City of Dubai offers safety, inclusivity, affordability, and year-round attractions, making it a top choice for Kenyan travellers.
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Amna Bin Hendi, Senior Manager at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, for an insightful interview about the city and what it has to offer visitors.
Amna has been with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism for the past 10 years, overseeing several key markets including the UK, Ireland, and Central Europe, with a focus on promoting leisure tourism to Dubai. Her role is to educate travel agents on what Dubai has to offer, including new developments and attractions. She emphasizes that while Dubai is known for luxury, the city caters to all types of travellers with options across various price points.
African markets are also a priority for Dubai, with Kenya being quite a player. This is evident in the fact that I met Amna at the Dubai East Africa Roadshow in Nairobi, where she had come to engage with the Kenyan travel industry and facilitate the training of over 400 operators on what’s to be found Dubai in terms of tourism, and the latest developments in the destination. The Roadshow also attracted 26 stakeholders from Dubai.
Here are some insights from Amna.
Safety in Dubai
Dubai ranks Number 3 in safety globally according to the Numbeo 2025 Safety Index and visitors feel it the moment they step into the city.
I have had personal experience of this as a two-time visitor to the city, and in my words, “I love Dubai for several reasons, top of them being the sense of safety. The law works, streets are clean and clear, public areas are safe, and walking alone even at night feels natural and comfortable. Safety is a general requirement for everyone, but for the solo woman traveler, it makes an even bigger difference”.
The streets in the city are safe regardless of the time of day or night and the beaches are open for night swimming. Night swimming tells you a lot about the city’s level of safety. I also picked from my interview with Amna that you could leave your phones and bags on the table and still find them intact.
Misconceptions about Dubai
According to Amna, one of the biggest misconceptions about Dubai is that it’s an expensive destination. However, the city offers accommodation at a wide range of price points, including very affordable options of as low as USD55 as mentioned earlier.
Accommodation is one of the biggest pain points when traveling and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Dubai has 278 hotels in the 1-3 star category. This makes visits to the city quite attainable.
There are also plenty of budget-friendly and even free experiences. For example, walking through the historic Al Fahidi District is free, and traditional boat rides across the creek cost less than a dollar. There are plenty of affordable activities for children too, along with numerous museums to explore. For instance, the Dubai Coffee Museum offers a rich and immersive coffee experience for just two dollars.
There are also the famous Dubai shopping festivals like the Dubai Summer Surprises that is set to kick off on the 27th of this month with massive discounts across the city from well-known outlets like Zara and Lacoste. These are festivals that even residents look forward to.
Other attractions include the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, which costs under $10 per person and takes visitors to popular sites such as the Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future, and other key landmarks across Dubai.
Kenya is one of the source markets that is growing year on year and Amna wants to make sure that this growth continues. The key once again is for Kenyans to know that there is something for everyone, even for travelers who are just stopping over.
The reality of Kenyans making Dubai a preferred travel destination is supported by the fact that the Visa process is electronic where applicants apply online and its out in a few days. People are generally afraid of visa applications but with Dubai it is straight forward.
What are the visiting seasons like for Dubai?
Summer in Dubai runs from May to September, while winter spans October to April and the city offers unique events throughout both seasons. For instance, the Dubai Shopping Festival takes place in winter, with discounts of up to 90% at various outlets. There’s always a reason to visit Dubai, no matter the time of year.
Inclusivity
One very outstanding feature about Dubai is that it is autism certified, giving visitors with sensory challenges good experiences too. This certification is an amazing accolade for the city that also boasts wheelchair accessible beaches and other public areas. The airport has 45,000 people trained to be sensory friendly and there are attractions like aquariums that are sensory friendly as well. Dubai ensures that everyone feels welcome and can have a good experience.
For anyone looking to gift themselves or loved ones a break and a visit to a remarkable destination, then Dubai is a great option to look into.
