Tag: <span>sheikh zayed road</span>

Date: 8th April 2010

After yesterday’s tiring walk (despite being an eventful day), it was back to more mall-hopping today. After Dubai Mall, it was off to the next most popular mall in Dubai: Mall of Emirates.

As usual, I took the metro from Union Station.

Mall of Emirates is located after Dubai Mall (as per the metro line) so the ride takes nearly 20 minutes.

To-Let office Sheikh Zayed road — To-let office building on the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed road

There is a Mall of Emirates stop on the metro line and a walk-way metro link connects directly to the mall.

Now Mall of Emirates isn’t the most impressive-looking of malls (architecture wise) — or at least compared to the expensive Dubai Mall. Therefore you’re not going to see a whole lot of photos in this post, simply because I didn’t take that many.

The only portion of the mall that impressed me was this bit…

… that was it.

Oh, Mall of Emirates also houses Ski Dubai – the first in-door ski resort in the Middle East.

Mall of Emirates Ski Dubai inside slope panorama — Panorama comprised of 7 shots

Mall of Emirates St. Moritz cafe — Nice (artificially created) mountain view

I was tempted to go in and check it out because I have yet to experience snow — and yes, I know Ski Dubai uses fake snow. But still, something for next time.

Not much else to say about the mall. It was the usual collection of high-end brands but what I liked about Mall of Emirates is that it still offers something for everyone. Maybe it was the anchor tenant Carrefour, but I saw more people in Mall of Emirates than I did see in Dubai Mall… and this was on a week day morning.

More people were shopping too. I mean actually buying stuff unlike most of the visitors I saw in Dubai Mall.

I was one of those shoppers. I was in the hunt for a particular lens (which was hard to come by) and my friend did advice me to check out the Virgin Megastore in the Mall of Emirates. Which I did. Then I saw a lot of stuff I wanted to buy… and then told the sales people I would be back because what I wanted to buy was kinda big.

I had to check out electronics retailer Sharaf DG, whose largest outlet in UAE was located in another mall. And so I decided to step out of Mall of Emirates, have lunch at the Lulu Center nearby and take a taxi to Times Square Center.

Building for rent near Lulu center — Just another empty building on the way to Lulu Hypermarket

After an India lunch, I hopped in to a taxi and went to Times Square Center which was actually before Mall of Emirates (as per the metro line).

Times Square Center isn’t very big (comparatively by Dubai’s new standards). As soon as I walked in, lay before me stood these machines.

I don’t know if it was Yellow Hat who put them up, but the collection was impressive.

Sharaf DG was located on the top floor in Times Square Center.

The outlet is definitely big and has pretty much everything you need — except that the lens I wanted was out of stock. Sharaf DG make a claim that if they don’t have something in stock, the buyer will get a hefty discount*.

They still took my information down and told me they would contact me once the Tamron lens I wanted would arrive. The price they quoted was much less than what it cost in India, even from the grey market.

I soon left and made my way back to Mall of Emirates by cab…

Mall of Emirates Ski Dubai from outside — That's Ski Dubai from the outside

… hopped backed into Virgin Megastore and spent close to Dhs 1000.

I then struggled to carry my purchases to the taxi and in the process, managed to get the only workout during my time in UAE.

I finally managed to get it all back to the room.

So what did I buy?

Band Hero gaming haul Dubai — Band Hero (the complete set + Guitar Hero World Tour the game), Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm and Batman Arkham Asylum

The Band Hero set was a straight 25% off on the price (and they threw in a free copy of Guitar Hero World Tour — which I already had). I got Arkham Asylum pretty cheap too (considering it wasn’t an old game by any means) and I got a free Nintendo t-shirt too. All-in-all, a great deal!

Now all I had to worry about was how to get it all back to Bangalore.

