch with the expats is a must. Take excellent people-watching opportunities, add good value food, mix liberally with free drinks, and presto, you’re living the Dubai equivalent of ‘the good life’. Week time lunch specials are also brilliant value. Check the Time Out magazine or website for the current dining bargains.

Dubai Tip #4: Shop yourself silly at a mall

Contrary to what you might read elsewhere, Dubai’s cultural activities don’t exclusively consist of shopping, shopping and more shopping (see our previous blog on Dubai), but the mall certainly is a focal point of local activity. Dubai doesn’t have a ‘town square’ or the ritual of the afternoon stroll around its manicured paths – this activity takes place at Dubai’s malls. Why? It’s too ****** hot to do it elsewhere! Whether it’s to meet friends for coffee, to check out the latest designer fashions (local and international), catch a movie, or just escape the heat, you have to hit the mall at least once. Just don’t call it ‘mall culture’…

Dubai Tip #5: Check out the local supermarkets

Dubai Tip #5 — Eat local

Sure they’re not as exotic as the souqs, but local branches of supermarkets (such as Carrefour) reveal a lot about how people live in Dubai. You’ll see old local women, often sporting the traditional burka (face mask), doing a monthly shop with a trolley laden with huge bags of flour, rice, cooking oil, and dozens of tissue boxes!

There are fresh nuts, olives, pickled vegetables, and other goodies (caviar anyone?) in barrels at the deli counter, but you can also pick up fascinating souvenirs here as well – chocolate covered-dates, orange water, rose syrup – all with endearing packaging that hasn’t changed since that old local woman was pulling water from a well.

Dubai Tip #6: Succumb to the spa

Dubai is fast becoming a world-class spa destination. Just about every five-star hotel has at least one spa and the treatment lists are just as extensive as any in Thailand. Given Dubai’s reputation as a luxury travel destination and emphasis on relaxing, it’s no wonder that the spa scene has become so competitive. Cleopatra’s Spa started the ball rolling many years ago and in many ways is still the queen (sorry!) of Dubai’s spas. And one of the most reasonably priced.

Dubai Tip #7: Picnic at Creekside Park

As soon as the weather cools off a little, Dubai’s residents hit the beach or a park. Creekside Park is a favourite because it has great children’s facilities as well as abundant shade and afternoon Creek breezes. The smell of BBQ (everything from Thai chicken satay to Middle Eastern lamb kebabs) and sheesha (aromatic water pipe) fills the air as does the playful sounds of children speaking a dozen or so different languages. Before you head to the park, drop in to the nearby Wafi Mall to Wafi Gourmet for your picnic supplies – juicy olives from the barrel, white cheeses, dips of hummus and muttabal, kebbe, and fabulous fresh bread.

Dubai Tip #8: Be a good sport

Dubai’s winter sporting calendar attracts everyone from Tiger Woods to Roger Federer (a part-time Dubai resident), and while this provides a great opportunity to see your favourite sporting superstars up close there are plenty of other sports to watch – or join in. Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan expats play cricket at any time of the day, anytime of the year, and anywhere where there’s room to swing a bat. Emiratis flock to see their favourite football (soccer) teams play at the stadiums and the sport of rifle throwing (yes, that’s what we said) attracts supportive extended families. Even if you’re here at the height of summer that’s no excuse: Monday night is Freestyle Night at Ski Dubai, complete with DJ spinning tunes.

Dubai Tip #9: Drink in the views

A Dubai ritual for residents entertaining friends, the ‘drinks with a view’ generally means selecting one of three options. There are the awe-inspiring city views: busy Bar 44 at Grosvenor House with its awesome champagne menu, or Vu’s Bar at the Emirates Towers Hotel where window-side tables are coveted. There is the Burj Al Arab view from either hip 360Ëš at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel or safari-style Bahri Bar at Mina A’Salam. And finally, there’s the simple Arabian Gulf Sea view from funky Sho Cho (where you can also hear the waves crashing on the sand below) or lofty Skyview Bar at the Burj Al Arab. Cheers!

Dubai Tip #10: The midnight snack

The post-shopping, post-work shift, or post-imbibing ritual is to head to the neon-lit Satwa neighbourhood for a late-night nibble or a full-blown meal. There are several choices around Al Dhiyafa Rd, but the two main attractions are the basic Pakistani curries and sweet lassi (yoghurt-based) drinks at Ravi’s, or shwarma (juicy, fragrant lamb or chicken rolled up in a pita bread) washed down with fresh juice at Al Mallah. Enjoy!

–Terry Carter

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of Dubai tours & things to do, from desert sandboarding safaris to Dubai city sightseeing tours.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am and is filed under Destinations, Food, Drink & Travel, Middle East & Africa, Suggested Itineraries, Travel Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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