Dubai: Solo vs Family—What Surprised Me
I first visited Dubai in October for a two-week work trip and I loved it so much that I knew I had to return—this time with my family (husband and daughter). So, my family and I decided to spend the Christmas holiday in Dubai.
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While Dubai may not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a family Christmas getaway, I can confidently say it makes an incredible holiday destination. Located on the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai is a true melting pot of cultures, cuisine, and unforgettable experiences. One of the things I love most about the city is its flexibility—you can easily tailor your trip to fit your travel style, whether that means visiting indoor snow parks, relaxing at the beach, heading out on a desert safari, spending the day at waterparks, or even skydiving over the iconic skyline.
Image above is from our our balcony at Atlantis The Palm.
What Surprised Me
1. A True Melting Pot of Cultures and Experiences
Dubai is a vibrant mix of cultures, global brands, luxury, and diverse cuisines. The most common question I get about this trip is: What is the food like? My answer is always the same: it’s incredibly diverse. We tried a wide range of cuisines each day, which made dining one of the most fun parts of the trip. With so many options available, you can truly eat your way around the world.
That said, finding local, traditional Emirati food was a bit more challenging than I expected. During my solo trip in October, I dined at Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant in Abu Dhabi, which my tour guide described as serving traditional cuisine. It was delicious!
Check out our short clip of food from our Dubai trip.
2. Dubai has a huge mall culture.
There are many malls in Dubai, but the most popular is Dubai Mall. Located in the heart of the city, this mall has over 1,200 stores, 200+ dining options, two department stores, an aquarium and underwater zoo, and even Chinatown! It truly feels like a city within a city. According to its website, the mall welcomes more than 100 million visitors each year. Beyond shopping and dining, Dubai Mall also features stunning indoor fountains and serves as the main access point to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. I’ll be sharing more tips soon on how to visit the Burj Khalifa without the crowds.
3. The Weather Varies More Than You’d Expect
The weather during my October visit felt very different from my December trip. October felt like a transition period from Dubai’s extremely hot, humid summer to cooler fall weather. Mornings and evenings were generally in the mid-80s°F (around 29–32°C), while midday temperatures felt much hotter—often warmer than what my phone’s weather app suggested, especially when walking in direct sunlight.
December, on the other hand, was noticeably cooler, particularly in the mornings and evenings. I didn’t expect strong winds, which made the weather feel cooler. Temperatures were typically in the 50s–60s°F (10–15°C) in the mornings and evenings, with daytime highs reaching the low to mid-80s°F (around 26–29°C). The best way I can describe it is this: if you’re in the shade, you’ll likely want a sweater, but once you step into the sunlight, you’ll feel comfortably warm—no layers needed.
4. Uber exists in Dubai, but traffic can be WILD!
I love when Uber is well established in other countries—it makes transportation logistics much easier and more comfortable. We quickly learned, however, that Dubai traffic is no joke. It reminded us of our time in Mexico City, which is often ranked among the cities with the worst traffic in the world. That comparison genuinely surprised me. One afternoon, our Uber ride from the hotel to The Dubai Mall took about 25 minutes, but on the way back, the same trip took over an hour due to traffic congestion.
5. Dubai takes luxury to the next level
Is the Mercedes-AMG G-Wagon the “soccer mom” SUV of Dubai? Because it felt like it. Everywhere we went, we spotted high-end vehicles—McLarens, Lamborghinis, Mercedes AMGs, Maserati, BYD, Jetour, and so many more. You know you’re out of your league when you have to Google the cars you’re seeing every day. Another unexpected highlight of out trip was taking Uber and being picked up in vehicles we don’t typically see or have in the U.S., which added to the experience.
Beyond the vehicles, our hotels were incredible—luxurious, attentive, and truly focused on making our stay seamless.
6. A blend of modern and traditional culture
Dubai’s culture felt more relaxed than I initially expected. I saw people dressed in a wide range of attire—from shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers to abayas, burqas, and other traditional Arabic clothing. At certain locations, however, I did see signs reminding visitors of appropriate dress codes, especially in more traditional or religious spaces.
I always make an effort to be respectful of local customs and cultures—after all, that’s a big part of the travel experience and what makes exploring new destinations so meaningful.
7. The desert is surprisingly fun
During my solo trip to Dubai in October, I booked a group desert tour—and loved it so much that I booked the same company again when I returned with my family.
GetYourGuide Tour Link: Dubai: Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride and Sandboarding
Our experience included hotel pickup and drop-off, a short camel ride, 30 minutes of quad biking (ATV), and an exhilarating dune-bashing ride through the desert.
Pro Tip: Dune-bashing involves driving through sand dunes with sharp turns and ups and downs, so taking Dramamine 30 minutes before helped keep us comfortable.
We wrapped up the excursion at a high sand dune for photos and sandboarding, which was a lot of fun (and more of a workout than it looks!). Overall, it was a fun, efficient morning excursion and a great way to experience the Dubai desert without taking up the entire day.
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Experiencing Dubai both as a solo female traveler and later with my family gave me a unique perspective on the city. No matter how you choose to explore it, Dubai offers a blend of culture, luxury, adventure, and comfort that truly makes it stand out. From navigating the city on my own to creating unforgettable family memories during the holidays, each trip was equally rewarding in its own way. If Dubai isn’t already on your travel list, I hope my experiences inspire you to see it in a new light—and maybe even plan a trip of your own. If you have any questions or need help planning, please contact me at wander@thewanderfullspirit.com.
Wishing you a WanderFull adventure!