United Arab Emirates | Dubai, the new Vegas?

Many describe it as the Las Vegas of the Middle East. But does Dubai, populated by 90% expatriates, share enough similarities with the entertainment capital of the world for it to be given such a qualifier? In this city full of paradoxes, our collaborator looked for the air of Sin City.

(Dubai) More than 13,000 kilometers separate these two destinations which have in turn emerged from the desert.

A stay in Dubai promises to be memorable, even if it will raise many questions on the issues of sustainable development and overconsumption as the COP28 has just been held there, at the end of 2023. However, the city, connected to Montreal by a direct flight from Emirates Airlines, has something to fully satisfy travelers looking for a dazzling experience that can, in fact, rival that offered by Las Vegas.

Let’s debunk a myth from the outset: women visiting the city don’t have to worry too much about their clothing. We recommend closed shoes, long pants and covered shoulders – and that goes for all genders. Places of worship, however, enforce a stricter code, and visitors stopping in the historic district or Old Town should choose their attire accordingly. Dubai, which was recently crowned “Top Destination in the World” at the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row – the only destination to have won this consumer choice award for so many years in a row – rolls out the red carpet for tourists , towards whom we tolerate some style infractions.

From hotels to mega-resorts

Dozens of modern, well-located hotels sell for $100 per night. It is even possible to stay in a five-star resort or on the Queen Elizabeth 2a famous cruise ship now permanently moored at the Mina Rashid marina, on an all-inclusive basis, without exceeding the average price of a night in Las Vegas.

However, mega-resorts like Atlantis The Palm, where we stayed during our visit, do not lack originality to inflate prices. The two-story Neptune Suite requires a budget of at least $10,000 per night during peak season. You sleep in an underwater room closed by a windowed wall which opens onto the depths of a gigantic aquarium populated by 65,000 fish.

Paradise of high gastronomy

Dubai has 14 Michelin-starred establishments and several big names like Gordon Ramsay, Nobu Matsuhisa, Massimo Bottura, Jamie Oliver and Alvin Leung have their addresses there. This is reminiscent of the many popular restaurants in Las Vegas with prestigious chefs associated with them.

Surprisingly, the prices are quite reasonable. For example, the bill for our dinner at Koko Bay was comparable to that of a Montreal gourmet restaurant. The difference: we ate a sashimi starter and a seafood risotto on the beach, to the sound of lounge music, with a view of an illuminated city center. Same observation for this exceptional Peking duck from Mott 32 at around $250, cooked to order, enjoyed on a terrace at 73^e floor and capable of satisfying the appetite of four guests.

The promise of entertainment

For wild nights, who other than Dubai would dare to dethrone the city of Nevada? Several of the biggest artists on the pop, electro and hip-hop scene perform there regularly.

On a private beach, a yacht or a hotel roof, it is possible to dance to the best rhythms. But you still have to be invited. Don’t dance in Dubai who wants.

During my stay, I tried to drag out the evening, lulled by the decibels, in vain. Many nightclubs in Dubai operate only with guest lists and usually communicate via WhatsApp to add your name. I contacted four establishments and none responded to my messages. That said, if you really want to enjoy the best entertainment that Dubai has to offer, it’s better to count on the help of an expatriate who knows how to pull the right strings.

Some of the popular places in Dubai that I’ve been told about include The Penthouse, 1OAK, Omni Club, BLU Dubai, Drai’s Nightclub and SKY2.0. Alcohol is served there, but it is strictly forbidden to be intoxicated in public spaces.

So, Dubai or Las Vegas?

Four days in a city that stands out for its ultra-modern architecture, a meticulous approach to aesthetics and its parades of Rolls-Royces make us feel like we’ve come straight out of a movie. As if, for a moment, everything had been abundance, fortunes and perfection. A Truman Show captivating 35 square kilometers that leaves no one indifferent. If Las Vegas is gambling, entertainment and excess, Dubai is hedonism, excess and fascination.

Five must-see places to visit

For strong sensations

The best way to measure the immensity of Dubai is to see it from above. Diving from the top of a building, 170 meters above the ground, sliding at 80 km/h along the X-Line. The longest urban zipline in the world lands us gently at the Dubai Marina after a unique panorama of this dense and elevated city.

For window shopping

The shopping centers, all gigantic, bring together the most prestigious brands under one roof. If you only have to see one, it’s the Mall of the Emirates with its 560 stores, to which the Ski Dubai complex is annexed. Alpine skiing and snowboarding are practiced there at a temperature artificially kept below zero, all year round.

For cultural wealth

Getting lost in a futuristic Dubai, you forget that the history of this city in the United Arab Emirates dates back to the 1800s, when it was just a fishing village. In the historic Al Fahidi district, sit down at the Arabian Tea House for an authentic experience where traditional Emirati dishes are served and coffee with ancient roots is enjoyed with fresh dates.

For the ultimate in luxury

Dubai’s new iconic landmark, Atlantis The Royal redefines ultra-luxury. The unique resort in the world pushes the limits of imagination with the most exclusive design and services. You can stay there for $600 per night in low season, from June to August. However, you will have to face outside temperatures that exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

For the steak of a lifetime

Smoking grill, jazz trio on stage, decor inspired by the 1970s, thick carpet and subdued lighting: the Seafire Steakhouse transports us into a Francis Ford Coppola film, to which we have invited a certain Vito Corleone… We taste imported wagyu beef there from Japan, for which we are invited to choose a steak knife from a selection of international handmade blades.