NEVER BUY A ROUNDTRIP AIR TICKET TO DUBAI

If you have ever traveled outside of your country or are thinking about it, you might have (at one point or another) contemplated the idea of traveling to the playground of the wealthy, Dubai. Located in the middle of the Arabian desert in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is a city/emirate of about 2.8 million with the vast majority of its population being composed of immigrants. It is also ground zero for some of the world's most ambitious construction projects stemming from airports, resorts, and man-made islands. Oh the wonders that oil wealth can produce! This makes Dubai a tourist destination, attracting about 15 million visitors per year. Despite an impressive resumé the likes of Singapore, here are the reasons why you should NEVER spend a dime on a roundtrip flight to Dubai, unless of course you're a wealthy person with money to blow. Here are the 3 reasons why you should never buy a roundtrip air ticket to Dubai. 

1) DUBAI IS A CITY

Now, I understand that many countries in the world have become tourist destinations because of ONE CITY. England is virtually forgettable without the city of London. The Netherlands is nothing but a sinking swamp without Amsterdam! However, all of these cities share something in common with Dubai. They are major HUBS for International Airlines. London-Heathrow International Airport is perhaps the lifeline HUB for a significant portion of Trans-Atlantic Flights from North America. Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport is the hub for KLM Airways, one of the largest airlines in the world. So why would you spend a ton of money when you don't plan on venturing outside of Dubai? Considering that the city is surrounded by a vast desert, it is probably not a good investment as far as international travel is concerned. Which brings me to my second point. 

2) EMIRATES! EMIRATES! EMIRATES!!!!

Emirates Airlines (simply known as "Emirates") is slowly becoming one of the largest airlines in the world by passenger volume as well as fleet. Emirates conducts daily flights to 140 destinations in the world, including 12 in the United States. And of course it is only fitting that the airline would choose Dubai International Airport as its global hub. Most of Emirates' destinations are located in Asia and Africa. Thus, I've had the opportunity to see Dubai during my trips to Tanzania and India, simply because I opted for a longer layover (about 18 hrs). I was so happy that I essentially got a 2-for-1 deal with my flight. In other words, if you want to see Dubai, pick a different final destination. Perhaps Thailand, Kenya, or India are the actual countries you might want to visit. Opt for a longer layover in Dubai. That way, you get to see two countries (if you can call Dubai a country) for the cost of one roundtrip ticket. Perhaps you may even get to see Dubai a second time during your return trip home. 

3) DUBAI IS A 1-DAY EXCURSION AT BEST!

When the Emirati (might I add rude) Immigration Officer stamped my passport with a 24 hour VISA into Dubai, I could not fathom the hype of the mass media as it pertained to Dubai. Watching television and conducting google searches gave me the impression that Dubai was bigger and grander than its reality. And don't get me wrong, the city itself is magnificent and very intriguing to the eye. But it is smaller than people think. From the moment we left the airport, we were able to see a palace resident of Dubai royalty, the mega Dubai mall, The Burj Khalifa, the Burj Dubai, ALL of downtown, and went to the Palm Islands in a span of less than 5 hrs. And to be honest, Dubai felt like a small town with big buildings. Now, I get it. The city itself has about 2.8 million people, making it about the size of Chicago. But in Chicago, you can feel the congestion. You can feel the traffic. You can see the people. You are able to experience that feeling of being in a big city. Dubai's roads were mostly empty, with traffic only in some streets. In terms of the people, I knew coming into the city that the migrant worker population was big in Dubai, with most of them living in very poor conditions. And perhaps that's why being in downtown I was not able to see the reality that was perhaps deliberately hidden to tourists to save face. BUT that still doesn't change the fact that I felt like I was in a small town with big buildings, albeit the buildings and structures were amazing marvels, but this city felt empty in more ways than I care to explain. After the short tour of Dubai, most of our layover was spent in the hotel that was located inside the airport. While our layover in Dubai was about 18 hrs, we saw everything we needed to see in a span of 5 hours. 

CONCLUSION:

After reading, some of you might have second thoughts about visiting Dubai. And to that I would say, go anyway, if for no other reason other than saying "I went there! I saw it!" And of course a magnet to put on your refrigerator. Dubai is a city like no other, sprouted from the desert out of nothingness. Again, the wonders of oil wealth. But make sure your flight does not end in Dubai but rather Dubai is just a layover destination, one that is prolonged for at least 12 hours or more. And when you get back home, you will happily be able to say that you got a 2-for-1 deal. Safe Travels!