From Glasgow Airport to Dubai, we visited the Middle Eastern city to see what it has to offer. We tried culturally rich activities that don’t break the bank then went all out on luxury adventures.
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00:00I recently visited Dubai, here is a breakdown of what I got up to.
00:03Our first stop was a traditional Emirati brunch at the SMCCU located in the old part of the city.
00:09It was an opportunity to actually explore and practice Emirati culture.
00:13We had an amazing guide who gave us a very casual presentation and then openly answered
00:18all of our questions ranging from gender politics to dress to the meaning behind certain customs.
00:23The experience was topped off with a very hearty and fragrant meal.
00:26We then went up to the Dubai frame which at 150 meters is the tallest of its kind in the world.
00:32It gave a panoramic view of the city, it was incredible, a really good way to find your
00:36beddings especially if you've just arrived. We then set off on a heritage desert safari
00:41organized by Platinum Heritage. So this is the most awarded and sustainable safari that's offered
00:46in Dubai. We were collected from our accommodation by our conservation guide and then once we got
00:51there we got to choose head scarves and were given metal water bottles to keep and then we
00:56were transferred into a stunningly retro open-top 60s Land Rover. Then we embarked on a 60 minute
01:01drive through the desert stopping at various points to learn about wildlife, ask questions,
01:06take photos. Our guide was amazing, he knew the area extremely well and offered information that
01:11seemed to come from his own experience. He wasn't reading out of a textbook or anything and it made
01:16it much more engaging. We watched a live falconry show. These are the fastest animals in the world
01:21so it's quite insane to see. All the while the sun was setting in the background and we
01:25had cinnamon tea and vimto. We then ate a delicious four course meal at a traditional Arabic camp.
01:31There were camel rides, drum performances and even an astrology lesson. It is one of the most
01:35amazing things I've ever done in my entire life. The next morning we headed down to Drift Beach
01:40to spend a few hours by the pool and have some lunch. This club is the definition of laid-back
01:45luxury. Beautifully designed, inspired by the French Riviera, definitely has a Mediterranean
01:50feel to it. There is a pool, plenty of sun loungers, private cabanas you can rent, private
01:55beach access, a bar, restaurant, digi deck and fantastic service. We lay by the pool and sip
02:01cocktails for a while. Then had a two course meal. I went for seafood based options, a king prawn
02:06starter and mixed seafood orzo pasta. Both were very flavourful. They use fresh and organic
02:12ingredients here and you can really tell from the quality. It's also just a lovely restaurant
02:17and nice and bright with a view of the pool. They have lots of weekly events on, ladies day,
02:22breakfast clubs, fitness classes. If you're looking to visit Dubai, I recommend you check
02:26out their website for what's coming up. So that's driftbeachtubai.com. I loved it here. I didn't
02:32want to leave. The vibes are great. When it gets too hot, you can just jump in the pool.
02:36Views right across the skyline as well. It has everything. Next up then was our frying pan
02:40adventure food walk. Fans of the Netflix show Someone Feed Phil may be familiar with this.
02:45So we met up in the souks, a collection of markets at Dubai Creek, a very important place in the
02:49city's history. And then we visited a range of vendors and tried some snacks intrinsic to the
02:54area. This included an egg rolls, some crisps and bread and tea and ice cream with rice topping.
03:00We also played a very fun game of spice bingo. The walk is focused on the food, but it's also
03:04a really good opportunity to explore the culture and heritage. It's a place for locals visits.
03:09You're getting a very authentic experience. We traveled over the creek in a traditional wooden
03:14boat and the tour was concluded with a meal at the Al Qaimah Heritage Restaurant, which is
03:19actually noted in the Michelin Guide. We tried traditional Emirati food, which included lamb
03:23biryani and a kind of vegetable stew with rice. It was a tasting journey where we learned a lot
03:28about the UAE. Food is held in ceremonial regard here, so it was a rich and fulfilling experience.
03:34Finally then was possibly the most extravagant part of the itinerary, a private yacht ride around
03:38the city with exclusive yachts. We sailed by skyscrapers lining the water against a sunset.
03:44We had a full crew of enthusiastic people. We had snacks on board, a free bar, we got to choose the
03:49music. It was just gorgeous. The company offers a range of different packages at different price
03:53points. It's definitely worth having a look. What I took from this trip is that they do things very
03:58well in Dubai. You can get the enormous luxury experiences, but you can also get something more
04:03modest, but really rich in culture and heritage. There's something for everyone depending on what
04:08you're looking for and what you're looking to pay.