37. Dubai Bling!
Exploring the Wonders of Dubai: A Journey Through the Magical Desert City!
The Magical Desert City
We had an early morning flight to Dubai as our trip to India wound down. After a quick immigration and check-in process, we headed to board the flight. It was a three-hour journey from Delhi. The flight was very smooth, and we arrived in Dubai. I transited through Dubai more than 20 years ago, and it has changed for the better since then. Upon arrival, the immigration process was easy and efficient, with no issues.
My friend lives in Abu Dhabi and has come to pick me up. He moved to Abu Dhabi almost 17 years ago and grew up there. He is the head of a multinational company and the head of HR. It was good to see him after a long time. We headed towards Dubai City. As we were coming out of the airport, one could not help but notice that the aesthetics of the city's skyscrapers were marvelous. How King Al Maktoum was able to pull this off is beyond imagination. From a shabby desert city 30 years ago to the world's forefront of trade and leisure in the Middle East, it's a Cinderella story all over again. We kept moving towards Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the main roads in Dubai, which is central to the city. If you know Sheikh Zayed Road, you know Dubai(lol). The same road stretches from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah. The country runs on one road.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was founded on December 2, 1971, when seven emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujairah, and later Ras Al Khaimah (1972)—united under one federation. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan led the UAE from a desert economy that relied on fishing and pearl diving into a global economic power hub.
Initially, the discovery of oil-fueled rapid development, but the UAE diversified its economy through tourism, trade, finance, and technology. Cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi became symbols of modernity, featuring iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, world-class airports, and luxurious shopping centers. The country has also emerged as a leader in space exploration, AI, and sustainability, which is evident in projects such as Masdar City and the Emirates Mars Mission.
Today, the UAE is recognized for its stability, economic strength, and innovation, drawing global businesses and expatriates. Its visions for the future, including Vision 2030 and Vision 2071, emphasize sustainability, digital transformation, and a knowledge-based economy. From humble beginnings, the UAE is now a leading force in the Middle East and a significant player in business, technology, and tourism.
We arrived at the hotel, which was right on Zayed Rd, the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Dubai. Our rooms were delayed, so they asked us to enjoy the facilities before check-in. When we finally got our rooms, they were fantastic- on the 31st floor with incredible views of none other than the Burj Khalifa(the tallest tower ever built); one could say it's one of the modern wonders. We freshened up and headed to Dubai Mall, one of the posh malls featuring the most designer shops worldwide. Any luxury brand can call Dubai home(incredible). The architecture is excellent and aesthetically pleasing. The current Sheikh has a vision akin to Steve Jobs; what he did with the iPhone, I believe the Sheikh is attempting to do with the city's skyscrapers. Each structure is different from the others. They always try new things and invite people worldwide to do business and work here.
As we headed towards Dubai Mall, with a view of Burj Khalifa, it was a stunning structure piercing through the sky with absolutely gorgeous views from the bottom and the top. We strolled around and finally settled near a restaurant for scrumptious kebabs with a view of the tower, magnificent. It was truly magical as the sounds began to break the dusk, and the fountains danced to the tunes, which was mesmerizing. We spent most of our time just admiring the man-made structure. The fountains performed every 30 minutes to different music, and the icing on the cake was the lights illuminating the Burj Khalifa, which was spectacular.
As the evening ended, we left for the hotel and rested a bit, initially thinking about attending the late-night gathering. However, due to significant sleeplessness, we dozed off into the calm Dubai night and woke up late; we needed that sleep and finally caught up on it.
The next day, we prepared for an evening yacht party. In the afternoon, we spent considerable time walking along Zayed Road, ending up at a restaurant called Purina Dilli, which serves Indian cuisine. Having satisfied our culinary cravings, we tried to limit our food intake as nothing seemed appealing after our hearty meals in India. After a light Indian lunch, we snapped more pictures on Zayed Road, this time featuring the Museum of the Future. Its oval shape, adorned with Arabic inscriptions, embodies the essence of the future, and it prominently appears in the Netflix show " Dubai Bling, " which showcases the lives of millionaires in the city. Many residents have relocated to Dubai from all over the world due to its business-friendly environment and safety. Our friend recommended we take an Uber, as it was closer to him from Abu Dhabi.
