Kiki’s Dubai Diary

Dates so sweet, hummus so creamy. With a backpack full of adventures richer, I have finally landed a bit and am ready to take you, dear Amayzer, along in this memory.

Where to begin? The beautiful desert? The hospitality? The insane skyline? The exuberant architecture? The beaches? I fell in love with Dubai for the first time in 2017 and now that I am here again, I feel it again: this metropolis does something to me.

Fun facts about the Arab Emirates

• Want to know how wealthy someone is in Dubai? You can see it from the license plate of the car. The fewer digits it has, the richer the person is. For example, the sheikh has only number 1 on his license plate. Holy sheikh.

• Speaking of cars: some special camels are even more expensive than Lamborghinis. They even organize beauty contests with them.

• Dubai has a female ‘Minister of Happiness’. It is her job to, well, you guessed it: keep everyone happy. Are you stuck in traffic for too long? Then it is her job to contact the Minister of Transport.

• And speaking of transport: if you see a taxi with a pink roof, it is a women’s only taxi. And yes, you will have a female driver.

• Good to know: official residents of Dubai are called Emirati. And I totally did not expect that only ten percent of the residents of Dubai are Emirati. The rest are migrants! To somewhat maintain their own culture, Emirati men and women are encouraged with a job and a nice house from the government when they marry.

• Okay, not a fun fact, but a personal I LOVE THIS fact: what touches me the most is that everything in Dubai seems to come together in peace. It still exists! People from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, expats from all corners of the world and tourists; all subcultures come together as one mega culture without friction. Honestly: this is something we hardly know in Europe. The Hindu temple stands next to the mosque and everyone respects each other. A big, fat applause for this.

Anyway, moving on to the stigma... Over the years, Dubai has been associated with an image of bling-bling and over-the-top luxury (and absolutely, that side exists), but Dubai also has beautiful nature alongside the many skyscrapers in the city that is increasingly sought after. You have incredible places with endless sand plains, where it is hardly believable that the hustle and bustle of Dubai is less than an hour's drive away.

Of course, you want to see and experience the highlights of the city (think of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world at 828 meters, cuckoo!), but during this trip we also drove towards the mountains for a look at the nature that the Emirate definitely has to offer. Kayaking on a beautiful lake and glamping in the middle of the desert and waking up to a beautiful orange-golden sunrise: it can happen. Both worlds are always found everywhere. Luxury and low key.

The old city also has so many nice spots and good traditional restaurants. Look, and here comes my inner Emirati who lovingly whispers some fine tips to you.

Want to see: the Al Fahidi district
This is the old center where you not only find the very best food spots for a bargain, but also can soak up the culture of the city. It remains impressive how an entire civilization has been built from nothing? I spent the first night at the Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai and it is a cute, traditionally decorated hotel that is perfect to combine if you want to explore Al Fahidi.

And then? Off over that water
Be sure to take an abra (water taxi) to sail to the other side of the creek. It costs you one dirham (that’s 0.25 euro cents) and sit among the locals on the boat for the ultimate exploration feeling. On the other side, you will find the souk, where you (if you love spices) really want to take home a bit of saffron, ras el hanout, and fresh dates. I did. And the folks back home are happy.

Hungry? Enter: Arabian Tea House
For the very best hummus in town. And falafel. And all kinds of other cozy platters with labneh, olives, you name it. A truly unique experience among the locals guaranteed and also a beautiful Instagram-worthy courtyard. Add this to your must-visit list right away. For breakfast or lunch.

Traditional dining by the water: At Bayt Al Wakeel
If you enjoy dining by the creek in the evening: this restaurant – with various dishes from the traditional Arab cuisine – is mega cozy. Enjoy a romantic view of all the lights from the boats passing by.

For that ultimate beach day: Kyma Beach
Now a day at a nice beach club cannot be missed in Dubai, and if you want to end up in a very aesthetic spot, then Kyma is totally your place. Everywhere you see Balinese umbrellas and beige vibes, but more importantly: the lunch. Greek-oriented, so flavorful. I send all my friends there.

The once in a lifetime: The Sonara & Nest Experience
I can talk a long time about this: if you have something special to celebrate with a friend or your lover, then this is next level glamping in the desert in a beautiful nest. If you book this as a surprise for someone, you score points. Read about my experience here.

Hiking? Go to Hatta!
If you enjoy seeking nature, be sure to check out the Hatta Mountains. You can hike, paraglide, kayak at the Hatta Dam, and sleep wonderfully at Damani Deluxe Lodges, where they bring the breakfast picnic basket to your door in the morning. Heavenly.

End with a big bang?
Then reserve for an extensive ‘Breakfast in the Clouds’ breakfast at Atmosphere, the restaurant of the Burj Khalifa. It’s a perfect way to experience luxury without paying the top price. And the view from the toilet is the best you will ever experience in your life, you get that.