Your Guide to Planning the Ultimate Girls Trip to Dubai

If there is one thing that the past two years of the pandemic has driven home, it is the incomparable joy that travel adds to our life, that rich multitude of sights, sounds, experiences, and memories that we carry with us for a lifetime. So, as travel opens up and we begin to plot and plan our next escape, organizing a fun-filled and much-needed getaway with your girls sounds like the perfect plan. An ideal destination for such a trip is the City of Gold, Dubai.

A luxe and modern multicultural metropolis, Dubai has much to offer the discerning traveler, be it the best hotels, Michelin-star restaurants, the biggest luxury brands in the world, or the most exciting cultural and adventure experiences. And, given that the Dubai Expo 2020 is on till the end of March, there is no time like the present to get your ladies on a group chat and book a girls trip to Dubai ASAP.  

Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai Expo 2020

A direct flight will get you there in just over 3 hours, and with smooth Covid testing procedures in place at the Dubai International Airport, you can count on your travels being convenient, safe, and hassle-free. Sounds fabulous, but how do you decide what to do once you get there? When a city has so much to offer, the options can seem endless, and sometimes even daunting, especially since your travel plans will be time-bound. Worry not, and allow us to be your personal concierges as we put together a complete list of things to do, places to stay and visit, and experiences to put on your itinerary on your girls trip to Dubai.

To Stay: Raffles The Palm Dubai is a gilded and majestic beachfront luxury resort, located on the Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent. Each of the luxurious rooms and suites at this hotel offers stunning, panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai Skyline.

Pool Side, Raffles The Palm Dubai 

The resort features a private beach, a selection of premium restaurants and eateries including a vibrant and elegant beach restaurant and a late-night Jazz club. To help you unwind, their award-winning Parisian Cinq Mondes Spa, features 23 treatment rooms, two private spa suites, and an indoor swimming pool.

Raffles The Palm Dubai 

To Eat and Drink: Dubai is home to some of the best bars and restaurants in the world, with dining destinations ranging across a multitude of cuisines and exciting concepts. If it is local fare that you ladies wish to dine on, head to Logma at the Dubai Mall, a trendy cafe that is a favourite amongst locals when it comes to traditional Emirati cuisine. 

Logma Cafe at The Dubai Mall

Another unmissable destination for a night out on the town is the newly-opened SLS Dubai, a chic and upscale hotel located in the city’s Downton District. Plan a girls night out by heading to the hotel’s S Bar, an upscale watering hole located in the Sky Lobby on the 71st floor is an eclectically chic bar that offers quite an impressive cocktail program. Sample drinks mixed by award-winning bartenders featured on the bar’s innovative Saints and Sinners Menu (we recommend you indulge in a glass of Lust or partake in a chalice of Modesty) as you rub shoulders with international jet-setters and celebrities. You might even bump into a Bollywood star or Senegalise-American singer Akon who rents an apartment at the SLS.  

S Bar, SLS Dubai

Once you are ready to eat, you can move a few floors down to Fi’lia Dubai, an Italian restaurant with a twist located on the 70th floor. Fi’lia is the region’s first female-led restaurant, and 25-year-old Sara Aqel is the Chef de Cuisine at this lively and inviting space that boasts of some of the best Italian cuisine in the city. Do try their truffle pizza and rich and indulgent burrata salad while you are here. Finish your evening with a nightcap at the hotel’s rooftop bar, as you enjoy the breathtaking vistas of Dubai, the perfect end to your fun-filled evening out. 

 

Fi’lia, SLS Dubai

Rooftop Bar, SLS Dubai

Eat at some of the best Michelin star restaurants in the world by heading over to Atlantis, The Palms. Home to award-restaurants run by celebrity chefs including Nobu by Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Gordon Ramsay’s Street Pizza, Chris Malone’s award-winning underwater restaurant Ossiano, Ronda Locatelli by Giorgio Locatelli, the Michelin star Cantonese restaurant, Hakkasan and many others, the Atlantis is the perfect place to grab and out-of-the-box brunch, champagne dinner, or to go restaurant and bar-hopping with your girls. 

