Best Time To Be In Dubai

So February has to be one of the best months to be in Dubai. Not only to you have some top sporting events, including the Dubai Desert Classic starting today plus the men's and women's tennis championships. There is also horse racing at Meydan every Thursday. Added to that there are a host of musical events and concerts with Kasabian playing the Rugby Sevens stadium tomorrow and the Jazz Festival, now in it's 10th year, starting in a week or so with a bunch of big names including James Morrison and Jason Mraz.

Because the weather is so great at this time of year there are many outdoor events although there is still a chance of some rain, and the evenings can still be a bit chilly, so make sure you bring something warm to wrap up in if you are out for the evening,

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

One event that I have gone to, at least for a couple of days each year, is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In the first year (2009) tickets were sold out pretty quickly but after a couple of years of recession they are now a little bit easier to get hold of.

As well as getting access to the Formula 1 race and practice sessions they also lay on concerts each night by top acts. I really think that the Abu Dhabi grand prix is an event worth going to but read my full review along with a bunch of photos in my article 'Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Review'.

Dubai Metro Green Line Now Open

So the public transport in Dubai has expanded with the opening of the Green Line of the Dubai Metro. I think this is going to be most useful for the lower paid workers who live in the huge residential areas that are covered by the green line, as well as the people who live in Sharjah and commute to Dubai every day. So far that latter contingent has yet to be seen in force in the week of opening as far as I am concerned - the Etisalat metro station which is at the end of the line nearest Sharjah, has a car park that can fit about 2500 cars but I reckon it only had about 10% of that number yesterday when I travelled on it.

Iceberg at JBR!

So what is with the iceberg that is floating out at sea on JBR beach? I am guessing that the iceberg is made out of polystyrene or something similar as in the current temperatures a real iceberg would surely melt pretty quickly? However, I wouldn't put it past anyone in Dubai to put a real iceberg in the sea at JBR, just like there was real snow on JBR beach a few years ago, with kids making snowmen! That time it was a publicity stunt by Red Bull if I remember rightly but I've yet to see any details about who came up with this stunt.

Having said that, there is a shop in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates called Iceberg, so maybe they have played some kind of role in this stunt. 

Summer - Do The Indoor Things!

So as summer has crept up in Dubai maybe it is time to do all the indoor things that you don't want to do when the weather is perfect outside. There is the visit to the Jumeirah Mosque, or if that is not your thing then try Magic Planet with or without the kids or maybe Ski Dubai. If you have family over then you could try the afternoon tea at the Burj al Arab or else maybe go up the Burj Khalifa and see the view from the top.

Dubai - Summer is Here!

Well the weather in Dubai over the last week or two has really hotted up! Yesterday it was 44 degrees and it's looking like similar temperatures today (and probably for the rest of the summer!). Spring had been pretty perfect in Dubai this year and I had been really enjoying the temperatures sticking in the 30's and even cooling down of an evening, but it was inevitable that the temperatures would suddenly jump as they had been so nice for unusually long. Oh well, lucky for me I am going to be spending the summer in the UK so I only have 10 more days of the hot weather to get through! 

Briton Beaten To Death In Dubai or Not?

So the main headlines about Dubai particularly in the UK press today are about the sad death of 39 year old Lee Bradley Brown who was on holiday from England and staying in the Burj al Arab. It has been alleged that he was beaten to death in the Bur Dubai police station by police officers after being arrested for being drunk and abusive to a member of staff. The conditions in the holding cells of the police station are notoriously grim and this is no the only allegation of mistreatment that has come out of them. Regardless of the truth of what actually happened, a full investigation needs to be carried out with complete transparency. Whether this happens or not is yet to be seen and no doubt officials will be involved from both Dubai and Britain. In any case my sympathies go to his family and what they must be going through.

This story just reasserts that anyone visiting Dubai needs to be aware of the rules and regulations that are often stringently upheld in this Muslim country. Although it is advertised widely as a great holiday destination it still comes under Shariah law and for that you need to be respectful and follow the customs and traditions of the country.

Check out my guide to what you can and can't do in Dubai for more info. There are too many cases of Brits being arrested in Dubai so know what the laws are before you go.