"Only in Dubai" | The 4 best experiences from a British Expat living 20yrs in Dubai!
“Only in Dubai” is another tag line amongst many campaigns released to promote Dubai tourism in 2025. I must admit it was a phrase we used often over the years we lived there, Dubai never ceased to amaze us!
Having spent 22 years living and working in Dubai, we witnessed this cosmopolitan city rise out of the desert. When we first moved to Dubai the population was 694,000 and today it has swelled to over 3 million! There were just a few shopping centers but it is now home to the largest shopping mall in the world with the tallest tower on earth and one of the largest suspended aquariums on the planet.
Dubai emerged from a pearl diving fishing village nestled on the Dubai Creek to a city now crowned the wealthiest in the Middle East. Tourists flock to the UAE from all over the globe and in 2023 they welcomed a record 17+ million.
Old Dubai
Dubai is full of glitz and glamour but it posseses an enchanting historical Bedouin heritage and you can find some of this at the Dubai Creek & Bastakiya area.
Located in the heart of Dubai, there is a 14km salt water inlet that splits the city between Bur Dubai and Diera, also known as the Creek. The Dubai Creek was formed by dividing the land in the 1950’s and was then further dredged in the 60’s to create a salt water inlet from the Arabian Gulf. The Bastakiya area is built in traditional brown stone, with many of the buildings having traditional wind towers at the top, and is the oldest and most cultural part of Dubai.
This area then became the trading hub for gold and spices arriving from the far east along with local fresh fish. You can still see traditional dhows (fishing and transit boats) which sail down the creek laden with goods from India and Africa. A fun sightseeing activity is to take an old Abra boat from one side of the creek to the other, these boats run continuously throughout the day and cost only 1 UAE dhs.
From the moment we went to live in Dubai until we left this remained one of our favourite locations to share with friends and relatives when they visited.
What to do in the Bastakiya area of the Creek?
Stroll in the local souk (market), where you can find spices, textiles, souvenirs, fragrances and so much more. Remember to barter, this is part of the Arabian culture and is expected.
Visit the famous gold souk, a glittering bazaar where you will discover over 380 gold traders and shops dating back over 4 decades.
Take a traditional Abra (small wooden boat) crossing from the textile souk in Bur Dubai to the vibrant spice and gold souk in Diera Dubai and only cost 1 UAE dhs. Or for a reasonable amount hire one to take you around the Creek and truly embrace a different view of Dubai.
Drop into the SMCCU - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding. This centre offers a space for anyone visiting the UAE to explore Emirati culture, customs & traditions.
Spend a morning in the Dubai Museum at the Al Fahidi Fort . Uncover the origins of UAE at this historic site in old Dubai from the history of pearl diving to the wind tower importance of Bedouin tribes living in the desert.
Sip Arabian sweet mint-tea at the Arabian Tea House. Journey into the past in this delightful and quaint tea house, experiencing Arabian hospitality and try some delicious Emirati food.
Choose a piece of art at the renowned “Majlis Gallery”.
In the Arabian Tea House | Pic.: Sandra Metaxas In my opinion a trip to Dubai would not be complete without experiencing this unique area.
Dubai Desert
Having raised our children in Dubai, a trip to the desert was something unique we did many times. From desert dune trips (known locally as Dune bashing) to experiencing true Bedouin camps along with traditional food and a spot of Henna painting too.
One particular area we visited was the Al Badayer district which is known locally and affectionately as “Big Red”. Located around 45 minutes from the center of Dubai the giant sand dune rises out of the desert and is used by many companies offering dune buggy rides, camel rides, sand boarding and visits to local Bedouin camps.
Another suggestion would be to try a fully immersed Bedouin cultural safari which offers rides on camels along with vintage land rovers to truly experience life in the desert.
What to do in the desert:
Ride quad bikes & Dune buggies.
Spend a night in a traditional Bedouin camp, enjoy stargazing and listening to old camp stories.
Experience the “Bab Al Shams” hotel, a luxurious 5* desert hotel and resort.
