AI-Inspired Dubai Tour
Hey everyone! Here's more from our AI-inspired Dubai itinerary on my sister's first day in the UAE. Being that I also do not know Dubai, I asked Gemini to make us a 2-day itinerary that wouldn't break the bank! 🤭
We started with a hefty breakfast at the hotel (fuel is essential, right?!) before trotting to the Ibn Battuta Metro Station. The Dubai Metro is a very reliable mode of transportation, especially for me, who didn't want to drive around and get stressed with traffic and parking, etc. The tram was also a perfect way to explore the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah areas -- practically a partial city tour for a dollar.
Jumeirah Beach
The beach itself? Stunning! The sand was soft, the water was that perfect turquoise blue! Such a shame we were not ready for a walk down the beach. My sister and I were both wearing sneakers, but that actually did not stop us. We still trotted towards the water. Lil' sis wanted to feel the water. Lol
From a distance, we could see the Ain Dubai, that giant Ferris wheel. For a moment, we contemplated walking towards it, but no. It was already getting hhooottt 🥵 🌞 For the beach goers though, it was a perfect day for sunbathing and soaking up the atmosphere.
Eventually, my sister and I found refuge under a tent near the beach, which was for the jetski and water adventures operator there. Under the guise of tourists genuinely interested in renting a jetski, we had a momentary break from the already becoming intense heat.
Jumeirah Beach swim that never be.
The next day, we had grand plans to return for a proper swim and maybe even conquer those jetskis. However, schedule conflicts and our aunt and cousin not being able to join us meant our daytime beach trip was postponed.
Lil sis read news that mentioned fireworks would be there on the first night of Eid, and we were hoping to catch a spectacular display. So we again hopped on the Metro and went to JBR that night.
The beach transformed into a different world after sunset. The JBR buildings lit up, creating a dazzling skyline, and the Ain Dubai became even more mesmerizing, its lights twinkling against the dark sky. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, some were night swimming, the others were perhaps just like us who were hoping to catch the fireworks. We found a spot a bit far from the beach and had sandwich, soda, and chips for dinner. 😅
Unfortunately, at 8:00pm, the supposed schedule of the fireworks, there was none. A little disappointing, sure, but the beauty of JBR at night more than made up for it.
A Slight train mishap.
We approached the water one more time, and after a few minutes of getting in awe at how the night swimmers could handle the cold, we decided to go back to our hotel. We hopped on the tram and then the metro, already confident Dubai commuters we already were! Only to realize that we were heading in the wrong direction! We'd accidentally jumped on a train heading towards Expo 2020, which wouldn't stop at Ibn Battuta. We had to ride all the way back to the Jebel Ali station (the interchange), before finally getting on the right train back to Ibn Battuta. A bit of a detour, but hey, it's all part of the experience, right?
It was indeed a nice bonding moment between my sister and I. The Jumeirah Beach escapade was worth it, though hopefully, when we come back, we could already get on that jetski ride! 😜
March 29 & 30, 2025
Jumeirah Beach Residence
Dubai, UAE
All photos are owned by the author unless stated otherwise.
