Prologue
I had obtained passports for my family a few years ago, and after much contemplation, finally decided it was time to put them to use. While initially considering a trip to Singapore, we ultimately opted for the UAE. This decision was influenced by my touchdown to Singapore during solo Indonesia escapade in mid-2023.
The journey began back in April, when I secured reasonably priced flight tickets, sparking excitement among everyone for the upcoming international vacation. The chosen dates coincided with the week of Diwali 2023, offering a welcome break from my work stress and a much-needed opportunity to relax in an otherwise hectic year.
VISA
Made use of Makemytrip’s convenient online visa application process, known for its quick processing time, usually taking less than a week. The application fee for a 30-day single-entry electronic VISA is slightly above 7000 INR. The simplicity of the process stands out, requiring only passport scans and a photograph for submission, making it one of the most user-friendly options for Indian citizens.
Despite the usual prompt processing, our experience involved a significant delay in obtaining two of the four VISAs, apparently attributable to delays on the embassy’s end. As a result, we received all the VISAs after a two-week wait. Resolving the issue required extensive communication, numerous calls and chats with Makemytrip support team. Nevertheless, the relief was palpable when the VISAs were finally in inbox.
Currency
We had taken service of Kolkata office of Forex firm Orient Exchange to convert UAE Dirhams. Our plan was to do majority of transactions using service of Niyo cards instead, known for its instant UPI based top-up facility and low Forex markup.
Dubai airport has 24X7 counter to exchange money, with easy support of Indian National Rupee exchange (albeit at much worse exchange rates).
Hotel
I have a history with booking.com and that kind of repeated itself here. This was a series of reservations, cancellations, and rebooking. This particular tale began in January when I initially planned a trip to the UAE with friends. I had booked a stay at Ibis hotels for a 6-day trip at a cost of 1.15 Lakh INR.
However, fate had other plans, and that trip fell through. In the new plan with my family, I settled on the Golden Tulip Media Hotel. Considering its location, service, and shuttle service, it seemed like a solid choice, totalling around 90k INR for 5 days.
Upon reflecting on my parents’ likely fatigue during the trip, I reconsidered the premium price for the location and stumbled upon the Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef. Priced at 75k INR and situated in the Dubai Creek area, it appeared new and promising.
However, a game-changer emerged three months prior when I discovered Resivation Hotel at a remarkably affordable rate of 45k INR total. The hotel, seemingly designed for long-stay office goers, boasted a pan-Asian restaurant and had garnered positive reviews online. Opting for this stay, I reasoned that the savings could be better spent on exploring the city. The added bonus was the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service to the nearest Al Furjan metro on the Red line. This decision turned out to be a smart move, and I couldn’t be happier with my stroke of luck.
Resivation hotel is situated at the outskirts of Dubai with a lot of ongoing construction all around. The shuttle to Al Furjan metro station runs on weekdays from 7 AM to 7 PM, every 30 minutes. On weekends, it goes to Ibn Batuta mall at 2 PM and JBR at 5 PM. There are supermarkets all around the hotel, serving tea for 1 Dirham and snacks at less than 5 Dirhams. The attached authentic Thai Restaurant had breakfast buffet available everyday at 30 Dirhams per head. The lunch and menu were a la carte but had every bit of authentic Thai taste. The hotel has a 24X7 Gym, luggage room, lobby – pretty much all anyone needs. The room cleaning service happens every alternate day.
The hotel do mention non-smoking rooms everywhere, seldom this is followed as our room 109 were reeking of smoke as we stepped in. There is a dedicated open area in balcony on the second floor for smoking, which seems to be not practiced in real life.
Flight
Our onwards flight was on 9 Nov (Thursday)
- Flight Number: EK-571
- Route: From Kolkata to Dubai
- Departure: 8.55 AM (delayed by 30 min)
- Arrival: 12.50 PM
- Duration: 5h 25min
Emirates was everything an international flight experience needs to be. Except the poor screen quality and awful headphones which plus into the seats, everything was perfect. Dubai Arrival experience at T3 was very seamless. We were seated in the economy class of this Boeing 777 aircraft.