Next posts in this series:

UAE 2010: Driving around Dubai (Souk Madinat Jumeirah, The Atlantis & The Palm Islands) – Part 1

UAE 2010: Dubai Marina, Jumeirah, The Walk and David Guetta concert – Part 2

UAE 2010: Showing my parents the sights of Dubai; inside Ibn Battuta Mall

UAE 2010: From the desert sands of Abu Dhabi to the corniche

UAE 2010: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – Ferrari World and Yas Marina Circuit

Previous posts in this series:

UAE 2010: Heading back to the Gulf after 7 years

UAE 2010: Driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai (& back)

UAE 2010: Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

UAE 2010: Heading to Dubai by bus; checking out Bur Dubai

UAE 2010: Dubai Mall (Aquarium, Underwater Zoo & Gold Souk) – Part 1

UAE 2010: Burj Khalifa, At the Top (and Wafi Mall) – Part 2

Date: 6th April, 2010

After visiting Sheikh Zayed mosque, it’s not that I was done with Abu Dhabi or anything. I was going to come back to be with family, spend some time around the creek and visit the Yas Marina circuit.

But today, I was off to Dubai! Mostly to meet friends and to see the ‘heights of insanity’ Dubai’s reached in the past few years. I was going to visit all the famous buildings (because let’s face it, what else is there to see in Dubai?) and I was also looking forward to the David Guetta concert!

So yeah, a lot planned — and I was excited!

Post lunch, my uncle dropped me at the Abu Dhabi bus station from where I boarded the bus to Dubai (Dhs 15 = Rs. 180/US$4/€3)

The bus was, well…

Bus ride Abu dhabi to Dubai — ... very nice!

Those monitors display the pristine condition UAE’s roads are in… if that’s your thing. No other in-bus entertainment, unlike Thailand.

The journey was expected to take around 1 and 1/2 hours.

Sheikh Zayed bridge construction Abu Dhabi — The long overdue Sheikh Zayed bridge in construction

As I was leaving the city, I got glimpses of what to expect to see at Yas Island.

Al Raha mall The HQ Yas Island Abu Dhabi — The landmark office building simply called 'The HQ'

Yas Island apartments Abu Dhabi to Dubai — Apartments facing the Yas Marina circuit

Yas Island Ferrari world — The insanely massive Ferrari World in the distance

The bus was hardly full and though you are assigned a specific seat with your ticket, I took advantage of the empty seats behind me and rested comfortably.

An hour later, we were in Dubai, on Sheikh Zayed road, just about to enter the city.

Then it began…

… aaaand that was Dubai Marina.

Building after building after building. Five years ago, this was all sand. They carved out the land to their desire, a lot of dredging and sand dumping later, they went from this…

Dubai Marina early construction — (images from Google)

… to this…

Dubai Marina from helicopter — (image from Google)

… and the work still isn’t done.

There are still more buildings yet to be completed.

In the Middle East, Dubai was always a land of opportunities. From the many expatriates who made their riches here to those who have now even made it their home. Despite the recession, there are still hundreds of job seekers from all parts of the globe here in Dubai in search of work.

In fact, I sat next to a fellow Indian (from Tamil Nadu), who was returning from a job interview from Abu Dhabi.

Past the Dubai Marina, lies Dubai Internet City.

Dubai internet city companies — Some of the IT majors at Dubai Internet City

But hard as they may try, remnants of the current economic reality are all over Dubai.

Want office space? Dubai has plenty to offer.

As we drove up Sheikh Zayed road, to my right was the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Dubai bus ride Burj Khalifa — I didn't get a great view -- but you can't help but stare at it

Half-an-hour later, I was at Bur Dubai bus stand where my friend Azhad was waiting for my arrival. He got me a Nol Card, the smart card Dubai’s RTA (Roads & Transportation Authority) introduced to be used in the newly launched metro service and Dubai’s public buses. Your Nol Card costs Dhs 20 (Rs. 240/$5/€4) — of which Dhs 6 is deducted as the cost of the card — and the balance is your usable credit. The credit can be “topped up” at various stations and select stores all across Dubai.

We walked around a bit, chatted about old times and made our way to a bus stop. We had to make it across the creek to Deira, where Azhad stayed (& where I would be staying too).

