Dubai is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
In 2023, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomed 17 million international guests, making it the third most visited city on earth.
However, as tensions rise in the Middle East following Israel’s attack on Iran, and the conflict that has followed, travel in the region has been thrown into chaos.
Flights have been cancelled and journeys rerouted, with travellers stranded at airports from Dubai and Doha to southern Oman.
So, if you are feeling anxious about heading to Dubai and would like to wait a little longer to plan your trip, Metro has rounded up four dupes worth adding to your travel bucket list this year instead.
What is the latest travel advice for Dubai?
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First things first, with less than 100 miles between Dubai and Iran’s southern border, is it safe to travel there right now?
Dubai is around 130 kilometres (80 miles) across the water from Iran, divided by the both the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
Between Dubai and Israel, there’s a land distance of 2,660 kilometres (1,652 miles), with Saudi Arabia and Jordan separating the two countries.
As of June 25, the Foreign Office warns that ‘ongoing hostilities in the region’, and between Israel and Iran specifically, ‘have the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning’ – particularly since the US strikes against Iran on June 22.
It warns of the possibility of disruption to travel, which might include airspace closures at short notice, and flights being subject to delay or cancellation.
British travellers to the region are also encouraged to keep up to date with local and international media, to be vigilant and follow the instructions of the local authorities, and to check with your airline before flying.
Operations at Dubai airport slowed to a crawl on Tuesday, June 24, as thousands of travellers queued for hours after long delays and cancellations.
Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait all shut their airspace late on Monday, ahead of Iran’s strike on the evacuated US airbase at al-Udeid near Doha. Airports in the UAE briefly halted their schedules.
You can read the Metro Travel team’s full advice for travelling to Dubai here.
What are the best alternatives to a holiday in Dubai?
For food and culture: Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, the jewel in Turkey’s crown straddling Europe and Asia, has long been a popular choice for culture vultures.
If you’re looking for a similar vibe to Dubai’s Marina, where yacht parties and boat tours are the norm, a cruise down the sprawling Bosphorus is a good alternative. Plus, they’re a fraction of the price.
On Get Your Guide, a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise, which includes a show with a private table, starts from £26 per person. Once on board the mega yacht, you can enjoy city views and a three-course meal while listening to live music and watching stage performances.
Istanbul also has a thriving fine dining scene. The Michelin Guide recently added the city to its list and awarded a slew of restaurants its coveted stars.
One of them is TURK Fatih Tutak. With two Michelin stars to its name, the restaurant is redefining Turkish cuisine in a simple way. Every night, it hosts just 30 people and serves a 14-course micro seasonal tasting menu. It costs 11,900 Turkish Lira (£220) per person.
Round off your trip by heading to exclusive nightclubs, rooftop bars, and waterfront lounges.
Luxe hotspots like Club360 will leave you questioning whether you’re actually in Dubai. The multi-award-winning club, which by day is a premium restaurant serving modern Turkish meze, is located in a 19th-century apartment penthouse and overlooks the old embassy row in Beyoglu.
Istanbul isn’t expensive to get to, either. A one-way flight with Wizz Air on Friday, August 22, costs just £25.
For high-end shopping: Monaco
When you think of European luxury, Monaco likely springs to mind.
Sitting on the French Riviera, a hotspot for the rich and famous, Monaco is a haven for the uber-wealthy.
Complete with grand casinos, luxury yachts, and a designer shopping scene that could compete with Dubai’s, it’s also blessed with a climate that enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year.
But Monaco is most famous for its Grand Prix. Every year, the event welcomes the global elite, the same cohort that attend Dubai’s high-profile sporting events.
The destinations are so similar, Monaco is often nicknamed the ‘European Dubai’. No chance of a budget trip here; the microstate is renowned for being incredibly expensive, thanks to its exclusive reputation.
However, if you do have cash to splash, there are plenty of breathtaking hotels, private villas, and opulent beach clubs to choose from.
The 5* Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has been one of Monaco’s most exclusive hotels since 1864, with rooms costing between £880 and £1,277 per night. Such accommodations echo the luxury of Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, a hotel you’ve likely seen many of A-listers frequent.
If you don’t have that kind of money but you’d still love to explore Monaco, there are some cheaper hotels and apartments on offer.
On Booking.com, the ‘Monaco studio sea view balcony’ is a basic property with rates from £115 per night. The Chapiteau of Monaco is just over a mile away, while Monaco Heliport is just under 2 and a half miles away.
For street food and luxury hotels: Hong Kong
Widely considered to be Asia’s culinary capital, Hong Kong is a vibrant city guaranteed to assault your senses in the most incredible ways.
From world-famous street food to some of the friendliest people on Earth, the place known as Asia’s culinary capital is every traveller’s dream.
Cafe Bau in Wan Chai, a farm-to-table concept restaurant headed up by Michelin-starred chef Alvin Leung, easily rivals the best of Dubai’s exclusive eateries.
The restaurant sits in a contemporary skyscraper overlooking the Hong Kong skyline; the phrase dinner with a view has never been so apt.
The Asian and Western fusion is obvious here: the eight-course tasting menu consists of everything from pork knuckle, spiny lobster, and tiger prawn pasta. However the set menu is pricey, costing HK$1,288 (£128.48) per person.
Accommodation-wise, Hong Kong has plenty of with boujee digs. In March, Metro had the pleasure of staying at both the 4* Dorsett Wan Chai and the 5* Dorsett Kai Tak.
The former has more affordable rates, starting from HK$700 (£69) per night, and is located in the thriving business and entertainment districts of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. Here, you’ll find plenty of trendy shops, and the nearby Sotheby’s Maison in Central.
Like Dubai, the views are epic. Through the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll be so close to futuristic skyscrapers, you’ll feel like you can touch them.
As for the Dorsett Kai Tak, rooms start from HK$973 (£96.79) per night. The hotel features a sophisticated rooftop bar and an infinity pool.
Can’t get to the Dubai Racing Club this year? Head to Happy Valley racecourse instead.
Known as Hong Kong’s mid-week nightlife destination, an entry fee of HK$10 (99p) will secure you a place at ‘Happy Wednesday,’ a bizarre smorgasbord of horse racing and great food and drink.
For architecture: Singapore
Much like Dubai, Singapore’s skyline is fringed with futuristic skyscrapers and striking structures like Gardens by the Bay. Many are reminiscent of Dubai’s Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel, and the Museum of the Future.
The tiny Southeast Asian country also houses plenty of glamorous shopping centres, including Orchard Road, which is considered the most famous.
While Singapore is known for being expensive – especially in comparison to its budget-friendly neighbours like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia – it is possible to do it on a budget.
From taking public transport to staying in more affordable areas like Little India or Geylang, you can also make use of traditional ‘hawker’ food courts where you can pick up local dishes at very reasonable prices.
A Hotel Dickson in Little India has rooms from £55 per night, while an Ibis Budget in Geylang will set you back £60 per night.
Food-wise, in the Central Business District (CBD), you’ll find Lau Pa Sat, a local hawker market featuring Singaporean classics, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and even Western cuisines. Most dishes will cost you around S$3-10 (£1.72-£5.74).
After all, sightseeing (especially in terms of the iconic skyline) costs nothing.
