UAE for the weekend

Within the city of Dubai there are a number of things that you can do inexpensively. The new metro makes it easier and cheaper to get around and all of the places I mention are within walking distance of the open stations.

1) The Dubai museum is small but fun - it is in Bur Dubai and the neighborhood around it is also worth walking around. Take an abra (small boat) across the creek to the spice souk. I also enjoy walking around the textile souk. There is a heritage village here but I don't find it terribly interesting.

2) Go to Emirates mall and have lunch at a restaurant where you can watch Ski Dubai. I don't find the skiers near as much fun as the little children playing in snow for the first time (and the food is pretty good in the restaurant too). I suppose you can also look around the mall - but to me it is just a mall.

3) Also on the metro is the Ibn Battuta mall. I like this one a lot - again it is not for shopping but rather for the different courts decorated in the styles of the parts of the world of his journeys (he is the Arabic Marco Polo).

4) Near Mall of the Emirates is the Madinat Jumeriah - another mall - very small but done in traditional Arabic architecture. This is also where you can go to the Costa Coffee - drink you coffee in the outside area and have great views of the Burj hotel.

None of this costs more than a few dollars and will give you a feel for both the older and newer parts of the city.

Its beach season so go to the beach because they are nice and cheap,I would also go to Madinat Jumeriah at night because it seems more alive then plus there are clubs with no cover charges.

The fish market is interesting along with the gold souk area.There are lots of cheap good places to eat where many of the low paid workers go around here Al Sabkha Bus Stn

Also well worth a visit is the Souk Al Bahar in the Burj Dubai complex. The Burj Dubai is just a big tower and theres not a lot to see, and the souk itself is just another small mall selling mostly tourist stuff, but there is an open access walkway along the lake at the base of the tower which you can access from the restaurants in the Souk (you dont need to eat there to see it). You get a fabulous view of the fountain, which really is amazing - its more like firework display than a fountain, and goes off every 20 minutes from around 7:00pm through to midnight. One of my favourite bits of Dubai, it still makes me laugh out loud with joy and I've been back four times now.

I'm not a great fan of Abu Dhabi, and wouldnt spend a day there with your time frame, but VeraLynn will probably shout at me for my heresy, so thats all I'll say.

There are only two things to do in Dubai and they are shopping and eating so unless you like shopping you will probably lose your sanity after three days in Dubai. Go to one of the malls just to see what its like, but I imagine after you've been to the Mall of the Emirates, the Dubai Mall or the Ibn Battuta you will still to get dizzy. On the otherhand if you like haggling then go the souks which line the south side of the Creek. If you want to go shopping for clothes and you are seriously after a bargain then after sunset head to the north side of the Creek (it costs 1 dirham by ferry) and walk directly through the gold souk to the Deira night market. This is a series of streets which stay open until the wee hours where you can pick up jeans, combats, shirts, call sorts of casual and more dressy wear for a fraction of what you would pay in any of the malls. To have a real experience really should go to the Burj Al-Arab Hotel for afternoon tea. This is the famous sail-shaped hotel on the waterfront. You have to book a few days in advance and although it costs approx £45 it is really worth it. I had a reservation for 5.00pm and I didn't rise (I almost needed a winch!) from my seat until 7.45pm! Afternoon tea consists of 7 courses, it is a marathon. You can have tea on the 1st or 27th floor, I could only get a slot on the 1st floor but they do let you go up to the top to have a look around and take photos. The food is amazing, the views spectacular but it is the staff who make this an unforgettable experience. I have never been waited on by more friendly, more courteous, more thoughtful or more accommodating staff, they were simply outstandingly efficient, professional and welcoming. The dress is smart casual but some patrons (who might have been residents) looked a bit more shabby than chic. Anyway I hope this helps you can easily pass an afternoon in this amazing place. It is a bit over the top but it really is worth a visit.