Dubai - some issues

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsMiddle EastUnited Arab Emirates
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
2.7k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
rikuch
rikuch

Hi,
I would like to ask you some questions relating my trip to Dubai:

1) Burj al Arab - what is the cheapest way to see it inside? I have read about a possibility to make a reservation in its restaurants or bars, but it seems to be very expensive. The cheapest one is an evening reservation in the bar, but i would prefer visiting it during the day (for better view). Is there some other cheap way to visit its restaurants or bars during the day ? Or is it possible to buy just some entrance ticket to see the hotel?

2) What is the best public beach in Dubai? Are there some restrictions for woman, can my wife take normal swimmsuit?

3) Is there some good observation point to make a nice view to the islands of the World and the Palm ? Or using a seaplane is necessary?

4) Can you recommend me some good tour operator to 1 day Musandam tour ? I have found ksasab tours, arabiahorizons, arabian tours, dubai relax tours, hotels-of-dubai, but without references.

Thanks very much for every advice.

View last reply
Report
1
wandabug
wandabug

Burj Al Arab...book for afternoon tea in the Skybar. It was dhs.350 pp last time I went and includes Champagne. The skybar is the bit that sticks out of the top.We go at 2pm and stay to watch the sun come down. Fantastic views and you can stay as long as you want once you are in but be warned if you do stay in the bar and start buying drinks it becomes very expensive.
My favourite public beach is at Umm Sequim but JBR is also good and the most popular for visitors as it is close to shops and restaurants/cafes.
Burj Khalifa - Observation deck on 124th Floor - best view of The World and all 3 Palms.Book in advance is dhs.100 but if you just turn up with no booking it is dhs.400. Google for website and details.(Seaplane would be fantastic though but more expensive)
I have always used Arabian Tours with no problems. Don't know about the other ones.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
wandabug
wandabug

You can wear any swimsuit or bikini on the beach but do not go topless!

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
gemcap
gemcap

I don't know of any other way to see the Burj other than to book a table or pay AED 250 for a guided tour (which I have heard you can get through to).

Tthere are no places from where you can see all the Palms (there is only one completed, Palm Jebal Ali is 3/4 finished and Palm Deira is just a small curve) as they are many kilometers apart. From the Burj Khalifa, you can see the World as patchy sand bumps, part of Palm Jumeriah - and none of the others.

To see the Palm Jumeriah & the Madinat, the Al Muntaha restaurant in the Burj Al Arab offers a great view. The Observatory at the Dubai Marriott Harbour also gives really good views.

Your wife can wear any swimsuit including a 2 piece one. If she leaves the beach, she should cover up.

Musandam is in Oman - for which country, you need a separate visa to enter. Once you leave the UAE, you cannot return unless you are stamped back in. I see that you are from Slovakia - this is not one of the countries where you get a visa on arrival into the UAE / Oman. ie you need a pre arranged Omani tourist visa to go to Musandam. If you leave the UAE to go Musandam, you cannot return to the UAE unless a period of 4 weeks (practically 2-3 weeks) has elapsed and only with a new visit visa.

To cut a long story short, if you hold Slovenian passports, you cannot go to Musandam and then reenter UAE within a few days - ie unless the mandatory "cooling off period" has lapsed.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
nyk_1981
nyk_1981

i do agree with gemcap , just some more info on the burj al arab
burj tour of 250 AED is the cheapest , one of my friends had visited the hotel couple of months back, but you have to book that atleast a week in advance and that rate does not apply for friday (friday and sat is weekend here) and also public holidays.. you get a tour and some snack...... you can book this sort of tour/brunch on their website by contacting the sales person mentioned on the contact list of that promotion and they reply back to your email confirming the reservation, you need to take the print copy or ref number with you when u visit.........

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner