10 Days Dubai Itinerary: A Birthday Gift to Myself

My Travel Philosophy

I’m not big on parties. My birthdays have always been low-key: dorm room gatherings in ’94, a bank celebration in ’99, and a hands-on cooking bash in 2010. Instead, I reward myself with memorable experiences, and what could be better than Dubai, a vibrant blend of luxury, culture, and adventure?

I’ve celebrated in Dubai twice: a 10-day solo journey, and a trip with relatives visiting four of the UAE’s seven emirates. Here's how those magical days unfolded:

Dubai is the most modern and fastest-developing emirate among the seven emirates of the UAE. Superb infrastructure can be seen around this emirate. Like Bahrain, where I live, the expatriate/foreign population is much bigger than that of the locals. One would think that he/she is in India or in the Philippines in some areas of Dubai. With the booming economy and tourism, foreign manpower and visitors can be found all over the place.

Because in 2007 the metro was not yet in existence, I had to take metered taxis to get around Dubai.

Day 1: Culture & Comfort

• Ibn Battuta Mall: A cultural shopping theme park - China, Persia, Egypt, and more. If you're after luxury brands, it’s more about atmosphere than high fashion.
• Deira & Arman Café: Wandering Deira's old quarter, I relaxed in the Concorde Hotel’s Arman Café with shisha and friendly chats. A stroll by a lit-up fountain rounded out the night.

Day 2: Desert Thrills

• Desert Safari: Dune bashing in a 4WD, camel photos, sunset vistas, and a Bedouin-style camp dinner. I tried henna, wore traditional garb, and watched belly dancers. Classic Arabian night fare that never disappoints.

There was a time when everyone was asked to get off the 4WD we were riding in because our tyres got stuck on the dunes. We had to wait for some help. It was really fun as we had the chance to go down the slopes and take more photos in the desert.

Our ride got stuck on the dunes - Desert Safari, Dubai

Desert Safari, Dubai

Riding a camel in Desert Safari, Dubai 

The food was great, and I had chowed down more than I could imagine. Good thing, they offer shisha as well, so off I go after filling my stomach at the shisha corner. And oh, the traditional coffee called gahwa is really amazing!

Shisha - Desert Safari, Dubai

The henna I got during my Desert Safari adventure in Dubai

Day 3: Snow in the Desert with my cousin Bueng

• Mall of the Emirates & Ski Dubai: Braved the -4°C indoor snow dome, sat on ice-carved benches, then warmed back up with dinner and shisha back in Deira.

Ski Dubai

• Night Out: A bar adventure where, at first, they didn’t allow me to get in because they thought I was under 18 years old. After showing my driver’s license, I was let in laughing.

Day 4: Retail Therapy

• Mercato Mall + City Centre Mall Deira: Renaissance-style ambiance and international brands. I didn't shop for clothes, but did take home three Tasmanian Devil plushies!

Day 5: Chill & Cruise

• A sleepy day led up and I only left my bed when I got hungry. I went out for lunch at a nearby restaurant, then watched the news in my room until it was time to get ready for the relaxing dinner cruise. 

Dubai Cruise

Floating past Dubai’s skyline while cruising for two hours was just what I wanted to relax my mind. Add to that, the feeling of being like a queen, where you just sit there and the staff come and serve you your food. My table was full of good food, and I was like, “When will I ever finish all this food?”.

Day 6: City Highlights on a Bus

• Picked up a hop-on-hop-off bus tour (right by Deira City Centre), but intense summer heat forced me indoors. Still, the evening buffet at JW Marriott’s Bamboo Lagoon made up for it. 

While I was lazing around Deira City Centre Mall two days back, I saw a stall for a bus tour, so I purchased a ticket for this day.

I didn’t enjoy the tour because it was during the peak of summer, and you cannot imagine how hot it was then. I felt like I was going to have heatstroke at that time, so I skipped most of the tourist spots. I didn’t really explore the museum (Al Fahid Fort), etc.

on a Bus Tour in Dubai

Anyways, you can hop on and hop off the bus, which can take you to all of Dubai’s landmarks and tourist attractions.

Al Fahid Fort, Dubai

Dubai Creek

To ease my frustration, I spent my evening dining at JW Marriott’s Bamboo Lagoon Restaurant, wherein I feasted on lots and lots of yummy international food. I left the restaurant, gaining a kilo or two!

 

Bamboo Lagoon Restaurant in JW Marriott, Dubai

Day 7: Local Flavor

• Karama Market: Browsed souvenirs for more than two hours and dined on Filipino treats in town. It’s a comforting taste of home.

Day 8: Waterpark Escape

Beat the heat at Wild Wadi Waterpark near Jumeirah Beach. With rides, wave pools, and Burj Al Arab views, it was a perfect splash day and such a great decision to visit this place on that hot summer day!

Wild Wadi Park, Dubai

Ended the night at a lively bar where I met a couple with whom I shared drinks.

Day 9 

Because I stayed up late the other night, I got up in the afternoon to meet up with my cousin Bueng for dinner and shisha.

Day 10: Family & Farewells

• Dubai Marina Walk: Relaxed at waterfront cafés, laughed over coffee, and soaked in city views. 

Because my cousin stayed with me in the hotel, we slept quite late, talking about random things; thus, getting up from bed was hard for us. This was my last day in Dubai, so even though we were really sleepy, we decided to get going and visit another relative at his workplace – Dubai Marina Towers.

 

Dubai

Marina Walk, Dubai

Bueng and I parted ways that evening, happy that we had the chance to get together again. She went back to her accommodation, and I went back to the hotel, packed my things, and slept early for my early morning flight the next day back to Bahrain.

Ten days in Dubai felt like embracing dozens of smaller adventures, shopping escapades, desert nights, indoor snow thrills, and splashy waterpark fun, all centered around celebrating me. Travel is my gift, and Dubai delivered tenfold.

What I Learned

• Celebrate with experiences: A thoughtful adventure tops any party.
• Diverse offerings: Dubai effortlessly combines high-octane thrills, cultural immersion, world-class amenities, and family fun.
• Smart travel tips: Use metros, taxis, and apps like Careem. Taxis are affordable and convenient.
• Book key attractions early: Ski Dubai, desert safari - reserve ahead to beat crowds.

If you're looking to plan something similar, a family trip, solo retreat, or birthday splurge, I'd love to help design your dream itinerary!