We arrived at the exclusive yachts near Dubai Marina and gathered before boarding the four-hour night party yacht. It was thrilling to see Dubai illuminated at night from the water. We spent the night enjoying delicious food and capturing spectacular photos. It was a Friday evening, and everyone was having a fantastic time; the music was great, and the lively beats had everyone dancing. By the time we finished, it was already one o'clock. As we returned, my friend pointed out Palm Jumeirah, the Atlantis, and the Atlantic Royale- each more impressive than the last. We wrapped up the night and bid farewell to my friend.
The next day, we booked a visit to the top of the Burj Khalifa. We had to hurry to the Dubai Mall to reach the tower's top floor. We also had a desert safari arranged with ABC Tour Company, so we needed to finish our visit at the Burj and return for a pickup by 2 pm. However, the line at the Burj was long, causing delays. Once at the top, the view was stunning, with construction projects all around, indicating the city's incredible growth over the last decade. Standing at 2,516 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa was started in 2004 and completed in 2010. It contains commercial offices and has become an iconic symbol of engineering excellence worldwide.
Dubai is a safe destination for employees seeking quick earnings, offering visitors immersive experiences and business opportunities for growth in a secure environment. The advantage is the absence of taxes, but a significant downside is that expatriates cannot become citizens of the country. After quickly finishing at the Burj, we took an Uber to the hotel and waited for the desert safari to pick us up. As the truck was delayed due to traffic, we had time to grab a quick shawarma, which was very tasty from Bieruto's. We headed back to the hotel, and finally, Sadiq arrived and took us on the Land Cruiser to our activities for the day. Sadiq, an interesting guy from Cochin, India, shared fascinating facts about life in Dubai. From Malayalam movies to tax systems to buildings, he is very well-versed in local topics and was quite informative.
We headed towards the desert for the activities. After 40 minutes, we started noticing the desert. According to Sadiq, once he is in the desert, he has to deflate his tires to maneuver better in the sand. We proceeded to the camp where the activities were planned. We began with a camel ride, just a short distance- the get-up on a camel requires practice. It feels like you might almost fall. After the ride and taking pictures, we encountered a guy standing with a hawk. For a meager price, he allowed us to take photos. Next, we headed to sandboarding, which felt like snowboarding, except it was on sand. We could manage some parts with incredible difficulty. One needs to be flexible and careful; otherwise, you might injure yourself. I just tried for a bit. It was fun. Later, we headed towards the ATV.
After the trainer gave the briefing, they advised us to use the ATV slowly, moving and following the instructor. It was like riding a jet ski but on the sand. The handle was more challenging to maneuver, but I soon got the hang of it and found it fun to move around. Then, my friend took a turn on the ATV. After some pictures, we headed for the dune bashing. Dune bashing involves driving quickly in the sand, going up and down. It was an adrenaline thrill and very well organized. Sadiq was the guy for the dune bashing, and it was great. He stopped at the top of the hill with the perfect sunset. He has excellent photography skills and took everyone's pictures, leaving everyone awestruck because they were beautiful. After a brief time, we headed back to the camp.
The camp featured a central stage with people seated around it. We were positioned separately for a better view as we lounged in our seats. Dinner was served directly to us. We enjoyed a beautiful Egyptian dance that lasted for over ten minutes. The dancer performed for over ten minutes, circling himself with various postures in his colorful attire. The colors and lights were mesmerizing, and he was fully immersed in the performance. We could feel it.
Then came the excellent belly dance. She danced with a sword, showcasing an outstanding performance overall. Following that, the fire performance was magical. All three performances were enchanting, and after they concluded, it was time for stargazing. They turned off the lights so we could enjoy our stargazing. It was worth it; the stargazing was beautiful in the middle of the desert, with minimal people around.
After the activities, we returned to the hotel, where my cousin was waiting to drop us off at the airport. After a brief chat at the hotel, we went to the airport. It was time to return home after a whirlwind trip that had taken more than 10 days, covering many cities and experiences. We were finally back home.
Dubai is a great city with more advantages for entrepreneurs than employees. It offers many resources for people to enjoy, and infrastructure and luxury are integral. I will enjoy the city as a tourist; things might change next time.
Suman Manchireddy MD
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and experienced a few "bucket list" activities. Bravo!