Never in my life that I thought of I will be stepping my foot in United Arab Emirates, specifically in Dubai. But last June, I did it! 😁😁😁But why I never thought of it? 🤔 Maybe because its an Arab country. Don’t get me wrong, I am not discriminating our brothers and sisters who are practicing Islam. I just thought that since I am a Catholic, I will travel first to countries where Roman Catholic faith dominates. Nevertheless, I view UAE as a door to western countries. 🚪
United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates along the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. This includes Abu Dhabi, as the largest emirate and capital of UAE, well-known for its richness of oil. U.S. Recognition of the United Arab Emirates’ Independence was in 1971. The UAE declared its independence following the completion of treaties with Great Britain.
In 1833, following tribal feuding, members of the Al Bu Falasah tribe seceded from Abu Dhabi. They established themselves in Dubai. Today, the emirate of Dubai serves as an international hub for business, finance, and travel. Dubai is considered one of the richest places in Earth. Their tourism flourished. Dubai has the tallest hotel in the world which is the Gevora Hotel. Dubai has the Burj Al Arab, the tallest skyscraper in the world. 🌆
As for me, I entered and exit Dubai as my gateway to Egypt. I stayed total of 2 days in Dubai. A bit short yet I was happy that I made a quick day tour before I leave UAE. 😍
- Visa and Immigration in UAE
- How did I get there?
- Internet in UAE
- Where did I stay?
- How I get around the city?
- Where are the places I traveled?
- Goodbye, Dubai!
Visa and Immigration in UAE
As a Filipino passport holder, I need to apply for a tourist visa to enter in Dubai. While researching, I found that Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways offer visa assistance even you are not flying with them. However, I found it expensive.💸💸💸 First, I will just stay a night in Dubai then fly to Cairo. In my return, I will stay overnight again in Dubai then fly to Manila the next day. So, I will need a multiple entry visa.
Fortunately, my cousin/ godmother who is in Dubai recommended me Rio Travels. It’s the same agency where she got my Auntie’s tourist visa. The agent who assisted me was Ms. Melody. She was very responsive in all my inquiries. She just asked me to fill out the Guarantee Form she provided, a copy of my passport and a 2×2 picture. In less than 2 days, I got my UAE visa! I paid via bank transfer for AED 800. The visa is valid for 30 days upon my first entry in Dubai. The visa includes insurance too. 🥳🥳🥳
I was very pleased with the assistance that Ms. Melody provided to me. With that, I had no hassle in getting my visa. In Dubai International Airport, the immigration officer just checked my passport and the hard copy of my visa. After checking his computer, the immigration officer, allowed me to enter in Dubai.
In few minutes, I set foot officially in United Arab Emirates. 🥰
When I returned from Cairo, the immigration officer just checked again my passport and visa. In less than 2 minutes, I was cleared in the immigration to enter Dubai again. 🥳
How did I get there?
From Manila, I flew directly via Cebu Pacific Air to Dubai. It was a 9-hour direct flight from Manila. I booked a round-trip airfare in seat sale. There was no direct flight from Manila to Cairo. Thus, my option was to fly in a nearer country so I can travel to Egypt.
While from Luxor to Cairo to Dubai, I booked EgyptAir. I intended to stay 1.5 days in Dubai before leaving for Manila.
Internet in UAE
I was very lucky that I do not need to buy a sim card for my internet in Dubai. In Dubai International Airport, after the immigration officer checked my passport and visa, he handed me a tourist sim card. It was free! 😍😍😍
The sim card is valid for 24 hours only. This was enough for my entry stay in Dubai. When I returned from Cairo to Dubai, the immigration officer, handed me again another tourist sim card. Perks of being one of the richest countries in the world!
Where did I stay?
On my first night in Dubai, I arrived by past 9PM. I pre-booked Premier Inn Hotel. The hotel has a private shuttle from and to the airport. I waited for about 10 minutes for the airport shuttle to arrive in the parking area. The hotel is about 5 minutes away from the airport. I had a swift check-in in this hotel. My back hurts and my body were aching to lay in bed after a 9-hour flight from Manila.
My room was spacious enough with a king bed. The bed was very comfortable after a long flight. The private restroom was clean. Everything in my room was perfect. Aside from the location, I chose a private room rather a capsule to rest privately after a long flight. 🛌
The breakfast of the hotel was delicious too. 😋 The staffs were also accommodating and friendly. I had enough time to select food and eat as my hotel is just nearby the airport before I fly to Cairo in the morning.
