Me in the UAE: Dubai!!!!

Day 3 1/2: DUBAI!

After years of wanting to visit Dubai, I finally made it here and only on Day 3! We caught a bus tour at our hotel at 8:30am that drove us to Dubai and all of the attractions. It was about 1 1/2 drive from Abu Dhabi. Abu was our tour guide for the day. He was very spirited to say the least:)

Abu

Inside the bus to Dubai

He told us all about the history of the Emirati people. Some highlights:

Men are allowed to marry up to 4 women but he must get permission from the wives before he takes another.
There are four classes of Emirati people.
There are seven emirates inside UAE. Abu Dhabi is the capital. Each emirate has a Sheikh. Therefore the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi is the President and the Sheikh of Dubai is the Vice President.
Once you marry in the UAE, the government assigns you a house and pays for it should you default the loan.
You can never become an Emirati.
The government makes money off of all of the businesses started here...for example, they might give permission for a business to open here but the government takes 51% and you get 49%.
Most important fact...it is against the Islam religion to make money off of loans. Therefore, no interest!

Now, these are Abu's facts so I still need to double check them:)

We stopped at a gas station ADCO to get snacks on the way. This "convenience store" was nice. Fresh sandwiches and breads plus versions of our drinks, candy and chips. Because it is Ramadan, there is no eating or drinking during the daylight hours so you buy water and snacks and put them in your purse and then go to a bathroom and take a sip every now and then.

Prices MUCH cheaper!

Shopping for snacks

Next, we arrived in Dubai. First impression, not at all what I imagined but still pretty impressive. I'll never get over the fact that we live on beautiful turquoise water. It's very inviting! We went to Palm Jumeirah first. This island is a man-made island shaped like a palm tree. This was exactly how I thought it would look. It has 17 palms - 8 on the left side and 8 on the right side and one down the trunk. People's villas are on the palms and for the most part, these people are Ex-Pats. We stopped at Atlantis and saw the impressive hotel plus the largest aquarium in the world. Tons of people and an amazing hotel!

Coming into Dubai - the tall buildings. I have to say that the construction is everywhere. This place and Abu Dhabi are both growing.

This building in the middle of the picture is a winding building.

Stop sign on Palm Jumeirah

First view of the Atlantis

Who knew... a Starbucks in the UAE:)

Yes...this is a Gold ATM. That's right! Put your money in and pick from the items below!

Good to buy from the Gold ATM

Ceiling inside the entrance to the Aquarium

The Aquarium

A diver cleaning the windows on the inside

Dee Dee, Juliane, Me, Jen, Martha, Maria and Krista

A picture of the Atlantis at night

Me in front of the shell columns:)

Walking down Atlantis

Outside pic of Atlantis driving in

Famous hole in building

Me in front of the Arabian Gulf (formerly known as the Persian Gulf. It hazy in Dubai and a lot hotter and more humid than Abu Dhabi! It was a quick walk outside and back on the bus!

The ladies and I decided that we should come back in October during our break to stay here when it's much cooler!

Next, we went to Saga World. It was a mall of products represented from all continents. No pictures inside though. This was a quick stop.

Then we passed Burj Al Arab. This hotel is impressive complete with a helicopter pad! You can't go inside unless you have a reservations and rooms are quite pricey - Abu said $3,000 but not so sure about that.

Next, we went to the Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. We walked up the front walk and into the mall. We decided to wait until next time to go to the top so we just walked around the Mall. The Aquarium is incredible here as well. It holds a Guneiss Book of World Records for the window or something. After that, we grabbed Potbelly Sandwiches and took them back to the bus to eat with the curtains closed.

The Burj Khalifa

Dubai Mall

Candy Store...yummy!

Aquarium at Dubai Mall

Says Texas Chicken but we all know which one this is!

We drove to the water taxi (Abra) next to take it to the Gold Souk and Spice Market - all outside. It is a little wooden boat that isn't afraid to bump into anything at all. Interesting ride!

Abra

Abra with people on it - not too hot!

Martha, Krista and I on the Abra

Shopping in one of the Spice Markets - the owner offered us rock candy and it is considered rude to decline so we just sucked it up and ate some rocks:)