It is very common for those who fly to Asia with a long layover to stay in Dubai for a day. Sure Dubai airports are a fascinating experience, but it is much more interesting to visit the pearl of oriental luxury, even if it’s just for a day.
Do I need a visa?
If your company is Emirates Airlines (or flyDubai) you can get a visa on arrival without any problems. Just get off the plane in Dubai and go to the “Immigration Control” desk, where your passport will be stamped with a transit visa free of charge.
How to get from the airport?
As it is well known that public transport in Dubai works like a clock, so we recommend you to pay attention to the subway — you can get from the airport to downtown in 40-50 minutes. The stations are located only in Terminals 1 and 3, and there is a free shuttle bus between them.
But if you prefer to feel more comfortable, we advise you to pay attention to the car rental services. The choice of a rental car in Dubai is limited only by your wishes and your budget: From compact city Smart cars to Lambo Urus — any option can be rented out and you can go to discover Dubai.
What to see?
One of the most popular tourist destinations is definitely Dubai Marina. Dubai Marina has an artificial port for yachts, a number of restaurants and cafes (from affordable to highly expensive) and a public beach. For beach lovers may also be interested in the most popular beach in Dubai — Jumeirah Public Beach. It has a beautiful view of the Burj Al Arab, the famous seven-star hotel in the form of a sail. Nothing could be more beautiful than being able to enjoy a swim with a view of the spectacular skyscrapers while having a glass of wine on the pier afterwards?
If you like an activity, be sure to check out Kite Beach, located near Jumeirah Beach Park, a large beach and park with a wide range of activities. It is a favorite meeting place for all kitesurfers. Extreme lovers can also appreciate XLine — the world’s longest steel rope descent over Dubai Marina; tickets for this incredible attraction are available at the XLine box office in Dubai Marina Mall.
The Burj Khalifa Tower is the most famous landmark of the city, you can see it from any part of the city. At night the tower has a light show, so you don’t miss it.
When you get close to it you can feel the monumentality of this building, as well as you can enjoy the view from the observation deck “At The Top”.
Close to the Burj Khalifa is another attraction of the city — the singing fountain which is located in the middle of an artificial lake. All the magnificence of this fountain is revealed in the evening when the world’s unique musical and light show starts. You can see it every evening every half hour from 18:00 to 23:00 for free.
Also, there is a giant mall called The Dubai Mall with an aquarium and a huge ski park where you can go snowboarding or skiing (you can rent all the equipment). Since it is a mall, you will enjoy the shopping as well — there are more than 1500 stores to choose from.
If you only have a day to discover the city, you can mix up your mini-vacation with a cultural program, such as visiting the Etihad Museum, also known as the Emirates Museum or the UAE Museum. Here you will find exhibits that recall the history of the United Arab Emirates. The museum complex includes eight pavilions, a library, an exhibition hall, an educational center, and a restaurant.
Dubai is not only a symbol of luxury life. There are many theme parks located here. If you are in the city just for one day, you can devote that day to entertainment, especially if it is your lifelong dream (or your child is very persistent). In Dubai you can visit Legoland, Dubai Miracle Garden, IMG Worlds of Adventure or multiple water parks, including the largest one – Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai.
If you have a free day in Dubai all of a sudden and unplanned it is possible to use the services of guides and order a sightseeing tour around the city. Such tours are offered right at the counters at the airport and they usually contain the most interesting and the main sights of the city. In addition to standard sightseeing tours there are also combined tours which include a sightseeing tour with jeep safari or helicopter flight over Dubai.