The immigration officers checks e-VISA and takes photo before stamping the passport. Dubai allows family members to come to immigration together which took around 20 minutes due to the queue and I saw some of the nicest immigration officers in my experience, who always welcomes you with a smile. They also give each person one SIM card with complementary 1 GB loaded in. We proceeded to be picked up by driver from Dreams Star UAE, who charged us 2930 INR for hotel drop-off.
Our return flight from Dubai was scheduled on 13 Nov (Tue)
- Flight Number: AI-906
- Route: From Dubai to Chennai
- Departure: 23.10 PM
- Arrival: 04.45 AM
- Duration: 4h 05min
Layover for 3h 20min - Flight Number: AI-786
- Route: From Chennai to Kolkata
- Departure: 8.05 AM
- Arrival: 10.40 AM
- Duration: 2h 35min
Air India was well, same as domestic flight, even on the route from Dubai to Chennai. It was a full flight with food/alcohol option. We had to complete our immigration in Chennai and collect our luggage since the route ahead fell in Indian domestic route purview.
Day One : The Arrival and Global Village
We reached Hotel Resivation at 3.30 PM. Our check-in process was prompt as we were assigned rooms 102 (King sized bed) and 109 (Twin bed) on the first floor. After tea and quick shut eye, we left the hotel at 6.40 PM via UberX and reached the Global Village at 7.20 PM. The assigned vehicle was Tesla Model X (incidentally my first ride on a Tesla) and the trip costed us around 2100 INR.
One can easily get Global Village tickets from the counter itself or online. There is no limit to entry it seems, and for senior citizens (age 75 and above), entry is free. Regular tickets are priced at 620 INR per person.
Within the premises, each pavilion is sponsored by a country, offering an endless array of shopping, food, and interactive experiences. Store owners frequently call out to passers-by, and we observed numerous customers engaging in bargaining for better deals. Interestingly, certain countries are represented by an entire continent (South America, Europe, Africa), a placement that felt somewhat generic.
The India Pavilion was notably expansive compared to most others, predominantly showcasing the Red Fort structure. However, the food did not reflect authentic Indian cuisine; it leaned more towards the UAE version of Indian food. Many pavilions exhibited a North Indian influence, with Kashmiri shops being particularly prominent.
The central lake featured a Chinese Dragon theme, creating a captivating atmosphere. Across from it was the main stage, where music performances entertained the crowd, and people relaxed on stairways or fair ground. However, halfway through, we acknowledged our exhaustion and realized we wouldn’t be able to explore even half of these pavilions due to the vast expanse and minor jetlag. On another side, there was an amusement park setup, including Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which unfortunately, we never got the chance to explore.
We left the village through a different gate (which was a mistake in hindsight) and had to walk an exceptional lot to reach the designated Uber pickup spot. As I said before, Global village probably needs couple of days (or more?) to complete, thanks to it’s sheer vastness. We boarded the cab at 9.20 PM and was back in hotel by 9.45 PM due to no traffic. The return trip costed the same as onward.
Day Two: Emirates Tour
I had purchased the Six Emirates full day tour on Viator for 29800 INR. The tour could fit 6 person at maximum and the purchase page mentioned return by 4.30 PM. However in reality, we were back at hotel at 8.30 PM.
At precisely 9:30 AM, Major, a skilled driver and proficient guide, picked us up, and our journey began. He explained that the trip commenced with a guide on Dubai, the first Emirate, followed by a cruise through the others with essential pitstops. It was mentioned that the largest Emirate – Abu Dhabi was excluded from this itinerary, as it deserved a dedicated day.
Having gained valuable insights into the popular areas of Dubai and the significance of each place, our first stop was at second emirate Sharjah. Al Qasba is a canal-side complex featuring charming cafes, boats, shops, and a distant view of the Ferris wheel.
