Author Topic: Dubai Master Thread (Read 333980 times)

yawn · « **Reply #1360 on:** October 11, 2023, 05:54:15 PM »

Quote from: Heartbrand on October 11, 2023, 11:12:30 AM

Have a trip scheduled for February but wife is very nervous now with everything going on. For those there now do you feel unsafe at all or is it just business as usual?

Have a flight there in 8 hours with a 14 hour layover. Should I be worried? Should I not be going out?

springles · « **Reply #1361 on:** October 13, 2023, 07:28:43 AM »

What's the top recommendations to do there if I have a 12 hour stopover in Dubai?

cgr · « **Reply #1362 on:** October 13, 2023, 10:27:17 AM »

Kosher food in Dubai Airport:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02L38ZezncP3iYvZJ2mvbMTm7ZE9VKb5T7HsbwnCv8P4de5hJxZJSbBBQAp7AP3Dfdl&id=100066882402830&mibextid=Nif5oz

yawn · « **Reply #1363 on:** October 13, 2023, 03:38:53 PM »

Quote from: yawn on October 11, 2023, 05:54:15 PM

Have a flight there in 8 hours with a 14 hour layover. Should I be worried? Should I not be going out?

My personal experience, I didn’t encounter any semblance of anti semitism, everyone was as friendly as advertised. Many people were walking around noticeably Jewish. Obviously, it only takes one nutjob to wreak havoc but the dynamics overall don’t seem to have changed.

yitzy93 · « **Reply #1364 on:** October 21, 2023, 03:17:21 PM »

Quote from: yawn on October 13, 2023, 03:38:53 PM

My personal experience, I didn’t encounter any semblance of anti semitism, everyone was as friendly as advertised. Many people were walking around noticeably Jewish. Obviously, it only takes one nutjob to wreak havoc but the dynamics overall don’t seem to have changed.

Was your stated experience in the airport specifically or in the city generally?

I'm still debating whether to cancel my trip or not.

yawn · « **Reply #1365 on:** October 21, 2023, 07:43:38 PM »

Quote from: yitzy93 on October 21, 2023, 03:17:21 PM

Was your stated experience in the airport specifically or in the city generally?

I'm still debating whether to cancel my trip or not.

Airport, hotel, mall, burj khalifa, and walking around in general. Although I will note that arab opinion in general has shifted since I was there.

avrumi9600 · « **Reply #1366 on:** November 29, 2023, 09:19:40 AM »

i was wording if someone was in Dubai lately, Chabad told me there not operate now due the situation, any ideas what hotel to be on shab food etc.

is it a good time to be in Dubai?

peacenlove613 · « **Reply #1367 on:** December 05, 2023, 10:57:01 PM »

Quote from: yitzy93 on October 11, 2023, 03:10:04 PM

Same. Have a trip planned for November! I feel quite uncomfortable going ahead with it, wondering what the consensus is on DDF?
Interested to hear you opinions/advice.

Did you end up going?

efflpetzel · « **Reply #1368 on:** January 04, 2024, 02:44:02 PM »

Has anyone been there recently, has the Israel situation impacted things?

sorotzkin9 · « **Reply #1369 on:** January 04, 2024, 04:40:21 PM »

Does anyone know why Armani/Kaf closed down?

Heartbrand · « **Reply #1370 on:** January 05, 2024, 02:28:07 PM »

I have a non-refundable trip in February which I had booked prior to October 7th. My understanding is Armani closed because there simply isn't enough people going currently to support the establishments; not because of a fear of terrorism / harassment or what not. I am also very nervous but I guess it is what it is.

sorotzkin9 · « **Reply #1371 on:** January 06, 2024, 10:30:27 PM »

Quote from: Heartbrand on January 05, 2024, 02:28:07 PM

I have a non-refundable trip in February which I had booked prior to October 7th. My understanding is Armani closed because there simply isn't enough people going currently to support the establishments; not because of a fear of terrorism / harassment or what not. I am also very nervous but I guess it is what it is.

Do you have specific info thats why it closed or is that just your theory? because there was a new resturant that just opened called Bamidbar.

shiframeir · « **Reply #1372 on:** January 11, 2024, 02:54:04 AM »

thinking about visiting, does anyone have an update if things are tense and thats why shabbos meals and other stuff are currently suspended? https://chabad.ae/shabbat-meals/

Heartbrand · « **Reply #1373 on:** January 11, 2024, 08:18:37 PM »

I’m hearing things are very dangerous right now. I’m stuck with my reservation and can’t get out of it.

efflpetzel · « **Reply #1374 on:** January 12, 2024, 04:43:39 AM »

Quote from: Heartbrand on January 11, 2024, 08:18:37 PM

I’m hearing things are very dangerous right now. I’m stuck with my reservation and can’t get out of it.

