Dubai

It is finally the end of my Dubai vacation, but I have not yet explored the history of the place I visited. So, this may be a good time to pause for a brief geography and history lesson on Dubai.

Dubai is the capital and the most populous city in the UAE, with a population of almost 4 million, nearly 90 percent of whom are expatriates, many from Pakistan and India. Most of Dubai’s Indian population is from the state of Kerala. The migration from Kerala began in the 1980s when numerous Keralites came to the UAE seeking employment, a phenomenon then known as the “Gulf Rush.”

Believed to have been established as a fishing village in the 18th century, Dubai gradually became an important port in the region. Pearl fishing was the main trade during that time. The oil era began in the early 20th century, significantly contributing to the region’s wealth. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum family since 1833.

Today, only 1% of Dubai’s revenue comes from oil. Tourism, aviation, real estate, and financial services now play a dominant role, making Dubai one of the most popular destinations in the world. It boasts the second-largest number of five-star hotels globally and is home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The city experiences a tropical hot desert climate, as it is located in the Arabian Desert. However, its seaside location makes it less hot than the interior regions of the UAE.

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai

Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is designed to speculate on what the future might look like. I have kept this section brief, as my knowledge of the venue is limited to its exterior and hearsay from my immediate family.

When we arrived at the museum, we discovered that all tickets were sold out, and they had been for another two weeks ahead. We checked online and managed to secure only one ticket. We decided to send our son on the tour, but upon further inquiry, the museum authorities informed us that since our son was under 18, he could not enter alone. However, they were kind enough to provide an additional ticket for one of us. I decided my wife should accompany him, so I returned to the hotel.

Both my wife and son were unimpressed with the museum’s offerings, remarking that the “World of Tomorrow” at Disneyland was a better experience. However, they did enjoy a couple of exhibits. I decided that I would visit the museum on another trip. Below are some photos they took.

I must say, the building is one of the most unique, artistic, and beautiful structures I have ever seen.

Dubai Metro

We discovered the Dubai Metro after setting our travel agenda and regretted not learning about it sooner, as we could have planned to use it more. We took the metro to the Dubai Mall for a quick lunch, and it cost us only 6 AED. The system is economical, efficient, clean, and well-managed. Every budget-conscious traveler should consider this mode of transportation when visiting Dubai.

Sansation Motor City

As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons for our visit to Dubai was a multi-day, multi-venue family wedding. Sansation Motor City is a beautiful restaurant that hosted one of the wedding ceremonies. It offers a delightful selection of Arab dishes and features an excellent Shisha bar with a variety of options. As of this writing, the restaurant does not have an alcohol license. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic place for an evening dinner.

MTR Restaurant Dubai

To satisfy our craving for a South Indian meal, we decided to visit MTR Restaurant in Dubai for brunch. Connoisseurs of Indian cuisine will recognize the name, as MTR is an iconic restaurant that originated in Bangalore and has since established branches in other Indian cities and beyond. This branch certainly lived up to expectations, offering excellent dosas, vadas, and authentic South Indian coffee.

Traveler Tips

Here are some tips based on my experiences in Dubai:

Hotels

Sharjah, Dubai’s neighboring city, is generally more economical for everything—from hotels to car rentals. However, its biggest disadvantage, especially if you plan on exploring, is the added commute time. Traveling between Sharjah and Dubai can add an hour or more to your journey, particularly on weekdays.

Communication

If you’re not using a SIM card and rely on the internet, keep the following in mind:

• WhatsApp: Widely used for texting but cannot be used for audio calls. Interestingly, taxi drivers use it like a pager. Many asked me to send a “missed voice call.” When they receive the notification, they respond with a text.
• Botim: This app allows free internet calls, both local and international.

Internet access is widespread, convenient, and often free in many places, though it can occasionally be slow or unreliable.

Commuting

For transportation, besides renting a car, options include taxis, Uber, and Careem (a local Uber-like service that also offers food delivery). In our experience, taxis proved more economical, although some prefer Uber for longer rides, which was not the case for us.

I believe not renting a car was the better decision, though my wife disagrees. The downside of renting is that navigating Google Maps and finding the correct exits can be confusing. On the plus side, parking is usually easy to find.

Liquor

Note that the purchase and sale of liquor are prohibited in Sharjah, unlike in Dubai, as Sharjah is a more traditional city. According to regulations, you can bring no more than 4 liters of liquor into Sharjah.

One final tip for all the romantics out there: Anything beyond holding hands, hugging and kissing on the cheek or forehead is considered PDA in all of UAE and has been codified into law. It could get you arrested Please use discretion.

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Closing Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed my series of articles on our Dubai vacation. I wholeheartedly recommend adding Dubai and Sharjah to your travel list if you haven’t visited them yet.

I fully understand that I have only scratched the surface when it comes to places to see and experiences to enjoy in Dubai and its surrounding cities.

Here are some of the things I would like to do on a future visit:

• City tours of Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi
• Dubai Aquarium and underwater tours
• Dubai Jet Ski experience
• Visit the Global Village
• Ski Dubai with the “penguin” experience
• The Butterfly Garden, adjacent to the Miracle Garden
• Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi
• Visit the Museum of the Future (this one is personal)

Wishing you happy and safe travels!