Eat Drink Stay Dubai Newsletter 114/w51

Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 51, Edition 114

Here’s your latest edition of Dubai news, deals & tips, every Friday, in 10 mins or less.

⛈️ Storms cause travel chaos

🚊 Dubai Metro Blue Line: 10% complete

🪢 Rules in Dubai

💡Travel Agents ≠ (not equal!)

🎆 Fireworks season is upon us

🐶 A dog-friendly Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah

🏨 Centara Mirage Beach Resort (AI)

🛬 Emirates Auctions Skywards status; Amex Uk devaluation

PS. You can always email me here also.

PPS. Thanks (as always) for voting in last week’s poll, and the winner was - separate editions for Xmas and New Year content. So watch your inboxes over the coming days, as I’ll do another before Xmas and another before NY.

Please note: some links in this newsletter may be affiliate links, and will be denoted with an asterisk (*). This is a link to a partner site that may pay me a commission - at no further cost to you - and if so, helps to support me & this newsletter. For more info, please see Disclosure and Policies

DUBAI NEWS

Festive Thunderstorms Hit Dubai, Cause Travel Disruption

Let’s hope the weather clear up in Dubai, with adverse weather causing cancellations and delays yesterday and today.

Parks and beaches have been closed, and a remote work order for government employees issued. Global Village was temporarily closed, but has now reopened, and even the Burj Khalifa disappeared from view!

RTA Have Confirmed the Dubai Metro Blue Line Is 10% Complete

Here’s a quick overview of the 14 planned stations and route.

Dubai loves a drone show doesn’t it? How about this record-breaking Game Boy screen playing a real game of Tetris, created with the help of 4,000 drones?

Check out all the fireworks and drone shows happening around Dubai this December.

They’ve even got drones to clean traffic lights!

KNOW MORE ABOUT DUBAI

If you’re visiting Dubai this Winter for the first time, here’s a few pointers on ‘the best things to do’.

5 key rules to know if you’re visiting Dubai.

You could also look back at the ‘3 Golden Rules’ article in this edition.

One of many great things about Dubai is the police have no chill when it comes to behaviour like this eejit.

ONE BIG DUBAI TIP

Due Diligence on Travel Agents

I often may seem like I give Travel Agents, especially ‘traditional’ package holiday providers, a hard time. So I felt it only fair I explain why.

The main bugbear I have about package holiday providers is not everyone understands how they work, where the pitfalls may be, if they’re the best value and most of all, their business model when it comes to consumer protection.

You only have to look back over recent editions to see a few travel agents have either failed, or are currently under a review to closing operations.

Essentially, whilst travel agents may seem like they all do the same thing, it’s essential you ‘get their angle’. Emirates Holidays for instance, simply are part of the Emirates Group and add-on extras to Emirates flights.

So whilst you will see travel agents always offering sales, promotions, discounts, and especially in the coming weeks - which are the peak time for booking for future-forward holidays - be sure to do your ‘due diligence’ not just in comparing the deal, but comparing their operations.

One example - one travel agent that shall remain nameless had several groups on social media set up by customers who considered themselves to have been wronged, and it all escalated with legal threats amid allegations of jiggerpokery such as proactively removing negative reviews on certain sites.

Another example - one travel agent is renowned for offering hotels and dining packages that ‘seem too good to be true’ - because they often are. Some of the usual tricks are dubious half board packages, often offering more restaurants than they know are available, or a very vaguely worded offer package.

What to Look for When Researching

I’m not against travel agents per se, as I know they offer benefits such as convenience, payment plans, low deposits and much more, but the big things to look into is how they operate, what their reputation may be, and if any consumer protections are in place (ABTA and ATOL for instance).

For a bit of extra research, this is worth a read to make yourself aware of the sort of work ABTA do, in this case in coordination with CMA guidance.

There are some ‘travel agents’ around these days that shall remain nameless, who are effectively social media marketers first - sending influencers on free holidays just to get content and clicks - that then make a commission taking bookings on said hotels, flights etc. Where the difference may be to a reputable, long-served travel agent is sometimes the protections they may offer.

