mazakaal Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Here's a crazy question... Can anyone tell me about Dubai? I know, kind of vague and not a major tourist attraction for many Americans. Kate in Arabia - are you out there? I'm not exactly sure what info I'm looking for. My situation... Someone has invited us to visit him and his wife in Dubai. They are British, but have lived there for several years. My husband knows him, but I've never met him or his wife. He's offered to pay for our entire family to visit him there over Christmas. My problem is that we don't have a lot of money (read 'there is no money for anything unnecessary and sometimes we have a hard time paying for things that are necessary') and I'm concerned that we'll get there and not be able to do ANYTHING because we'll have no money and that it will be a real struggle, not a fun vacation. These people live in a community where there is a pool and tennis court. The kids will love the pool, but none of us play tennis, so they may go and hit the ball for a few minutes, but it won't take a large chunk of our day. The beach is nearby. We'll probably spend most of our time at the pool and beach. Are there other, inexpensive (read 'nearly free') things to do? What about if we want to grab lunch out - will it cost us a fortune? Part of me really wants to go because I'm sure it will be an amazing learning experience to see such a different culture and we'd never be able to afford a trip on our own. But I don't want to go if it's just going to be stressful. We were in Southern California a couple of years ago and it was difficult because we had no money to do anything and the kids got really tired of going to parks. I don't want a repeat of that. Any advice or insight would be appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianmum Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 This may not be what you're looking for, but I think Dubai is a very wealthy country, and fairly "European". It would be a fabulous place to vacation, and since this family is paying for so much of your holiday, maybe you could ask them what would be fun and inexpensive. There is probably on-line info on this, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianmum Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Sorry, I can't type very well, and clicked something before I meant to... It may be time to have the "gratitude" pep-talk, too. Lots of families don't go anywhere, and to see a place like that for next-to-nothing would be wonderful. A lot of it is attitude: how much fun can we have without spending much money? Plus, from what I've seen in photos, it's a beautiful place, if sight-seeing is your cup of tea. It has the world's biggest mall...but that may be really hard not to spend money in!!! Hope you can make it. Nancy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgilli3 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) Hi Megan, I'm sure Kate will chime in later too. We have lived in Dubai and are currently living in Sharjah ( the emirate above Dubai). There are plenty of low cost activities to do within Dubai and the the other emirates, and of course there are expensive outings. Some of our favourite low cost outings ( just in Dubai) * The Dubai Museum. As a family of 5, it cost us $3 to enter ( in total). It is a fabulous museum, full of interesting artefacts and lots of information. * The beach- the weather is lovely this time of the year. Today it is around 35 deg celsius ( 95F), so perfect for the beach or pool * Parks. There are many parks here ( some will cost you about $3 to enter), but they are a re lovely way to spend a few hours. * Jumeirah Mosque. This is a large mosque in Jumeirah that is open to the public ( I think its every day except Friday). They do guided tours and have great staff who will answer all your questions about life in the Emirates and any questions you may have about Islam. * The souks ( markets). This is one of my favourite areas of Dubai. There is the gold and diamond, fish, fabric & textiles, and spices souks ( + others). From this heritage area, you can travel by abra ( water taxi ) across the creek. ( about .30 c a person). * Have a walk through the malls. Ibn Battuta Mall in Jebel Ali is one of my favourites. It is designed to look like past periods in history that Ibn Battuta ( the traveler) passed through. It has a China Court, Egypt court, Tunisia Court, Indian Court and my favourite- the Persia Court. ( has to be seen!!) The Mall of the Emirates has an indoor ski slope inside it. We were there last week- cost us about $30 a person- that included snowsuits boots etc. What a blast! Dubai Mall has a HUGE indoor aquarium and an ice skating rink. There is a cost for the aquarium- but you can also view the main tank without paying ( you pay to walk through a tunnel in middle of tank- and to visit exhibits etc) * A drive out to the sand dunes to watch the camel racing. After 4 years here, I still LOVE watching the camels, just wandering through the deserts. * Bastakia Arte Souke- in the heritage area. A must see. Here in Sharjah- there are MANY, MANY museums. Sharjah is rich in heritage and tradition. The museums etc cost us no more than $3 a family to visit! Anyway- there are plenty of things to see and do! Lunch doesn't have to cost a lot. Fine dining is expensive ( as it is anywhere in the world). Food court prices we think are reasonable ( cheaper