Dubai

Home to the tallest building in the world, ATMs that dispense gold bars, indoor skiing and dunes that go on for miles. This over-the-top city is known around the world for its wealth, its sparkle, its parties and its star power. The architecture is exquisite and the shopping could keep the biggest fashionista busy for days. But it is now thought to only be able to be hospitable to humans for a few more years. A land of extremes in every sense.

The Green and the Brown

• Planning on vacationing here? Be prepared to spend some green. An average day costs more than $500 US on the low end.
• Dubai gets all its drinking water from desalination.
• Dubai is home to the Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world at 828 meters.
• Surprisingly there are more than a dozen green-certified hotels in Dubai. However the UAE has one of the largest carbon footprints in the world due to desalination plants and the immense energy demands of the built environment.
• The Persian Gulf’s salinity level has risen by almost 200% in the last 30 years. (I swam in it and it was by no means refreshing, but hot and salty)

Must Do’s in Dubai

I spent most of my few weeks in Dubai, working at Dubai Studio City. But I did have a few days to see the sights, track through the desert, see the sky, eat some great dinners and, cross swimming in the Persian Gulf, off my bucket list.

Here are my top 5 things to do when visiting  Dubai:
1. Burj Khalifa – I’ve been to many of the world’s tallest buildings. One of the coolest things about the Burj is learning about all the materials that went into building it. If you are a daredevil look into XDubai an extreme sports company that offers skydiving, flyboarding and other daredevil moves. Move over Tom Cruise!
2. Swim in the Persian Gulf – It may be hot and salty and not all that refreshing, but swimming in it is still a must-do. If you aren’t staying at one of the beachside hotels, pre-purchase a day pass or go to Jumeirah Beach for a small fee.
3. Desert adventure- After being immersed in the monstrosity of the city leaving town and heading to the real UAE is a must. There are several awesome companies to book with or you can rent a car and head South to some of the best Dunes. We went 4 x 4 ing through the dunes, rode camels, got Henna tattoos and saw some traditional Arabic dancers. It was a highlight of my trip.
4. Gold Souks – If you love jewelry and even if you don’t you will want to head to the traditional Gold Souks of Dubai. Gold, handbags, Persian trinkets, pashminas and spices line the streets here. You can get great deals if you know how to bargain but make sure you do some investigating to make sure what you are getting is real. DISCLAIMER: it is a federal offence in Dubai to sell fake Gold.
5. Be a Local- stay up late and enjoy Middle Eastern food, hookah and traditional fruit drinks until the wee hours of the morning.

Green Hotels

Madinat Jumeirah – This 5 -Star hotel sits on its own private beach next to the Burj Al Arab. Luxurious and elegant. With a traditional Souk market and more than 40 restaurants. You can spend all your money without leaving your hotel. It is also the largest green-certified hotel complex in the world. Certified by GreenGlobe
Average Room Price: $450 per night

Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments in Internet City – This award-winning 4-star hotel is certified by Green Globe.
Average Room Price: $200 per night