Once a tranquil town of courtyard houses and huts that were
built by Persian traders, fishermen, and pearl divers, modern Dubai is renowned
for its fabulous sand, sun, and shopping―and has become one of the largest
tourist destination spots in the world. One of fastest developing cities in the
world, it is now a cosmopolitan city characterized by a rising skyline. With a
thriving economy as well, it is the ideal locale for landing a travel job. Not
only are you likely to land an interesting, high-paying job in the “Las Vegas
of the Middle East”, but you are sure to have an excellent time exploring this
glamorous city alongside your fellow expatriates, who comprise the majority of
the city’s population.
Nightlife in Dubai
Aside from being a popular tourist destination for
sightseeing, Dubai
is also known for its after-dark scene with a large choice of bars and
nightclubs for you to enjoy. Bars and clubs are usually located inside hotels
or leisure complexes and have well-known DJs spinning the latest dance hits
throughout the night. Dubai’s nightlife scene reflects the fast-paced, vibrant
vibe of the city and one can expect to visit a unique venue with its own
atmosphere and amenities on any given night. Provided below is a list of some
of the more popular bars, lounges and clubs available for you to enjoy during
your working vacation in Dubai.
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Name
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Location
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About
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Boudoir
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Dubai Marine Spa & Beach Resort
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Features a menu of world-class
food, cutting edge sounds, and sumptuous interior design.
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Ginseng
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The Lounge
Wafi City
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Ginseng offers a
combination of new-age cocktails and contemporary Asian Tapas with a calming
elegance. Located in the hub of Wafi City next to the Planetarium Nightclub.
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Kasbar Night Club
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Royal Mirage Hotel,
Jumeirah Beach
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Arranged on various levels,
visitors can enjoy a diverse selection of live entertainment and dancing.
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Lotus One
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Ground Floor,
Convention Tower
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A fusion restaurant and a lounge
bar in one.
Enjoy cocktails while listening to the sound of mellow music or fresh, seductive
house sounds.
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MIX
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Grand Hyatt
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MIX at Grand Hyatt Dubai is
Dubai’s only Super Club. Its lower level features the Dance Club, which can
hold more than 900 people and is characterized by a variety of musical
genres. The upper level boasts a soundproofed music room, and the mezzanine
level contains a sophisticated chill-out lounge with its own music system.
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Seville's Spanish Tapas Bar
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Above Planet Hollywood,
overlooking the
rooftop gardens of
Wafi City
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Located above Planet Hollywood, this
bar offers a great view along with excellent dining options amidst the
beautiful rooftop gardens of Wafi City. The gardens are divided into several
intimate seating areas, including a fireside area for the cooler evenings that
exist during the winter months in Dubai. Offers an extensive range of Spanish
wines and plenty of room for dancing. A great place to sample Spanish
culture.
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Zinc
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Sheik Zayed Road
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Zinc, which is open 7 days a
week until 3 am, features a different
playlist and DJ for every night of the week. The menu includes champagnes, wines,
and cocktails.
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Other Attractions in Abu Dhabi
If you’re more of an early bird than a late-night reveler,
have no fear—Dubai
offers plenty of alternatives for filling your off-hours with new experiences.
In fact, Dubai offers an extensive variety of attractions for residents and
tourists alike. The following list is just a preview of what this international
city has to offer:
Art Space
The Fairmont,
Sheikh Zayed Rd., Dubai
Art Space is
dedicated to the promotion of national and international contemporary artists.
The gallery caters to the tastes and trends of the sophisticated Dubai art
market, as well as to the gallery's discerning worldwide collector base. Art
Space offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to view and acquire some of
the world’s most sought-after contemporary art at the exhibits that are held
every three weeks and feature contemporary painters, photographers, and
sculptors.
Dubai Museum
Al-Fahidi St.
Located inside the Al-Fahidi Fort, the city’s oldest
building, this museum’s vast collection features everything from traditional
Arabian houses to objects that were found in 3,000 year old graves at Al
Ghusais. It allows visitors a glimpse into life prior to the introduction of
oil into the local economy. All exhibits have captions in both Arabic and
English, including the multimedia and interactive displays.
Heritage & Diving Villages
Al-Shindagha Rd.
To get an introduction to traditional Bedouin coastal
village life, look no further than Heritage & Diving Villages. It’s a
museum where visitors can explore traditional potting, weaving, and other
crafts; as well as learn about the history of Dubai’s pearl industry.
Heritage House
Al-Ahmadiya St.
A famous Iranian pearl merchant used to own this house
before it became the home of Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmouk in 1910. It is built
adjacent to Al-Ahmadiya School, the first educational institution to be established
in Dubai.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
Jumeirah Rd.
