In early May, I got the opportunity to visit Dubai on a business trip to explore the latest trends, constructions, and iconic highlights that should be on every traveler’s “MUST SEE” list. From Prague, only five of us represented the Czech market, and we met with other participants from Poland, Hungary, and Romania in Dubai. We flew with the low-cost airline FlyDubai, which has relatively new planes, and as a bonus, we had seats with more legroom on the way there, although it didn’t reduce my fear of flying, which I experience on every flight 😀
After arrival, we stayed in a traditional Dubai hotel, which means no alcohol is available at the bar or anywhere in the hotel and its vicinity. So, we had to entertain ourselves differently! We had the entire Sunday free to relax or explore Dubai on our own. I decided to visit one of the famous beaches, Le Mer Beach, as I didn’t have the chance to visit a beach during my last trip to Dubai in 2019. So, after several years, I tried traveling by metro again, which is fully automated and one of the fastest ways to get around Dubai. However, you need sharp elbows in the metro! The main motto here is: if you don’t push through, you won’t get in or out. 😀
Part of the invitation was a mandatory stop at the largest travel trade show, ATM Dubai, where relationships with foreign partners are strengthened, and new trends and innovations in tourism are discovered. Every exhibitor competes to make their stand the most creative, interesting, and colorful, making it more memorable! Later in the afternoon, our entire group moved to the EXPO 2020 fair, which was postponed to autumn 2021 due to the pandemic and lasted until March 2022. The main themes of the international exhibition were sustainability, mobility, and opportunity, with participation from 192 countries! It is worth noting that the Czech Republic won an award for the S.A.W.E.R. technology, which independently produces water from the air, and was considered one of the best innovations at the World Expo! We had the chance to see only a few pavilions, but it was still an interesting experience! The evening ended with a light show accompanied by a philharmonic orchestra.
The next day started similarly with the trade show and later an evening visit to Dubai Parks and Resorts, preceded by a rich outdoor buffet with a replica of the Taj Mahal in the background. Then, we had the opportunity to try attractions at the Real Madrid Park, where attractions like a giant swing ride or a long roller coaster captivated us more than the football exhibition.
The fourth day in Dubai was marked by “futuristic” Dubai, literally! The first stop was the Museum of the Future, which fascinated our entire group, and one could spend an entire day there! Walking through the futuristic hall, you feel that this is how the modern world will look in a few years. From fully automated cars to “flying” backpacks and everyday communication with robots! And believe me, they are so advanced here that it can be scary! The next stop was a visit to the world’s only 7-star hotel, Burj Al Arab, opened in 1999 and considered one of the most luxurious hotels in the world at the time, where gold and marble are not spared! In my opinion, too much fuss for a bit of luxury ☺ But the beach is really beautiful!!! After an excellent lunch, we moved to the iconic Palm Island and its 240m high observation deck, The Palm, from where you can see the entire artificial island and Dubai’s coastline. The observation deck also serves as a museum. The day ended with a grand outdoor party at the marina, where food, drinks, and dancing were plentiful! The view of the illuminated Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the sound of the sea added an unforgettable atmosphere to the party. Unfortunately, we couldn’t continue until midnight, so we reserved that for our “party” bus…
On the fifth day, Dubai welcomed us in traditional style, starting with a visit to the AYA UNIVERSE museum of senses, which can be compared to a light installation accompanied by relaxing music. Each room surprises you with a different colored “universe”. Then we moved to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you learn important cultural customs of Dubai, from dress codes and social behavior to dining etiquette. Everything is located in a traditional house in the historic Bur Dubai district, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch consisting of rice, meat, and vegetables. The most common dessert is dates and classic Arabic coffee flavored with cardamom. In the afternoon, we took a short ride on a typical Abra boat to the most famous and oldest market, GOLD Souk. However, I didn’t enjoy the walk much as we rushed through the market with other colleagues due to constant “harassment” by local vendors offering not only spices, perfumes, and various scarves but also a plethora of statuettes, pots, and toilet seats! 😀 Indeed, you can find everything at the gold market!! In the evening, we took a motorboat ride to the new Hearts of Europe project, which are artificial islands designed to resemble various European places in appearance, architecture, and atmosphere. Upon completion, there will be private recreational homes, apartments, hotels, floating palaces, and a variety of shops, entertainment venues, and food and beverage outlets. We had the opportunity to tour the luxurious Bentley villa and the already standing “party” hotel Voco Monaco. At sunset, we enjoyed a wonderful Mediterranean dinner on the beach. On the way back by speedboat, we marveled at the last evening view of nighttime Dubai.
On the departure day, we said goodbye to the other participants and headed to the airport. The flight back to Prague went smoothly, and I brought back many experiences and new information from metropolitan and futuristic Dubai. 😀