When I returned to Dubai from Cairo, I booked another hotel. I chose Rove Hotel in Deira City. It has an airport shuttle too. This hotel was about 10 minutes away from the airport. I love its locations as it is also a 5-minute walk from the train station. Since its located near Deira City station, Deira City Center Mall is just nearby too.
When I checked in to my room, it already exceeded my expectation. It was clean, spacious, and vibrant. I have a big window facing the city. The restroom’s cleanliness was superb too. The luggage area was spacious enough. My bed? 😍🥰😍😍🥰😍😍🥰😍
God, I can still remember up to now the comfort in brought to me. Their king bed, pillows and linens were superb! I had the best stay in this hotel. 😍🥰😍 Plus, my hotel window view was amazing! 😍🥰😍
The hotel has a big reception area. Their luggage room was spacious too. There was a convenient store inside the hotel with all the essentials I needed. The cashier from the reception was a Filipino that gave me tips on where to buy chocolates.
What I love the most, I asked the reception if they can allow me late check-out on the next day. My flight will be late in the evening. My tour in Dubai will be half day only so I intended to return to my hotel by afternoon. The reception cancelled my 2nd night and allowed late check-out. 😍🥰😍 The reception told that I can check-out by 4PM. Happily, I was very thankful to them. 😍🥰😍
However, after my tour, I never thought that visiting the Burj Khalifa will took my time. I tried to rush from the Burj to the Dubai Mall Train Station to reach the 4PM check-out time. I arrived in the hotel at around 4:10PM. Since, I already packed my luggage, I just arranged my other stuffs quickly. The reception called me in my room, and politely asked if I will check out. I said to them that I was on my way downstairs. Fortunately, I was able to check out around 4:20PM. 🤗
I sincerely apologized to the reception, and they just greeted me happily. Since I still have time, I asked the reception if I can leave my luggage and they assisted me. After that, I went to Deira City Center Mall to buy souvenirs and had dinner. When I returned to the hotel, I just waited for some minutes to ride the airport shuttle.
Everything in Rove Hotel exceeded my expectations. If I come back to Dubai, I will book this hotel again! 😍🥰😍😍🥰😍😍🥰😍
How I get around the city?
Aside from the hotel shuttle busses and the private car I had as part of the city tour I availed, I also tried the city’s train. The city tour includes pick up only from the hotel. After my visit in Burj Khalifa, I decided to take the train since it was the most convenient and cheapest transportation in Dubai.
From Dubai Mall, I walked for more than 20 minutes to reach the train station platform. I bought a single-entry train ride to City Centre Deira where my hotel was nearby. Buying the train ticket was easy as there was an English instruction. However, I still asked an assistance since I was not sure if I chose the correct zone or route to get my ticket.
In less than 2 minutes, I was able to purchase a single-entry train ticket! 🥳 I headed then to the platform to take the train. It was easy-peasy to find the platform. Compared to the train stations in Tokyo, I knew I can navigate easily in Dubai. 😁
The train was spacious yet I stood in the middle as all seats were occupied. It seems it was a rush hour since some passengers looked like they were from their work and schools. After 2 stops, I was able to sit comfortably in the train. 🚈
After 30 minutes, I reached City Center Deira. It was already 4PM! 😱 So, I rushed to my hotel to check-out. 😁 It was a nice experience to see how the normal transportation in Dubai works. Hopefully, this efficient transportation system can be replicated in the Philippines, too. 🤞
Where are the places I traveled?
When I returned from Egypt, I stayed in Dubai for about 1.5 days. After checking in at Rove Hotel, I spent super comfortable night. 😍🥰😍 On the next day, I pre-booked a half day tour via Klook to explore Dubai. My return flight to Manila was at around 10PM, so I still have time to see Dubai. The tour package included hotel pick-up. At around 9AM, I was waiting in my hotel lobby to start the tour. A couple from the same hotel was picked up too. From there, we drove to our first stop to start the tour.
Al Seef and Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Entrance Fee: Free
Al Seef is waterfront boulevard featuring traditional Emirati architecture. Today, this place was turned to restaurants, shops and cafes. Our tour guide gathered us first inside Al Seef Heritage Hotel then provided some information on how Dubai was founded. Inside Al Seef, we started to walk to visit some shops and café.
