Dubai gets a slightly bad reputation for being a bit fake, manufactured, crude etc. The thing is, it is all of these things, yet it is exactly because it has gone so far toward the non-authentic end of the spectrum that makes it such a fascinating and unique place to visit.
I’ve enjoyed Dubai each of the 3 times I’ve visited – loved the fountain performance of the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa, sitting on the beach by the world’s only 8 star hotel the Burj Al Arab drinking cocktails, seeing the giant aquarium in the world’s largest mall in the Mall of the World, taking a boat over to the Dubai Old Town and would have LOVED to experience the skiing!
But I’ve visited mainly for work or in a time before we had the simplicity of taking photos on the phone. For these reasons, I don’t think I can really do the place anywhere near the justice it deserves by writing a full review, so haven’t shared photos and tips. Instead, I’ve given it a score based on how I found it and suggest it is a must visit if in the Middle East – slightly behind the Hajar Mountains in Oman, A supercharged week seeing the highlights of Israel and Jordan and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, but still wow.