Top 7 Reasons to Visit Dubai

Dubai buildings during the day

Dubai has been a rising star on the world stage in the 21st century. Although several of its attractions and architecture are ranked #1 in their respective classes, many of these were not inaugurated until the turn of the millennium, making Dubai a relatively new tourism destination. With the advent of the World Expo 2020, Dubai, as host, has promised to astonish the world—a goal that, if successful, will propel the city into the world stage as a cultural, commercial, and tourism-centric juggernaut.

Dubai has always been one of my favorite places to visit, and I have been here many times to enjoy the summer weather and activities. Having lived in the UAE for months on end, I’ve gotten thoroughly familiar with Dubai and all the wonders it has to offer. Here, I want to emphasize the 7.5 reasons why you should consider Dubai as a  destination of choice for your future travels.

Note: The comprehensive adventure guide for Dubai covers many more attractions and topics (interesting facts, some history, synopsis, climate, communication, navigation, attractions, costs, adventurous activities, etc.).

1) There Are World-Class Attractions Here

Short Version: The tallest building, largest fountain, first 7-star hotel, largest artificial island, and largest flower garden are here. And they look sick.

Dubai features the tallest building (Burj Khalifa), largest choreographed fountain (Dubai Fountain), first 7-star hotel (Burj Al Arab), largest artificial island (Palm Jumeirah), and largest natural flower garden in the world (Dubai Miracle Garden), among others. These are not attractions one simply rushes through and check off a list—a common practice for those who would only visit during their layovers. Give it some time, find some good angles and/or lighting for stunning photos, enjoy yourself by being present in the moment, and form some lasting and fulfilling memories.

Even the skyline is incredible, especially when considering that 4 of the 5 tallest residential buildings in the world are located in the Dubai Marina. The extravagant mega malls are sure to delight as well (there is a real dinosaur fossil just chilling in the Dubai Mall.)

2) This Place Is a Summer Paradise and Metropolis

  • Ace on a Yacht in the Dubai Marina
  • Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates
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Short Version: Permanent summer paradise + big booming city—right next to each other. Nuff said.

It’s pretty much always summertime here, and the entire country is either on artificial or natural beaches. While there is a wide variety of aquatic activities and adventures—flyboarding, kite surfing, yacht cruising, deep sea fishing, and scuba diving, among others—you can head towards the mainland metropolis for the nightlife and additional festivities (or you can find them on the beaches as well).

I enjoyed summer and winter in the same day by visiting both the beaches and ski slopes (in the Mall of the Emirates)—a unique situation consequent of the aforementioned paradisal and metropolitan duality of the city. How often can someone say they went to the warm beach and freezing ski slopes on the same day?

3) The Opulence Is Wildly Entertaining

  • Ace on a Yacht in the Dubai Marina
  • Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates
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Short Version: Rich people doing rich things = funny af.

Despite the fact that Dubai has many affordable options, there are luxuries that amplify its image as a land of extravagance. Everything is just so over-the-top you can’t help but be tremendously entertained.

To start, the Burj Al Arab’s interior is decorated with gold, and its construction has often been criticized as a triumph of money over practicality. For the price tag of a brand-new car (and maybe an arm or leg), you can stay in the Poseidon or Neptune underwater suite at Atlantis for a couple of nights (not an entire week though—unless you want to sell a kidney). Trading in your first-born child might get you one of the many sports cars that are always speeding around—with exotic pets in tow, of course. While you’re at it, why save money for a house when you could buy a falcon instead? Those things can fetch cookies.

By surrendering your life savings, you might be able to spend money the way affluent partiers do during one of their drug-heavy yacht orgies—the kind populated by drugged-up drunks and scantily-clad women with daddy issues and a love of fat stacks (although they swear it’s really your personality they love). Finally, by selling your soul to eternal damnation (I advise against this unless you really want to), you might be able to afford one of the mega yachts floating nearby.

4) It’s Inexpensive Where It Counts Most

Fancy Hotel on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Short version: Hotels are cheap due to an oversupply. Transportation is cheap due to low fuel costs. Best attractions are cheap because Dubai wants to show off, so they obviously want you to see them.

In general, transportation and lodging—arguably the most important expenses on a trip—are less costly compared to many other popular destinations.

Hotel: Due to the vast spectrum of hotels, extravagant options do exist at exorbitant prices. But there are many affordable options as well because there is an oversupply of hotels. Dubai’s architects went straight for luxury, so the quality of hotels is top notch—even for the “lower-end” options. In other words, they essentially played Sims, inputted cheat codes for stupid amounts of money, and went straight to building the nice stuff.

Transportation: The UAE is an oil country, so the lower fuel costs result in lower transportation costs—one of the lowest in the world, actually.

Attractions: The most well-known attractions (i.e the best things to see or do) are very affordable. Even when it comes to costly attractions, rest assured knowing that, if you do pay top dollar, it is probably one of the best in the world.

