Dubai Layover Help (5.30AM-3PM)

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gogo419

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Nov 30, 2011
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Hi all,

Hoping someone is able to help me out here. Arriving into Dubai at 5.30am on a Saturday and don't depart until 3pm in the afternoon (same day)

Is there anything we could do to fill in the day and get out of the airport for a bit? I know we arrive really early! But Dubai seems to be a city that should have something open early!? (markets??)

Otherwise maybe an early breakfast at a famous hotel or something to start?

We are a family of 5 (3 kids age 15-22)

cheers gogo
 
Maybe look at a day room (or 2) in a hotel close to the airport.
 
During the morning go to the massive mall and you fly the A380 simulator there about A$100, I did it was awesome, wife took a movie on iPad of it too.
 
Aren't there a couple of WP's in your family? Hanging out in the F Lounge not an option?
 
Aren't there a couple of WP's in your family? Hanging out in the F Lounge not an option?

I better update my profile! I have been demoted to lowly SG... :( So only one person in family is WP now.

Even if we could all get in to F Lounge i think 9 hours is a bit too long...

Might look into having an early breakfast at one of the hotels and book to go up Burj Khalifa then head back to airport..

gogo
 
I had a long overnight layover in DXB recently. Managed to do some work but realised that it might have been too long when I found myself drinking red wine with scrambled eggs
 
I had a long overnight layover in DXB recently. Managed to do some work but realised that it might have been too long when I found myself drinking red wine with scrambled eggs

This just made me laugh out loud - I did exactly the same thing!! Eggs please - then notice they had RunRig Shiraz from Torbrek ($275 a bottle I think last time I was in Barossa) - too good an opportunity to miss. Tea or coffee sir, erm, not, I'll try a glass of red please - entire bottle later (with breakfast) made for a very short onwards flight to the UK!!

Anyway - ideas. OP, you asked about markets - check out the Souk at the Creek (very close to the airport and cabs are not expensive). It's on every day. You didn't say when your flight was (month wise) - but Dubai is starting to hot up and by June, you'll not be able to venture too far out of air con by 10am - so go there first.

I think the mall suggestions above are great. The sim is a great idea (Dubai Mall) - or maybe do some skiing/boarding at Ski Dubai if you go to Mall of the Emirates (kids your age will love that). If your kids were a little younger, I'd have suggested Kidzania (Dubai Mall) which is BRILLIANT (and the kids can "work" as Emirates pilots and cabin crew).

A trip to the Burj Khalifa - and then watch the water show with lunch and a drink (assuming not Ramadan).

Or an airport hotel with a pool (I usually stay at the Premier Inn or the Millennium) is also a great idea.

Have fun - one of my favorite places to visit - I'm desperate for a trip there myself!

Oh - last thing - check out the Visit Dubai website.
 
If you decide to do Burj Khalifa, make sure you book online before you go. It's way dearer on the day and often queues are a mile long for people who haven't booked ahead of time. You will still queue anyway, so allow a lot of time. It's well worth it! Then a wander around the mall and from 6pm there is the water and light show every hour after that.
Enjoy! I love Dubai and have spent many weeks there as my daughter lives there (Emirates crew).
PS just noticed you won't be there for 6pm show-sorry!
 
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We lived in the lovely Abu Dhabi for some time. For Dubai, you can get the big bus, visit the malls, go to the souks, ...

We'd take visitors to Dubai, go for a swim/body surf on the beach near Burj Al-Arab (can do this as early as you like) then over to the Mall of the Emirates (not far from the beach) for some skiing/boarding at Ski Dubai. You'll get fitted out with most of the gear as part of the hire. Surf then ski. The only other place that we do this is LA in winter. Great experience.

Another option is to hire a car, with or without a driver, and head up to Khasab in Oman (look up Dubai to Khasab on Google maps). It takes about 2.5 hours each way. Above Ras Al-Kaimah, the road is like a version of the Great Ocean Road with very little traffic. This will give you ample time to board a local fishing boat in Khasab (very cheap, LOVELY people) and go to see the dolphins. The terrain is amazing. Similar to the fjords in Norway & NZ but not an iota of vegetation. Great trip, worthwhile experience but maybe a little risky with your time constraints?

Yet another option is to visit the amazing Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Ferrari World and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Round trip is about 2 hours so enough time to do the visits.

So many options & so little time.
 
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What time of year? Arriving and departing which terminal? Flying EK or ???

Summer limits your options as it is fiendishly hot. Like kick off in mid 30s, mid 40s max and sultry with it. That means air-con options!

Dubai Mall about 30 minutes cab ride from DXB, plus traffic if peak hour. Taxis metered and fares negligible. Ask the driver to take you there (or back) along Sheik Zayed Road through the skyscraper canyon of Downtown Dubai:cool:. You can check out the huge indoor aquarium, check out the huge dinosaur skeleton (new attraction), and there are also two daytime shows at the huge fountain at 1 pm and 1.30 pm, all free. Paid attractions there include Kidzania, Ice skating ink, play on the Emirates sim, go for an electric boat ride on the lake (NOT in the middle of a summer day, too hot)

However, beware! Emiratis don't do early. There are very few breakfast places apart from the hotels that open before 8 am, and nothing much opens in Dubai Mall until 10 am apart from some food outlets and the Burj Khalifa.

Burj Khalifa opens at 8.30 am with first entry to level 125 at 9 am (You should be there 20 mins before your entry). Level 148 doesn't open till 12.00, but the view from level 125 is pretty similar.

So for a 5.30 arrival I'd do breakfast at the airport then go to Dubai Mall. The practicalities of that depend on airline and arrival and departure terminal. Beware that once you get past customs there is nothing much other than transport.

Cheers skip
 
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Unsure who you are flying with, but would dubai connect apply?

Assuming you're flying PER, it's definately EK to DXB, but just in case you're on QF to LHR...
 
go for a swim/body surf on the beach near Burj Al-Arab (can do this as early as you like)

Yes, but be careful where you park! :oops:

Bogged 2.jpg

Another option is to hire a car, with or without a driver, and head up to Khasab in Oman (look up Dubai to Khasab on Google maps). It takes about 2.5 hours each way. Above Ras Al-Kaimah, the road is like a version of the Great Ocean Road with very little traffic.

Time constraints would prevent this I'd say. The border crossing can take hours depending upon the queue and how interested they are in serving you (service is not a word understood by border guards). Otherwise, It's a great concept!

Khasab Fort.jpg

Oman 1.jpg

Oman 2.jpg

Oman 3.jpg

Yet another option is to visit the amazing Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Ferrari World and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Round trip is about 2 hours so enough time to do the visits.

Round trip 2 hours? :shock: Uhm, they have 9 hours, not 9 days! The speed cameras are doing a good job along that route......or do you mean 2 hours each way?

So many options & so little time.

I agree totally. Before our visit there, most people said we'd be bored after 3 days. How wrong they were. We were there for 6 days and had a great time (driving holiday) and I really think two to three times that time would make a better length of stay. So much so, we're planning our return already!

However, for the 9 hour stopover, I'd suggest not trying to cram too much in. The traffic can be problematic and take up some of your precious hours so keep it relatively close to the airport. I'd think seriously about booking the Burj Khalifa (as it's an icon that cannot be done just anywhere) and if you still have time, the Dubai Mall, but if you've seen one ugly shopping centre, then you've seen them all. The A380 must be booked as well. You can't just rock up and expect a fly, so timing both may be an issue.

When I flew it, I learnt that all my pax would likely hate me if I were a pilot!



Enjoy!
 
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