Little did we know we’d fall so in love with Dubai.

Just, so cool.

Upscale and an urban planner’s dream, the city is safe, clean, and beautiful. The Burj Khalifa—the tallest building in the world—watches over this fascinating place where old world Arabia and a new era meet. It’s a true melting pot.

Of the 11 or so million people who live there, 90% are expats from somewhere else. I’m not sure we ever met anyone who’s originally from Dubai. But, that adds to the charm of the place.

When we asked our kids if they could ever see living in Dubai, all agreed: YES!!!

Burj Khalifa

Within hours of landing, we were in a spotless, futuristic Hyundai van cruising toward the tallest building in the world: the Burj Khalifa. When we pulled up, this is what we saw:

Of course, we went up to the top. You can see forever. Even ChuckDub, who isn’t a fan of heights, braved it.

Bean also conquered her own small battle: calmly navigating a revolving door with an oblivious rando who stepped in with her. Proud of her!

Safe and Clean

Dubai initially kind of struck me as a classier, safer, cleaner, family-friendly version of Las Vegas. Very safe. And it’s perfectly clean. Like, sidewalk Zambonis cleaning the sidewalks each night sort of clean.

Our driver from the airport told us that the safety and cleanliness is because of the very strict punishments for those who don’t obey the law. Litter = $500 fine. Speeding = $500 fine. (Not sure if those amounts are true, but they don’t mess around here, and I kinda love it. Do what’s right, you’re fine. Break the law and sketchy characters are in deep trouble.)

The Mall

We stayed steps away from Dubai Mall (which we accessed via an airconditioned tunnel two stories above the streets below).

It’s amazing!

An aquarium with glass-bottom boats, penguins, otters, sloths, crocodiles—you name it. A roller coaster and bumper cars in an arcade. An Olympic-sized ice rink where our girls went skating for the first time…in the desert. A movie theater that feels like it’s from the future. The mall even has its own navigation app—if you’re going, download it. It’s a life saver.

And all kinds of restaurants. Everything you’d find in the US + a million other options. We ate one night at Somewhere, a middle eastern restaurant with what I think may be the best chicken I’ve ever tasted.

It’s miles of shops, things to do, and is simply awesome.

Faith and Respect

One of the coolest parts about Dubai was the chance to really learn about Muslims + Islam. We spent one morning doing a whole deep dive, learning what Muslims believe, the five pillars, why respect for culture matters, and how religion shapes life here. And honestly, the people are so warm and welcoming. They really seem to espouse the principles of their Islamic faith.

We attended the LDS ward in Dubai, and people there were also so warm and welcoming. Fun fact, the ward meets in the ballroom of a hotel. Primary and other classes are held in adjoining conference rooms. It’s so cool.

We met members from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, France, and the U.S.

From Desert to Souks

Mon, the littles, and I ventured out to the souks of Old Dubai, where Kindy learned the fine art of bargaining in real time. Watching her haggle chocolate prices down with confidence (and her mother’s help) was one of those travel moments you know she’ll remember forever.

No Dubai trip is complete without a desert safari. We went dune bashing in a Land Cruiser, ATVs over dunes, holding a falcon, sandboarding (yes, there were wipeouts), and ending the night with camels, fire dancing, and a Middle Eastern feast under the stars. Hot, sweaty, sandy—and unforgettable.

The Beach

There’s an amazing beach area of Dubai called the JBR. We decided to check it out one afternoon and discovered the water feels like a hot tub. You have to come out of the water to cool down. Wild stuff.

The Future

We wrapped up our stay with a visit to the Museum of the Future, which looks like something already dropped in from 2071. Inside, holograms of wildlife, visions of space travel, and immersive exhibits.

The Takeaway

Dubai surprised us. It’s flashy, yes, but also spotless, safe, and wildly fun for families. It’s a place where you can ice-skate in the desert, haggle for spices in a souk, learn about Islam in the morning and ride camels at sunset.

We left reluctantly, already plotting a return.

Onward for a quick stop in Singapore…