Everybody heard of Dubai.
Staying indifferent to the luxury offered by Dubai is hard. This is the city people dream about visiting at least once in their lifetime.
Yes, Dubai is a futuristic city that captivates the size of the buildings, artificial islands, the downtown shopping centers. Everything is excellent in Dubai. It is a society that tries to have the most significant buildings in the world, and so far it has succeeded.
Many of the world’s population have a great desire to get here and partake in this luxurious lifestyle.
But do we need to know some vital facts before we leave for this luxurious paradise?
The answer is YES.
Before you start planning your trip to Dubai and before you start packing your suitcases, read more about Dubai and the facts that are less known.
Photo: Piotr Chrobot-Unsplash
Contents
General Dubai Facts and Information:
When to visit Dubai?
The best time to visit Dubai is in winter and spring, from mid-November to the first half of March. I advise you, however, to avoid the period from mid-December to February, since then there is the most prominent frequency of tourists. After February to March is a great time to visit and relax.
Avoid the summer months for visiting and vacationing in Dubai for one reason – unbearable high temperatures.
Do you need visas for Dubai?
Visas for Dubai it depends on your Nationality, purpose of visiting Dubai and the duration of your stay. You need to have a proper travel document, the passport with valid date experience. If you are traveling via a travel agency, your tour operator or the hotel where you will stay will apply for your behalf. If your trip is to visit your friend or relatives than they also can arrange the visa for you.
If you organize your trip yourself, you need to know more about the visas:
If you are a citizen of UK, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Russia, China, Australia, Japan; you don’t need to have visa arrangement. When you arrive in Dubai, you can obtain a visa for 30 days from the date of your entry in UAE.
For the citizens of the European Countries, they will have a visa upon arrival with 90 days stay in Dubai starting from the arrival date, and that permit is nonexpendable.
For the citizens from South Korea, Argentina, Bahamas, Solomon Islands, Nauru the visa is 90 days with the possibility of extension.
What is the Dubai Currency
Photo: Jeremy Dorrough- Unsplash
It is imperative to know the currency before you arrive in Dubai because it can be a little confusing to those who go for the first time there.
The United Arab Emirates National currency is Dirham (AED), usually found as “DH” or “Dhs.”
100 fils is one dirham, and there are half and quarter coins.
One Dollar is worth around AED 3.67
One Euro is AED 4.17
And One GBP is AED 4.74
Transportation in Dubai
If you are traveling to Dubai for the first time and if you are going without a travel agency or tour guide you need to know how to get in the city from the airport in first place.
We all know that Dubai has the largest and most modern airport in the World. As I said before everything is in excellent in Dubai. When you arrive at the same moment, you will see why I am saying that.
The airport to the center of Dubai is about 5 km away, but hotels are 30-40 km away from the airport.
If you travel alone and with small luggage, it’s good to use public transport (bus or metro), but if you travel with children or have large luggage, I advise you to go to the hotel with taxes, because of the hot weather and distance of hotels to the airport.
The prices of the bus are approximately 2$, and the time you will need to arrive at the hotel is about 1 hour.
If you decide to use underground transport, you must know that you will need to walk in most of the time. The prices for subway are 1.6$, and you will need around 50 min, to arrive at the hotel.
Taxi transportation is the fastest and the most expensive. The start price starts at 36$, and you will be at your hotel for 40min.
Img source: musement.com
Facts about Dubai:
Culture in Dubai
There is an unwritten rule for travelers visiting a country or town.
The rule says: When you go to a country that is not your home country or town, you should respect the culture and tradition of that country where you are going. Respect their customs and generally accepted habits!
Dubai is a city that respects Islamic religion, and when you are a guest in their City, respect their Muslim traditions. Otherwise, you will insult hosts who will always warmly welcome you.
Dubai is a more liberal city than the other OAU cities or countries that respect Islamic religion. All visitors are obliged to respect their faith and religious laws.
Do not talk about politics or against their government and do not speak against their religion.
Keep in mind when serving your food or drink that you should accept it with your right hand, you should also eat with your right hand in restaurants and in public places.
Plan your trip to Dubai well if you do not want to match Ramadan. This year the fasting of Ramadan starts on May 5 and lasts until 4 June. Most restaurants will be closed throughout the day, and open after sundown. However, some restaurants will be open to tourists, you will not have a problem with meals. The hotels always serve room service if you do not want to eat from the hotel. Respect the home population and do not tempt them, because during fasting they do not eat and drink even in the daytime, they should not have bad thoughts during this period.
Dress code in Dubai
When it comes to clothes you must wear modest clothes, as it is unacceptable to walk around the city in a swimsuit.
Swimming costumes are allowed on the beach and around the pools, but you will not be able to be topless.
I advise you to wear light and bright clothes because of the high heat.
Img source: travelandleisure.com
Drinking in Dubai
Anyone traveling to Dubai for the first time asks the same question: Do I have to drink in Dubai?
And the answer is: If you want to drink, go for it.
Beverages are permitted to tourists and non-Muslim locals.
You can get it in every restaurant, bar or nightclub.
You cannot just buy liquor from a store without a license that is needed for both tourists and domestic residents. But you can buy booze any time from a Duty-free shop at the airport, you do not need a license there.
Be careful with the consumption because if you are drunk in Dubai and if you notice the police you can end up in jail.
Advice and tips for you when you are traveling to Dubai:
Always inform yourself about Medical Insurance
Whenever you first go to a country or city for the first time, gather information on hospitals and where they are located, how you can get to the hospital and whether the hospital accepts your health insurance. This is very important when traveling without an agency arrangement. Hospitals and clinics in Dubai are among the best in the UAE with the best doctors and medical staff. So visit this site and check some of the insurances if you are traveling to UAE.
TheFrisky Advice: An excellent resource for finding doctors, clinics or pharmacies in Dubai is Fidoc. The best part about Fidoc is that you can see how verified patients share their experience for each Doctor or Clinic. With Fidoc you will need around 60 seconds to find a health specialist in Dubai.
Spend less on Hotels and get more benefits
There are no words that can describe the luxury of hotels in Dubai. Prices vary depending on how much luxury you can afford and, of course, the brand name and hotel name. The prices are starting from $80 per room per night, but the same hotel for the same date on their website has the lower price and some complimentary amenities.
Photo: Spencer Imbrock- Unsplash
TheFrisky Advice: It’s all easier for us to search for a hotel through popular online travel agencies. However, what the majority of the public doesn’t know about the benefits of direct hotel reservations on the side of the Hotel. Those benefits always include lower price and maybe room upgrade or loyalty card.
This is important even if you go for the first time in any hotel, you do not have to be a loyal guest to have benefits.
Bottom line:
If you organize the accommodation yourself, select a hotel, search it on Google and book directly on the Hotel’s website.
Use Airbnb if you are the first time traveler.
If luxury is not what fills you up and if you want to spend less money on your holiday, then book via Airbnb. There are so many opportunities for accommodation where you will be warmly welcomed.
You can get a room for about 20$ per night, and still, you will be in the center of everything.
TheFrisky Advice: If plan to travel to Dubai this year, I recommend to book for the first time on Airbnb, and use an Airbnb Coupon for 2019 that will save you up to $40 of your first booking.
