INTERNATIONAL
All nationalities of the world for 10% of Dubai residents.
Dubai is the city with the most nationalities in the world (Brussels comes in second).
There are many Indians and Pakistanis, but also Africans and many expatriates who work or have chosen the city for its quality of life and tax advantages.
There are also many wealthy Ukrainians, Russians, and South Africans.
There are many Americans and British people, and of course French expatriates.
I haven't heard much Spanish spoken. South Americans must prefer Miami!
HUGE
The city built on sand is immense and sprawling.
In fact, it is urban highways that serve the city, not avenues or streets in the “European” style.
Construction sites at the base of the towers continue to devour the desert,
while new skylines take shape year after year. Day after day, you can see trees being planted around the new roads, and it seems that this expansion is limitless.
4X4
4 million inhabitants and 4 million cars!
So traffic jams are almost permanent. You can expect to spend an hour in the evening to get to a restaurant if you have to travel about 5 kilometers. From the top of your building, the ribbons formed by the highways sparkling with car lights create a kind of almost artistic spectacle.
SKYSCRAPER
Needless to say, everything is high up: hotels, restaurants, rooftop bars, swimming pools.
One day we had dinner in a restaurant on the ground floor (La Petite Maison, a franchise of the parent company in Nice) and it seemed strange to me. Of course, the views are incredible and at night the white lights of the city never cease to captivate you.
LUXURY
Yes, marble is everywhere! The limousines are sparkling (it is forbidden to have a dirty car). Cocktails flow freely (and are well made most of the time!) and dollars fly away.
MALLS
It's part of the system. Shopping for all the luxury brands: YSL, Prada, and co.
But the huge malls (the Dubai Mall is equivalent to 200 football fields) also house food courts and stores like Primark, Zara, and others. Everything is very clean and very luxurious.
REAL ESTATE
There is constant pressure on social media (since your hotel reservation reveals that you are there) to purchase real estate. Little or no registration fees. Little or no taxes and guaranteed returns, minimum starting prices, and reduced personal contributions. It is important to consider the reality, as not all neighborhoods are equally desirable and/or have the same potential. The seaside is probably more pleasant, with condominiums where your privacy is better preserved. This can have the disadvantage of long journeys depending on where you want to go. We recommend choosing your residence based on this factor.
LIFESTYLE
It takes a lot of money to live well in Dubai, and it is best to avoid the summer when temperatures reach 50 degrees Celsius. You can appreciate the cleanliness, safety, and friendliness of the people who work and live there.
TO DO
HOTEL
Some hotels are very expensive but offer breathtaking ocean views! Expect to pay $2,000 a night, no doubt about it! Otherwise, I really liked the SLS Hotel. First of all, because they upgraded us (first to a duplex and then to a full apartment with two terraces), and second, because the rooms are huge (even the standard room is 80 square meters) and everything is very clean. Centrally located and a bit north of the city, it’s not very far from the airport or the Dubai Mall. After that, depending on where you’re going, you’ll need some patience when getting around.
1000$
That’s the basic calculation, and it’s the cost of a one-hour flight in First Class (a quarter of the price in Business Class) with Emirates. In First Class, you get your own private cabin! Emirates offers excellent service, including a chauffeur for transfers between your home and the airport and between the hotel and the airport (the airport is very large, very beautiful, and very clean)—all round-trip. It’s also the price of a meal for four at a restaurant, the average price of a night’s stay at a hotel, the price of a Prada shirt, and the price of a coffee at Julith. The coffee is called Nido 7 Geisha and costs $980 (not $1,000—it’s true!). Is this due to the quality of the coffee beans used?
I almost forgot! Emirates serves truly excellent cocktails (a classic martini or a perfect dry martini), and if you’re flying on an Airbus A380-800, you’ll have access to a lounge/bar on the upper deck. In that case, you’ll need to depart from Nice, but it might be worth it.
RESTAURANTS
There are a few “franchises” of all the luxury restaurants you know from Europe. I really liked Bar des Près for its view, its decor, and its espresso martini. It has a London vibe. The bar next door on the same floor is a great place to end the evening. There’s also La Petite Maison, which is always packed (it has a more French vibe). Finally, I enjoyed the beach restaurant Nuska. You’re taken there along pretty little paths in electric carts.
VISITE
The Old Town (Al Fahidi) is interesting and will remind you of Dubai’s very beginnings as a village of fishermen and pearl merchants, but the souvenir vendors can be a bit pushy.
INCONTOURNABLES
In no particular order
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. Stunning views and great photo opportunities. You’ll be treated to a light lunch and plenty of attention.
The Museum of the Future for tech enthusiasts.
The beach—and here you won’t lose your footing unless you walk for a very long time!
Don’t forget to visit the Dubai Mall to see people skiing and bobsledding among the penguins.
Have a drink at the Burj Al Arab, the famous sail-shaped hotel.
Take a helicopter ride over Palm Jumeirah, famous for its palm-shaped islands. For enthusiasts, explore the Gold Souk, sparkling with gold jewelry.
Finally, if you have a little time, visit the Jumeirah Mosque, which is open to non-Muslims.
But also take the time to relax by the pool on the hundredth floor of one of the hotels or on a rooftop terrace.
Don’t forget that getting around takes time and that it’s hard to do everything.
I wanted to have a drink at the Bulgari Hotel but didn’t find the time to do so.
I’ll be back, if only to see the upcoming New Floating Museum of Modern Art.
