DIFC
Discover Business Bay with Sitara, Director of Sales @ Silkhaus
Welcome to DIFC Dubai,
the beating business heart of Dubai, but also the night-life place to be. There is no simple way to describe DIFC, just get ready and discover it yourself!
In Few Words
Dubai International Financial Center is the place to be from morning ‘till late night.
There are headquarters of the biggest multinational financial groups and consulting companies, but is also the stage where the culinary scene is at its best with many award winner restaurants and bars.
Remember this is a cool place in Dubai, always book your activities well in advance!
Index Tower
Burj Daman
Park Towers
Restaurants
Carnival by Tresind
Where: The Buildings by Daman
Cuisine: Indian
Specialty: Modern Indian cuisine
Suggestion: if you are not ready to decide, go for the tasting menu, their lamb chops that are featured there are amazing, as well as the Chaat
Price: $$
Licensed: yes
Family friendly: yes
Gaia
Where: Gate Village 4
Cuisine: Greek
Specialty: seafood, both raw and cooked
Suggestion: you can book a private dining experience, but don’t miss their fish and their specialty Katsikaki, the baby goat slow cooked in wood oven.
Price: $$$
Licensed: no
Family friendly: we suggest this restaurant as a romantic spot more than a family gathering.
Zuma
Where: Gate Village 06
Cuisine: Japanese
Specialty: sushi
Suggestion: the black cod miso is a real masterpiece and if you have a sweet tooth, the chocolate special is a worldwide famous dessert
Price: $$$$
Licensed: yes
Family friendly: not really suggested, the scene becomes quite wild late in the night with DJ set and a disco club vibe
Bars & Nightlife
Amazonico
Where: DIFC pavilion
What: restaurant & bar
About: a restaurant first, but well known also for its cocktails that will bring you straight to south America.
The music transforms this place in a chilled night club with the right vibes you really don’t want to miss.
Suggestion: head to the rooftop, grab a drink from their creative and extensive selection and if you feel like eating, don’t miss their Hokkaido Wagyu
Price: $$$$
Raspoutine
Where: Precinct Building 3 - Level 2
What: club
About: one of the most famous Club of Paris opened last year in DIFC to bring the opulence and decadent experience in the heart of DIFC
Suggestion: you can have dinner as well, but this is the ideal place for a nigh out with friends, where you can really dance the night away.
Price: $$$$
Clap
Where: DIFC Gate Village
What: Japanese restaurant and bar
About: a Lebanon original concept for a Japanese restaurant. The location has a perfect layout with a main room, a balcony over DIFC and a second room with a bar that turns into a club with music and DJ set
Suggestion: get there for dinner and stay for the night. Order the hokkaido scallops & foie gras as appetizer, mind blowing. Pair it with one of their drinks and let the party start
Price: $$$
Things to do
Gate Avenue Mall
This 880m walkway located in the heart of Dubai's financial district houses over 300 local and international shopping outlets, fashion brands and dining spots.
Extending from The Gate Building to Central Park Towers, the promenade caters to residents, visitors and the many office-goers who frequent the area. There are three interconnected zones (North, Central and South) each featuring restaurants and shops for visitors to explore.
Museum of the Future
A gateway to the world 50 years from now, the landmark development will contribute to a better humanity and stronger global economy by demonstrating how next-generation solutions – incorporating everything from artificial intelligence to augmented reality – can enhance our lives. The main museum experience is split into five chapters:
OSS Hope: experience life on a space station, 600km above the Earth.
The Heal Institute: an augmented- and virtual-reality view of Dubai and the world in 2071.
Al Waha: "The Oasis" offers soothing experiences and a Sensory Room.
Tomorrow Today: Learn about the futuristic technologies that already exists today.
Future Heroes: an interactive play-space designed to inspire children through missions and games.
Experience the International Nightlife
Dubai International Financial Centre boasts a vibrant nightlife scene with exclusive bars, lounges, and nightclubs. Its fine dining restaurants offer a variety of international cuisines, catering to food enthusiasts. The district's chic, modern architecture adds to the luxurious ambiance, making it a favorite among locals and tourists. For a sophisticated and unforgettable night out in Dubai, DIFC is the place to be.
Most Iconic Towers
The Maze Tower
Located on Sheikh Zayed Road is the world's first vertical maze. The intricate lines of the balconies on the front and rear facades form real and separate puzzles which were painstakingly created by the acclaimed maze designer Adrian Fisher.
Al Yaqoub Tower Aka The Big Ben of Dubai
The Al Yaqoub Tower is located on Sheikh Zayed road, is a 328 m tall tower that was completed in 2013. It has 69 floors and is a building privately owned by Daro Saifuddin Yaquob, a real estate developer. The building functions as a 224-room hotel and was inspired by Big Ben in London, however, the difference is that there isn’t a clock face is present on Al Yaqoub Tower.
The Museum of The Future
Dubai’s Museum of the Future is located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Construction began in June 2016 and it is being developed by Meraas Holding. Currently has been named "The most beautiful Building in the World".
The uniquely shaped building has window designs in the form of Arabic calligraphy, based on the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed’s quotes.
Essentials
Moving Around
1. Taxi
in Dubai the fee is pretty reasonable, you can stop them on the street or you can book them through Uber or the ME platform Careem. It’s suggested to download their app
2. Bikes
if you feel like breathing a bit more, you can use the electric bikes that can be rented on the Careem app. The fee is 20 AED per day, and you can use them around the neighborhood. Just be careful to put them back in their proper stations
3. E-scooters
many are the providers nowadays, you can choose between the renowned Lime, Fenix or Tier. They usually ask for a fee made up of a mix between distance and time. Be careful in using them, there are no dedicated lanes.
Supermarkets
1.
Three big players are in the market in Dubai: Carrefour, the mid level affordable market, Choithram, a bit more local, but with an international offer and Spinneys/Waitrose, the fancy western alternative.
2.
Dubai is the country of delivery, so for when you don’t feel like going to the supermarket, just download Instashop and you will have virtual access to dozens of grocery stores in the area. The delivery fees are very small and they can be as quick as 30 mins deliveries
3.
If you are into organic foods, there are dedicated deliveries that are perfect for you. Discover Oasis Greens (IG profile @oasis.greens) for fresh local salad or Kibsons for a more comprehensive grocery shopping
Hospitals & clinics
1. Zabeel Health center
Located a little bit outside DIFC there is this DHA, so government, completed by emergency room and all the immediate needed facilities.
2. Vailant Clinic City Walk
a little bit further, a little bit fancier. This clinic is known amongst expat as lots of doctors has been hired from European countries.
3. Amana Healthcare the closest option to the center is Amana, located in front of the Souk al Bahar. It is not an hospital or clinic, but is a long term facility ofter also for rehabilitation.
Friendly reminder: in UAE the sanitary system is private, so remember Insurance is essential