Taking Advantage of a Layover: How to Spend 8 Hours in Dubai

When you fly from the United States to Thailand through Emirates, it's usually accompanied by an 8-hour layover in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. While I was fully expecting to crash on a bench in the airport (due to lack of sleep on the overnight flight), as soon as the plane landed, I realized it only made sense to see as much of the city as possible during my layover. I was happily surprised to find out how easy it is to exit the airport, hop in a cab, and quickly get to the downtown area! Here's what I was able to accomplish during my 8-hour layover:

1st Hour: Get ready to explore Dubai. Get some local currency at an ATM, exit the airport, grab a cab, and head directly to the Dubai Mall.

2nd and 3rd Hour: Go to the observation deck at the top of the Burj Khalifa. At 2,722 feet, it's the tallest building in the world and nearly twice as tall as the Empire State building! The 360 degree views from the top are stunning - you can see the entire city and many prominent landmarks including the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeriah. The entrance to the observation deck is found in the lower level near the food court. You can purchase tickets in-person for $35 (125 AED) or enter with your online ticket. I highly recommend purchasing the tickets in advance online to avoid the lines and maximize your layover time. The observation deck is open from 8:30am to 11pm and the tickets are for set times and dates.

4th and 5th Hour: Explore the Dubai Mall and watch a performance by the Dubai Fountain. With the world's largest suspended aquarium, an indoor ice rink, massive cinema, resident dinosaur, free wifi, 1200+ retail stores, and 200+ restaurants and cafes - the Dubai Mall has EVERYTHING. It's easy to get lost as you walk around, but there are plenty of posted signs and directories. The mall is open from 10am to midnight each day.

Located right outside of the mall is the Dubai Fountain, the world's largest choreographed fountain system! It was designed by the same company that created the fountain at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Several times a day, the fountain puts on a number of performances which are animated to various songs and lighting. Watching one of the shows should be a bucket list item for everyone as it's truly a memorable experience!  Daily performances occur in the afternoons at 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, and in the evenings every 30 minutes from 6:00-11:00pm (on Fridays, there are no shows at 1:00pm and 1:30pm).

6th Hour: Visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. On the ground level of the Dubai Mall is a massive aquarium! It features over 140 aquatic species, holds over 2.6 million gallons of water, and measures 167 feet in length, 65 feet in width, and 36 feet in height! The aquarium also has the largest collection of sand tiger sharks, many of which like to hang out in the aquarium tunnel. A ticket to the aquarium tunnel and underwater zoo costs $27 (100 AED). With extra time (and money), you can also purchase tickets to go cage snorkeling, scuba dive, or ride the "Shark Scooter" in the tank. The aquarium is open from 10am to 11pm each day.

7th/8th hour: Begin the journey back to the airport. Dubai is known for bad traffic, so make sure you leave plenty of time if you're taking an international flight! The drive back to the airport takes about 15-20 minutes without significant traffic. Fortunately, the security line moves pretty quickly through the airport. Then, fly to your next destination!