12 hours in Dubai
 

We have a short layover in Dubai - we arrive on a Sunday at 12:55pm and depart at 1:40am. We would like to go to the beach but also thought it might be fun to try Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates. Is this realistic considering the time need to clear customs/obtain visa/check luggage on arrival and retrieving luggage/clearing security etc. on departure? Is there a nice beach near Mall of the Emirates that we could go to in the afternoon before skiing for a couple of hours in the evening? How far is it from the airport to Mall of the Emirates and is there a good place to have dinner there? Thanks!

Topping. I'm also looking for answers to this question. Will arrive in Dubai at 8 a.m. and depart at 2 a.m. the following early morning.

Julia, this is very helpful: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ver-Dubai.html

Also: 1. Re: 12 hours in Dubai
Aug 19, 2009 1:28 AM
If you're arriving in Dubai in this month, the weather's hot for an afternoon at the beach. Maybe you could reach the Mall of Emirates at around 3pm, check out the Ski Dubai and onward to Madinat Jumeira Souq for dinner. Back to Airport by 11pm for your onward flight. Madinat Jumeira would be about 15minutes from Ski Dubai and about 30minutes from the Airport in late evening time.

The Madinat Jumeirah area is great and only a few minutes from Mall of the Emirates. Not sure how you feel about water parks but Wild Wadi is unlike any you have problem experienced. It is part of the Madinat Jumeirah complex and gives you access to the beach. If you want to hang outside for awhile before going in to ski Dubai you could do that and it wouldn't be too hot in the afternoon. We were there mid-August from 10-1 and it was great. The way the park is designed you never have to get out of the water and there are virtually no steps to climb. If you are set on skiing be sure to give yourselves at least 3 hours for 2 hours of skiing. Finding Ski Dubai, getting tickets, getting your gear, etc. will take at least 1 hour. Then undressing and finding your way back to get a cab could take another 30 minutes. Depending on your arrival date, keep in mind that Ramadan starts August 22 and lasts for 1 month. Eating and Drinking in public are not permitted (there are discreet restaurants open during the day) and there are other rules you want to be aware of. Enjoy

jemitro, great suggestion! thanks!

With Ski Dubai - keep in mind that 2 hours of skiing (unless you rarely ski) is a bit much. Both my boys (both times they went) were done after about an hour.

Now, there wasn't much of a crowd, so they went up and down pretty quickly, but they were still done in a pretty quick time frame.

Thinking of Ramadan - I wonder if the TGIFriday's that overlooks the Ski Dubai run will be open. It does not serve alcohol at any time (much to my dismay), but don't know what they do during Ramadan.