My Honest Impression of Dubai as a First-Time Visitor
This is my first visit to Dubai. Before coming here, I had visited other Middle Eastern country, Oman, which I truly loved. Oman felt authentic, culturally rich, and grounded in history and nature. Despite the Omani currency being stronger, I found Oman far more affordable and genuinely enjoyable as a tourist.
Dubai, on the other hand, feels like an illusion.
This is purely my personal opinion—others may feel differently, and that’s perfectly fine—but from my perspective, Dubai is not a tourist-friendly destination, especially for travelers on a normal or moderate budget. It is an extremely expensive city, and prices here are often unjustifiably high. Even basic grocery shopping can be shockingly costly. Activities, tours, transportation—everything feels overpriced.
Dubai seems to offer very little beyond skyscrapers and luxury branding. There is no real natural landscape to explore beyond the desert, limited greenery, and very few accessible public parks. The city lacks pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, making it difficult to walk around. Public transportation does not conveniently connect major destinations, which often forces visitors to rely on taxis. Taxis—whether Careem, Uber, or Bolt—are expensive, and ride cancellations are common, adding to the frustration.
To me, Dubai feels soulless—built not for cultural discovery or meaningful tourism, but primarily to attract wealthy elites and property investors. Much of the city’s global reputation revolves around luxury real estate and high-end consumption. There is a noticeable presence of wealthy foreign investors, including many from Russia, who come here for the climate, lifestyle, and investment opportunities.
What bothered me most was the way tourists are constantly upsold and charged extra for things that are already included.
