Joanna James
While both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are popular tourist hubs in the Middle East, Dubai is a superior holiday destination for the masses. Here are some of the reasons why Dubai reigns supreme.
When it comes to down to the sheer number of tourist attractions and highlights in the cities, there's no denying that Dubai lays claim to more jaw-dropping landmarks than Abu Dhabi. There's no reason to get bored in Dubai as the city is home to some of the most impressive structures in the Middle East. This not only includes the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure but also the Madinat Jumeirah, the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum Museum, Old Dubai, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Jumeirah Mosque, Deira and the Dubai Frame to name a few. While Abu Dhabi may be more tranquil, Dubai's place as a city full of highlights remains undisputed.
Dubai is also the land of superlatives and excesses as this dynamic does not believe in doing anything halfway. In fact, Dubai takes pride in claiming many titles including being the home of the highest building on the planet, the biggest department stores, the fastest highways and the most impressive galleries and cultural hotspots. Even when it comes to wining and dining a large number of fine dining restaurants and impressive menus all belie the city's ethos of going all out in everything imaginable.
One of the most attractive aspects of Dubai, when compared to Abu Dhabi, is the general atmosphere of tolerance and live and let live attitude prevalent in the local populace. Abu Dhabi is a far more conservative space as opposed to the more liberal approach Dubai has adopted in terms of the types of distractions allows its citizens and visitors. Dubai's party scene is legendary and although it is an Islamic city, the number of night clubs and bars are also higher than Abu Dhabi. Clothing restrictions are also an issue that visitors will not face in Dubai whereas Abu Dhabi has more stringent rules when it comes to attire in general.
Another aspect of Dubai that clearly beats Abu Dhabi is a large number of luxury hotels and resorts occupying its confines. While Abu Dhabi is more than capable of accommodating the thousands of guests that arrive in the city each year, Dubai is just home to more hotels and offers more choice when it comes to selecting accommodation for a holiday. The options are also not restricted to Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort or any similar 5 star resorts in Dubai as the city also provides better budget accommodation options as well.
From the Dubai Mall, The Mall of Emirates, Dubai Festival City Mall to Dubai Merino Mall and Mercato, the malls are simply bigger and better in Dubai. Offering shoppers a wider choice of products in the plush confines of it's iconic and larger than life retail complexes, Dubai has earned its place as the shopping capital in the region.
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