We left on the 12th February and arrived the following morning, where we met our guide, Jamshed, who was with us throughout the trip.

One of the first highlights was visiting the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. From the observation deck, we looked out over Dubai’s vast skyline, seeing endless rows of skyscrapers, the winding roads far below, and the desert stretching out in the distance. It was an incredible way to see the scale and rapid development of the city.

Later, we visited Dubai Marina, a vibrant waterfront area filled with towering buildings, restaurants, and luxury yachts lining the marina. Walking along the promenade, we could see how modern and fast-growing the area is, with some of the tallest residential towers in the world surrounding us. In contrast, we also explored the historic Dubai Creek and the traditional Gold Souks. The narrow market streets were filled with shop windows displaying huge amounts of gold jewellery, from necklaces and bracelets to entire shopfronts covered in gold, proving why Dubai is known as the “City of Gold.” The lively atmosphere, bright lights, and constant bargaining between sellers and visitors made the experience very memorable.

We finished the day with dinner at a restaurant before heading back to our hotel after a long but exciting first day exploring Dubai.

Over the next four days, we continued exploring more of Dubai’s unique attractions. On Saturday, we started the morning with a visit to the beautiful Jumeirah Mosque, where we learnt more about Islamic culture and practices. This involved students taking part in Wudu (the Muslim washing ceremony) before entering the mosque and watching a prayer, girls getting henna done, and pictures with a camel and falcon. We then visited the impressive Museum of the Future, a striking building that explores new technologies and ideas that could shape the world in the years to come. In the afternoon, we went to The Green Planet, an indoor tropical rainforest where we saw a wide variety of animals and plants up close.

On Sunday, we had another busy schedule. In the morning, we got up early for our 5.30am breakfast before heading out to the desert to watch some traditional camel racing; “the sport of sheikhs." Later we visited the Camelicious factory, where we learnt about the production of camel milk and how it is turned into different products, including chocolate and different flavoured milk. We were able to feed the camels and sample some of the produce!  Later in the day, we relaxed at the beach before heading to the Mirzam chocolate factory where we learnt about the cocoa trade. We each made 3 chocolate bars and decorated them as we pleased. In the evening, we went to Global Village. Global Village was full of colourful stalls, food from around the world, and cultural performances, making it a lively place to end another exciting day of the trip.  For many of us, this was our favourite part of our adventure to Dubai.

On Monday, our final full day in Dubai began with a visit to The View at The Palm, where we were able to admire breathtaking panoramic views over Palm Jumeirah, the coastline, and the surrounding city skyline. After spending some time by the beach and around Atlantis Mall, we headed out into the desert for one of the most memorable parts of the trip: riding a camel followed by a 4x4 desert safari. Driving across the sand dunes was both exciting and slightly nerve racking, as the vehicles sped up and down the steep slopes. We stopped to admire the sun setting over the sand dunes before heading off to a camp of bedouin tents, where we enjoyed a BBQ buffet dinner while watching live performances of traditional dances. Afterwards, we were able to sit back and look up at the stars. It was an unforgettable experience and a very special way to spend our last evening in Dubai.

On Tuesday, our final day, we had some free time for last-minute shopping before heading to the airport. Many students used their remaining money to buy souvenirs, with perfume being one of the most popular choices. Soon afterwards, it was time to make our way back to Dubai Airport for our flight home to London, where we said a fond farewell to Jamshed. We made the most of the Emirates entertainment system on the flight home, especially the games, which made the 7-hour flight much more enjoyable. By the time we landed back at Heathrow, we were all tired but full of memories of an amazing and unforgettable trip.

Emily Hoang, Isla Treanor, Leila Stepanova, Year 13

Click on the link here to view the Dubai Trip Photo Gallery