Loveholidays* for instance, apparently have offers on claiming up to £600 savings on a spend over £,2000.

But then, a bit of research shows Loveholidays and On The Beach quit the trade body ABTA in 2020 to avoid paying refunds.

To be clear - I’m not saying Loveholidays are good or bad, I’m just indicating that a booking with them may have less protection than with an ABTA member. This is why I always say to be clear what your priority is - you may want the best consumer protection, the lowest price, the best payment terms, the fanciest adverts or whatever.

It may be they offer a better deal, but don’t forget you’re not comparing ‘like for like’. It’s the same as comparing rate conditions to assess options for hotels, you need to ‘validate the deal’ and to so do, both options need to be the same.

As it happens, LH have grown dramatically in recent years and are doing well financially, and I appreciate not everyone may be as forensic as me for comparing or shopping around, or ‘digging into deals’.

In one line, all I’m saying is - don’t assume because all travel agents may offer holidays, that they are all the same in every aspect.

A FESTIVE PLEA

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PS. Can’t miss out on the chance to say an extra-special thanks to all those who have tipped previously, and continue to do so. You’re ace!

HOTEL NEWS

Address Downtown Announces Digital Check-in

Following on from last week’s announcement that Dubai has launched a digital check-in system for hotels, Address Downtown is one of the first to announce its adoption.

Note - as mentioned last week, the details of this scheme are still a bit ‘thin and the ground’ so manage expectations 😉

🔗 Address Downtown*

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah Now Offers Rooms for Dogs

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah is now the first five-star, pet-friendly resort on West Palm Beach, as it now offers 14 pet-friendly rooms.

Marriott even have a “Pawfect Stay on the Palm” offer which includes, a half-board dining experience, welcome amenities and treats for your pet, and pet-friendly dining.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai have appointed Samer Salah as General Manager. (archived page here).

Centara is a Thai brand, and this hotel could be an option for those looking for a ’true’ All Inclusive resort in Dubai at a more competitive price point. Just bear in mind it’s still a ‘developing’ area around the hotel. Riu Dubai is another AI option, although aimed more at a midscale, Mediterranean vibe.

Note - this hotel is located at Dubai Islands, not to be confused with Dubai World Islands.

🔗 Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai*

EMIRATES

Did You Know: More Passengers Arrive or Depart at DXB Than Connect?

As if to illustrate how popular Dubai, Emirates have revealed that more passengers now depart or disembark at Dubai rather than connect.

Traditionally, Emirates was more of a hub, for travellers connecting through from one country to a final destination. In 2019, around 40% of passengers at Dubai International were “Origin and Destination” (O&D), meaning DXB was either the start or end of their journey. Now, DXB has shown that number is risen to 55%.

Here’s one way to reach Platinum in Skywards - and keep it for 20 years!

In collaboration with Emirates Auction, Emirates Airline Foundation is running an exclusive auction between 17 December to 17 January to allow bids for exclusive Emirates Skywards membership numbers with status.

🔗 Emirates Auction: Emirates Skywards

If you happen to hold American Express (AmEx) Membership Rewards, be aware there’s another devaluation coming.

From 01 February 2026, Membership Rewards for UK-based cardmembers will transfer to Emirates Skywards at a reduced 2:1 rate.

Have you seen the new Emirates amenity kits, that will highlight endangered species? Or their new First Class pyjamas and pillow mists?

FOOD AND DRINK

If you’re into ‘hot pot’ restaurants, check out these little gems What’s On found.

I can’t profess to be an expert, but I do think the Little Lamb Mongolian Hot Pot (Xiao Wei Yang) is a delightful experience that won’t break the bank by Dubai standards. They have a few outlets around Dubai, including this one opposite Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa.

Zuma, one of the best brunch spots in Dubai, has welcomed back its Baikungi Brunch.

🔗 Zuma Dubai

There’s a new ‘foodie district’ opened, 25 Jump Street in One Central, and amongst other things one of its draws is ‘homegrown comedy nights’ at Pepperoni Comedy Club.

🔗 Pepperoni Comedy Club