Built in the middle of desert plains over the last 20 or so years, Dubai has quickly become a world-famous city, known for its unique and world-record breaking architecture. After briefly visiting the city last week, I was in shock of what I saw. Sky scrappers, literally, scratching the sky, cleanliness beyond belief, safety beyond measure, and some amazing food. A local told me, when asked about how it is to live in Dubai: “Everything we do, we try to do it the best. That is why we have so many world records: world’s largest tower, world’s largest water park, etc.”

Residing in the glistening new JBR Marina district, we were a good distance away from Dubai’s downtown, which often is the center of attention. But as it turns out, there was plenty to do. The JBR beach was extremely clean, no trash in the sand, lines of cabanas, plenty of activities such as jet skis, banana boats, and there was this huge inflatable water park that looked like lots of fun. There was a boardwalk lasting the whole beach with restaurants, shops, and different fun activities. The beachwalk then turned into a bridge leading to the Blue Waters Island which also has many restaurants and shops as well as the world’s largest ferris wheel – the Dubai Eye. The Marina is also the only district in Dubai with trams. 

Downtown Dubai is where it’s at. The above-ground metro cuts right through the center making it extremely accessible. Downtown holds the famous Museum of the Future, an extremely unique architectural feat. It goes through Dubai’s plans for the future, and describes how it will achieve its goals. It also holds Dubai’s financial center which contains Dubai’s first skyscraper, built just 34 years ago, and is its World Trade Center. There are also countless hotels and apartment buildings, each unique and a dazzling spectacle. And of course, in downtown there is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Spanning 183 floors over 828 meters of height, it offers unmatchable views from the top (as well as amazing free cappuccinos). Other than (the tallest in the world) outdoor viewing deck on floor 128 and (tallest in the word) indoor viewing deck on floor 153, the Burj Khalifa has a 5-star hotel, multiple offices of corporations, apartments, flats, penthouses, and multiple clubs (including a club with the tallest outdoor swimming pool in the world).

The safety of Dubai is next level. Although you won’t see a single police officer or police car in public, if you call the police line, they are sure to show up in a few minutes. Moreover, every step you take is tracked. When you enter the country through the airport, they scan your face. All over the city, the police have cameras, tracking your every move. Although it may seem a little scary, it makes Dubai the safest city in the world. In fact, it is actually a crime in itself if one doesn’t report a crime they witnessed to the police. In the old city, at the Gold Souk (market in Arabic), there are thousands of dollars worth of gold and diamonds just sitting out in the open. And what surprised me the most, there wasn’t a single security officer in sight, but nobody stole anything. Dubai was also very clean. Not a single piece of trash, no graffiti on walls and bridges, etc. In fact you can get up to a 1000 dollar fine if your car is dirty or there is a scratch / dent. 

So finally, is Dubai worth the hype? Absolutely. Although it is a bit pricey, it is worth every penny. They have plans to start using flying taxis by 2026, and having a giant space city by 2070. Although it seems impossible and out  of reach right now, it is worth remembering that Dubai was nothing but a flat desert with a few scattered villages not even 50 years ago. I can’t imagine what Dubai would be like in 50 years.