Cycle 50 km around Al Qudra desert Bike track
Have a photo shoot at sunrise or sunset
Burj Khalifa District
The most iconic area of the mega city Dubai is the downtown Dubai district, which is home to the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower. Construction started for the tower in 2004 and was completed a record 6 years later in 2010. The luxury tower stands at 828 meters and is now home to a select 900 residences with spectacular views from every floor. You can venture up to the 148th floor and truly embrace the splendor of Dubai.
Around the base of the tower you can view the magical fountains that dance every 30 minutes from 6pm-11pm and occasionally in the afternoon. Another option is to take a small boat onto the lake and find yourself right next to the breathtaking water display.
The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, 3 km long encircling the Burj Khalifa tower is one of Dubai's most famous streets. Full of coffee shops, eateries and often home to pop up art displays. It offers a pleasant walk where you can view all the towers that border the Burj Khalifa. It is also home to the Dubai Opera House, another amazing location dotted along the boulevard.
The Palace Hotel Downtown is a truly magnificent hotel with enchanting views looking up towards the Burj Khalifa. It was a favourite place with friends of ours to enjoy a very opulent and themed afternoon tea.
At the foot of the world’s tallest tower is the grand Dubai Mall boasting 1,200 outlets, a souq, an ice-rink, a divers sculpted water feature and the world’s largest indoor suspended aquarium. Take at least a day to enjoy the experience of shopping the finest of everything in the Dubai Mall.
Visit the top of Burj Khalifa
Watch the dancing fountains or take a boat on the lake
Walk along the boulevard
Experience a show at the Dubai Opera House
Visit the Aquarium and underwater zoo
Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah has a very special place in our hearts as we were privileged to call this remarkable place home for a third of our time in Dubai. The Palm is built on reclaimed land and in the early days we watched the huge ships dredge the sand to create the island. The build started in 2001 and finished around 2006 with around 4000 plus homes. The project to develop the Palm continued over the following years. Top luxury resorts including the Atlantis, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, the One & Only resort and many more have been added to complete the unique island.
The area consists of the main trunk which is home to the Nakheel shopping Mall, Al Ittihad Park and the Galleria recreation center. There are also shoreline apartments and a monorail with various hotels and beach clubs.
There are 17 fronds, mainly residences with some spectacular signature villas. Around the edge of the island is a breakwater crescent where you can find the famous Atlantis the Palm & Aquaventure water park along with the Turkish inspired Zabeel Saray hotel and the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
What to do :
Make a splash at the Atlantis Aquaventure water Park and visit the Lost chambers aquarium
Shop at the Nakheel Mall, located in the heart of the palm with 300 shops & restaurants
Dine at the Palm Tower with 360 views from the 52nd floor
Take a vigorous walk around the circuit at Al Ittihad Park or a stroll along the boardwalk on the outer Palm crescent.
Indulge in an afternoon tea at the Sultans lounge in the Luxury Zabeel Saray Hotel
View it from above! For an amazing aerial view Skydive Dubai is located just off the palm where you can experience a tandem skydive or a Gyrocopter ride
My top tips for your Dubai visit:
The language is Arabic but English is very widely spoken.
Currency is the UAE Dirham, most places take credit cards however if you visit the souk areas it is a good idea to have some cash.
Best time to visit is October to May. The summers are very hot and humid but still offer a unique experience.
Dress code in Dubai is conservative. Be respectful, wear layers for the heat and try to cover outside the hotels. Shopping malls can be cool with AC running so take a wrap. In the hotels and around swimming pools is a more relaxed atmosphere in terms of dress code.
Getting around Dubai there are various public transport options.
>> Metro: A great way to get from new to old Dubai and see the views along the way. It’s forbidden to eat or drink in the metro (and that includes chewing gum).
>> Taxis & Ubers are plentiful and easy to find. Cabs have a minimum meter charge of Dhs 12. There’s also a Salik (Toll) charge if you pass a toll road.
>> Hire a car: Although the UAE accept many different driving licenses to be safe get an International driving license.
We have a special place in our hearts for Dubai and we are lucky to still have family living in the city. We cannot wait to return and discover what is next for this magnificent city.
Sandra Metaxas