Saruq Al Hadid is an archaeological site in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Findings from the site are displayed in a museum with the same name in the city of Dubai. The site was originally discovered by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while flying his helicopter across the desert. He noticed a large black deposit in the sands and he reported the site to Dubai Municipality.
The site proved to be a field of waste, or slag, from copper and iron smelting. It was noticed that the extensive slag field, measuring some 1.5 hectares, had stopped the sand from shifting and blowing and so had preserved the underlying excavation site.
Pottery Artifacts found in the site
The Saruq Al Hadid site is believed to have been a centre of constant human habitation, trade and metallurgy from the Umm Al Nar period (2600–2000 BCE) to the Iron Age (1,000 BCE). During the iron age this site was a major location for smelting bronze, copper and Iron.
Arguably its most important period of development as a metallurgical centre was in the Iron Age II period (1100–600 BCE). Thousands of finds were documented at the site. One of the finds was an ornate gold ring, which became the logo for Dubai’s Expo 2020.
Archaeological Findings
Over 12,000 unique objects, mostly consisting of pottery and metal artifacts, have been excavated at the site. Some of the findings indicate some form of snake worship prevalent at that time. The findings also indicate that this place was a hub for manufacturing and international trade.
The fossilized bones of fish found in the excavation site tell us the people of that time went far and across the oceans even though they lived in the desert. One can infer the valuable beads found were meant to be sold in India.
Gold Ring
Museum
Visitors to the museum can even carry out their own dig in a simulated archaeological excavation. Children have their own gallery trail which keeps them involved and encourages them to explore each room in turn. There is a 3D movie hall in the museum and informative videos are projected on the walls during your exploration journey.
The building that houses the museum has cultural and historical significance in Dubai. It once served as the residence of Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum back in 1928. It is one of the finest remaining examples of Dubai’s traditional architecture. It is made of local materials such as coral, gypsum, and Chandal wood. During the conversion of the building into a museum, the original structure was carefully preserved along with new additions.
One of the most appreciated and popular beaches located in the north-east of Dubai. The beach was inaugurated in 1994. It covers 106 hectares of land in five separate beaches.The Park is good for relaxing with friends or family. Visitors can bring their picnic and enjoy it on the grass or under the shade of trees. You can also enjoy barbecues at the designated barbecue areas with your gear for some charcoal grilling.
There are 28 areas furnished with BBQ sets, grills, umbrellas and seats, facing beach number 5. Leisure facilities include sledges, climbing, roller skating, football, basketball, cycling, and beach volleyball.
Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for women and children. Boys younger than 4 years old will be permitted.
There are 16 air conditioned chalets on beach number 4. Beach cabin service is also available. These can be rented from the park’s administration, near the main entrance.
Pets are not allowed at the park. Also, campfires and shisha are not permitted. As with other parks, alcohol and smoking are prohibited, and beachwear must be strictly adhered to only at the beach.
There are food kiosks throughout the beach park. There are many cafeterias and restaurants serving Mediterranean dishes in the park area. There is also a branch of the popular FiLLi Cafe,
Al Mamzar Park
Using your RTA Nol cards you can enter the park through smart gates, without having to wait in a queue at the entrance. The strange palm tree-like structures allow you to charge your phone and connect to WiFi. A similar function is also available at the ‘Smart Benches’, again without the use of any USB cables.
The park uses other technologies like paint that absorbs carbon dioxide and reduce the air pollution in the area. Smart Containers to move around the park to clear the litter. Drones analyse the health and growth of plants in the park. Drones can also spot drowning situations from above and alert a lifeguard.
Zabeel Park is an urban public park located in the Zabeel district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is situated between Al Karama and the Dubai World Trade Centre. It covers much of the Al Kifaf area. It is accessible from the Red Line of Dubai Metro via the nearby Al Jafiliya Station. It is maintained by the Public Parks and Horticulture Department of Dubai Municipality.
The park is divided into numerous sectors connected by pedestrian bridges, and there are multiple entrance gates. Zabeel Park also houses the Dubai Frame, an iconic landmark in Dubai where tourists can take in breathtaking views of old and new Dubai.
Dubai Frame
The park has an area of 47.5 ha (117.375 acres). The parking area can accommodate 2,300 vehicles. The entrance fee is AED 5 per person. The recreational facilities in the park include a 2.5 km jogging track on the park perimeter, pedestrian tracks, BMX track, skateboarding park, barbecue and picnic areas, a boating lake, lakeside restaurants, ice skating, a mini cricket pitch and golfing area, shaded seating and children’s play areas.