Our next stop was Sharjah Art Museum which was unfortunately closed on Fridays. Hence we proceeded to the Quran roundabout to see the intersection of court, library, mosque and cultural building.
We entered the third emirate Ajman and Major was kind enough to stop us in Fish Market since we wanted to have a look at local lifestyle. There were numerous local fisherman selling fish, crabs and lobsters of all variety possible. We went ahead and had a small stop over at Ajman beach to feel the sand beneath the feet and the cold Indian Ocean water flowing in. I was told that Ajman was popular with folks because Sharjah has a ban on alcohol and we saw many tourists hanging out here hence.
The fourth emirate Umm Al Quwain was the smallest, where we stopped for a quick lunch and Major going for his afternoon prayer. This emirate was the most rustic with no major tourist point and the inner roads were less maintained.
The northern most emirate Ras Al Khaimah was quite a drive away, from Umm Al Quwain. We could see deserts on sides and camels wandering around as we crossed the multi lane highways. The roads still had markings to maintain distance, which was painted on during 2020 era of Covid.
Our stop now was very close to Oman Border, at the highest hilltop fort of UAE called Dhayah Fort. We encountered the lifestyle and houses of Sheikhs as we passed by. The Dhayah fort has over 250 stairs to reach the top and see the city of RAK in panoramic view.
Al Bidya Mosque was located in the final emirate of Fujairah. I was specifically keen on going here since it used to the oldest known mosque in the country, prior to discovery of an even older mosque in Al Ain in 2018. Still in use, it is also known as the Ottoman mosque and has such a simple architecture overlooking the beautiful ocean side of Fujairah. It was constructed using locally available materials, primarily stones of various sizes, and mud bricks coated in whitewashed plaster. The roof features four squat, helical domes supported by a single centrally placed pillar, which also forms the ceiling. The small opening on one wall, known as mihrab, indicates direction of the mecca and angle to pray towards.
We passed by the vintage car museum of Fujairah as night fell. We entered Sharjah again as we drove back and passed by Khorfakkan amphitheatre and adjoining artificially built waterfall.
Our last stop was Fujairah Fort, where I just took a quick photo and we went ahead to go back the long road home.
Day Three: The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa
After having a rather heavy breakfast at the hotel, we set off at 11.16 AM. Our UberX was a Lexus this time (marking my first ride on one) and we reached Downtown Dubai in 30 minutes. At 11.46 AM, we were deboarding at Dubai Mall P4 Parking lot and the trip costed us around 2800 INR.
I had pre-purchased the Klook Pass Dubai online, providing access to three activities at a discounted rate. The process involves unlocking a 30-day validity period to use all, after the first activity is used up. There are various modes available, with mine being the Super Saver Mode, featuring a selection of around 20 activities that can be exchanged for tickets. The pass, which covered four individuals, cost a total of 24,000 INR.
The Dubai mall has the Underwater Zoo at the top floor which extends down to the Dubai aquarium on the ground floor. We were asked to show the QR code to the counter to get physical tickets which was scanned and we started off from the top at the aquarium.
The Zoo featured distinct sections, including a water exhibit with various fish families, a night jungle area showcasing nocturnal beasts, a tropical jungle section where birds flew freely, and a dedicated mating space displaying crocodile with their eggs. Additionally, there was a separate paid enclosure for penguins, which we decided to forgo. After exploring these exhibits, we headed to Nando’s on the Lower Ground floor for lunch, as our next activity was time-bound and conveniently located near the restaurant.
Following a hearty chicken feast, we utilized the Mall app to locate the entrance to Burj Khalifa. Encountering some difficulty due to unclear directions and unhelpful nearby store managers, a couple of locals eventually assisted us in finding the entrance. Burj Khalifa offers two slots – prime and non-prime, with various configurations like Level 124-125, Level 148, and the Sky Lounge. Our goal was to witness the sunset during a prime slot for Level 124-125. While the Klook Pass covered the non-prime slot, I had to separately purchase the prime slot from Klook at a cost of 22,100 INR.
Unexpectedly, the procedure involves queuing, a bag check, and then a phased entry into the elevator leading to the top. The elevator journey is exhilarating, causing one to feel their ears pop, all while lightning animating across the LED panels, indicating the rapid ascent through the floors.
The top floor was quite windy, providing an almost 360-degree view through the toughened glass into Dubai skyline. Towards the exit, there was a shop section selling overpriced merchandise. We waited for 40 minutes to witness the sunset, but at 5:10, the red sun descended like a ball inside overcast clouds. The architecture and the view were majestic, and we decided to descend, aiming to check off our final destination at Dubai Mall.
We did do some shopping and visited some stores in the hours before, which I skipped on mentioning. A callout store is the Apple’s customary green-certified store, situated in an exceptionally prime location within the mall, featuring trees growing inside. What set it apart, however, was the attached viewpoint. Visitors could stroll through the store and relax on the expansive balcony, offering a panoramic view of the mall’s central area. This served as one of the scenic vantage points, providing a fish-eye perspective of the truly immense size of the mall.
Dubai Mall also offers an ice skating rink in the centre foyer. The space seemed to be popular with children as they were guided by instructors on proper technique.
Returning to the aquarium, our tickets were once again punched, leading us through a straightforward subway tunnel within a colossal aquarium teeming with countless fish, along with multiple species of sharks and rays. As you traverse the tunnel, you can marvel at the experience of being a diminutive being surrounded by circling sharks.
We had to first find the P1 parking lot, which was another task unto itself since this mall has six (or maybe more) levels of parking and Uber does not do a great job of mentioning exactly where in that spacious lot, will your ride stop. After some running around, here and there, we managed to leave at 6.10 PM, reaching hotel at 6.50 PM and incurring a bill of 2300 INR.
Day Four: Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina
So I had ordered this earbuds Bose QuiteComfort Ultra the night before, after confirming about warranty being valid in India with the Bose representative at Dubai Mall store. Amazon gave some good discounts along with a priority free shipping, due to which I could grab this at 24000 INR. The fastest delivery option was on 12th Nov which is why we decided to start the day late today, after I receive my Amazon package.
Quick fact about Amazon.ae, they don’t give the delivery person contact to the customer like India one does, and you need to give OTP yourself to receive any high valued package. I lucked out since my delivery guy popped in at 2 PM and our evening plan went uninterrupted.
We got our Uber at 2.35 PM to reach Dubai Marina at 2.57 PM. Marina is incredibly close by and the trip costed us 1000 INR. Marina was all kinds of beautiful, an artificial sea stretch of coffee shops, malls and strolling pathways overlooking the most premium hotels Dubai has to offer.
This marked the second activation of my Dubai Pass for the speedboat sightseeing tour. Opting for the evening slot at 4 PM, our boarding time was scheduled 10 minutes prior. Upon arrival, my parents needed to use the restroom since the speedboat ride, spanning nearly 2 hours into the sea, did not provide toilet facilities. Upon our return, we discovered that the shared boat had reached full capacity. The organizers, Xclusive Yacht Rentals Dubai, advised us to hold off on boarding, assuring us that a second boat would be arranged, effectively transforming it into a private activity. After a brief wait, we set sail at 4:30 PM.
What unfolded next was entirely unexpected, given that the speedboat was slicing through the waves of the open sea at a tumultuous speed. We were bouncing so high in our seats that I grew concerned and requested the person at the steering wheel to ease up to avoid any potential injuries. The boat gradually navigated through the Dubai Marina area, zipped around the circumference of the Palm Atlantis, with a stopover at the Burj Al Arab. We even caught sight of the private islands owned by the reigning monarch and the place Shah Rukh Khan purchased on the Palm. Despite the slightly daring nature of bringing senior folks along, the experience proved to be the highlight of the trip.
