Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

johnfás

Has anyone been to either or both? What is there actually to do there? Worth a visit? Any information gleefully appreciated!

jonny68

Dubai for sure, although if your looking for a more Arabian experience go to Abu Dhabi as Dubai is more "westernized" than Abu Dhabi, id actually recommend going to both city's, they are only 50 mins away by car/bus,there is a lot more to see and do in Dubai though definitely,Abu Dhabi slightly cheaper though.

BROS

Absolutely a trip of a lifetime. We spent our time in Dubai, wonderful place, the wealth is unreal, hotels are just magnificant. Stay at one of the hotels owned by Prince Maktoom & you can visit any of his hotels for FREE including the Bur Je Arab, get free buses to Gold market, beaches & Water Park, well worth a visit.

You have to go on the desert safari, dozens of Land Cruisers Amazons RALLYING across the desert,you'll never forget it.

bringitdown

Dubai is a soul-less horrible mutant city created for shopping and people with too much money and no sense .. (with the exception of the old port area perhaps)

Abu Dhabi is a little better, more Arabic so to speak but still.

However: it really depends in what you want/are into - sun / sand / sea / (ski!) / shopping - Dubai does fine.

Darren

bringitdown wrote:

Dubai is a soul-less horrible mutant city created for shopping and people with too much money and no sense .. (with the exception of the old port area perhaps)

Abu Dhabi is a little better, more Arabic so to speak but still.

However: it really depends in what you want/are into - sun / sand / sea / (ski!) / shopping - Dubai does fine.

Been to both quite a few times and agree with all that. On the plus side, the service in Dubai and AD is terrific. If you do go to AD be sure to check out Emirates Palace, what an amazing hotel. I was in Muscat a couple of weeks ago, I liked it a lot, It reminded me of Dubai about 10 years ago.

Miss Fluff

bringitdown wrote:

Dubai is a soul-less horrible mutant city created for shopping and people with too much money and no sense .. (with the exception of the old port area perhaps)

Abu Dhabi is a little better, more Arabic so to speak but still.

However: it really depends in what you want/are into - sun / sand / sea / (ski!) / shopping - Dubai does fine.

I completely agree. Dubai is soul-less and is just crass and tacky. If you live like a footballer's wife and like everything tacky and tasteless then Dubai is your place.

jonny68

Miss Fluff wrote:

I completely agree. Dubai is soul-less and is just crass and tacky. If you live like a footballer's wife and like everything tacky and tasteless then Dubai is your place.

what nonsense, then again i suppose if someone has no class then Dubai maybe wouldn't be for them, there may be some tacky sights nothing more than you will see in any other major city worldwide.

Dubai is an International Cosmopolitan City where people will go out of their way to help and assist you, it's spotless clean, has virtually no crime with some of the finest buildings in the world,99% of people i came across who have been there loved it and cant wait to go back.

bringitdown

Okay. Play nice kids.

I think it boils down to taste... as I said if you want the sun / shopping etc ... fire ahead, but it is not to my taste.

I travel quite a bit, and try to find something interesting, unique about every place I go, but I struggled in Dubai.

They have lots of modern buildings, some of which are spectacular, and lots of shopping malls and such but it doesn't 'feel' genuine - its hard to explain.
With the exception of a few areas it is not suitable for pedestrians. Taxi or hire car is the way to go. It is strung out over such a large area - 45km or so. I feel it is struggling to have an culture / identity of its own - perhaps 'wealth / large buildings' is the culture.

I didn't have a bad time by any means, I went there on business so had the luxury of free flights, but to someone planning a holiday I wouldn't recommend ...

Am currently in KL, lots hate the place ... I quite like it - no accounting for taste eh.

Tabnabs

Another negative vote for Dubai.

We stayed in the Jumeirah beach area, fabulous hotel, mixed service standard and plenty of stuck up rich kids. Dubai is still very much a building site and probably isn't worth going to for another five years or so. It is a capitalists dream town. Plenty to spend your money on (and it ain't cheap unless you're buying seriously expensive things).

Have to admit we felt very uncomfortable driving around in an air conditioned, blacked out, hotel car passing the Indian workers who get paid absolute peanuts to further some rich contractors dreams. Read the Khaleej Times newspaper to get a sanitized and palatable version of what's going on in UAE (often delivered free to hotel rooms).

We certainly were very disappointed and won't go back for the foreseeable.

j_lennon

Was in Dubai last week when on my way to india (thats were i am now) I enjoyed my short stay there. went to a hotel with a private beach and bar which was lovely. also travel though all the shops/sites. the low points was the building work and the heat. iv never sweated so much after just 2secs getting off the plane.

Miss Fluff

jonny68 wrote:

what nonsense, then again i suppose if someone has no class then Dubai maybe wouldn't be for them, there may be some tacky sights nothing more than you will see in any other major city worldwide.

Dubai is an International Cosmopolitan City where people will go out of their way to help and assist you, it's spotless clean, has virtually no crime with some of the finest buildings in the world,99% of people i came across who have been there loved it and cant wait to go back.

Fine jonny68, perhaps because I have lived in Saudi Arabia and have travelled in Yemen and speak some Arabic and know the middle east like the back of my hand that makes me a novice.

In any event OP, Dubai is a kip. I shall reiterate once more that if you like your Ballymun in the Sun and like spending exorbitant amounts of money on designer sunglasses that came out in 2001, like mixing with the lowest dross of society where there were blatantly no lifeguards at the gene pool (these are the tourists I am referring to) and love the exoticism that Dubai presents (LOL EFFING TASTIC BY THE WAY:D ) then go right ahead.

Indian labourers being treated so terribly and the crass capatilism that is at every hands turn combined with readily available BLTs (with real bacon btw) is what you are after if you want to actually experience the middle east then go right ahead, and good luck to you. Wouldn't go for free to Dubai tbh.