Abu Dhabi and Dubai

A Memorable Journey to Abu Dhabi and Dubai

The past few days have been quite intense. Unfortunately, I woke up yesterday with a headache, ear pressure, and a stuffy nose. But that didn't stop me. My trip to Abu Dhabi was scheduled to start from Burjuman at 9 AM. So, I got up at seven, took some medication, traveled 40 minutes to the metro, and took the train to Burjuman. After a bit of wandering, I found the driver, and off we went to Abu Dhabi. Despite the seven-lane highways, Dubai's notorious traffic meant we spent a lot of time in jams. Fun.

After about two hours, we arrived at our first stop, the "Maraj" art gallery. We saw gold-tipped carpets starting at $400, sculptures, tables made of camel bones, and clothing made from camel skin. It was impressive but felt like a high-pressure sales environment. Museum guides hovered, discreetly mentioning prices, which became annoying.

Next, we visited the stunning Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque. After passing through security, donning a burqa, and removing our shoes, I was speechless. The mosque, which can accommodate 31,000 worshippers, was breathtaking. This was definitely the highlight of Abu Dhabi for me.

After 45 minutes, we had two more stops. First, the Emirates Palace, one of the world's most expensive hotels. It was gigantic and awe-inspiring. Then, we visited "The Heritage Village," where we had lunch by the beach and learned about local agriculture and history. Of course, there were souvenir shops. I spent my lunch break on the beach, dipping my feet in the turquoise sea. It was splendid, though I refrained from swimming without a bikini and towel.

Our next destination was the largest date, fruit, and vegetable market in the UAE. Having visited similar markets before, it was less exciting, but the chocolate-coated dates were delicious.

The grand finale was the Ferrari World, complete with roller coasters. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to explore it.

For our last dinner, my friends invited me to an Italian restaurant in the Dubai Marina. The day was wonderful, and I'm sad to be leaving tomorrow.

Reflecting on my trip, I'm thrilled. I've long wanted to visit Dubai but hesitated, unsure if it would be safe for a young, blonde woman in an Arab country. Yes, the culture is different—women's roles, prayers, food, work culture—but I arrived with preconceptions, and Dubai positively surprised me. The people were incredibly friendly and helpful. I never felt uncomfortable in my shorts and spaghetti-strap top, largely due to Dubai's reliance on tourism.

While Dubai's societal and political systems have complexities, my focus was on experiencing it as a holiday destination. Despite being occasionally ogled, I didn't encounter catcalling or harassment as I might in other places. Dubai felt very safe, and I'd gladly return. There's so much to do here—you'll never get bored. The only downside? The traffic! Nobody uses blinkers, and seatbelts are optional. Everyone is on their phones, even on Facebook while driving. The constant traffic jams, especially on weekends (Friday and Saturday), were frustrating.

I missed out on visiting Hatta, La Mer, and skydiving over the Palm. Next time, for sure. My plane leaves this afternoon. Until next time, Dubai.

Things to do in Abu Dhabi:

-       Art galleries "Maraj" 

-       Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque

-       Emirates Palace

-       The Heritage Village

-       Dates-, Fruits-und Vegetable Market UAE's

-       Ferrari-centre

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