Must-sees in the UAE if you only have 48 hours

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you are already tired of lying on the beach, and there are a couple of days left before leaving, here is an action plan to see all the most interesting in the two largest cities of the UAE.

"Winter is coming" is not only the famous slogan from "Game of Thrones", but also the inevitable reality of most of our compatriots. And sometimes you just want to go to the warm sea, sun and sandy beach for at least a week. In recent years, the flow of tourists from the CIS to the UAE has grown several times, and not today or tomorrow Dubai will become practically a popular resort. Of course, most people just go to warm up and swim, but this quickly gets boring and you want to explore the country at least a little. It's not that hard if you have a clear plan. Where can I get it? Here it is, I have just compiled it carefully for you.

So, we had an average amount of money, 48 hours before departure and seven unconquered emirates.

The first thing you need to do is decide how you will move. There are two adequate options for such an eventful trip: rent a car (for example, a good aggregator of car rental offers) or use a taxi service (at the counter of your hotel you can always ask to order a "carriage" for you at the right time).

First day

The first point of our (or rather your) trip will be the capital of the state - Abu Dhabi. We leave Dubai at 7-8 am, and in an hour and a half we are in the capital. Here we need to visit Ferrari World, Yas Waterpark, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the famous White Mosque.

Ferrari World and Yas Waterpark

First, we head for Yas Mall, a shopping center where you can have a quick bite to eat and go to the entrance to the Ferrari World amusement park and Yas Waterpark. Tickets can be bought locally or online on the official website. If you order tickets more than three days before the trip, you will receive a 10% discount. Alternatively, you can buy a combined ticket for the amusement park and water park.

What is there to do?

• In Ferrari World - ride all three large slides, including the fastest attraction in the world - Formula Rossa.
• Take a photo against the backdrop of luxury cars and, if budget allows, drive a real Ferrari along a special high-speed track (although more often neither budget nor time allows).
• In Yas Waterpark - test yourself on a slide with a slope of almost 90 °, if possible, also admire the view of the city. And shoot gorgeous videos using an action camera.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

After the extreme part of the rest, you need to relax a little and rest. The best vacation, as you know, is a change of activity, so we jump in the car and go to the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

A branch of the famous Parisian museum will welcome you with unusual architecture, a modest exhibition and tickets for 60 dirhams (which is practically free by the standards of the UAE).

What is there to do?

• See some interesting exhibits.
• Draw parallels for yourself in the development of many civilizations and cultures.
• Take pictures inside the museum. I really do not like to be photographed, but believe me - the photos there turn out to be just fire.

White mosque

The last stop on this day should be the White Mosque in Abu Dhabi. A project that is striking in its scope and high cost, which was built for many years by the founder of the UAE state, Sheikh Zayed. The entrance to the mosque is free. Try to follow the dress code and basic rules of decency.

What is there to do?

• See the magnificent mosque from the inside and learn a little more about Islam.
• Walk on the Greek white marble and realize that everything around is made by the painstaking work of thousands of people.

On this, the acquaintance with Abu Dhabi can be considered complete. If you start your trip early in the morning, then at 10 pm you will already be in Dubai. Optionally, you can include other attractions of Abu Dhabi in your trip - there should be enough time.

Second day

The second day of travel in the "UAE in 48 hours" format will be dedicated to Dubai. On this day, you can sleep a little longer and go out to conquer the city at 9-10 hours.

Deira District

First of all, we are heading to the Deira area. This is one of the oldest districts of Dubai, where there are several large markets and the spirit of the Middle East is in the air.

What is there to do?

• Go through the markets with gold, spices and all sorts of trinkets.
• Bargain for something and bring down the price by 80%.
• Take an Arab boat ride through the canal next to the port.

Zabil Park

After wandering around the markets and wandering in the intricate quarters of Deira, you need to get out somewhere out into the open. We jump into the car and go to Zabil Park. In the center of the park is the most expensive observation deck in the world - Dubai Frame. About 120 million dirhams (almost 2 billion rubles) were spent on the construction of a 150-meter "frame" with real gilding.

The entrance to the park is paid. The passage is carried out with a transport ticket, so if you have one, then take it with you. If not, you will be kindly sold it at the entrance to the park. You can climb the "frame" itself for 50 dirhams, the ticket is bought on the spot.

What is there to do?

• Admire the gorgeous views of Dubai.
• Walk on the glass floor at a height of 150 meters.
• Visit an interactive museum that will show you the past, present and future of the city.
• Well, sit a little on the grass in the park and eat ice cream.

Dubai mall

Admiring the Burj Khalifa from afar? It's time to get closer. We go to Dubai Mall - the largest shopping center in the world.

You can wander around the Dubai Mall for a very long time, and if you are also a shopaholic, then you can spend the whole vacation there. But our time is very limited, so we eat in one of the cafes and quickly run through the main attractions.

By 18:00 we should be in the best seats to watch the fountain show. There are several options: we sit down somewhere in a cafe or pay a little money and buy a passage to a special Broadwalk area, where you can appreciate the fountains in all their glory. Well, the most budgetary way is to just stand outside and watch.

What is there to do?

• In the Dubai Mall, look at the giant aquarium (you don't have to buy a ticket, as there will be the same things that you can see for free).
• Take a picture at the Falling Men fountain.
• Walk around the local gold market and get frustrated by the prices.
• Walk by the fountains and take a thousand photos of the Burj Khalifa and surrounding buildings.
• Sit in a cozy cafe, smoke a hookah and drink a cup of karak (tea with very fat milk).
• Admiring the fountain show is very impressive indeed.
• If you're lucky, watch the light show on the Burj Khalifa.

The main program ends here. Naturally, there are dozens more places in the UAE that are worth visiting, but you yourself understand that it is impossible to cover everything. However, the above sights will give you a general idea of what the United Arab Emirates is.