Whenever people think of Dubai, the first thing that pops up in their mind is luxury hotels, Lamborghinis, or the Burj Khalifa—the tallest building in the world. However, that is only one version of the city. There is another Dubai that rarely appears on Instagram—all the ordinary life, which happens away from the glitzy skyline.
Rather than running straight to visit the famous sites, one should take the public bus from Abu Dhabi. There is nothing comfortable about this ride, the bus is overcrowded, but it is a budget way to see how really people travel between the two cities. Sometimes taking the cheapest means of transport tells you more about the country than taking an expensive tour.
Upon arrival in Dubai, the skyscrapers will start disappearing from the sight and the journey will take you to Deira—the oldest district of the city. The ambiance changes just on the spot—there are no luxury malls, instead, the streets have local shops, small cafes, supermarkets, and buildings that host thousands of expats living here.
It becomes evident during a short stroll around the city that Dubai is very diverse culture-wise. In a matter of minutes, one meets countless numbers of different languages and different types of restaurants, including the Indian, Pakistani, and Filipino food places and establishments offering Arabic and Chinese cuisine. However, despite the differences, there seems to be a connection between all parts of the city rather than division.
This multicultural environment can be noticed while visiting the local night market on which long queues can be seen in front of the Filipino food stands. At the same time, merchants in other booths provide drinks, snacks, clothes, and market goods to the customers. Chicken Inasal for dinner seems to be a great place to taste exotic food without leaving the UAE.
Another unexpected thing which one can notice in the city is getting a haircut. One does not have to spend a fortune at a fancy hair salon, as a simple barber’s shop provides great service and very low prices. The barber is eager to tell the clients the stories about Dubai and at the same time explains how people from various countries interact with each other.
From the beginning of the visit, it is quite clear that there is a high level of safety in the city. The streets feel calm and pretty organized, particularly in the evening time: nothing looks dirty and nobody seems to violate the laws.
Eventually, the curiosity leads to a local supermarket. It is hard to say anything after seeing the rows of shelves filled with various international goods from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. It appears that the presence of products from different corners of the globe highlights the fact that Dubai represents more than one culture.
Later, there is a quiet coastal place. Contrary to what is usually seen on the Internet, where the crowded beaches of Dubai appear, this less popular seaside location seems to attract only locals. Families relax next to the water, and the opposite bank is full of jet skis moving around the bay. In addition, the skyline with the famous skyscrapers looms in the distance.
The most important thing that people learn while discovering the city of Dubai is not information about its buildings or luxury, but it is related to the term of perspective. While social media usually posts only luxurious places, in real life, Dubai’s citizens live in relatively inaccessible and ordinary neighborhoods that are regarded as the place where the real city can be felt.
Thus, for those tourists who understand that visiting major tourist sights does not mean visiting the whole country, Dubai provides more with its multi-cultural, cheap and friendly atmosphere.
