–Travel Report–
I have been to Dubai so many times and I must admit that every time I arrive in the spectacular emirate, it always surprises me with something new. There are very few cities that you can visit for 10-15 times and still have the resources to offer you each time interesting places to see or new experiences to try.
That’s what happened during my recent visit to Dubai, where for 4 days I didn’t have a single moment to be bored. But this time I visited less-known places and tried to have a deeper contact with the history and traditions of the emirate. Because no matter how much it evolves and how fast the pace of development is here (probably one of the biggest in the world), Dubai preserves its identity and its roots to the past and origins.
Because Dubai doesn’t just mean skyscrapers and swimming pools or beaches, it also combines a series of other experiences that I will try to briefly describe below.
Dubai Safari Park
The first place we visited after arriving was the Dubai Safari Park. Located less than an hour’s drive from Dubai, the place is a huge green oasis of 120 hectares, where once you enter you feel like you are in a completely different part of the planet. Moreover, the park is also divided into zones, which you can go through the Safari Experience, in small minibuses, which take you among the wild animals, crossing their natural habitat. The Arabian desert offers you the encounter with the emblematic animal Oryx, but also with many species of gazelles or the dreaded Arabian dog.
We move on to the Asian area, where we see the black bear, gibbons and other rare species. And then the Africa area, which I think is the most spectacular. Because here you can admire up close the most feared carnivorous animals and other predators, such as the white lion, tiger or cheetah. Or the ferocious crocodiles. All the animals, I repeat, living in a habitat identical to the natural one, and you can get within a few meters of the animals. But equally spectacular is the area where elephants, white rhinoceros or giant gorillas live. And, obviously, the many species of antelopes, gazelles, zebras and birds.
All the animals are housed in a habitat that perfectly reproduces the conditions of the various areas where the animals come from, with great attention to the protection of the species and to the care of an environment that is as unaltered as possible. In fact, the tour through these areas also has an important educational role, and the guides explain to those interested details about the importance of sustainability and protecting wildlife.
Of great interest are the moments when you can feed the giraffes or the rhinos, as well as the shows that are scheduled at fixed times, with trained animals, delight for the children.
But after you have finished admiring more than 3,000 animals, surely in Dubai Safari Park you also have a recreation area, one dedicated to children, but also places where you can eat, from different local Arabic specialties to Mexican, Italian food or Asian.
More details about access, tickets, etc. can be found here: https://dubaisafari.ae/
Historic Dubai
And because we had a good part of the day left, we also went to visit Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, (https://www.dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/attractions/heritage-sites/al-fahidi -historical-neighbourhood) where you can have a direct contact with the history of the emirate and with a traditional village of old Dubai. Here you will observe the traditional lifestyle, characteristics of Dubai towards the end of the 19th century and until the 70s of the 20th century. Buildings built in a traditional style, with the materials specific to the times and in the architecture of that time that you can’t find anywhere else, with artisanal paved alleys and a series of events that make you feel really back in time 100 years ago .
And if we’re still here, we can’t miss serving a snack in a very traditional place, Arabian Tea House (https://arabianteahouse.com/). Snack is way of saying, because here you won’t be able to resist a meal with all the specialties of the area, which I think the appetizing pictures below speak best of.
The View – Palm
It’s evening and we go to see the city from above, in one of the most spectacular observation points in Dubai: The View Palm (https://www.theviewpalm.ae/)
The building is easy to find, it is the tallest on The Palm and it also hosts the St. Regis, but also the spectacular Aura infinity pool.
The 52nd floor area, The View, offers you a unique, panoramic, 360-degree view of both The Palm and the city. From no less than 240 meters high, and the pictures below I think say it all about the experience you have here.
Mare by Bussola
And we’ll end the day in Italian style with a dinner at Mare by Bussola, a beachfront restaurant next to a cozy pool within the Westin Mina Seyahi hotel. (https://www.bussoladubai.com/mare) Beyond the view we had from the table, the food was really delicious, we had a baked sea branzino and some exceptional Italian appetizers. As for the desserts, it seems that even in Italy I have not eaten such a good tiramisu…
The Frame
We started the next day with visits to two of the most interesting museums in central Dubai. The first was The Frame (https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en ), which, as the name suggests, is shaped like a huge picture frame. The unique museum is somehow a tribute to the emirate’s transition from tradition and origins to the modernism boom it has experienced in recent decades. Moreover, its position is also symbolic, The Frame separating the old Dubai from the new and modern part of the city. And the museum tour begins with an area dedicated to old Dubai, with images and descriptions of the small fishing town and the beginning of the transformations into today’s modern metropolis. In the central part you can admire the two current parts of the city, the one with skyscrapers and the one with traditional old buildings, and the most interesting feeling is to step on the transparent floor, from where you can look down from the height of 150 meters . And finally, the final part is dedicated to a multimedia show with visual effects that reproduce the future vision of the metropolis.
The Museum of the Future
Then we go to one of the most spectacular museums in the Gulf area, the Museum of the Future (https://museumofthefuture.ae/en)
The building is so original, with a unique shape and it ‘speaks Arabic’: its facade is a canvas for the poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum rendered in the calligraphy of Mattar bin Lahej.
