At the end of winter, my boyfriend and I had an irresistible desire to rush away from these disgusting cold weather to where it is warm and sunny, where you can lie serenely on the beach and walk in search of new experiences. In the current realities, the choice is small, but what doubts can there be when Dubai is open? We have not been here yet, so we decided to go to Dubai! May 20, 2021 AUTHOR: Evgenia Sidorchuk 0 7 min
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I'll make a reservation right away that a week in Dubai is enough to relax and recharge, but this time is clearly not enough to get to know the city in full. The city is changing by leaps and bounds, it amazes with its scale and manufacturability: if a flying saucer suddenly flew out from around the corner, I would not even be surprised.
Here, technology is so integrated into everyday life that such an event would seem quite natural. The subway runs on autopilot, skyscrapers soar, the whole city is riddled with highways, along the central highway you can see car dealerships of all the world's car brands every now and then, and you also regularly hear the characteristic roar of sports cars.
Dubai is not a small European city that can be walked around in a couple of days. Dubai is a huge metropolis in which everything works on the principle of “faster, higher, stronger” and which constantly surprises.
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
Entry conditions
To enter Dubai, a certificate with a negative PCR test result is required, made no later than 72 hours before departure. You also need to fill out a special questionnaire, which is distributed to all passengers during the flight.
On arrival, you must pass a second test at the airport – it's free. After passing through passport control, you are sent to the booths where the test is carried out, and then a QR code is stuck on your passport, by which you can check whether the results of the analysis are ready.
We flew to Dubai in the evening, and early in the morning we already received SMS with negative test results. The excitement of waiting vanished and, without wasting time, we set off to get acquainted with the city.
Air tickets to Dubai
You can fly from Kyiv to Dubai with direct flights of UIA, SkyUp, Air Arabia, flydubai, Emirates, as well as Turkish Airlines with a transfer in Istanbul. We chose SkyUp because they had convenient departure and arrival times, and the price was the best compared to competitors.
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
What to see in Dubai?
We had Napoleonic vacation plans – to lie on the beach and see the city. Everyone managed to do it, but it must be admitted that for those who are looking for dimension and complete relaxation, this pace will not work, but for those who want to get the most out of their vacation, this plan will appeal to them.
Due to the pandemic, the city has a mask regime – a mask must be worn in all public places, except for beaches. On the subway, seats are occupied one at a time to keep the distance, but during rush hour, social distancing is difficult to implement.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and dancing fountains
On the first day of our trip, we decided to follow the classic tourist route and see the main attraction of Dubai – the amazing Burj Khalifa tower. They decided to go there by metro, which, by the way, is worthy of the title of a separate attraction – Dubai metro trains operate on autopilot, and instead of a driver in the first carriage, there is a panoramic window with gorgeous views of Dubai. The only nuance is that the first carriage is intended for women and children, and the last is reserved for passengers who have purchased a Gold class ticket.
The journey from Dubai Mall station to Burj Khalifa will take about 20-25 minutes. At first it seems that here it is a tower – a stone's throw, but, in fact, to get to it, you need to go through a long passage and the Dubai Mall – the largest shopping center in the world. To understand the scale, one fact is enough: there is even a taxi that drives visitors to the right shops. Fortunately, there are escalators and signs along the way to the Burj Khalifa that will help you not to get lost and get to your destination more or less quickly.
Photo by Evgeniya Sidorchuk
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
We pass through the Dubai Mall, the cherished door opens, and we see it – a huge, but at the same time elegant building, shimmering with illumination. This is the tallest and most multi-storey building in the world – the height is 828 meters and 163 floors. In the tower itself, you can climb to the level of the 124th, 125th and 148th floors. The rise to the 124th and 125th floors will cost 149 AED, and almost to the very top, to the 148th floor – 379 AED. We decided to save the observation deck for the next time, and this time look at the fountain show in front of Burj Khalifa – it happens every half an hour and alternates with a light show, during which the tower itself “dances”.
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
Author of the photo – Evgenia Sidorchuk
It would seem that the illumination and fountains are amazing, but it's just some kind of magic! To the sounds of famous hits, classical compositions and Arabic motifs, jets of water rush up, alternate and whirl in a bewitching dance.
JBR, The Walk and Bluewaters island
Do you like to walk? We love it, so every trip is marked by at least 15 kilometers traveled per day and closed activity rings on the Apple Watch. There is a myth about Dubai that this is not a city for walking and there is no way here without a car. We learned both sides of the coin and, looking ahead, I will say that there are places to walk in Dubai, you just need to know the places;)
The first experience of walking dragged on a bit. One evening we decided to walk to the sea – according to the map it was a maximum of 20 minutes walk. In fact, the walk took almost an hour. Our path ran through the urban jungle and along busy roads, so that we could look at the bustling city. Next time we decided to choose one of the popular places for the evening promenade. Of which, it is fair to say, there are a lot of them.
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
Photo by Evgenia Sidorchuk
One of the best areas for walking can definitely be called the JBR area – it consists of a beach area and The Walk promenade, which offers a magnificent view of the sea. And what a sunset! The promenade smoothly turns into a bridge connecting the embankment with Bluewaters Island. The island is notable for being home to one of Dubai's most notable sights, the Ain Dubai observation wheel, the largest in the world. Unfortunately, for the time being it is closed and will open by the beginning of the international exhibition Expo 2020 this autumn, so we will find out what kind of view opens from a height of 210 meters next time.
Also nearby is the Dubai Marina area, through which the picturesque Dubai Creek passes. Azure water, dizzying skyscrapers and a convenient embankment – the place for walking is just great.