Hey, Faithfuls! About six months ago, I decided to go on a solo trip and started browsing the Singapore Airlines website during their sale. I wanted to visit a new country, and the most affordable option I hadn’t been to yet was the UAE—specifically, Dubai. Since Dubai is known for being safe and, as a bonus, I’m a huge fan of Dubai Bling, it felt like the stars had aligned!

I spent eight days in Dubai and spent most of my time eating, walking, getting lost in Dubai Mall, and admiring the beautiful Burj Khalifa and Burj Lake. I opted to stay in a serviced apartment in the Business Bay area of Dubai.

The apartment was HUGE for one person, featuring a bedroom, one shower, a separate toilet, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony with city views. It was non-smoking and had all the essentials for a one-week stay, including bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, cooking utensils, detergent, and shampoo. Though the room was well-insulated and quiet, I could still hear my drunk neighbours screaming through the vents, which was a bit of a downside.

Transport-wise, the location wasn’t the best for public transport. There was a bus stop a four-minute walk away, but the train wasn’t directly accessible. Getting around was much easier with Uber—about 20 minutes to Jumeirah or 10 minutes to the Burj Khalifa. However, if you were to take public transport, it could take up to an hour due to poor connectivity between buses and the Dubai Metro.

For those looking for restaurant recommendations, I highly recommend Arabian Tea House! They have multiple outlets, but I visited the one at Jumeirah Archaeological Site. The ambiance was cosy and bohemian, mixing traditional Arabian decor and a rustic feel. The best part was sitting outside with the vast desert and Dubai skyline in the background. The food was surprisingly affordable, with huge portions, and I loved their kebabs.

From Dubai Mall, you can easily visit the Burj Khalifa, Burj Lake, and the Dubai Fountain. Whether you visit during the day or night, these landmarks are magnificent. The Burj Khalifa is by far the most breathtaking monument I’ve ever seen, and I was literally in awe.

Another great area to explore is City Walk. It’s a modern outdoor shopping and entertainment district with stylish boutiques, high-end restaurants, and Instagram-worthy street art. The area is well-designed, offering a mix of retail and leisure spaces, and it’s a great place to just stroll around, especially at night!

For something less touristy, I recommend The Courtyard, located in the Al Quoz Industrial area. It’s a creative space with various retail shops, an art gallery, a theatre, coffee and juice bars, an incubator business centre, a bistro, and even a flower boutique. Al Quoz used to be known for its factories and workshops, but since The Courtyard opened in 1998, the area has transformed into an artistic and cultural hub with galleries, studios, and even a guitar shop.

I used Uber most of the time, though it was pricey—expect to pay at least S$15 for a 15-minute ride. Careem was another option, but their hidden fees made it tricky to budget for rides. One thing I found interesting was that Uber drivers in Dubai don’t play music and keep to themselves, which I actually preferred!

YouTrip worked well in Dubai, and I didn’t use cash at all. In terms of safety, I felt secure as a solo female traveller. The only people who approached me were taxi drivers asking if I needed a ride, and when I declined, they left me alone. Influencer culture wasn’t as in my face as I expected, but maybe that was because I visited during Ramadan, so people weren’t really out and about. Apparently, influencer culture is a thing in Dubai. I did meet some rather insufferable influencers who were really all up in my personal space and just being obnoxious, but I guess that's just big city things.

One thing I have to mention, though, is the immigration nightmare at Dubai Airport. Singapore’s airport is on another level—sorry, not sorry. When we landed and reached immigration, the airport staff just ushered us to the automated gates. I was already sus because I didn’t remember signing up for it, but when I tried to ask if I was eligible, they straight-up ignored me, which was so rude. So, I assumed maybe it would work for me. I queued for 15 minutes only to reach the front and realise the gates didn’t work for me, and then had to queue again for another 20 minutes in the manual queue. Just go straight to the manual queue—the staff won’t answer your questions, won’t even look at you, and are not helpful at all.

The only good part about immigration was that at the counter, the officer handed out free SIM cards to tourists—well, after literally throwing my passport in my face. I didn’t even know this was a thing, but apparently, you can get a free SIM at Dubai Airport with 10GB of welcome data for a limited time. Just ask for it at the immigration counter. That was a nice perk, but overall, the airport experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

Spending a week in Dubai, UAE

Overall, spending a week in Dubai was a great experience. It’s a multicultural city with a good mix of modern and traditional attractions, safe for solo travellers, and easy to navigate with Uber. Would I come back again? Probably, but not anytime soon. I overspent my budget by $400 because I spent almost $100 a day just on food and Uber, so maybe I’ll consider a return trip after I get a fat bonus.