Hi all,

I am travelling form India to US via Dubai and I have transit of 8 and half hours in Dubai. I will be landing Dubai in 00:30 midnight. I have 8 hours to kill and I was wondering whether it would be a good idea to get a transit visa, go outside and explore Dubai.

Is 8 hours even enough to see anything in Dubai? Since I am reaching at midnight, I don't anything will be opening?

Any advice, suggestion?

Thanks

Just grab a hotel for the night.

For the most part the city shuts down ~3am. There may be some 24 hour restaurants open but for the most part you'll be walking/driving around by yourself.

My suggestion is to get a room at the Dubai International Hotel located in terminal 1 and 3. You'll have access to many bars/restaurants at the airport.

If you decide to make a reservation at the airport hotel, DO NOT GO THROUGH PASSPORT CONTROL. You will not be able to come back to the hotel. The hotel is for transit only passengers. Most restaurants are open 24 hours, 24 hour room service, etc. Very nice hotel.

There's not much to see at night. Even in the daytime, Dubai is not a strolling town. It sprawls, so aside from the souks along the creek and perhaps the beach, you need transport even during the day. And the biggest attraction, the shopping malls, are unlikely to welcome window-shopping at 4 a.m.

I'm pretty sure Emirates once provided my daughter with free hotel at the Dubai airport for several hours because of a long layover. Worth checking. I know Singapore Airlines does (or did) this in some circumstances, too.

We stayed at the Sheraton Creek just a few minutes and very inexpensive taxi from the airport. The river traffic is pleasant to watch and I assume the hotel terrace and bar will be open Perhaps even the water taxis to take you across to the other side and back if you want a feel for that. I would not go up to the beaches at night, but one of the skybars nearby might be fun.