Dubai stopover 5am - 3pm, what's open, & what to do?

Bigest problem for you - nothing opens before 10am, not even the malls.
Have breakfast at the airport.
You can get a taxi to Umm Sequim beach (dhs.50) to look at the Burj Al Arab but you cannot go to the actual hotel without a reservation.
If you want to go up to the observation deck of Burj Khalifa (highly recomended for amazing views) then book in advance on their website - it is dhs.100 if you pre book but dhs.400 if you just turn up!!!. Access is thru Dubai Mall.
Pick up the Big Red Bus from Dubai Mall (details on their website) it is a open top double decker bus that goes to all the tourist places and you can hop on and off as you please. It goes to creek etc
But I don't think you will have time for souks etc, you will need to be back at the airport to check in 2 hours before your flight.
I think by the time you have done khaifa you should stay at Dubai Mall and visit the aquarium (free) or even go ice skating!!- have lunch at Souk-al-Bahar (next to DM) and then taxi back to airport (allow 30 mins).

I have just re-read your post - you will be there bang in the middle of Ramadan. Most Restaurants will be closed during the day!!! One of the few places that will be open is called MORE - it is across the road from Dubai Mall and is open because no-one can see in from the outside therefore not offending Muslims who are fasting. You can go here for lunch.
Please do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public.

I have just re-read your post - you will be there bang in the middle of Ramadan. Most Restaurants will be closed during the day!!! One of the few places that will be open is called MORE - it is across the road from Dubai Mall and is open because no-one can see in from the outside therefore not offending Muslims who are fasting. You can go here for lunch.
Please do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public.

You picked the wrong time of year to do a stop over in Dubai. During Ramadan alot of shop's are closed or rather only open for a few hours a day. No resturants will be open during the day during the fast. Probably the only things you'll have time to see would be the Burj Al Arab or the Burj Kalifa. The malls will be deserted as mentioned open at 10:00. If the traffic isn't to bad will take you 25-30 minutes to get to the Mall of the Emirates from the airport. Along with both of the Burj's. Your best off just grabbing a taxi when you need it and pay by the meter. Taxi's are cheap and everywhere. Again as mentioned no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sun up to sun down until the fast has been broken in the evening. Shouldn't affect you to bad as your heading out in the afternoon. After you get off the plane plug yourself with as much food and drink as you can before the sun comes up and you should be good to go. You could probably have a little nip off a sandwich from your hand bag or a fast sip of water hiding behind a corner as long as no one see's you. Come prepared!

Just to add to the points reg Ramadan above, you can eat and drink freely in the airport (Islam exempts travellers and pregnant / ill people from fasting). Reg traffic, depends which day you get in . Friday and Saturday is the weekend when the roads are less congested. August is extremely hot and humid ; carry a bottle of water with you and drink at regular intervals discreetly else you run the risk of dehydration. e.g If your taxi driver is Muslim, duck down and drink water.

The big hotels will serve meals albeit in an enclosed area with a limited option so you can have lunch in any of the large hotels you pass. Some fast food places will have take away options - may not be the best for you as you will not have anywhere to eat it.

You essentially have 4-5 hours in which to see Dubai. You can see the Burj Al Arab from the beach. Not worth paying dhms 250 cover charge to get in the hotel unless you want to have lunch there

Suggestion : take a taxi at about 8 am, walk by the old Deira quay where the dhows dock, get into the Souk about 9 ; some smaller shops start opening by 9 others by 10 ; spend 30 minutes there, go to the Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa / get out by 12, swing via the Jumeirah beach (it will be broiling hot) ; see the Burj Al Arab from the beach and then go back to the airport.

. I guess the "must sees" also depend on where you are coming from. I know people for whom the metro is a must ride and others for whom it is just a mode of transportation.

Please dress conservatively when you are here - no low cut tops / transparent or tight clothing. If you wear shorts, it should be knee length.

Thanks for all of your feedback, wow! I did not expect such great and detailed responses from you guys!

Ramadan. Boohoo for me! I wouldnt be so rude as to drink or eat in front of others who are fasting anyway, but i'm surprised that you can't drink water in front of others. Especially considering how hot its going to be and i thought you could drink water when fasting anyway, but I'm probably mistaken.

However, from what you guys are saying, I guess a plan of action would be to
eat a good breakfast at the airport,
leave to see the Burj Al Arab from the outside
Burj Kalifa (making advanced booking for the observation deck at 10am)
head to the souks then
back to the airport where i will recover in the airconditioned rooms :0)

i figured i might to the Burjs' first as they are the furthest from the airport then when i head to the souks it wouldnt take too long to get to the airport so i wont be risking traffic.

I presume my skinny jeans and a long sleeved top would be ok? although jeans would be too hot they're the only pair of 'pants' i'm taking to europe and i dont want to carry anything more than i have to.

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!!! i really appreciate your feedback and tips l(ike the advanced booking) which has been a major help.

Hi

Regarding the More cafe in Dubai Mall, it was closed last Ramadan. However, there are other More Cafe's in Dubai that are open and one of the nicest I think is in Festival City (near to the airport) and looks over the creek, plus you have shopping on tap if you're interested.

You could also head to Dubai Mall for the Burj Khalifa ob's deck, but it could be hazy this time of year with the heat and you need to book in advance. But, don't rely on anything, because I've booked it twice and both times it was cancelled when I arrived!

For the Burj Al Arab, going to Umm Sequem beach could be way too hot for you, and there's nothing there either. I would recommend going into Souk Madinat, it will be cool inside, you can get refreshments in the Souk or the hotels, have a browse around the souk and you also get very good views of the Burj Al Arab which is literally next door.

It's a shame you won't be around in the evening, because this would give you much better choice of things to do and see.

Good luck, take your sunglasses and sun block!

Thanks PJ1000! since it's just a stopver to my megaplans in Europe I didnt really bother to research Dubai properly. I must agree with you as I hear things liven up alot in the evenings as people break their fast. I was really looking forward to the ob deck in the Burj, so I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed :0)

Thanks gain everyone!!!!

"again"