We reached the shore at 6 PM and walked a few hundred meters to reach the adjoining metro station DMCC. It costed us 70 INR each to reach Onpassive Metro station via Red line. We did not get any place to sit but the train was not super crowded, mostly filled with passengers returning from their offices.
The largest chain Day to Day Hypermarket is situated right next to the station. We finished all our necessary shopping at bargain rates from here. I booked the usual UberX but was greeted by a 7 seater Toyota Prius instead, which was perfect to stow all the shopping bags we needed to. The trip costed us 1900 INR.
Day Five: Dubai Frame
Finally testing the hotel shuttle out, we got dropped at Al Furjan station within 5 minutes. The person behind the ticket issuing counter prompted us to use the ticket vending machine instead and we got ourselves tickets to ADCB station, which is further geographically than Onpassive. The zone switch was more than one, so we shelled out 120 INR each for tickets. From the station, we got ourselves an Uber again for 500 INR (but one can walk for 20 minutes through the adjoining park if they want to) and entered the Dubai Frame gate at 1.10 PM.
I used my final ticket of the Klook Pass to get in the Dubai Frame. The waiting time to enter the frame exceeded one hour, but the pleasant weather made the long, windy line of tourists more tolerable. Eventually, as we entered, we traversed a section featuring a video showcasing the history of the UAE and the transformation of Dubai from its origin days
The elevator then transported us to the top of the monument, allowing us to stroll through the literal frame’s summit. The glass floor beneath provided a view of Al Zabeel Park below.
The observatory presented Old Dubai with smaller houses on the right and the modern, high-rise version of Dubai on the left, truly embodying its name as a window between the past and the present.
Upon descending, we were welcomed into a 270-degree screen displaying a feature presentation of Dubai’s future. One felt immersed as part of this expansive display, catching a glimpse of what it will be like to live here in the days to come. This presentation encapsulated the true essence of progress during the trip in the most impactful way possible.
Upon exiting the premises at 3.10 PM, we took an Uber again for 2700 INR and reached the hotel at 3.42 PM. We opted for some light lunch at hotel since we had a long flight ahead. Starting off at 4.27 PM, this time in an Uber XL, we reached Terminal 1 at 5.40 PM after beating a real heavy flow of traffic. This was the costliest transit of the trip, where we ended up paying upwards of 5000 INR to reach airport.
After a tumulus departure formality and terrible queueing at airlines counter, we had to get up on the internal transit metro which takes one to the “good” part of the airport. However we were so exhausted by the ordeal then, I took everyone into the lounge straight. The Mahaba lounge accepted our VISA and Diners card, so we had to pay for two guests at 2800 each. The lounge had a relatively high waiting time of 4 hours, amazing food and just the right amount of beverage assortment for dinnertime.
Tip Offs
- Dubai is a comfortably warm place between November to March, carry comfortable clothing. Temperature becomes unbearable hot in the summer with highest recorded temperature at 49 degree Celsius. Hence Air conditioned everything is available everywhere, all year round.
- Most people like to take package tours to go around Dubai but the entire city is so meticulously planned and connected, you will never struggle with cabs, uber/careem, subway or buses if you don’t opt for one like me.
- All large tourist places have an app – Dubai mall, Global village etc. Necessary to navigate things so humongous in size.
- Dubai is cosmopolitan in truest sense possible. people across counties and ethnicities live in harmony like nothing I have ever seen.
- Dubai can be cheap, if you squint enough. A comparison being a good tea in nearby super mart at 1 AED vs the one in restaurant at 20 AED. It has options always to cater to tourists of every intent of expense, you might have to look think like a local.
- Safety, absolutely one of the safest countries on Earth. I felt the same about entire UAE.
Recommendations
Explore the other Emirates. Not enough people explore beyond Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. But I think some of my core memories from this trip came from from RAK and Fujairah, as they offered something so unique.
Mae Alsalama Al Habibi
Sayantan