Middle East
Dubai
Our most requested holiday destination, and the easiest first trip abroad for a Nigerian family travelling together.
Overview
Dubai works because everything is close, everything is signposted in English, and the flight from Lagos is short enough to leave in the evening and start the holiday the next morning. The city splits neatly into the older creek-side districts, the beach strip along Jumeirah and the newer downtown around the Burj Khalifa.
We build most Dubai itineraries around four or five nights, which covers the desert safari, a day at the waterparks and enough shopping to justify the extra luggage allowance. Prices swing hard by season, so a January trip and an August trip for the same hotel can differ by half.
Things to see and do
Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
Book the At The Top deck for the last slot before sunset. The fountain show below runs every half hour into the evening and costs nothing.
Desert safari
Dune drives, camel rides and a barbecue dinner in a Bedouin-style camp. Ask for the seat behind the driver if anyone in the group gets carsick.
Dubai Creek and Al Fahidi
Take an abra across the creek for one dirham, then walk the gold and spice souqs on the Deira side.
Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis
Aquaventure waterpark and the aquarium fill a full family day. The monorail along the trunk of the Palm is the cheapest view of the skyline.
Good to know
- Nigerian passport holders need a visa in advance. We process the standard 30-day tourist visa in three to five working days with a confirmed hotel booking.
- Friday afternoons are quiet in the malls and busy at the beach clubs. Plan around it rather than through it.
- Alcohol is served in hotels and licensed venues only, and public drinking is an offence. Nothing about that surprises our groups, but it is worth saying plainly.
- The Nol card covers the metro, trams and buses. One card per traveller saves a lot of small taxi fares.