There is also an exhibition gallery, prayer rooms, a fitness centre, and various monuments.
Dubai Garden Glow
Dubai Garden Glow is a world of imagination with a skillful blend of unique art and theme. Glow Park is lit by millions of energy saving led lights and yards of recycled luminous fabric.
Stargate at the southern end of Area A is dedicated to children. It offers an outer space-themed indoor educational and entertainment complex. Kids can easily spend several hours playing on the various attractions under its five domes that include hi-tech mazes, 3-D shows, a roller-coaster and a lunar-themed play area. Admission to Stargate is free, but there are charges for rides.
There are educational and interactive displays as well as a 3D cinema for edutainment activities. The park also has edutainment centres such as the Alternative Energy Zone, the Communication Zone, and the Techno Zone where children can learn about different innovative technologies.
Children’s City
The Dinosaur Park is another popular section of the Zabeel Park where massive life-like models of dinosaurs are on display. Children’s City offers obstacle courses, slides and much more.
Ajman Ajman is the capital of the emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. It is the fifth-largest city in the UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain.
Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates measuring about 259sq. km. which is about 0.3 per cent of the UAE’s area without the islands. Ajman has a few sandy beaches but is mainly characterised by the rugged Hajjar mountain range. Although Ajman city is modern and provides up-to-date services and facilities, it reflects its traditional charm.
Ajman
Ajman is home to the Ruler’s office, companies, commercial markets, and about 50 international and local retail shops. Banking interests include: Emirates National Bank of Dubai, Ajman Bank, Arab Bank PLC, Bank Saderat Iran, and Commercial Bank of Dubai. Ajman is also home to the fishing industry & Seafood Importers/Exporters in UAE. Shopping malls include Ajman China Mall and City Centre Ajman.
As of 2017, Ajman had an estimated population of 504,846.
Ajman Aerial
Ajman Free Zone has a capacity to accommodate 1500 companies and serves over 1,000 vessels a year. The Free Zone’s companies make up approximately 20% of the UAE’s overall industrial units, with some 256 industrial companies operating from the zone and Exporting to over 65 countries.
Tourist attractions include the Ajman Beach, Ajman National Museum situated at Ajman Fort, the Red Fort and the museum in the inland enclave of Manama.
Ajman Museum
City Centre Ajman, the Emirate’s biggest mall, is a big attraction as well for its unique architectural experience and variety of shops and confectioneries.
Ajman Museum is an old fort in the central square. Built in the late 18th century it has served as the ruler’s palace. In the 70’s it was used as a police station. Now it is used as a museum showcasing traditional life and culture.
The Dubai Mall is a shopping mall in Dubai completed in 2008. It is the largest mall in the world by total land area. It has a total retail floor area of 502,000 square metres. The mall has over 1,200 shops. In 2011, it was the most visited building in the world. Every year it has over 54 million visitors. It ranks 26th in the world in terms of gross usable space.
Dubai Mall
Its facilities include a 250-room luxury hotel, 22 cinema screens plus 120 restaurants and cafes. The Mall has over 14,000 parking spaces across 3 car parks, with valet services and a car locator ticketing system. The Mall also has Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink for skating.
The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, with more than 300 species of marine animals, including sharks and rays, is located in the Dubai Mall. VR Park Dubai is also located in the Mall. It has a floor area of 76,000 sq ft.
The park is dedicated to virtual reality under the name of VR Park Dubai. Reel Cinemas is a 22-screen cinema located in the mall that has four cinema suites, and 17 commercial halls. Rainforest Cafe opened in 2009 faces the aquarium and is made to emulate tropical ruins with moving ruins and light shows. Hysteria is a haunted house. It is decorated with special effects, fog lights and strobe lights. KidZania is an interactive children’s sized edutainment theme park.
Dubai Mall is owned by Emaar Properties, one of the biggest developers in Dubai.
There are many packages available to suit your preference. You will need to consider timings, locations, what to wear, inclusions in your ticket etc to choose a package. Most tours include return transfers. This option is not applicable for hotels located in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. Desert safari entertainment options like belly dance, tanoura dance and alcohol serving will not be available during Ramadan and occasions like Eid, Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s birthday.
Pregnant women, children under the age of 2 and adults above 70 are not permitted to try desert safari activities like dune-bashing, sandboarding, quad biking, etc.
