May 28, 2025
Upon arrival, we checked into our hotel, only to be met with unexpected maintenance work and a lot of noise. After a short wait, we were able to switch to a quieter nearby hotel, which was a relief.
We spent the afternoon exploring the massive Dubai Mall. It truly had everything. The funniest moment? Walking by an Aldo store packed with people dancing to a celebrity DJ spinning house music—at 3:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. Only in Dubai.
Quite the transition day! Started in the blue ocean of the Maldives and ended in the glitzy desert of Dubai.
May 29, 2025
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we were picked up by our guide for a tour around Dubai. Even by 9:30am, the heat was intense—we found ourselves seeking out shade or air conditioning at every opportunity.
Our first stop was Old Dubai, where we explored some of the traditional homes. On the way, our guide shared fascinating history about the UAE. I hadn’t realized that Dubai began primarily as a hub for pearl diving, and it wasn’t until Japan disrupted the global pearl industry in the mid-1900s that Dubai had to pivot—ultimately discovering oil. Interestingly, Dubai only gets less than 5% of its economy from oil today; most of the reserves are actually in Abu Dhabi.
We then took a boat across Dubai Creek to visit the spice and gold souks. One friendly merchant gave us a great overview of different spices and teas, which was both interesting and aromatic. Before leaving the gold souk the guide made us try ice cream made from camel milk. It was delicious!
Afterward, we headed out to see the Palm Jumeirah. It’s truly a feat of engineering and quite impressive in person. Before returning to the hotel, we made a quick stop at a local art gallery and were treated to an impromptu tour.
By the time we got back, we were wiped out from the heat. We relaxed in the room for a bit, then ventured back to the Dubai Mall for dinner. After dinner, Justin and Owen got a quick haircut to hopefully help with the heat in UAE and Morocco.
May 30, 2025
Today we explored Abu Dhabi. The 90-minute drive from Dubai was smooth, and along the way we passed the F1 track and the airport—fun landmarks to spot en route.
Our first stop was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Made entirely of white marble, it was stunning both inside and out. It had the grandeur and serenity of an ancient religious site, it was completed in the 2000s, complete with air conditioning and even a mall beneath it. The scale and detail were truly impressive.
Next, we visited the Presidential Palace. On the way, we drove down the street where many members of the royal family—including the ruler of the UAE—reside. The current Presidential Palace, used for official government functions, was built between 2010 and 2017. Like the mosque, it showcased what’s possible when you combine unlimited resources with modern engineering. The interior in particular was jaw-droppingly ornate.
Our final stop was the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Natacha and Peyton were especially taken with the exhibits. Justin appreciated the experience, while Morgan and Owen mostly entertained each other—and were very thankful for the air conditioning on yet another scorching day.
In the same district as the Louvre, they’re building several other stunning museums—each one a visual statement. A Guggenheim, a national museum, a TeamLab, and a museum of natural history are all going up side by side along the same stretch of road. The architecture of each building alone is worth the visit—each building is so striking and imaginative.
After the museum we made our way back to the hotel in Dubai and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Had hot pot for dinner at mall.
Walking around the mall and reflecting on our time here, the UAE is around 90% expats—and you definitely feel it as you walk around. A mix of languages can be heard at any given time. Aside from the intense heat, both cities feel like a particularly clean, modern global city. Nearly everything has been built in the last 20 years, and it shows. The architecture in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai is striking—most buildings feature some kind of creative design twist, making the skyline constantly interesting. After experiencing this, most U.S. cities come across as more utilitarian and a bit dated by comparison. And after touring the palace and mosque today, it’s hard not to feel that even our most beautiful government and religious buildings in the U.S.—while historic and meaningful—just don’t compare to this level of grandeur.
The level of imagination for what they have built and continue to build is really striking. As just one further example, Google “Moon Dubai” (which we drove by the site of).
May 31, 2025
Our final full day in Dubai was a low-key one, mostly focused on getting ready for tomorrow’s travel day. We caught up on laundry, sent a few packages back to the U.S., picked up some last souvenirs, and started packing.
For sunset, we headed up to the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa. The views were stunning—especially looking out over The World Islands development in the gulf. Afterward, we walked back to the hotel and tried to get to bed early with an extra-early wake-up looming tomorrow.
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