The Best Way to Spend 48 Hours in Dubai
Dubai, home to more than 200 different nationalities, artificial paradises built on the sea and the tallest buildings in the world, is one of the cities that receives the most visitors. And never disappoints: between golden Lamborghinis and ostentatious fountains, it is a jewel of the desert that is worth visiting.
DAY 1
10:00
Wake up and get dressed up in your best clothes: it’s time to eat! If you do not usually have breakfast, do not worry: Dubai is famous for its delicious options for brunch. Meet the traditional hospitality tasting the local flavors. Enjoy a shakshuka, a dish of poached eggs that originally comes from Tunisia. If you like sweets, the balaleet, a traditional dessert from the Arab Emirates, is the option for you. Accompany your choice with a black tea or Arabic coffee to enjoy an authentic Saudi experience and get enough energy for the whole day.
12:00
Get ready to burn all that food: it’s time to explore the city. Start with the tallest building in the world: climb to the observation platform of the iconic Burj Khalifa. Located at an incredible 828 meters high, this privileged place offers the best panoramic views of the city. From up there the world looks like a miniature and you can see up to a distance of 95 kilometers. That they are not few!
14:00
When you’re ready to get out of the clouds, a day of shopping awaits you. Right next to the Burj Khalifa, you will find the Dubai Mall, with equal epic dimensions. Inside, there are a total of 1,200 stores and 150 restaurants. We are sure that it will be very easy to find somewhere to have lunch inside. Once you have replenished energy, do not forget to visit the theme park, the ice rink and the gigantic waterfall that they find between the walls of the complex. If the Dubai Mall impresses you, you will be speechless when you see the Mall of the Emirates. Head there to enjoy the first indoor ski resort in the UAE.
5:00
After a long day of shopping, you sure want to change activity. Do not worry, we have a recommendation that will keep you safe from the heat of the street. Instead of going to the sea to admire the wildlife, you can visit the city’s underground aquarium and zoo , which houses some of the world’s largest reptiles and rare animal species, such as the sand tiger shark or the marine crocodile.
DAY 2
6:30
We know it’s early, but you’re in Dubai and not every day you can go through the desert dunes in a 4 × 4. Just 45 minutes from the city, the Rub al-Jali desert is an impressive place to start the day and download a bit of adrenaline. Discover the hidden pleasures of living in the dunes and enjoy an adventure in 4 × 4 of 3 hours. Dare also with the sandboarding to finish your morning full of euphoria and sand.
12:00
There is nothing like street food to satisfy the desire for a snack at noon. Drop by one of Dubai’s many shish taouk vendors to try this delicious dish made of grilled chicken, pickled turnip, olives and mint, all rolled into pita bread. Do you want something that fills more? Then try the margoogat, a beef stew with a tomato base and many spices, or machboos, a traditional rice dish usually served with local prawns.
14:00
With a full belly, it’s time to get to know Dubai from the water. Enjoy a unique perspective of the metropolis with a 1.5 hour boat ride on Palm Jumeirah. Immerse yourself in the wonders of the Palm Islands: an artificial archipelago shaped like a palm tree. Do not forget to take pictures! You will not see this kind of luxury anywhere else in the world.
19:00
Your 48 hours in Dubai are about to end. You have climbed to the top of the tallest building in the world and toured one of the largest shopping centers in the world. You have admired the beauty and grandeur that can only be found in Dubai. Now it’s time to go back to the water and relax. Climb aboard a dhow and enjoy while strolling through Dubai Marina and savoring an international buffet. Without a doubt, it is the perfect brooch for your 48 hours in Dubai.