Think of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as vacation resorts in the Middle East. Yes, the region is very religious and traditional, but parts of it are getting more liberal. Bahrain and Kuwait are two examples, but the UAE is the jewel in the crown. As a result, there is a whole host of things to do, from rallying in the desert to flying a seaplane. Seriously, the pilot will hand over the controls and let you live out your dream of being a real-life Maverick. Don’t ask ‘​what is there to do in Dubai​’ because the answers are too varied. It will take forever! Instead, think of something that is on your bucket list and then check for vendors. To get the best deals, schedule an excursion in advance as it saves money. There are lots of online brokers so it shouldn’t be an issue.

 

At home, ​going to the mall​ may be a day trip if you milk it for all its worth. In Dubai, you can spend a week there and still not experience all the shops. Yep, the Dubai Mall is that big it can take weeks to see everything there is to see. In fact, it’s officially the largest and most visited mall in the world with an area of 5.9 million square feet. It’s well worth checking out just to marvel at the scale of the thing. Of course, talking about all of the attractions would take forever, so let’s focus on the main points. The Burj Khalifa is currently the world’s tallest skyscraper, standing at a whopping 828 meters. In old money, that equates to 2717 feet. But, go their soon because it’s about to be ​eclipsed by the Dubai Creek Tower​. From high to low, be sure to see the underground aquarium which has scuba-diving and small boat rides. Plus, there is a cinema complex and a huge food court, as well as dozens of coffee shops. My friends, those are just the tip of the iceberg, which is a scary thought! 

If you are envious of opulent luxury, you have probably heard of the Palm Islands. Built on a base of sand, the ​Jumeirah, Deira and Jebel Ali​ are home to some of the best hotels in the world. And, you can walk around and pretend to be part of the action by jumping on the monorail. Just buy a ticket at the station and hop abroad while the sky train ushers you into a world you have never seen before. Then, wander around the shops and markets in the Atlantis resort and even eat at five-star restaurants. For those of you that find it too much or too expensive, you can float around without a care in the world. No one will get in your way unless you try to spot the celebrities. Then, you may be escorted off the premises, but poor people need to learn their place! 

Indoor Parks

The heat is so intense in the Middle East that people can’t go outdoors. From a boredom point of view, this makes the situation even worse. Well, that is until you realize the King is on the ball. Not one to be fooled by the summer heat, the infrastructure throughout the Emirate is based inside to avoid the sun. So, parks are accessible with air conditioning in Dubai. Therefore, you can go bowling, swimming and ice-skating without sweating to death. With iFly, it’s even possible to go skydiving. Yep, you guessed it – it’s indoors too! The only thing that isn’t possible is a safari but that could change. All you have to do is jump in a taxi from A to B and the heat won’t be a factor. Even if it’s only a five-minute walk, you should hail a cab.