When in transit through the Persian Gulf, have you ever had a stopover in Dubai on the way to your main destination? Where you amazed by the burgeoning new metropolis, but lost without a plan to explore the city? There are many ways that you have a great time in Dubai while on a stopover, and we have provided a few of them in the following paragraphs. Here are a few suggestions and tips –

• Short stopovers – The traffic in Dubai is notorious for its sluggishness, so if you’ve got only a few hours to spare, it might be better not to venture out of the airport. There are several generously appointed waiting lounges, good duty-free shopping, and restaurants featuring several cuisines in the airport. You can also book a room on an hourly basis in one of the Dubai airport hotels five-star Dubai International Hotel, located inside the airport, and sleep or snooze during the set time that you have there. The airport is Wi-Fi enabled, so you can use your laptop anywhere in the airport. The airport has even got a gym, in case you want to work out, and a beauty parlor where you can get a traditional Arabic henna tattoo.

• If you want to step out of the airport, make sure you have at least five hours available, because you have to be back at least 90 minutes before your outbound flight. If you have any doubts about time, do not cross the Dubai Creek. This large waterway has only a few bridges spanning it, and in rush hours or special holidays they can become jammed for hours at a time. You need to stay on the northeastern side of the Creek, where the Deira suburb is located north of the airport, if time is any kind of a factor in your plans for air travel.

• No matter how short the time you have, you can still go shopping! Dubai is famous for its love of shopping, and the airport is loaded with all kinds of stores, boutiques and practical businesses. The Dubai Festival Center is the closest mall, but there are also other options available. Wafi City is another mall just 10 minutes away from the airport, where you can buy designer clothing, and the Deira City Center boasts of European franchises. If you have enough time, you can visit the Gold and Spice Souks of Deira (“souk” is Arabic for marketplace). Here you can get souvenirs and lots of other interesting goods.

• Visit the Irish Village near the airport. This oasis of Irishness has Dublin-themed restaurants with picnic tables, nice pub food and Guinness on tap. Only ten minutes from the airport, the Irish Village is an oddity that is easy to reach and full of fun activities.

• Enjoy the view of a forest of skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road. This trip can be done on a taxi. The road is a 12-lane highway and makes for a smooth drive. You can even pass by the foot of the tallest building in the world here, the Burj Dubai! Just opened for business in the last year, the Burj Dubai is a beautiful and slim international landmark truly awe-inspiring in its size.

• The old district of the city, the Bastakiya, is also a nice place to visit when you have limited time in Dubai. Just stroll around to see the windtower houses and get to know Dubai as it was in the olden days. The cafes and galleries here are always worth a visit. The bastakiya is across the Dubai Creek from the airport, so keep an eye on the time and be sure to avoid the rush hour traffic.

• The Dubai Museum is another good place to visit. This Museum’s located in the Al Fahidi Fort and holds several impressive displays of the history of Dubai from the time it was a small fishing village to its modern glory.

• On stopovers that last more than a few hours, you can visit the world’s tallest hotel, the Burj Al Arab Hotel. This is a seven-star hotel shaped like the wind-filled sail of an ancient dhow, and the interiors of the hotel are incredibly ornate. To see the hotel, you have to book in advance. So why don’t you book an afternoon tea in the Sky View Bar, to enjoy the wonderful ambience, the incredible view, and a seven-course tea.

   

• If you have more than a day’s stay in Dubai, you can enjoy seeing the city sights on board the Big Bus Tour. This is a hop-on/hop-off tour with audio commentary that will take you to all the important points of attraction in Dubai. The places covered by this tour are the Dubai Museum, the Jumeira Mosque, the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House, the Bur Dubai Old Souk, the Heritage Village, the Gold Souk, and a stop by the twin towers on Baniyas Road . You even get a complimentary Dhow Cruise on Dubai Creek and Mercato Mall discount booklet with this tour.

   

• Don’t miss the dune bashing experience in Dubai. Spend an evening in the desert sands on a thrilling safari tour. Take a four-wheel drive vehicle over the dunes for an adventurous ride and get to experience life in the desert at a Bedouin campsite, with live entertainment. This is one of the best experiences you can find in Dubai.

   

• Visit the Dubai Creekside Park for some fun activities. This Park by the creek has a toy train, a children’s area, a dolphinarium, and lots of other entertainment options. You can also book a dhow dinner cruise for a nice evening over the cool waters of the Creek. Please note, this cruise has to be booked in advance.

   

• Book a room in a beach hotel and spend a restful day on the beach. This is most ideal if your trip has a layover of more than 24 hours during the winter months. In the summer, it’s not advisable to go outdoors for extended activity during the middle of the day. The beach offers a lot of exciting activities like diving and kite surfing. The Jumeirah Beach park is a great place for picnicing and relaxing.

   

• Other options for stopovers include visiting the Ski Dubai in the Mall of Emirates, the largest indoor snow park in the world, or the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Center in the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall also houses the Dubai Ice Rink which offers a great ice skating experience.

As you can see, the options for transit visitors in Dubai are many. Plan in advance according to the time you have to make the best of your short stay in Dubai.