By 
Europe is too expensive and too far? Dubai may just fit the bill.
Many of us in Malaysia yearn to bring our families on a holiday to Europe or the Mediterranean to experience a cooler climate and a more cosmopolitan culture with rich architecture and history.
The appeal of this part of the world is hard to refute. Yet a holiday in Europe is not without its drawbacks.
Refreshing Dubai.
How, for example, would we pacify a toddler on a 10-hour flight? Can my mother-in-law keep up with all the flight transfers to get to our destination? Would our teenagers get bored and stay in the hotel room all day watching TV and surfing the net?
These lingering concerns sometimes stop us from booking that pricey getaway.
The ideal destination that would tick all the boxes above may just be — Dubai — one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Surprise, surprise Dubai is fondly known amongst the locals and expats alike as the “Paris of the Middle East” due to its vibrancy and joie de vivre.
The ideal time to visit is during the winter, with its average high of 23°C. Winter is typically short, starting from December and ending in March, before the temperature leaps into an average of 26°C at the end of April and remains hot and arid until October end. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, windy and dry, with an average high of around 40°C, which is why the winters are so special.
February or March is the perfect time to visit, when the temperature lingers at around 20°C every day, perfect for sightseeing.
Dubai has an abundance of activities on offer to keep the young (and young-at-heart) entertained. A must-experience is the Desert Safari, which begins at 3.30pm and ends at 9.30pm.
Depending on the weather and your preference, the tour could begin with “Dune Bashing” in a 4WD vehicle, where you fly across Dubai’s infamous desert sand dunes. For the more passive adventurer, there is a scenic route available. The more adventurous can also opt to try the exhilarating sand skiing.
The safari ends with a charming Arabian buffet dinner in the desert, complete with an open fire, belly dancers, henna service, camel rides and shisha pipes, not to mention copious amounts of sweet, Arabic mint tea and gahwa (Arabic coffee).
Underwater creatures in an aquarium at the Dubai Mall.
Another word synonymous with Dubai is, of course, shopping. At a currency ratio of almost 1:1 (RM1: $1.2AED), Dubai, happily, doesn’t come with a European price tag. Dubai city has more than 70 malls and shopping districts, providing traditional items such as the native robes Kandura or Abaya, sweet dates and fragrant oud (perfume), through to the high-end luxury designer goods.
The Mall of the Emirates is home to Ski Dubai, the world’s first indoor ski resort. With five different levels of slope, including the world’s first indoor black run, Ski Dubai with its soft, powdery snow is certainly a sight to behold in the middle of a desert.
Non-skiers or those with young kids who simply wish to experience the climate of the Swiss Alps, can rent warm winter coats and explore the 3,000sq m Snow Park, while skiers and snowboarders can test their skills on the slopes.
Take a ski-lift to the Avalanche Cafe, where you’ll find possibly the best hot chocolate in the Gulf region, complete with M&M’s, marshmallows and whipped cream. A chocoholic’s heaven in a mug!
Dubai Mall on the other hand, is hailed as the seventh largest mall in the world. It is connected to the Burj Khalifa, which is the world’s tallest building, offering beyond-breathtaking views from its observation deck on the 124th level. It is rumoured that to visit every single shop in Dubai Mall would take more than a week, a feat my hubby and I wisely decided not to attempt!
There is an indoor ice skating rink here, as well as an impressive aquarium with the largest acrylic viewing panel in the world. We were mesmerised by the serenity of the underwater creatures, as the tunnels transported us deep into a marine world on land.
If you’re seeking a more culturally authentic experience, a visit to the old part of Dubai will be just up your street. The souk districts located on either side of Dubai Creek in Deira houses nearly 250 retail gold shops and several independent boutiques, jewellery and souvenir stores. Traditionally, trading dhows from Asia would off load their cargo here, and it is why this area of Dubai has contributed to the city’s nickname of the City of Gold.