than what we pay in Australia), and then smaller, non- touristy eateries are VERY cheap!!! I personally, would jump at the chance to come! What a wonderful gesture from your friends! Let us know if you have any more questions. * edited to say- there are plenty of supermarkets around, so you can buy what you need to make sandwiches etc for a picnic, or to stock up on water, snacks etc. Supermarkets such as Carrefour, Geant and LuLu's tend to be cheaper than Spinneys and Choithrams. :-) Edited November 12, 2009 by sgilli3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I lived in Abu Dhabi for three years (about 1 hr north of Dubai) and am now in my third year in Ra's al-Khaimah (about 1 hr south of Dubai). There are a lot of activities you can do for little-to-no money. It's an incredibly generous gesture on the part of your friend -- are you comfortable coming and staying with them when you don't really know the wife? Will they be escorting you around or will you need to get yourself to wherever you want to go? I'm not terribly familiar with public transportation in Dubai, taxis are perhaps cheap by American standards but still... There are a lot of food options; how adventurous are your kids? Aside from getting stuff at a local grocery store, shwarma sandwiches (like gyros) are usually quite cheap, and there are a wealth of Indian restaurants where you can feed a family for not much money. When we go to a Western fast-food restaurant, like McDonalds or Pizza Hut, our bill comes to about 100 dirhams for a family of 5 (about 8 British pounds); eating at a local Indian restaurant is less than half of that. But this is assuming you're on your own and all -- is the family going to be spending most of the time with you? They may set the agenda, kwim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Wow! I had no idea there was so much there or that food was so inexpensive. It was my understanding that it is a very wealthy area and I assumed that eating out would cost a lot. That sounds very reasonable. And, being in Britain, we all love Indian food. Kate, I am a bit concerned about staying with these people that I've never met. We have stayed with strangers before (friends of friends sort of thing) in America and always had a good experience, but doing it in a foreign country is a little more intimidating. And there is the question of getting around that I need to talk to dh about. I don't think the couple will be doing things with us, but I'm not sure if we'll have to rent a car (which would be out of the question for us) or if they would have a vehicle we could borrow or if we'd have to try to sort out public transportation. Something to look into. One more question... showing my complete ignorance... what language do they speak? Arabic? We, obviously, will not be able to speak their language AT ALL. Will this be a major difficulty? Do many people speak English or is it fairly easy to get along without speaking the language? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Hi Megan, We lived next door to the UAE, so to speak, for 5 years, and visited Dubai a few times. I think sgilli3 and Kate covered everything I could have said. To address your final question, yes, Emiratis speak Arabic, but Emiratis only make up around 25% of the population, so many, many languages are spoken, and English will be understood everywhere you are likely to go to. Taxi drivers, shop staff etc will probably be from India and surrounds, the Philippines or other Arabic countries, rather than from the UAE itself. Dubai is very cosmopolitan, at least compared to where we were, but still worth remembering you are in a Muslim country and covering knees and shoulders when you're out and about. (And everything in between, of course.) But maybe those who live there will have a different take on this. Ibn Battuta Mall is amazing. A great homeschool experience. Lebanese food is good and not too expensive. Automatic Restaurant is one Lebanese chain I know of - we always enjojed their food. Some info on taxi costs here: http://dtc.dubai.ae/en.portal?dtctariff,Article_000031,1,&_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=view. I would NOT hire a car, there is a lot of traffic in Dubai and it is a little unpredictable. Did anyone mention the boat rides on the creek? I have gone blank on correct Arabic terms. That's fun. I find supermarkets in foreign countries to be great entertainment, so I'd definitely plan for some meals straight from the supermarket. Arabic food usually includes a range of salad. Houmous is chickpea based, moutabal or baba ghanoush are made from aubergines/eggplants. Eat with "Arabic bread" / pita. But the supermarkets will also have a range of more substantial foods in the deli section - from rotisserie chicken to Indian biryani. Perhaps one of the ladies living in the areas can also tell you what you should bargain for, and what not. That's important to know, if you want to keep prices down! Have a lovely time... Nikki (now in Australia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_JWM Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 We don't fly for environmental reasons, but I would love to visit Dubai and much of the Middle East. I am insanely jealous of you! :) Pack your bags and GO, GO, GO!