Hi
Wife and will be in Dubai from the 22 to 25th July.
We are looking for ideas on places to visit, things to do, places to eat etc.
Hoping to do a desert tour? Contacts/suggestions? We have 4 days.
Which places to visit for bargains(shopping-ladies mostly I guess!)
Looks like we'll be staying at the Arabian Park hotel.
Is it a good idea to hire a car or is taxis/public better if you got no clue where to go?

Thanks
R

car hire not adviseable. If you are at the Arabian Park they will get the shuttle bus for you over to Wafi City, then do the big bus tour which I think is bigbusdubai.com, that more or less shows you everything.

Mall of the Emirates is the one to go to, very nice mall with a good selection.
It's going to be hot, over 40 degrees....still pack something longsleeved stuff cause with the AC it can be a bit chilly in some places.
Taxi's are the way to go, it'll take you too much time finding your way around when you hire a car.
Desert Safari's...no idea if they are doing that during the summer...I wouldn't advise it to be honest, but if you really want it then why not.
Beach...we still go there in the summer, in the early morning it's still nice especially if there's a bit of wind. Sea water resembles a warm bath...
Places to eat...loads in the Madinat Jumeirah...it's a nice touristy place made to look like a souk, shops there as well and good views of the Burj Al Arab (yawn)...
Other outdoor activities are just way too hot. As BC says, take the Big Bus from Wafi shopping Mall, close to your hotel, and that will take you all over town, and you can get off the bus if you see something you like, just take another bus again later, it's a good way to see the place.

so glad you are not asking if it's safe here, or if your wife should be wearing a veil...

MH that is the longest post I have ever seen you do!!

I know...spank me hard

I was out for the 1st time last week on a similar fact finding mission with the missus. I hired a car and really didn't find it too bad (even if it took me an hour to work out how to gain access to Wellington school from the SZ road!!). I can heartily recommend the Budha Bar to eat (Grosnevor House Hotel), and we enjoyed the Vu (SP?) bar at the top of the Emirates Tower. Emirates Mall is good for shopping....

Lol!
Not that naive,,,but then again, people often wonder if wild animals roams the streets here in SA;-)
A more valid question (thanks for the tip on long sleeves)-ok for shorts for the ladies, short sleeve tops?
Also, any idea of business dress(ties in the heat?).
Thanks for all the tips

Biz dress is light-weight suit, tie & jacket. Wear a belt!!! And no sandles or white socks (the english school teacher look is a big no-no here)

Shorts for ladies...well, you see all kinds of everything here...people seem to take less and less notice of a dresscode...it's all up to what you feel comfortable in but personally, I would not go shopping in shorts and a strappy top. But again, it's very personal...Short sleeved tops is no problem, and if you want to go out at night, you can go all glam and glitzy...

For the business situation, the men are wearing suits and ties as anywhere else in the world...

SA - Saudi Arabia or South Africa??

Hi sorry to interupt your thread but I was just looking at Dubai, we are planning a trip back to uk about 14th dec for a month and thinking of having a stopover on way out to dubai. we have 3 girls aged 15 mths, 5 and 9 is this recommended? and if so where is a good place. considering the cost that we will have to pay for tickets we dont want a real expensive place. I just thought it would be nice to stop off this time. the girls have gone back and forth 3 times already without any breaks.

thanks irene

it's a great place to come too, you will have a great time! I recommend one of the beach Hotels for the sake of the kids being able to play on the beach.

December is a good time, the weather can be a bit unreliable, but it won't be cold, around 20 degrees...
No problem with regards to the girls...most people here are crazy about kids, and they get well spoiled with attention in restaurants etc.
If you do a search, there is already a lot of info on hotels in this section.

South Africa,,,

Cape Town then? right I get it !