The museum is built on the visionary culture that has transformed the emirate over the past 50 years into one of the most evolved regions on the globe. With an area of over 30,000 square meters, the museum reflects the vision of the future, but also the problems of the present, which humanity must solve in the future. It simulates a trip into the future, 50 years from now, when humans will be able to travel rapidly in space, drive vehicles unimaginable today, and will have the resources and possibilities to restore the planet to a protected and well-preserved ecosystem. And the multimedia technology in the museum offers real impressive light and sound demonstrations in the various rooms. It is a gateway to a future world, crafted by visionary designers, artists and filmmakers. The Museum combines elements of exhibition, immersive theatre and themed attraction. Each floor is like a film set from a future that you can inhabit, explore and interact with.
Tandoor Tina Restaurant @ 25h Hotel
Then we discovered a place so original that you really feel somewhere far from everything that surrounds us. 25 hours hotel has a special atmosphere, a unique design and people come here either just to socialize or to work in the unique atmosphere of the lobby. And the restaurant on the ground floor, Tandoor Tina (https://www.tandoortina.com/), with Indian specialties, is equally fascinating. I tried a specific Murgh Malai chicken with all kinds of special spices, it was really delicious. And I really had a hard time choosing from the multitude of tempting specialties on the menu.
LA MER
We then chose to get out of the buzzing area of the center and go to a quiet place that I had recently heard about and wanted to see: La Mer (https://www.lamerdubai.ae/en)
This is a small town built next to a beach, and the architecture, design and atmosphere all give an air of vacation and relaxation… Multicolored, wooden buildings, many shops, so you can spend serious time shopping here, but also lots of terraces and small restaurants. As for the beach, here you can relax on a deck chair in the shade of a palm tree, have a cocktail from the many bars and listen to live music. I regretted not spending more time in this area, I would have stayed here all day.
Palazzo Versace
But we had to go, to go get dressed up. A dinner was waiting for us in one of the most exquisite places in Dubai: Palazzo Versace (https://www.palazzoversace.ae/)
In my opinion, Palazzo Versace is one of the most elegant and sophisticated hotels in Dubai. Located in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it has spectacular interiors and large gardens with swimming pools and a small Marina where visitors moor their yachts. We had dinner at Vanitas, a restaurant with Italian specialty, with a superb panoramic view and unique decorations, obviously bearing the unmistakable Versace style.
Here, Chef Luca Crostelli (with extensive experience in Michelin-starred restaurants) prepared an impeccable menu for us… All kinds of typical entrees, delicious pastas, etc. and I opted for a Wagyu beef steak, with truffle puree and grilled asparagus, excellently prepared, melt in your mouth. We also tried a red wine from Tuscany after which we relaxed chatting on the pool terrace. A truly dreamy place, which I highly recommend to those who want style but also privacy and tranquility.
HATTA
As we still wanted to diversify our experiences, because in this matter Dubai has inexhaustible resources to surprise you, we also chose a trip to the mountain area of Hatta (https://www.visithatta.com/en)
Here the landscapes are impressive, with the transition from the desert to the mountains and the crystal clear lake that mirrors the ridges… But whoever comes here wants adventure above all. And it has a lot of options. Either simply climb the ridges, which is assisted and with appropriate equipment, or choose various mountainous mountain-bike routes. You also have a zipline and the possibility to jump with a parachute / paraglider. Horse lovers can ride some gorgeous rare specimens here, and if you’re a water lover, you can’t miss a Kayak trail. Whatever activity you choose, you are always given assistance and the necessary equipment, and I was pleasantly impressed by the care of the hosts for a sustainable and eco-friendly environment.
And naturally, after so much activity, you get hungry. Here you have a wide variety of options to choose from. Whether you choose a restaurant (I opted for the Arabic BBQ specialties at Bab AlSham), but if you want something more on the run, you also have numerous food trucks available, with all kinds of specialties.
W HOTEL MINA SEYAHI
I wouldn’t want to end the story of my experiences in Dubai without also mentioning the magnificent place where I stayed: the W Dubai Mina Seyahi hotel (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/dxbmw-w-dubai- mina-seyahi/overview/)
The new skyscraper has an architecture that makes it stand out from far away and is right on the beach, right next to the famous The Palm. Like any W hotel, the standards are respected down to the smallest detail, from the specific ambient scent to the colors and lights in the rooms or the design of the decorations. The rooms offer a superb panoramic view of the sea, The Palm and the city and are equipped with the latest technology. Good news for smokers too, as each room has spacious, open terraces with sunbeds where you can relax with a breathtaking view.
At breakfast I enjoyed every morning a selection of fresh vegetable and fruit juices. And the infinity pool is really a place where you don’t want to leave, with a panoramic view and some sunbeds with soft mattresses where you seem to float.
Overall, this visit to Dubai convinced me once again that this city-emirate offers new places and experiences every time. I was happy that this time I was able to connect more with the local history and traditions, which people here value and respect, but also with the future vision of the locals, who have the most daring ambitions . The variety of possibilities for relaxation, knowledge and experiences that Dubai offers is truly unique and fascinating.
But I’ll be back soon, because I’ve not finished the whole story. Stay tuned!