After freshening up, Azhad didn’t waste any time in showing me around.

Dubai Deira fish roundabout — Azhad lives around here... y'know, in case you want to stalk him

Deira Syrian shawarma Azhad — Azhad stops for a snack at a Syrian joint

Dubai Union Station metro evening — Union Station, the metro stop in Deira...

Dubai Al Ghurair City Centre traffic — ... if you want to go to Al Ghurair City Centre

Dubai Deira road traffic — The Burj Khalifa in the distance

Azhad took me to the creek.

Dubai municipality office building — Dubai Municipality office building

Dubai creek cafe prayer hall — You can stop by here for evening prayers

After an hour or so of walking, Azhad said we were now going across the creek to Bur Dubai on an abra.

Basically, small passenger boats that ferry people across the creek. The cost: Dh 1 (Rs. 12)

The ride takes less than 2 minutes, but taking a ride on the creek is pretty much a ‘must do’ for any visitor to Dubai.

Once on the other side, it was more walking to see what the souk had to offer.

Traders from India (mostly Sindhis, Gujaratis and Keralites) have been in Bur Dubai for years. So much so, the souk is also called Meena Bazaar by the local Indian community.

Given the Indian population in the area, it was no surprise to know the Hindu temple was also located here. Though, you’ll need some help in find it the first time.

Dubai hindu temple — You have to take a left from a small alley lane to enter the temple

Dubai hindu temple narrow hallway — And it only gets narrower once inside

Inside you’ll find stores selling all your religious and devotional ‘merchandise’.

Once out, it was straight to the Dubai Museum.

Dubai museum Bur Dubai Regal — The first thing you see as you enter Dubai museum

Dubai museum old traditional room — An old traditional room. You're not allowed to sit on the bed.

Dubai museum old traditional room Azhad — So Azhad sat on it

Dubai museum old coir mats — Ponchos* worn by Arabs in the old days (*not really)

Dubai museum Dubai 1822 — Dubai in 1822, way before they discovered tall buildings

Dubai museum birds — Giant man-eating birds* of yore (*not really)

Dubai museum through the years — Downstairs was a hall with a Dubai 'through the years' demo room

Dubai museum carpenters shop — That's a holographic video playing in the background

Dubai museum food shop — Selling items decades past their expiry date

Dubai museum study Azhad — Azhad listens in, locals ignore him

Dubai museum stone hologram — This was a really cool hologram

Dubai museum under water — This section was to showcase marine history in Dubai -- thus the guy's legs sticking out of the ceiling

And with that, we made our way out of the museum.

Dubai Museum isn’t as big as say, Bahrain museum, but it’s still recommendable considering the entry fee is just Dhs 3 (Rs. 36/$0.80/€0.60).

We then roamed around Bur Dubai some more…

Bur Dubai abundant trading strange — Left: Grand Aboundant must be well-stocked; Right: ..............

… went through the souk again…

… and then back to the creek.

We just kept walking along the bend.

Dubai Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's old house — Passed by Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's old residence

Al Siraaj the Guiding Light hall panorama — Dropped by Obaid bin Thani's house which houses the exhibition Al Siraaj

Al Siraaj the Guiding Light lamps — Al Siraaj - The Guiding Light seeks to educate the public on the Qur'an's take on science, creation of the universe, etc.

After that, it was one last glance at the creek…

Dubai creek Bank of Baroda — Seeing the Bank of Baroda sign, one can't help but assume this part of Dubai feels like a 'mini-Mumbai'

… before heading back.

By now my legs were aching and so, we decided to take a cab back to Deira.

For dinner, it was back to a Syrian restaurant in Deira.

Deira roast chicken dinner — The challenge: Finish an entire chicken* between the 2 of us

I was really knackered by the time we got back to the room. Legs were aching and I just felt like sleeping. I saw quite a bit today and I was all the more excited about where I was going tomorrow — the tallest building in the world and the biggest mall in the region!

*P.S: Me & Azhad did our best… but we couldn’t finish the entire chicken.