UAE Travel Guide: Dubai & Abu Dhabi Adventures
From record-breaking skyscrapers to desert-born mosques, the United Arab Emirates delivers a travel experience like no other. Here’s how we took on the ultra-modern, sun-soaked cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi – with a side of heatstroke, mall food, and the occasional existential musing.
🌆 Dubai – Glitz, Heat & Kebab Epiphanies
Our journey into the UAE began in Sharjah, quickly transitioning via taxi into the futuristic playground of Dubai. The landscape here? Think Ferraris outside corner stores and lakes where sand once ruled. It's a city carved from heat and ambition.
First stop: a familiar retreat. We sought comfort food and stumbled into a local fast-food chain offering region-specific gems like the McArabia – a grilled chicken wrap with a global soul. After 40°C heat and dusty trails abroad, this was our kind of luxury.
With the mercury creeping to 45°C, we wandered through shimmering streets, sweating through our t-shirts and wondering how people wore full white robes without melting into the pavement. One particularly heart-shaped sweat patch became the unofficial mascot of our Dubai leg.
Dinner? A legendary Iranian kebab house dating back to 1976. Celebrities on the wall, smoke in the air, and a tray of meats that reminded us food is the great equalizer – whether you’re a Sheikh or a dusty traveller from afar.
📍 Day Out: Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame & Old Souks
We packed in a full sightseeing blitz using the clean and air-conditioned Dubai Metro. Corporate-sponsored stations whisked us around a city in overdrive.
- 🖼️ Dubai Frame: A massive structure with a deep (or debatable) metaphor – bridging “Old” and “New” Dubai.
- 🏙️ Burj Khalifa: At 828m, it pierces the sky with unapologetic ambition. Looks like syringes in formation – impressive, absurd, unforgettable.
- 🧂 Old Souks: Spices, scarves, and sellers so persistent they nearly became souvenirs themselves.
Fun fact: you can see the sunset twice in one evening at the Burj – once from the base, and again if you race to the top in time. We didn't. But the cooling fountain mist nearby made up for the missed moment.
🕌 Abu Dhabi – Mosques, Modernity & Modesty
Time was tight, but we made sure to visit the jaw-dropping Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Entry was via a mall area nestled near a fast food joint – the UAE’s classic blend of reverence and retail.
Dress codes here are enforced – as they should be. A last-minute sleeve purchase completed the look and off we went, through a complex designed like a luxury airport terminal: travelators, shops, AC, and serious spiritual vibes.
Built in 2007, the mosque features 82 domes, intricate chandeliers from Italy, and imported marble from around the globe. It’s majestic, modern, and surreal – perhaps too pristine to evoke the same emotional weight as ancient sites, but still stunning in scale.
🏆 Highlights from the UAE
- ✔️ Trying the McArabia after weeks of foreign menus
- ✔️ Exploring the Old Dubai Souks by metro
- ✔️ Catching the fountain spray under the Burj Khalifa
- ✔️ Visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – a modern marvel
- ✔️ Legendary Iranian kebab house open since 1976
👕 Want to Wear the UAE?
Been there? Get the t-shirt!
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dubai safe to visit?
Yes – extremely. It’s one of the safest major cities in the world for tourists.
How hot does it get?
Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C. Best to visit between November–March.
Is public transport reliable in Dubai?
Absolutely. The metro is modern, air-conditioned, and inexpensive.
What should you wear when visiting mosques?
Modest dress is essential – long sleeves, full-length pants or skirt, and a headscarf for women.