Al Seef has one the most unique and beautiful Starbucks in the world. It was indeed charming. Though I didn’t buy a coffee, I stayed for some minutes inside the Starbucks to cool down. It was bloody hot in Dubai when I visited there. 🥵🥵🥵
Inside Al Seef was one of the Smart Police Station in Dubai. Why is it smart? Because it was being run by a robot cop. You can report an incident using their computers. Isn’t it amazing? Dubai is also considered as 0 crime rate so seeing this kind of innovation made Dubai safer.
After Al Seef, we walked to the port to take a boat. I never imagined that this was part of the tour – the walking and the boat. That 10 minute walk felt like 30 minutes because of the heat. 🥵🥵🥵
Nevertheless, even with the heat, I enjoyed Al Seef and the short boat ride. It was refreshing to see another part of Dubai with water. 💦
Old Baladiya Street
Entrance Fee: Free
As we crossed, we reached the Old Baladiya Street. It is a commercial, tourist and heritage area where various traditional souks or markets are located. Old Baladiya Street is famous as it has the gold, spices and perfume souks.
We visited one perfume and spices shop. For the perfumes, the seller demonstrated us different kinds of perfume. Same with what I experienced in Giza, the middle eastern perfumes has different and more authentic fragrance. 😍
The scents were really amazing and therapeutic for me. Since I deprived myself from buying perfume in Egypt, I let myself to have one in Dubai. I chose the Madawi perfume. Its like a vibrant of pineapple blossom with pleasantry of peaches and apples. I had a small bottle only but it was definitely perfect.
Inside the Baladiya Street was a small museum of the municipality of Dubai. Together with the group, we watched a short video on how Dubai was built and administered by different great leaders. It was nice to know this history of Dubai as they also started as a small emirati.
Gold Souq
Entrance Fee: Free
In just few minutes, we walked to the Gold Souq. Literally, it is a place full of gold! All shops sell different jewelry pieces made of gold. Some shops sell souvenirs.
In Gold Souq, you will find a shop where you can see the heaviest gold ring created called as Najmat Taiba. It was recognized by Guinness Book of World Record. It weighs 64 kilograms with 21-karat gold. It actually looks a like a ring of a giant. 💍
Gold Souq or rather entire Dubai will not flourish if I may say without my kababayans. Almost all of the sellers of golds were Filipina. Some Arabic men also even speak Tagalog. Filipinos are everywhere in Dubai! 🥰
Dubai Frame
Entrance Fee: Free as I just stayed outside
The Dubai Frame is an observatory, museum, and monument in Zabeel Park, Dubai. It holds the record for the largest frame in the world. As per our tour guide, the design of the Dubai Frame was made and won by Mexican architect Fernando Donis against 900 competitors. 😲
Donis won at least US $ 100,000 from this competition. Today, Dubai Frame is a significant landmark in the city that has been a window from the old and modern times of Dubai.
We stayed less than 15 minutes in the parking area just to take photos. Some members from our tour stayed in the van as they already saw the Dubai Frame. As for me, after the photo op, we moved to the next stop.
Museum of the Future
Entrance Fee: Free (for outside premise)
Near the Dubai Frame is the Museum of the Future. The museum is dedicated to exploring future of science, technology and innovation. The building is an architectural and engineering marvel. The building ‘speaks Arabic’: its facade is a canvas for the poetry of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum rendered in the calligraphy of Mattar bin Lahej.
As for me, we just stayed outside the museum and before the ticketing area. You may still check the shops inside the museum if you are not fond of going inside. The shop area was a relief from the scorching heat of Dubai. 🥵
In less than 30 minutes, we left the museum and headed to another destination.
Burj Al Arab
Entrance Fee: Free (for outside premise)
Also known as Jumeirah Burj Al Arab or the “Arab Tower” as it resides in Jumeirah district. This marvelous luxury hotel opened in December 1999. The hotel is in an artificial island connected to Jumeirah Beach. The tower stood 321 meters from the ground with over 200 luxurious suites.
The first time I saw an image of the Burj Al Arab, there was no building in the side. But when I saw in face to face, it looked small! Maybe because of the other building.
