Sights of the United Arab Emirates, Excursions of Dubai and Sharjah. What to see in the UAE, Dubai, Shar
Sights of the United Arab Emirates, Excursions of Dubai and Sharjah. What to see in the UAE, Dubai, Sharjah.
We were in the Emirates at the end of May 2012. We prepared for the trip in advance by reading about the main attractions, where they are, how to get there and all sorts of recommendations for them. Therefore, they didn’t take excursions, but went everywhere themselves, which saved money and added impressions.
We spent a week on a BB meal in Sharjah at the Grand Hotel Sharjah.
From the hotel 3 times a day there was a free bus to Deira City Center in Dubai, we used it, and from it we went wherever we wanted. I recommend that you immediately take a map of Dubai and Sharjah at the hotel.
So, on the 1st day, at 3 o’clock we left for Deira City Center, changed money there, took the subway (6.5 dirham regular ticket, and 2 times more expensive than Gold class - 1 car, but it’s worth it. )) 9 stops and we are in the Dubai mall - the largest shopping center in the world. Do not throw away metro tickets, they will come in handy at the exit and if you return them when you re-purchase tickets, the price will be cheaper. A free bus runs from the metro to the mall, with the same ticket.
The Dubai Mall (DM) has:
- Aquarium-tunnel and marine animal zoo - entrance 75 dirhams (10 dirhams from the cost is given for souvenirs in a special shop).
- 2 huge fountains with sculptures of men.
- Entrance to the Burj Khalifa.
A ticket to the Burj Khalifa costs 400 dirhams if you go day to day, and 100 dirhams if you buy several days in advance (we did). We chose a date in 3 days and a time that suited us.
We had dinner at a restaurant in DM, there is a whole sector of fast food chain restaurants, such as KFC, pizza, Starbucks, McD, and with healthier food (for two, somewhere between 100-150 dirhams).
Day 2 We went to the aquarium in Sharjah, it was near our hotel, I don’t remember how much the entrance, but it’s like 30 dirhams. Also very interesting. Then we walked along the embankment, watched how they fish, and reached the Ferris wheel, rode it, walked between the fountains, dined at a restaurant on the street (2 soups, grilled meat - 2 dishes, 2 fresh - about 250 dirhams). By taxi we returned to the hotel (sometimes it is cheaper to take a taxi than the subway, )
Day 3 - a trip to the WILD WADI Water Park at the Atlantis Hotel, on the Palm Jumeirah.
At 10 in the morning we left the hotel by bus, from Deira City we took the metro to the gold class, since it is far enough to go and you can see a lot of interesting buildings, Sail, etc. we got to station number 35 and from there by taxi to the water park (20 dirhams). The entrance to the water park is about 55 USD. for the whole day, a bracelet in the form of a watch with a chip is put on, this is the key to the storage room (paid separately), you can also put a deposit on this chip in order to buy water and food on the territory of the water park, back if you don’t spend all the money can I return. They took their own towels. And the water park is awesome! There is 1 extreme slide where you reach speeds of up to 80 km per hour! )) It's worth a try. )
We were there all day until the very end. We returned back on the mono train, which runs along the base of the palm tree, as well as the metro - without a driver (it costs more than a taxi, but this can be said to be another attraction. )
Day 4 We took a taxi from Deira City to Nesser Square (it's nearby, up to 15 dirhams) to get our bearings on the map, this is Union Metro Station No. 20 on the green line. This is a rather poor area, with a bunch of shops for fur coats, appliances, textiles and all sorts of rubbish. Souvenirs are very cheap (magnets from 2.5 dirhams). Nessre Square is a series of streets located along the Dubai Creek (channel, bay). There, according to recommendations and reviews, we ate at Golden Fork (Golden Fork) (2 soups, 2 fish and shrimp dishes, 2 fresh juices - about 170 dirhams). Wooden boats run along the canal, such as a water route, sail from the shore every 5 minutes, a boat without boards, 25 people sit there and go to the other side, where old markets (shawls, spices) are located - here you can feel the national flavor, and the origins emirate. )) we return back in the same way.
Day 5 - Visit Burj Khalifa + Singing Fountains.
According to pre-purchased tickets, we arrive 10 minutes before the appointed time, there is where to take pictures and what to impress. Even the ascent and passage through the many corridors to the building is an exciting journey. The elevator rises 10 meters per second to the 124th floor. There is an open observation deck. We were lucky, there was almost no haze, which often happens in Dubai, and we were able to see everything well. You have to go up there, it's just breathtaking. We were at half past four, specially chose the daylight hours so that you could see the most. You can stay on the 124th floor as long as you want, no one kicks you out - this is another advantage that we were not with the group, but ourselves, and no one hurried us.
At 19.00, singing fountains begin, and they sing every half hour. The spectacle is incredible!
Day 6 - we again went to Nesser Square, so that from there we can take a shuttle boat and swim to the water transport station, from where a comfortable large catamaran runs at 5 and 7 pm, and takes a walk with access to the Panama Canal, but at the box office we were told that on that day, because of the waves, the catamaran will only sail along the canal, but this did not suit us, so we just walked around the old town and the embankment, and returned back.
7 day spent on the beach.
Conclusion: if you want to get to know the country, it is not necessary to buy excursions for 70-100 USD, you just need to read the information in advance and prepare for the trip. We had a rest in the hotel with people who, apart from shopping centers, saw nothing and claimed that there is nothing to see in the UAE, only skyscrapers and nothing more, but who is the doctor for them ?!, ) As for me, the UAE is a country of the future, sometimes you look and it seems that you see frames from a science fiction film about the future, and you understand that this is already the present! This country pleasantly struck and shocked me. Strict traditions and advanced technologies are combined here, and this strikes with its harmony.
The budget for a trip in May 2012 for a week is about 800 USD / person for a tour with a visa, meals BB (tour agent "hot tours", tour operator - Join up! , host - Royal Park, air Arabian airlines (lunch on board paid) - everyone worked with a bang! ), food, the cost of tickets to the water park, 2 aquariums, Burj Khalifa, metro and taxi fares - about 350 USD / person (although they took much more with them, they were even surprised by such small expenses).