{"id":4363,"date":"2017-10-03T15:54:03","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T15:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/?p=4363"},"modified":"2017-10-04T12:42:27","modified_gmt":"2017-10-04T12:42:27","slug":"cultural-guide-to-dubai-stopover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.isango.com\/theguidebook\/cultural-guide-to-dubai-stopover\/","title":{"rendered":"The Culture Vulture’s Guide to a Stopover in Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dubai was never\u00a0high on my bucket list. If I\u2019m completely honest, apart from when I was in transit in the city’s airport and in dire need of fresh air and a decent meal, I\u2019d rarely given the city a second thought. So when Fi\u2014easily the most cultured\u00a0of my friends\u2014declared she was swapping her London life for a few years\u2019 desert-side in Dubai, I was perplexed.\u00a0Maybe there is more to the city than glitz and glamour? I decided to investigate. Next time I was due a stopover in Dubai International, I made sure I saw more than just the airport McDonalds. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Just two days in the city and I discovered there was far more to Dubai than what meets the eye\u2014and makes the headlines. Here\u2019s how, through three lesser-known gems and one Aladdin-style adventure, you too can make the most of your stopover in the UAE and give this city the look-in it deserves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get it to the Creek<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"Dubai<\/p>\n

Igor Ovsyannykov<\/a>,\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Burj Khalifa may be the gem in modern-day Dubai\u2019s crown (more on that here<\/strong><\/a>), but much of the city\u2019s charm still lies in its traditional offerings. Bordering the Dubai Creek, the gold, spice and textile souks’ labyrinth of alleyways is a clear case in point. The original site where the Bani Yas tribe first settled, Dubai Creek and the sprawling Moorish-style marketplaces give visitors a peek into the region\u2019s rich history and customs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Top tip: <\/b>While you may not find much in the way of bargains at the lavish gold souk, don\u2019t lose hope. As just AED1 per ticket, a ride across Dubai Creek on a traditional abra is one of the most stunning journeys in the region\u2014and easily the best-value attraction you’ll find.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Swap tourist traps for local hang-outs<\/b><\/h4>\n
\"Dubai-restaurant-hotspots-Maine\"<\/h5>\n
For a MAINE meal to remember, head to this<\/a> seafood brasserie<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Courtesy of a thriving\u00a0expat community, Dubai fare has upped its game as of late, and the results are definitely worth sampling on your stopover. Make like Dubai’s cool crowd and head to The MAINE Oyster Bar and Grill<\/strong><\/a> for dinner and a drink. Dishing out crowd-pleasers in a laidback, post-industrial setting, feasters will find MAINE in Downtown Dubai, its entrance tucked away in a dingy hotel garage.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"maine-dubai-eats\"<\/p>\n


\nWithin walking distance of the Burj Khalifa, chic Japanese eatery\u00a0Zuma<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0makes the perfect follow-up\u00a0to your tour up the tower<\/a><\/strong>. The tasty shareplates are\u00a0legendary among locals, and the slick interiors featuring hand-carved granite counters, salvaged rusted-steel walls and an unusual bamboo sculpture aren’t too shabby either. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Head to The Scene<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for a taste of home and a good pint. Masterminded by renowned English chef Simon Rimmer, The Scene boasts just\u00a0the right amount of British quirk and serves up the the best Sunday Roast\u00a0in town. Need we say more?<\/span><\/p>\n

For traditional eats, go straight to Downtown Dubai and don\u2019t stop until you reach Leila<\/strong><\/a>. Dishing out mezze plates and slow-cooked meats spiced to perfection, Leila gets the nod from both locals and expats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Surf \u2018n\u2019 turf at Kite Beach<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"isango-dubai-stopover\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In my book,\u00a0the best mini-breaks all have one thing in common: the beach. Although I\u2019m usually content with a dip, Kite Beach\u2019s watersports proved too good to pass up. From windsurfing to paddle boarding, soap football and even paragliding, Kite Beach is just about as outdoorsy as this city gets. Considering the year-round sunshine, we’re okay with that. Lining the beach are a convoy of food trucks, armed and ready to sate the masses. Our favourite\u2019s Salt<\/a><\/strong>, t<\/span>he first of the gourmet burger van gang to hit the scene.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Explore the Arabian Desert<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"dubai-stopover\"<\/p>\n

\"dubai-desert-safari\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It may be coveted by the masses, but Dubai desert safaris are legendary for good reason. The stark orange earth with sweeping sand dunes lie just outside the big smoke, and a myriad of tour options makes this an adventure possible even for those tight on time. On most Safari tours<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0trained guides driving 4×4 vehicles lead the way over the sand dunes, and through the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve\u2014deep into the heart of the desert. Then, you’ll stop by a Bedouin-style campsite, where traditional dining, belly dancing and a camel ride awaits.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And all too soon, my stopover is\u00a0done and dusted. To plan your own Dubai mini-break, complete with these four obscure activities and the city’s essentials (I’m getting to them next time), check out\u00a0our website here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s how to do the region right. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19,58,108],"tags":[379,380,381,382,383,384,385],"yoast_head":"\nThe Culture Vulture's Guide to a Stopover in Dubai | The Guidebook - isango!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here's how to do the region right. 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When she\u2019s not befriending every dog in sight, Alice is travelling. The whole of Europe is on her list. After years of acting like it\u2019s her job to know all the inside travel info, she can\u2019t quite believe she\u2019s actually getting paid to do this. She humbly hopes her pieces will stop you from boarding the wrong bus, visiting mediocre museums or showing up at Stansted airport when your flight is at Heathrow\u2014all of which she has done before\u2014but she\u2019s not making any promises. 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