 Cirque de Cuisine at The Atlantis

 Cirque de Cuisine at The Atlantis

Shop Until You Drop: No girl’s trip is complete without a day (or maybe three) of shopping, and Dubai is one of the best cities in the world to indulge in some retail therapy. Known as the shopping Mecca of the world, both the expansive Dubai Mall and the sprawling Mall of Emirates are home to some of the biggest fashion and luxury brands—Chanel, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta…you name it, they have it. It’s not only the high-end luxury retailers that are on offer. From high street labels to hip stand-alone boutiques, vintage finds and one-of-a-kind buys, there is something for everyone to take home in Dubai. Slip on your comfiest shoes and get ready to shop-till-you-drop!

Dubai Mall

Mall of Emirates

Fun and Memorable Experiences: If you are looking for unique cultural offerings and unforgettable experiences to make your girls trip to Dubai a holiday to remember, we have lined up a few of the best experiences in the city, just for you. 

Lovers of art, immerse yourself in the wonders of Van Gogh and Japanese master artists at the Infinity des Lumières—the largest digital art center in the region—located on the second floor of the Dubai Mall. Walk-in, and you will find your senses enthralled by the colours and brush strokes of iconic artworks such as The Starry Night by Van Gogh and The Great Wave by Hokusai. Sit back and take it all in, and then capture moments for posterity as you take plenty of photographs and videos for the ‘Gram. 

The Starry Night by Van Gogh, Infinity des Lumières

For some much-needed downtime and an afternoon catch-up, head over to the Aura Skypool Lounge on the 50th floor of Nakheel’s Palm Tower—home to the world’s highest infinity pool. Plunge right in for a relaxing swim as you take in the breathtaking view of Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands, and catch up over a glass of wine as you escape the hustle and bustle of the city at this luxurious oasis of calm.

Aura Skypool Lounge

Unleash your creative side by heading over to The Mud House Studio for a pottery class with your gang. Who knows, you might discover a hidden talent, or a budding penchant for pottery as you are taught how to work a potter’s wheel by the studio’s talented and entertaining instructors. Do remember to enjoy the complimentary coffee and cake before you head out.

The Mud House Studio

Adventure junkies can get their fix of adrenaline-pumping experiences in Dubai, from skydiving to adventure sports. Sign up for a hot air balloon ride with your girls to catch the sunrise over the desert together. Get ready to experience the view of a lifetime for we guarantee that this truly magical experience will take your breath away. Pro tip: Do layer up as it can get a bit nippy up there. The ride ends with a traditional Arabic breakfast in the middle of the desert. There are plenty of photo-ops while you are there, and the view of sunrise over the pristine dunes will be a cherished memory that your group will share for a lifetime. 

A Hot Air Balloon Ride in Dubai 

When it comes to experiences, we are saving the best for the last. We recommend you plan your trip to Dubai before the end of March, and head to the Dubai Expo 2020—a global experience that is a triumph of architectural excellence, technology and scale. Postponed until now due to the pandemic, the Expo is spread across 1,083 acres and features curated pavilions by 192 countries including India, Germany, UAE and many more. A launchpad for broadening horizons and exchanging ideas, you can bump into celebrities and AI robots alike as you wander through its pavilions, taking in the sights and sounds. Do sample the culinary delights at the Indian cuisine at the fine-dining restaurant Kutir by Michelin star Chef Rohit Ghai, and grab a delicious vegan ice-lolly on the go. If you are lucky and plan ahead, you might even be able to catch one of the many special performances that take place at the Expo, like the Alicia Keys concert that took place in December. 

Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion, Dubai Expo

So there you have it ladies, a complete and exhaustive guide equipping you with all the information you need to make your girls trip to Dubai an experience of a lifetime. Book your tickets and sync your calendars, stat, and head over to Dubai with your girls for a holiday to remember.