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Dubai is overrated.
I am always a believer that you shouldn’t take on what someone says about a place, destination or anywhere in the world. Why? Well, because everyone’s experience is and can be completely different from mine or anyone else’s. However, despite all the things to do in Dubai, from my experience, I will have to say that Dubai is overrated.
For example, I remember while travelling in Cambodia and briefly discussing with a friend on what Vietnam was like. He had commented on how much he hated it and that it was racist! Now we all know the racism that I have experienced in the past, but I have to be honest. I can tell you all that when I travelled to Vietnam myself, I didn’t once experience racism and very much enjoyed myself. But honestly, guys, can you imagine if I took on his word? I wouldn’t have gone!
So you’re rightly wondering where I am going with this right?
This is a post that is very much an ‘unpopular opinion’. I write this post with a strong line that I think Dubai is overrated. So if you have ever asked is Dubai overrated? The answer is yes, and yes I said it, and if you want to understand why and willing then I would suggest you continue reading this post.
Why do I think Dubai is overrated?
Before I get into this. Please understand why I say I am only speaking from my own view. Just because I think Dubai is overrated doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go. Read what I talk about this in a recent blog post – Travelling Perceptions & Safety: Why I don’t Allow the Experiences Stop me From Seeing The World?
I travelled to Dubai five years ago, and although I enjoyed myself with a few hiccups (cause everywhere has a few hiccups when travelling). Honestly, after all the 35+ countries I have been to, I guess Dubai is overrated for me. I stayed at Hotel Dubai Creek, which I’ll say was actually a nice place to stay at. It was comfortable, well located for getting into the old town, and good value.
I also did a desert safari while I was there, which, if I’m honest, was probably the most “me” part of the whole trip: dune bashing, a camp dinner, the works. So it’s not that nothing was good; it’s more that the city itself didn’t move me like a hike up a Volcano in Guatemala would.
Listen BEFORE YOU JUMP ALL AT ME! Please hear me out!
There is no uniqueness to Dubai
I have grown up most of my life in a city (London) and travelled to several cities in the world. Travelling and living in cities has made me realise that cities don’t fully represent a country. I love to experience the cultures of a country, I like to see the difference between the upper and working class (whatever they call it in their countries). And I love to understand the politics of a country.
When I went to Dubai, I didn’t really feel the country’s uniqueness. It came across to me as a money-pumped place.
Glorified living in Dubai
My other reasons for seeing Dubai as an overrated destination almost links to my first point. There is almost a sense of a glorified way of living when you are over there. People go there to style and do the absolute most! Which for me removes the feeling of real reality.
Uggghhh smoking
Although, clubbin is was one of the main things to do in Dubai for free. I hated that smoking was allowed in all the clubs! And it was gross! My weave, my clothes, everything stank of smoke and it was disgusting! Clubs also all finished at 3 am- way too early for me ( a girl still wanted to party).
Indoor Ski Paradise
Another thing that makes me feel like Dubai is overrated was the indoor ski paradise! I mean what????? It made me really uncomfortable seeing a country in the middle of a desert with an indoor ski paradise. It’s no wonder that Dubai has the largest ecological footprint of any city in the world!
Migrant work like slaves
The city has so much money and big bling boats, skyscrapers and skylines. When you are there, you will see a number of migrants working on these infrastructures. This saddens me that it’s built by migrant workers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, which I am sure they all live in slave-like conditions.
Looking for Dubai Accommodation?
Even though the city overall didn’t win me over, a couple of things are worth passing on if you’re planning your own trip:
- Hotel: Hotel Dubai Creek – it’s comfortable, a good enough location, solid value. Below is a map of other Dubai accommodation locations, hotels that you can stay at below:
Things to do in Dubai (if you go anyway)
Look, I’ve just spent an entire post telling you why Dubai didn’t do it for me, but I’m not about to pretend there’s nothing worth doing there. And there are a lot of things to do in Dubai for free and to pay for. If you’re going (and you probably should, at least once), here’s a list of things to do in Dubai that you should actually do:
- Desert safari: Book a desert safari here – dune bashing, camp dinner, genuinely a highlight.
- Burj Khalifa – yes, it’s touristy, but the view is all good all the same. Book it here.
- Dubai Mall – the aquarium and fountain show are worth seeing once at least. Book it here.
- Ski Dubai – I know I made fun of it earlier and I stand by that, but if you want to see the absurdity for yourself, it’s an experience. Book it here.
- Dhow cruise on the Creek – is a much calmer, more atmospheric evening than the clubs, and closer to the “real” Dubai I kept looking for. Book it here.
Is Dubai Overrated?
Yes. Overall, I think Dubai is overrated because it lacks real culture, because again it is a man-made city. The country is one big shopping mall! I never really got the sense that there was a real religion of Islam while I was there.
Dubai came across as very business-like and materialistic like. A place that is heavily revolved around making money, driving fancy cars. For me, Dubai exists as a place that is fit for those who like to appear to live the high-end materialistic lifestyle.
Again, I don’t think this means you should not go! I wanted to state my opinion (and glad I did)! I am sure I will go back again to see what has changed since I first went there, but for now, I think everyone should express how they feel about a country.
What about you, have you been to a country that you just weren’t impressed by? Let me know in the comments below.
P.S. I would like to thank everyone on Twitter that gave me the confidence to get this blog posted.
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