You will drive through the dunes on a 4WD vehicle driven by professional drivers.
Evening Desert Safari
Evening is the most popular time for desert safari. The vehicle will stop a while for you to enjoy the sunset. After that you will proceed to the campsite.
Here you have the opportunity to do camel ride, sand boarding and try out a henna design on hand or feet. You will get to enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner and shisha (the Arabic water pipe). There may also be some entertainment like Fire show, belly dance and Tanura show performance around the campfire by starlight.
Dubai Desert Safari
Morning Desert Safari
The tour may start at around 9 AM. After picking you at your hotel, you will be taken straight to the desert. On the way you will enjoy awesome dune bashing and will then head back to the camp. At the camp you may also have options to try quad biking, camel rides and sand skiing. Thereafter the car drops you at your hotel. The whole tour may take approximately 2 hours.
Overnight Desert Safari
The overnight safari is an extension of the evening desert safari and commences once the guests of the evening safari have left the campsite. You can relax at the overnight tent during the night and enjoy the starry desert experience. Tents along with mattresses, pillows and blankets will be provided. There will be washroom and shower facilities at the camp. You will be served breakfast in the morning along with tea/coffee before you head back to your hotel.
Dubai Desert Night Safari
Dubai Desert Safari Dinner in the Desert
This safari is not recommended for those with any back problems, pregnant women, and families with young children, elderly and those with any heart related problems.
You will be picked up from your hotel or place of residence and brought directly to the desert safari campsite. You can choose between camel rides, quad bikes, sand-boarding, dressing up in traditional Arabic clothing, clicking pictures with the falcon, getting a henna tattoo, smoking a bubble/shisha, or just relaxing and enjoying the desert sunset.
Live entertainment shows like the tanoura dance show, belly dance show and fire show may also be available while you are enjoying your BBQ buffet dinner.
Dubai is an international hub for entertainment. Artists from all around the globe frequent the metropolis for their concerts and shows every year. The Laughter Factory always puts up high caliber shows using the best international artists.
Stand-up comedy
The city is also fast becoming a popular hot spot for stand-up comedy as well. There are some fantastic stand-up comedy venues in Dubai where well-known, local and international stand-up comedians perform their popular routines.
Laughter Factory Comedy nights
The Laughter Factory is the Middle East’s longest-running comedy night, since 1996. In partnership with the UK’s Comedy Store, the Laughter Factory hosts a fresh bill of three different professional comedians every month, many already stars of the screen on UK TV shows. With a reputation for quality and a sharp eye for talent, The Laughter Factory has showcased reams of A-list comics on their way to superstardom. The Laughter Factory’s commitment to comedy has been recognised by numerous publications, winning several accolades over its two-decade history, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Time Out Dubai in 2013.
The Laughter Factory
Laughter Factory locations
The Laughter Factory locations include Movenpick JBR, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens Dubai, Grand Millennium Al Barsha Dubai and Hilton Dubai in Jumeirah.
In June 2021 the Laughter Factory celebrated its 25th birthday. Because of restrictions due to Covid-19, the Laughter Factory is currently offering Zoom-based comedy shows.
Laughter Factory 25th birthday. In June 2021 the Laughter Factory celebrated its 25th birthday. Because of restrictions due to Covid-19, the Laughter Factory is currently offering Zoom-based comedy shows.
Other stand-up comedy venues in Dubai There are several stand-up comedy venues in Dubai. Some of them are:
Dubomedy
The second best stand-up comedy venues in Dubai is Dubomedy, a local comedy club known for nurturing local talent. Established over 11 years ago, Dubomedy, or Dubai + Comedy, is one of the pioneers of local stand-up comedy in Dubai.
Over the years, the club has successfully held shows like Comedy Carnival, Funny Girls, Dubomedy International Performing Arts Festival, Monday Night Funnies, Improv Revolution, Sketch@TV and Clowns Who Care Volunteer Project. The events are held at multiple locations across Dubai.
The Courtyard Playhouse
It’s the first and the only improv comedy theatre in Dubai. The Courtyard Playhouse Dubai auditorium has a seating capacity for 70 guests. Besides offering improvisational comedy shows, the centre also offers training and development for budding comedians and artists. The classes are suitable for kids, teens and adults. Online courses are also available for those interested in an entertainment career.
Dubai Opera
Dubai Opera is also a popular stand-up comedy venue. In the past, leading comedians have entertained residents across the city at the Dubai Opera.
