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 other half wants to go to Dubai, trouble is I've never seen the appeal, strikes me a big shopping centre in the desert, am I wrong? if not how can I convince her she is? Would much rather go somewhere like Japan or Singapore, or anywhere that has a bit of culture or history. 

ps at the risk of being tried for zoltaneering, this is the first time on a long time can afford to do something a bit special, so really want to get it right

I found the place to be a waste of time and money.

Haven't had a passport since before covid and even before that had only been abroad for stag do's, to visit a mate in Norway or for a wedding in Mexico, which is technically the only holiday abroad le and the wife have ever had in 23 years as always go somewhere in Britain.

As a binge drinker fuck going somewhere like the Arab Emirates and i find sitting in the sun more boring than the football under Moyes, so Dubai will never happen.

Will take the mrs to the carribean for an england cricket tour soon, she'll love that!!!


 

A destination for plastic people.

Don't bother. Hot, Boring, you'll spend a packet. if you want the beach take the connecting flight onto Thailand. If you want shopping go to lakeside.

This has been done so many times down the years on here.

TM probably described it best. Real pretentious cunts, expats with their brunches etc. Obviously it's expensive and don't go when it's too hot. Hammers Dubai watch all our games in a pub in a hotel there. People are friendly. I went once it was OK but wouldn't go back.

Let's be honest, if your missus wants to go you're going, so this is a waste of time anyway. A week max would be more than enough.

You could go there for a quick couple of days on the way to somewhere infinitely more interesting? You could do it relatively cheaply as well if you wanted, saving your cash for anywhere else.

Never appealed, personally, and like you I’d much prefer a trip to Japan. 

The Mrs thankfully has a similar view of places like Dubai and the UAE in general. 

Bit like going to Disney but without the authentic cultural experience...

Wouldn't catch me wasting money going to a shopping centre in the desert. Don't have much time for most (if not all) the people I have met who who liked it either. I'd give it a massive swerve and tell the missus "it's me or Dubai ...make your mind up!"

It's worth a look for a few days maybe as a stopover. There's not any sightseeing as such or culture but I found it interesting to see rich Arabs in action and modern islamic life. Went in Starbucks there was some fella with all the sheikh gear on and a hawk on his shoulder queueing up. You see them in the shops, McDonalds etc. it's a bit surreal 

Depending on the time of year, the heat is unreal. The sea is like a hot bath and you're just running red faced and sweaty from one air-conditioned place to the next, fanned by Indian waiters. . Theres a 'normal' part of town where all the foreign workers live and we got some very nice Lebanese type food there. There is a very small historic old town with a few Riads etc. So yes it's ok, but not 2 weeks unless you want beach, relaxation, shopping and not much else.

It's similar to Vegas, for me anyway.

You'll really enjoy yourself for the first days and then all of a sudden you'll get bored of it all.

never been, so may be very wrong, but to me it's always looked like marbella/peurto banus on steroids. full of materialistic look at me cunts, again, it may be a lovely place and I could be very wrong

Go! That's the only way you'll find out. I went with exactly the same preconception and left having really had my eyes opened.... as to how right I can be. It's every bit as vacuous and lacking in any culture at all as I expected.

We had two incredible nights in a hotel in the desert and two 'meh' nights in the city. I'd love to go to the desert again but I have no desire to go to the city ever again.