For example?

The local shliach says everything is pretty much the same as before Oct7

Heartbrand · « **Reply #1375 on:** February 18, 2024, 03:21:11 PM »

Ended up going and spent a week in Dubai, Sunday-Sunday. I stayed at the Burj Al Arab and the hotel was absolutely stunning. I had absolutely no issues with the Country in terms of brining tallis/tefillin or anything Jewish into the country, though I chose to wear a ball cap everywhere I went. I never felt "unsafe" and never heard anything about Palestine or Jews or anything like that whatsoever. Dubai itself is very cosmopolitan feeling and at times you forget you're even in an Arab country. I flew on Emirates from Dulles and got the Kosher meals which were provided by the kosher caterer out of Dubai both there and back and I found these to be some of the best kosher meals I've ever had on an airplane. They were freshly made and came with tons of food and tasted very good.

As far as activities I did the Dubai Mall which you could spend an entire day at doing the aquarium, shopping, ice skating, skiing, the VR Park, the fountain, tour the Burj Khalifa etc., etc. I did water sports and beach which is pretty much what you'd expect. We also did the global village which was very cool, kind of like a more upscale carnival, though that was the one time where it was like 95%+ Arab and while it may have all been in my head I did feel slightly uncomfortable there.

We did do the kosher jeep tour and while the guy running it is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet I personally found the activity to be pretty boring. Having said that it's one of those your mileage may vary type of deals and just because I found it to be kind of a snooze fest doesn't mean someone else won't think it was the best experience of their life.

The food was so-so at all of the establishments but the fact there are even Kosher options to begin with is in and of itself amazing. I pretty much lived off Elli's Cafe for breakfast/lunch and the Butcher's Burger for dinner and did Bamidbar a couple of times. All of it was satisfactory but I wouldn't call any of it 5 star dining. The one place I did go out to eat at that I would say avoid was Mosaica. I feel bad having to say it but there were two other unsatisfied parties there as well and the food was really, really bad and took forever. I didn't complain but the other parties did and the owner came out and fought with them. It was prety awkward.

For Shabbos we catered through Treat Kosher and I thought the food was really good and the portions were large.

The mikvah is closed and my wife had to go in the Ocean in the daytime the following day because it's too dangerous at night. Apparently the govt shutdown the mikvah out of "precaution." I don't really understand why or the backstory but it's something worth knowing if you plan on going and will need to utilize a mikvah, that your spouse will be going in freezing waters in daylight.

All in all I had a blast, I felt safe (though again I didn't walk around with an IDF shirt, tzitzis hanging out and no ball cap), and it's somewhere I would definitely go again.

Dan · « **Reply #1376 on:** February 18, 2024, 03:46:06 PM »

Nice TR.
Is Armani still closed? Sounds like I ate much better in 2017 when I brought my own food that I enjoyed with Rabbi Duchman...

Why is the ocean dangerous at night? Aside from halachic issues, I'd think going skinny dipping in Dubai in daylight would a pretty dangerous activity?

Didn't make it to Abu Dhabi or Ferrari World?

Afrages6 · « **Reply #1377 on:** February 18, 2024, 06:05:44 PM »

Quote from: Dan on February 18, 2024, 03:46:06 PM

Nice TR.
Is Armani still closed? Sounds like I ate much better in 2017 when I brought my own food that I enjoyed with Rabbi Duchman...

Why is the ocean dangerous at night? Aside from halachic issues, I'd think going skinny dipping in Dubai in daylight would a pretty dangerous activity?

Didn't make it to Abu Dhabi or Ferrari World?

Armani is permanently closed.

Dan · « **Reply #1378 on:** February 18, 2024, 06:19:44 PM »

Quote from: Afrages6 on February 18, 2024, 06:05:44 PM

Armani is permanently closed.

Bummer

imayid2 · « **Reply #1379 on:** February 18, 2024, 08:05:06 PM »

Quote from: Dan on February 18, 2024, 03:46:06 PM

Why is the ocean dangerous at night? Aside from halachic issues, I'd think going skinny dipping in Dubai in daylight would a pretty dangerous activity?

Its usually advised to wear something loose fitting AFAIK

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Author Topic: Dubai Master Thread (Read 333980 times)