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 (edited) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Battuta_Mall http://www.ibnbattutamall.com/aboutthemall.html http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/default.aspx Also, you can Google "Dubai Waterfront," "Palm Jebel Ali," "Burj Dubai," and look for videos on Dubai at Youtube. Oh, and look on Youtube at "Dubai car." Have a great trip! :D Edited November 12, 2009 by Sahamamama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Seriously, don't worry about the language. Especially in Dubai English is much more common than Arabic. In fact, I'd put Arabic third behind English then Hindi/Urdu as far as frequency of speakers. Cyn, have you taken a taxi in Dubai? It's been a long time for me, I occasionally took taxis in Abu Dhabi and it would cost about US$3 to go on a short ride across town -- but Abu Dhabi is a lot smaller and used to have a lot less traffic than Dubai. I also wouldn't recommend renting a car here unless you're used to driving in a crowded, large city. I personally avoid driving in Dubai myself as much as I can, lol (Kentucky gal that I am), it gets kind of hairy between the traffic and construction. How long are you thinking of being here? I hope you can arrange to see more than just Dubai, which is quite different from the other emirates, imo. You're always welcome in Ra's al-Khaimah! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 Oh, I'm getting really excited now. I have to get back to teaching my kids - lunch break is over - but I'm going to look at all these links this evening. Thanks so much! And, Kate, thanks for the invite. I may just take you up on it! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgilli3 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Seriously, don't worry about the language. Especially in Dubai English is much more common than Arabic. In fact, I'd put Arabic third behind English then Hindi/Urdu as far as frequency of speakers. Cyn, have you taken a taxi in Dubai? It's been a long time for me, I occasionally took taxis in Abu Dhabi and it would cost about US$3 to go on a short ride across town -- but Abu Dhabi is a lot smaller and used to have a lot less traffic than Dubai. I also wouldn't recommend renting a car here unless you're used to driving in a crowded, large city. I personally avoid driving in Dubai myself as much as I can, lol (Kentucky gal that I am), it gets kind of hairy between the traffic and construction. How long are you thinking of being here? I hope you can arrange to see more than just Dubai, which is quite different from the other emirates, imo. You're always welcome in Ra's al-Khaimah! ;) It's been a while since I drove in an 'official' taxi ( DH drove me around for years...lol) The taxi rides are very, very cheap ( compared to Oz), but I didn't use them often. I have only been driving here for a year and it isn't for the faint hearted, so I wouldnt recommend hiring a car unless you were a VERY confident driver. - remember, coming from the UK ( like Oz), you drive on the left hand side of the car- right hand side of the road- so it can be daunting to begin with. Like Kate suggested, you are welcome to contact us when you arrive and well be happy to show you around or meet you somewhere. As much as Dubai is nice the other emirates are the jewels in the crown! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 As much as Dubai is nice the other emirates are the jewels in the crown! :D Ok, we're moving just a little beyond the border now, but Oman wins the regional contest hands down. :tongue_smilie: Nikki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgilli3 Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Ok, we're moving just a little beyond the border now, but Oman wins the regional contest hands down. :tongue_smilie: Nikki Hahaha- I agree! Oman ( particularly the Musendam region in the north) wins my vote. I've just arrived back from holidaying in Bahrain, and I loved it. Not everyones cup of tea, but the people were really friendly, the place was clean, and I got my bearings ( location wise) quicker there than I did after 4 years here! ( I know its smaller, but the road seemed to be set out better...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdeveson Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 What a wonderful thread! How did all of you adventuresome girls end up in the middle east? (Sorry to hijack -- I'm just so curious.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarleneW Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 One of my best friends just moved there and the pictures she has sent are beautiful! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 What a wonderful thread! How did all of you adventuresome girls end up in the middle east? (Sorry to hijack -- I'm just so curious.) Most western expats in Oman were (men) in the oil industry. Dh is a telecoms engineer, not in oil/mining. Most expat wives don't work. They do drink a lot of Starbucks coffee, though :001_smile:. Women that do work tend to be in the nursing, teaching or beauty fields. There were obviously some downsides to living in the Middle East - no libraries, few homeschoolers (dd was in an international school) come to mind - but it was amazing to be living in the midst of such a different culture, and meeting people from all over the world (60 countries at dd's school, 15 languages spoken in a class of 20 children). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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