Is it safe/fun to be a single female traveler in Dubai?

Hi, I have a trip planned back to Australia in November with Emirates and wanted to take advantage of the stop over in Dubai to visit the city for a few days.

The problem is I am traveling alone, Normally I would book a hostel somewhere and try and meet other travelers in the hostel but it seems in Dubai there are no hostels just hotels, making it impossible to meet people.

So is there any hotels that anyone could recommend where you can meet other travelers? If not is Dubai the kind of city where you could hang out and explore by yourself? Maybe do a safari tour?

Any info would be greatly appreciated...

Cheers!!!!

My answers are from a male perspective, but anyway:
First, there is a YHA hostel in Dubai in the Al Nahda neighbourhood, not far from the airport. If anywhere at all you'd meet other travellers there. From my experience it will be difficult to meet other travellers anywhere else, maybe if you go on an organized tour into the desert and it happens that there are fellow travellers on the same tour.
Apart from that: Yes definitely possible to explore the city on your own and a safe place. And lots of palces like restaurants and bars to hang out, though I understand that not everybody fancy to go to a hotel bar for a drink on their own.

Cheers Carsten, I will have a look at YHA... thanks heaps for that :)

There're lots of historical postings on here about the hostel - some good some bad, but from what I remember it's not supposed to be easy to get hold of them for bookings.

I checked IF uaeyha had any 'relationship' with YHA Australia which I am a member of and got this information at this link: http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E
As verlynn says there have been some older postings on the UAEYHA so I would suggest you visit a Youth Hostel wherever you are now and ask them to do some investigating for you. I did this in Sydney before I left for Qatar - it was easy since I am a member of YHA Australia - and I got some very useful details.

Yes they are totally unorganized as far as bookings are concerned. But unless you're travelling over Christmas or New Years Day it should be OK just to show up there. (Having a reservation without a no-show fee for another place as a backup might calms your nerves.)
You'll get a discount as a HI member, but in my opinion it's not worth to become a member for that reason if you're not going to stay with them more often.
@pella1: What kind of details did you get? Personally I don't see what kind of investigation a Youth Hostel in Sydney or Paris or whereever could do about the hostel in Dubai that are not more or less commonly known.

I've stayed at the YHA hostel in Dubai. Very nice place. Only disadvantage is that it's a long way out, but the new Green Line of the Dubai Metro is about to open in a few days, and there's a stop only a few steps from the hostel, so getting around should be a snap by the time you get there.

It's certainly safe to be a single female traveler in Dubai. It's a very safe place generally. Is it fun? I guess it depends on what you find fun but there are plenty of things to see & do - huge malls, the world's tallest building, the Creek, the Gold & Spice souks, Textile souk, Bastakiya, Dubai Museum, Karama for handbag & watches, plenty of cheap places to eat and let's not forget the beach. The Dubai metro makes getting around cheap and easy.

Dubai is a safe and nice place for traveler weather you are single or traveling in a group and with your love one. There are many affordable hotels available in Dubai for accommodation.Dubai is very famous place among tourist so, you will find many tourist like you. You can also contact local tour operator who arranges group tour. This will help you lot to explore.There are night clubs, bars, restaurants and other places for hang out in Dubai.

Wish you happy journey.............