5) Dubai Is Extremely Cosmopolitan/Diverse 

Ace, 6 Nationalities, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

6 nationalities are represented in this photo (United States, Russia, India, Angola, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom).

Short Version: Only 20% of the country is comprised of citizens—the other 80% are expats. A diverse population also means a diverse range of good food.

The UAE is one of the most unique countries in the world when it comes to diversity—something it achieves by representing most of the nationalities of the world. To put this into perspective, 20% of the population at most are UAE citizens. Dubai, the most diverse city, is comprised of mainly expatriates, making it one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. You will rarely feel out of place due to the excellent representation. Understandably, the food is diverse as well since great chefs from all over the world convene here for an opportunity to share their culinary masterpieces with the citizens of the world.

6) The Tourism Density Is Low 

Ship, Dubai Mall, United Arab Emirates

There is plenty of space for everyone.

Short Version: Tourism numbers are high due to Dubai International Airport, but most are layovers, so many tourists do not stay very long. Therefore, tourism density is actually quite low (i.e. fewer people creeping in your space and increasing wait times in lines).

Most of Dubai’s international traffic is due to Dubai International Airport—one of the busiest airports in the world. This means that many visitors arrive via layovers—the reason Dubai is considered a popular layover destination.

The numbers are there, but the tourists are not really there. People are usually in and out quickly. Furthermore, Dubai still does not have the best image when it comes to affordability to encourage lengthy stays (an erroneous perception as indicated by #4).  Therefore, the tourism numbers are high while the tourism density is low. The exception is during December to January (Dubai Shopping Festival, UAE National Day, and New Years).

Why not visit now and say you were here before it becomes cool and tourist-dense? Everyone has a picture of the Eiffel Tower (even me). But how many people have pictures of the Burj Khalifa—a structure that’s more than twice as tall with a line/queue many times shorter.

Fun Fact: Even when accounting for the UAE’s layover tourism, France as a country still has at least five times more visitors (and most of them aren’t there for layovers). That’s five times more people crowding your personal space, driving up prices, increasing wait time in lines, ruining your otherwise perfect photos, and asking you to take pictures of them and their stupid duck faces or Eiffel Tower sex positions (don’t look that up).

7) You Will Be Safe and Relatively Stress-Free

English Translations on Signs, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Short Version: Lamborghini police cars all up in this = safer. English speakers/translations are everywhere. Civil behavior is highly encouraged. Uncivil behavior gets rekt.

Dubai is a heavily monitored city. With all the police patrolling about in their sports cars (and eventually on hoverbikes), you are in a safe and clean environment.

In terms of communication, there are English translations on signs, and, if you can’t find someone who speaks your preferred language, almost everyone speaks English. With all the sports cars and yachts around, it would also be safe to assume the locals are not terribly interested in picking your pocket. As for general harassment, belligerence, or drunken behavior—those actions are heavily frowned upon and actively penalized.

Getting arrested? Don’t stress about embarrassment. Post on social media instead as you ride away stylishly in a Lamborghini police car (#thuglife).

7.5) Honorable Mention: Dubai’s Distinctive Dynamism

Under Constant Construction, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

There’s something always under construction.

Short Version: Dubai’s rise has been meteoric. It is always changing and adding new and interesting things. The World Expo 2020, an exhibition representing over 190 countries, will be here.

Dubai is very dynamic, and it tries very hard to be recognized for it—more so than many other countries. One remarkable thing I’ve noticed is the amount of work dedicated to its growth and global recognition.

Until around the mid-1960s, Dubai was centralized around fishing and pearl diving. The discovery of oil changed the country beyond recognition. No other country in history has had such a meteoric rise, to say the least. The country’s frenetic growth is astonishing.

Take DXB (Dubai International Airport), for example. It is one of the busiest airports in the world. Its geography is excellent, and whether you want to head west to Europe or east to Asia is fair game. But ALL of its major airlines did not exist until 1985. Emirates Airlines wasn’t founded until 1985, Qatar Airlines until 1993, and Etihad Airways until 2003.

And the attractions? The Burj Al Arab (1999), Palm Jumeirah (2006), Dubai Fountain (2009), Burj Khalifa (2010), and Dubai Miracle Garden (2013) are all much younger than your average millennial—and they’re the number 1 ranked attractions in their respective classes.

There always seems to be something new on the horizon, and Dubai will continue to surprise in the years to come. Most importantly, Dubai’s dynamism is best represented by the culmination that is the World Expo 2020—an exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of over 190 countries.

Closing statements

Due to my oilfield engineering job—my first full-time job out of college—I went to the UAE. Stationed in Abu Dhabi, I would frequently venture over to neighboring Dubai. At first, I didn’t even know what Dubai was. Now, Dubai (and Abu Dhabi) are very near and dear to my heart. I did not find Dubai’s conservative culture particularly restricting.

Although the culture is conservative, the country (and especially Dubai) has taken strides when it comes to accommodating tourists. In the end, you’re not here to protest the politics or culture. You’re here to have fun.

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