Three days in Dubai is really not enough to take in all the elements this city by the sea has to offer, especially if it is over the Eid al Fitr holiday period. There is simply too much to see, do, savor and enjoy.

We made Raffles Dubai our headquarters. It proved to be an excellent choice. The staff was unimaginably attentive. Our room came complete with private butler and Club floor privileges. The morning buffet, included in the room rate, surpassed expectation. Julia our “butler” was helpful, efficient, and most personable. The concierges, Nour and Joseph were the epitome of organization and control. IF you go be sure to engage Zee the buffet manager. He is a wealth of inside information regarding the city. From the above you may gather I recommend Raffles Dubai without hesitation! One more thing the location is spot on, about half way between the city center and the airport, about 10 minutes from each.

While here be sure to make the trek to the Burj Khalifa “At the Top Sky,” 148 floors above the ground. The world’s fastest, highest elevator whisks you along at 10 meters a second to the 125 floor. There a brief change of elevator and you ascend to the “Top of the Sky”, disembark into a spacious lounge area and make your way around to the external observation deck. The views are breathtaking!



The Dubai Mall is a shopping experience par excellence, but please avoid it during holiday periods, it is far too crowded to enjoy properly. At twelve million square feet of space it is vast on each of its four levels. Home to the Dubai Aquarium (World’s largest) , adjacent to the fountain water show (World’s largest of course), it terminates at the Burj Khalifa.

The Dubai Museum, is an interesting attraction, with informative exhibits of how life used to be. Almost two century old wind towers caught the ocean breezes and focused them into the indoor sleeping areas of the cities oldest dwellings (recreated within the walls of the old fortress), circa 1823.

We travel southwest to the famed Palm Island complex and lunch at the Jumeirah Mall, before traveling to the Dubai Marina to see the iconic Cayan Tower, formerly the Infinity Tower, with its mesmerizing 90 degree twisting shape as it spirals towards the heavens.


Finally we arrive at the public’s only viewpoint of the new Ja’abeel Palace… the view of the entry gates is distant, and additional views are not available. Please visit [URL=http://studio7g.com/portfolio/zaabeel-palace-dubai/ for the best available renderings of this lavish complex!

In retrospect I wish we could have had at least five days to explore, photograph and enjoy this very adult Disneyland by the sea. It is truly something very unique and special in our modern world.
Please go to https://ngruma.com/2016/07/13/retrospective/ for the complete post with more images.