Day 3 - Dubai neighborhoods

old dubai

burj al arab

the palm jumeira

dubai marina

We explored the other must-sees in Dubai, the old and the new.

old dubai

There are several markets (souq) in Old Dubai.

The sand art here is amazing.

Many spices available. I just wonder if tourists really buy spices while they’re traveling.

A big gold souq. All the jewelry is guaranteed by the UAE government, smart move on the government's part to instill buyer confidence.

Gold dresses!

Old Dubai is notably less glitzy than new Dubai.

The Dubai Creek separates Old Dubai (north) from new Dubai (south). These boats shuttle people back and forth.

We got a glimpse of what Dubai was like before the glitzy new developments.

burj al arab

Burj Al Arab, self-proclaimed 7-star hotel, is the most famous and most expensive hotel in Dubai. Shaped like a sail boat and built on a man-made island, only guests can go onto the island to visit. We could have shelled out $1,700/night for a basic room or $24,000/night for the presidential suite. The $160/pp afternoon tea is another way to see the inside. We decided to admire it from afar... for free! Sunset Beach is a great place to see Burj Al Arab.

the palm jumeirah

The main road feels just like a regular road, with impressive buildings on both sides.

The palm tree island is enclosed by an "outer crescent", which also houses many hotels, restaurants and shops.

This nice walkway spans along the entire length of the outer crescent and is a great pedestrian path for walking and jogging.

You can see the main Dubai land from the edges of the outer crescent.

Palm Jumeirah is filled with mainly hotels, shops, restaurants and private residences.

The very end of the right side of the outer crescent.

Doing some acrobatics.

you can see Burj al Arab and Jumeirah Hotel from here.

Construction is still very much ongoing on Palm Jumeirah.

Atlantis hotel, on the outer crescent, is the largest one on Palm Jumeirah.

The rocks are breakwaters protecting the island from large waves. They’re also fun to hop around on.

Help! I’m falling and I can’t get up!

Trying to prove to the kids Ivan is not too old.

The tunnel that connects the outer crescent to the main island.

Palm Jumeirah is part of a larger series of developments called the Palm Islands, including Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, which, when completed, will together increase Dubai's shoreline by a total of 520 kilometres (320 mi). Unfortunately, due to the financial downturn back in 2009 time frame, construction of other palm islands were halted indefinitely, and Palm Jumeirah is the only island that’s completed. It is a real engineering marvel.

Voyagers tips: There’s a bridge that leads to Palm Jumeirah. Everyone can get onto the island, but you really need a car to navigate through and truly appreciate it. The island is big!

dubai marina

A was really craving popcorn and we finally found the popcorn stand. Of everything we did and saw today, the popcorn was her favorite part of the day!

Does it look like Ivan's kicking the palm tree?

Dubai Marina is an entirely man-made marina. In order to create the man-made marina, the developers channeled the waters of the Persian Gulf into the site of Dubai marina, creating a new waterfront. We just saw it as a great place for an evening stroll.

Voyagers tips: If arriving by car, you can park in the Marina Mall parking lot. The mall itself is fairly small by Dubai standard and isn’t that special. The marina is where the you should spend your time. Dinner cruise around the marina is also popular here.