Complete with 24 rides and slides, Wild Wadi Waterpark is the perfect place to
cool down in Dubai. It caters to both children and adults, and offers exciting
rides such as artificial waves and the Jumeirah Sceirah, a 33-meter speed slide
that hurtles you at speeds of up to 80 kmph.
Dining Out in Dubai
Dining out in Dubai
greatly enhances its already rich cosmopolitan flavor. The dining scene is
vast, diverse, and priced according to your budget. The dining atmosphere
adjusts itself according the climate, with outdoor heaters taking away the
chill during the winter and air conditioners cooling the interiors on steamy summer
days.
Fine Dining
The Al Mahara, located underneath Burj Al Arab, is an excellent
backdrop for memorable celebrations. It is a specialty seafood restaurant. Part
of the dining experience includes a three-minute simulated submarine ride from
the entrance of the restaurant into the dining room, which is surrounded by
giant saltwater aquariums.
Asian
Chinese and Thai are extremely popular cuisine in Dubai. With high-quality
fresh seafood provided by the Gulf waters, many dishes taste much better than
one would expect for what they are priced at. There are a lot of Chinese and
Thai restaurants spread throughout the city, particularly in the Bur Dubai and
Karama districts. Benihana is an excellent restaurant for Japanese dishes and
is located at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, which is known for its excellent
teppanyaki and show chefs.
Cafes and Coffee Shops
Many coffee shops, which are hugely popular in Dubai, remain open way
past midnight. Cosmo at Sheikh Zayed Road is a local favorite that offers a
light menu and shisha pipe smoking in addition to a wide variety of caffeinated
beverages. More, a contemporary café in Garhoud, is a fusion of a café and an
art gallery that is ideal for enjoying a book or the free Wi-Fi while sipping a
latte.
Cinema theaters in Dubai
After the release of Titanic in 1998, the cinema market in
the UAE boomed. Since then, numerous large cinema theaters have opened where it
is possible to watch recent American blockbuster movies in English.
For more information about cinema theaters in Dubai, go to http://movies.theemiratesnetwork.com/showtimes.php?ct=DXB.
Shopping in Dubai
If you love shopping, you’ll love Dubai.
Dubai boasts over fifty malls and shopping centers scattered
around the city, plus a wide variety of souqs to offer shoppers an incredible
selection of tax-free items. Choices for the shopper are virtually unlimited
and it is very easy to get caught up just browsing all sorts of items, from
luxury cars and designer clothing to gold and spices.
With the amount of shopping centers available, it is often
difficult to decide where to start first. Listed below are some of Dubai’s
premier shopping locations that are a good place to begin your shopping
adventures during your working vacation.
Malls and Shopping Centers
BurJurman Center
Intersection of the Trade Center Road &Khalid Bin Waleed Street
BurJurman
Center is known as the
residence of high-fashion. Some of the brands available here include Louis
Vuitton, Dior, Hermes, Valentino, Emanel Ungaro, Loewe, Etro, Cartier, Van
Cleef & Arpels, Christian Lacroix, Salvatore Ferragamo, Just Cavalli, and
many more.
Jumeirah Centre
Jumeriah Beach Road
The Jumeirah Centre is immensely popular in Dubai for its discounted
designer items and relaxing shopping experience. It has all in all 48 shops
which offer high-quality products, and it is easy to get a good deal through
efficient bargaining.
Deira City Centre
Opposite Dubai Creek Golf &Yacht Club
The Deira City Center
is Dubai’s most
popular shopping mall. It is home to over 300 stores and restaurants and has
plenty of big name brands that offer home furniture, antiques, and gift items.
Also available in the mall is a cinema and an entertainment centre: great for
the family who wants to enjoy a busy day out.
Souqs
What is a souq? In Arab countries, a souq is a marketplace
with row upon row of stalls of vendors selling their wares. Souqs in Dubai
are perfect for shopping bargains as well as sightseeing, and gives the shopper
a taste of what shopping was like in the pre-modern era. Prices are generally lower
than what you would find in department stores and most shops allow you to
bargain with the vendor.
Bur Dubai Souq
Ali Bin Abi Talib Street
The Bur Dubai Souq has an abundant supply of shops selling
textiles and clothes as well as a few Arabian antique stores. It’s located
under wooden arcades and wind-towers and extends well into the streets where
shoppers can have suits made and purchase electronics
Deira Gold Souq
Sikkat al-Khail Street
Deira's celebrated Gold Souq attracts buyers from all over
the world. Here you can find an amazing amount of gold, from chains, rings,
earrings, bracelets and every other kind of jewelry imaginable.
Perfume Souq
Sikkat al-Khali Street
Although less traditional looking than most of Dubai’s
souqs, these stores sell a wide range of both local and brand name perfumes, as
well as incense burners. Vendors are really helpful – if you don’t know what
you’re looking for, simply describe what you want and they will try and find
(sometimes make) one to fit what you’re looking for.