DUBAI: 9 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING

Travelling to Dubai and wondering what is some essential information you need to know beforehand?

This blog post walks you through all the possible questions you might have before your first visit to Dubai!

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WHERE IS DUBAI AND HOW TO GET THERE?

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It’s located in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf.

As a huge tourist hub, Dubai has an excellent international airport (DXB). While plane tickets to Dubai can be quite pricey, if you’re travelling from Europe, many big cities have budget airlines (WizzAir, for example) that fly to Dubai on a budget.

WHEN TO COME TO DUBAI?

Dubai’s peak season is in winter. From November to February the weather is the most pleasant, ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius. At that time you can enjoy really warm days and somewhat warm nights (15 degrees).

This weather is perfect for any outdoor activity, but your beach days might not be as hot as you’d like. Because it’s peak season, hotels are much more expensive during winter, so keep this in mind while planning your trip.

Spring and autumn are a good time to visit Dubai if you don’t mind temperatures being around 30 degrees Celsius. Because it’s much hotter than in winter, spring and autumn are perfect for beach activities, as the sea is much nicer for swimming. If you don’t mind the heat, you’ll also probably manage to grab a hotel for a cheaper price than in winter.

Summer should be a no-go for anyone. Summers in Dubai are scorching. The temperatures go up to 45 degrees Celsius and it’s extremely humid. There is not many outdoor activities you can do at this time without the heat being unbearable.

The weather at this time can be quite uncomfortable so make sure you can deal with humidity and extremely high temperatures. If summer in Dubai is something you can take, your accommodation could be pretty affordable.

We spent a week in Dubai after the New Year and I would highly recommend visiting in January.

IS DUBAI SAFE?

Dubai is an extremely safe city and you will never feel endangered here at any time of day. They have strict laws and regulations, therefore their crime rate is quite low. You (as a tourist) just need to be as respectful as you can.

Familiarize yourself with some of their laws and make sure you obey them. They don’t allow public displays of affection, you cannot drink in public, nor can you be offensive towards anyone.

If you do any of the said actions you could face legal and financial actions. Otherwise, you’ll feel much safer in Dubai than in many other cities.

WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE?

Dubai doesn’t have a strict dress code, as long as it’s appropriate and not vulgar. When visiting shopping malls try wearing sleeved shirts and pants or skirts below your knees (both men and women). This is also convenient because their air conditioning works like crazy, so usually it’s really cold.

On the beach or in beach clubs you are free to wear your swimsuit as you please. I would suggest, out of respect, to again keep the bathing suit appropriate and not vulgar. Two-pieces are totally okay, but maybe skip the really tiny ones!

Read more >>> DUBAI: TOP 10 ACTIVITIES YOU WILL LOVE!

If you’re planning on visiting churches, always have something to cover yourself. Not only should your shoulders and knees be covered, but if you’re a woman your head/hair should be covered as well. A nice headscarf is all you need.

WHAT TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE IN DUBAI?

Dubai is not a walkable city, so you will need some form of transportation every day of your visit.

Metro is the best public transportation option in Dubai. You can get a Nol Card (similar to London’s Oyster Card) and get it topped up every time you run out of credit. Rides are usually between 1-2 euros and go across 7 different zones.

If you don’t want to use Metro, you can also get a taxi for a really affordable price. Our rides were rarely over 10 euros, and you get to enjoy the comfort of a car. There are basic city taxis which are cheaper, and more high-end taxis which are luxurious and also cost more – choose them according to your budget.

If you have many day trips planned, maybe it would be wise to rent a car. You can rent a car at the airport or in the city, and that way you have complete freedom over when you’ll go somewhere. Just keep in mind that car parks are not really cheap in Dubai, so make sure you calculate parking into your budget.

WHAT’S THE BEST PLACE TO STAY?

There are several great parts of Dubai where you can stay. The most important thing is that the metro station is close to you if that’s the way of transportation you’re going to use. If not, choose according to your budget.

We stayed at two hotels which I would totally recommend. Firstly, we stayed at TIME ONYX HOTEL, very close to the airport as we came late at night. The apartment we had was incredible and absolutely affordable.

Later we moved to Ramada by Wyndham in Barsha Heights and we loved that neighbourhood as it was close to Dubai Marina. The hotel rooms were spacious and clean.

WHAT CAN I EAT AND DRINK IN DUBAI?

Dubai is extremely international, so you’ll find all kinds of cuisines in the city. Depending on what you like, you can grab a quick meal at an Indian restaurant, you can go to Dubai Mall and indulge in an incredible Texas RoadHouse steak, or be even fancier and visit Nobu at the Atlantis. You’ll find excellent options in Dubai for whatever your wallet can take!

When it comes to drinking… UAE is a muslim country so alcohol is not found in their restaurants or bars, unless you visit a specific one that serves alcoholic drinks. Moreover, you can’t even buy it easily at the grocery store, but every bigger store has an “international” section where you can buy products that muslims don’t include in their daily diets or preferences.

HOW CAN I USE INTERNET?

If you want to use internet in Dubai, your best option is to buy a sim card once you land in Dubai. Usually, you’ll get a certain amount of data and minutes on the sim card for certain amount of money, depending on the package you choose to buy.

Also, once you land in DXB, you will get a sim card as a welcome gift, with around 4 GB of mobile data. If you think that’s going to be enough for you, you don’t even have to buy an additional sim package.

If internet is not crucial to you, you can use Wi-Fi in any public space. All shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and bars have excellent Wi-Fi service.

DO I NEED CASH IN DUBAI?

Dubai is a very modern city so it’s not necessary to have huge amounts of cash on you at all times. Most of the activities, food, drinks, and even taxis you can pay by card. Make sure to keep a bit of cash on you just for tips in restaurants and when you’re exploring the old town and Deira where many street vendors don’t accept credit cards.