At the beginning of this year, I had a short trip to the United Arab Emirates. The journey was brief and unplanned, but I still managed to see some interesting places in the country. I arrived at Abu Dhabi Airport, the capital of the UAE, and then had to get to Dubai. Here's how it all went.
Dubai: How to Get from Abu Dhabi Airport
I landed at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi. From there, you can reach Dubai by car, taxi, or bus. I chose the last option and took a shuttle bus to the neighboring city. The fare was 35 dirhams (January 2025), payable in cash or by international bank card. The journey took 65 minutes, and in Dubai, the bus arrived at Ibn Battuta station. The shuttle schedule is available on the airport's website.
On my way back, I took bus No. E101, which goes to the central part of Abu Dhabi.
Dubai: Currency and Prices
The national currency of the UAE is the dirham. Today, one US dollar is approximately equal to 3.7 dirhams.
Many people associate Dubai with luxury and wealth. In general, I found the city quite expensive, but it is still possible to find eateries or shops with reasonable prices. I think this is due to the large number of Indian immigrants in the city. Indian restaurants offering relatively inexpensive and filling food can be found in many areas of Dubai.
Here are some examples of prices for goods and services. Food at the airport (two tuna sandwiches, water, a small chocolate bar) — 25 dirhams ($6.81), a meal at an Indian café in Dubai Mall — 25 dirhams ($6.81), entrance to a city park — 5 dirhams ($1.36), a visit to the Dubai Frame observation deck — 52.5 dirhams ($14.29), a ticket to the Museum of the Future — 159 dirhams ($43.29).
Getting Around Dubai
I planned my routes to travel around the city by metro. The Red Line of the Dubai Metro runs close to many attractions, making it easy for tourists to move between points of interest without transfers.
To use the metro, I purchased an NOL transport card. I read that there are several types of these cards. In my case, the silver card allowed me to travel comfortably and top up my balance at kiosks using a bank card. Travelers can also purchase other cards for single trips or travel in the "golden cabin." The silver card costs 25 dirhams, with 19 dirhams credited to the balance.
Metro fares vary depending on the number of stations traveled. As far as I understood, the minimum fare is 3 dirhams, which was deducted from my card for a trip between two adjacent stations. For a journey of ten stops, 5 dirhams were charged.
On the last day of my trip, while in Abu Dhabi, I took a taxi. A 24-minute ride under the "Comfort" fare cost 92.5 dirhams.
Dubai: One-Day Sightseeing Itinerary
I spent three days in Dubai, but I didn't have much time for sightseeing, so I had to condense interesting locations into a one-day itinerary. You can do the same if necessary.
First, I headed to the north of the city to visit the Dubai Museum, but I was disappointed to find that the exhibition space was closed for renovations. Nevertheless, I got to see a non-touristy part of Dubai.
From there, I went to see the Dubai Frame, a massive structure shaped like an empty frame with a golden border, often called a bridge between Dubai’s past and future. At the top of the frame is an observation deck with views of the low-rise buildings in the northern part of the city on one side and the towering modern skyscrapers in the south.
Some sections of the observation deck's floor are made of transparent glass, allowing visitors to walk over them. The frame stands at 150 meters tall, and entrance costs 52.5 dirhams.
Just 2.5 kilometers from there is the futuristic Museum of the Future. Due to time constraints, I chose to visit the Dubai Frame's observation deck rather than taking a museum tour, but I still managed to admire the unique architecture of the building.
Despite the relatively high ticket price (159 dirhams), there was a massive queue at the museum entrance. A silver dolphin occasionally floated above the crowd in the lobby, hovering in the air without any visible wires.
Further south is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The 163-story tower stands at 828 meters and attracts around 17 million visitors annually. Several observation decks are located at different levels, with ticket prices ranging from 159 to 769 dirhams.
If you visit in the evening, you can enjoy the fountain show and a short light projection display on the facade of the Burj Khalifa.
At the base of the tower is Dubai Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in the world. In addition to shops and a food court, the mall features an aquarium, a cinema, and even an ice rink.
Before my flight home, I managed to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to spend there, but that gives me a good reason to return
The museum opened in 2017, following an agreement between the UAE and France signed a decade earlier. Under this agreement, the Louvre Abu Dhabi has the right to use the name of the famous French museum for 30 years. The collection includes works by Gauguin, Renoir, Rodin, and other renowned artists.
The museum building, located on Saadiyat Island, is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. A patterned dome covers the structure, and various areas within the complex provide stunning photo opportunities with views of the Persian Gulf.
I hope the information in my article helps those planning a trip to Dubai or simply interested in the city's attractions. My next article will focus on the history of the Burj Khalifa’s construction.
Dubai – 3-Day Trip Budget for One Person (January 2025):
- Flight from Tashkent and back — $220;
- Three-star hotel in Dubai — $228;
- Metro, taxi, and airport bus fares — around $55;
- Food — around $27;
- Attractions — around $16.
- Total: approximately $546
Have a nice trip!