For a history fix, we visited the Dubai Museum, which is the oldest building in Dubai located in Al Fahidi Fort. Realistic dioramas of Bedouin life and ancient artefacts provided interesting insights on Dubai’s heritage. We ended our day out with a romantic ride on the abra (water taxi) while we gazed at the colourful skyline and enjoyed the saltwater breeze.
Fort focus
In terms of accommodation, Dubai offers a wide variety of hotels, from more humble and practical abodes to seven-star luxury. You’d certainly be spoilt for choice, so a tip is to choose based on your priorities, be they disabled access, children’s facilities or luxury treatment.
Staying at the world-famous Burj Al-Arab will certainly be an experience and a conversation starter for many years to come, whereas the two-year-old Atlantis Hotel inspired by the mythical Greek city offers the experience to swim and interact with dolphins. However, you don’t need to be a guest here to book a session with the dolphins, although advanced booking is advised.
If you wish to stay somewhere that is atypical of Dubai’s image of overbearing (and to an extent, tacky) luxury, then look no further than the One & Only range of hotels. The elite of Dubai themselves sing the praises for the One & Only, and we were lucky enough to experience it first-hand.
There are two One & Only resorts in Dubai. The first is the One & Only Royal Mirage Palace, on Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina and the second is the new One & Only The Palm Dubai, located on the peninsula of one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes.
The resort at The Palm offers a host of stunning rooms and three majestic villas, one of which we stayed in. It is the epitome of familial luxury. We were greeted by our own butler, Safqwat, who was on hand to fulfil any requests at any time. Our butler was efficient, unimposing and very discreet, and although he was hardly seen, whenever needed, he would appear right on cue.
All meals were properly served on the dining table indoors or on the patio outdoors, depending on our preference. Freshly squeezed juices, tea and coffee were readily prepared by him upon request. Safqwat was there to assist us with everything, from setting up the music sound system to calling a taxi.
He drove us in the buggy to the stunning 101 restaurant set on wooden decking in the sea and was even a dab hand at using our DSLR camera. One chilly evening when we were huddled up chatting outside underneath a duvet, he came in via the garden pushing a standing gas heater. No whim of ours was left uncatered.
The hotel and villa had exquisite views of the sea and the highest grade of furnishings. From finest 1,000 thread-count cotton bedsheets to the exclusive range of Ex Voto Paris toiletries, the hotel offers opulent comfort like no other.
We had guests over, and they made an interesting observation. A cultivated and privileged lot, part of the elite of Dubai, they admitted to being a spoilt bunch — but only when in Dubai. They observed that in a café in Paris, you may be more tolerant of a rude waitress and an awful cup of espresso, because c’est Paris!
In Belgium, you would queue in a very long line for waffles just because “they are the best in town”! And in London, you brave the overcrowded London Underground and battle with the wind and rain to get somewhere, simply because “that’s what Londoners do”! But upon returning to Dubai, their standards and expectations would soar tenfold.
This is because Dubai has been built on a platform of monetary success and material wealth. A City Mayors survey indicated that Dubai was the world’s 33rd richest city in 2009, in terms of purchasing power parity, and so its residents have come to expect nothing but the best.
Their lives revolve around service and being served, with housekeepers and drivers being the bare minimum members of staff in a typical household.
There are valet parking services everywhere, from malls to hairdressers, to the grocery store and even clinics.
“So because of all these things, our expectations in Dubai are very high compared to when we’re in other parts of the world. The One & Only certainly lives up to our expectations,” they said.
As we watched our guests coo breathlessly over the gorgeous views and marvel at the beautiful décor and the impeccable service, we knew for sure that the One & Only The Palm, had trumped for us as the one and only hotel to stay at when visiting beautiful Dubai. – By Diyana Abbas
o Malaysia Airlines flies to Dubai five times a week. To book the featured hotel, visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com, and for other activities listed above visit www.skidxb.com, www.desertsafaridubai.com and www.atlantisthepalm.com
