I used to live in Dubai about 5 years ago, before moving to Japan. Dubai will always be close to my heart, I really miss Dubai for its fancy malls, beautiful beaches and just because everything is bigger and better there. Last year, I got a chance to visit Dubai again after 5 years and I couldn’t be happier. I had a long list of places I wanted to visit and also to see if they have changed in these many years. And yes, they have! Dubai just keeps on improving! There was so much to do, so many new developments there since my last visit.

I used to visit Madinat Jumeirah when I used to live in Dubai, but not very often as it was a bit far from my place (in Dubai standards). But nonetheless it was one of my favorite places to visit. Madinat Jumeirah is a luxurious and the largest 5 star resort in Dubai, spreading across over 40 hectares of landscapes and gardens. It is designed to resemble a traditional Arabian town. The resort comprises of two boutique hotels – Al Qasr and Mina A’Salam and a courtyard of 29 summer houses called Dar Al Masyaf. The resort has over 40 restaurants and bars, ranging from casual to signature dining, along with some world-renowned restaurants. There are a number of waterfront cafes, and boutique-style open-shuttered shops and intimate galleries. We went there in the afternoon and ended up having a quick drink and snacks at Belgian Beer Café, which has outdoor seating offering magnificient views of Bur Al Arab.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah is an authentic re-creation of an ancient marketplace with traditional Middle Eastern style and ambience, in the middle of the resort. You must definitely visit this souk, it will take you to old times. There are a lot of shops to see and explore old traditional architecture. However, they are really over priced specially the luxury goods, but you can find many souvenirs and kitschy products.

I’d recommend to go there at night as it is more vibrant and had a better atmospheres and overall looks prettier. Both the souq and the restaurants come to life in the evenings. And yes, you can also ride a gondola in the souk canals if you want to get a quick glimpse of various nooks and corners of Madinat Jumeirah.

Jumeirah beach too is one of the best attractions of Dubai. The beach is very clean, and the crowd is lovely. This beach has amazingly clear blue water & white sand. We went there around noon when it was really hot and sunny, even though it was in the month of December. However there were no food stalls or eateries or many public facilities which made it even worse to be out in the hot sun. But still, it is very nice to go there for a few minutes and take some pictures of Burj Al Arab and the beach. I had really hoped to back again in the evening, however, like I said before, there are so many things to do, so many other beaches, I couldn’t get a chance to go there again. Well, it gives me a valid reason to go back to Dubai again!

 

image via internet

image via internet

 

 


Dress – Hollister ホリスター, 200 Dirhams, 2015;
Jacket – Azul by Moussy アズールバイマウジー, $120, 2015, also worn here;
Shoes – Stradivarius  ストラディバリウス, $50, 2015, also worn here;
Sunglasses –  Chanel シャネル, gift, 2014, also worn here;
Bag – Charles & Keith チャールズ&キース, $60 on sale, 2015;