Nonetheless, it was amazing to see another wonder of Dubai and of course, a beach! 🏖️
Burj Khalifa
Entrance Fee: Included in Klook package
Dubai will not be Dubai without Burj Khalifa. Standing proud at 2,722 feet with 1,204 private residences and hotel rooms, Burj Khalifa is the tallest freestanding structure in the world. The Burj was opened to the public in January 4,2010. From then on, the Burj has been the symbol of Dubai.
The first time I lay my eyes in Burj Khalifa, I though of the Tower of Sauron or the Barad-dûr from Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was too tall with that pointed tower. It was surreal to see it in my own eyes. It was truly a structure that you will say “Wow!”. I have been to Taipei 101 and Tokyo Skytree but Burj Khalifa made the later structures too small.
From the group tour, we were just like 2 people who availed the entry to Burj Khalifa. Our tour service dropped us off in Dubai Mall as the last stop. Then, we walked to the mall to enter Burj Khalifa. If you will visit Burj Khalifa, allot at least 3 hours so you can enjoy it fully. The queue to the elevator maybe long.
It was an astounding moment when I got to the elevator. The elevator can accommodate up to 15 people at a time. While going up, the elevator displayed images like we were going to space. It was a bit scary but you will be amazed on how fast it was. In less than 10 minutes, we reached the 125th floor. 😍🤩
As someone with fear of heights, I was really like shaking at the first time to see Burj Khalifa from up above. It was terrifying yet beautiful! How can men create something this tall that it almost reaches the clouds. 🤩🤩🤩
The buildings, cars and highways below looked very small from up above. The Burj Khalifa was truly amazing! This once in a lifetime experience was very remarkable. I only get to see Burj Khalifa in TV specially on New Year’s Eve countdown. But here I was! I stood in the tallest structure in the world!
What an amazing moment! Thank you, Lord! 🤩🙏🤩
City Centre Deira
Entrance Fee: Free
After I rushed from checking out from my hotel, I was starving! I need to eat properly before I head back to the airport. City Centre Deira Mall was near my hotel and it has great selections of food. So, I walked again to visit the mall. Apart from the food, I also need to buy a toy for my nephew. It was a promise I kept to him so he can allow me to travel outside the country. So, imagine, I am asking permission to a 6-year-old boy! 😂
City Centre Deira opened in 1995. It is known as a shopping, entertainment, and leisure complex with 3 levels. It has over 370 shops with 3,600 parking spaces. It was huge! I can compare it to SM Megamall. And of course, Filipinos were everywhere! They were either the staffs from the shops or food servers. Dubai will not really be Dubai without the help of our “kababayan” in their businesses.
I wanted to try KFC when I was in Egypt but I did not had the chance. So, I craved for it and finally found one in City Centre Deira! Indeed, the serving of meal in Middle East is different from what we have in Philippines. 😰
After my lunch/ dinner at around 5PM, I checked the grocery store of the mall. I wanted to buy “pasalubong” but I felt like I cannot pack properly since I already checked out in my hotel. I left my luggage in the hotel’s storage area. I do not want to unpack and repack. So, instead of buying from the grocery store, I left. HAHA. I headed to the exit of the mall where I saw a toy shop. I bought a pack of Star Wars Lego that I knew I can fit in my backpack.
I had enough time to get what I want from the mall – the food and toy. 
So, I returned to my hotel to ride the airport shuttle.
Goodbye, Dubai!
It was a short stay in Dubai and I said my last goodbye to her. My fear to be in Middle East was changed to excitement when I was in Dubai. Its like BGC in Manila but bigger, warmer and safer. I never thought that I will feel safe in a place that I was not familiar. It was indeed a short stay but a memorable one. I am very happy to chose this place not just a layover to Egypt but a gateway to new perspectives. ✨
For my expenses in Dubai, you may refer to below. Please note that the conversion was last June 2025. Expenses displayed below do not include souvenirs and other personal expenses for food and toiletries. Adding these expenses not to brag but for you to have an idea of how much you can spend for a layover in Dubai.
Click here
I was really astonished on how this dessert-near place became rich and prosperous through the years. The tour I had was an eye-opener that a place can prosper as long as its leaders are focused and determined to serve it’s people. I am truly happy to meet “kababayan” that were hardworking and dedicated to their sworn professions. 😍🥰😍
Until next time, Dubai! Shukran! 💜💜💜
HeartofJess.Blog 
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