Dubai is a destination that attracts thousands
of travelers every year either. Its spectacular buildings, Guinness records,
and luxurious atmosphere have made this destination one of the most popular in
the world. However, it is still a city that many consider exotic and unknown.
This list of 33
things you should know before traveling to Dubai seeks to end many of
the doubts that arise when talking about this city and that can help you plan
your trip to Dubai. But before I share basic information to plan your trip.
1. Dubai
Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make
up the United Arab Emirates. Despite being the most famous city in the country,
it is not the country's capital. Abu Dhabi occupies that place.
2. Where is Dubai?.
Dubai is located on
the coast of the Persian Gulf, to be more precise, in the Arabian desert. It
borders to the south with Abu Dhabi —the country's capital—to the northeast
with Sharjah, the southeast with Oman, the west with the Emirate of Ajman, and
the north with Ras al-Khaimah.
3. When is it best to
travel to Dubai?
The climate in
Dubai is subtropical and arid. Winters are warm, between 14ºC and 25ºC, while
in summer, they can exceed 40ºC. So the best season to travel is between
October and March. During this season, you can find attractions such as the
world's most extensive garden in the desert: Dubai Miracle Garden.
4. Dubai areas
Dubai is a city of 3 thousand 113 square
kilometers, of which much is still desert. The city is constantly developing,
and the main areas to visit for travelers are:
- Downtown or
new center of Dubai with attractions such as the Burj Khalifa and
the Dubai Mall.
- Deira or
old Dubai with the city museum and traditional markets (souks). The area
of Al Seef was recently inaugurated; this area is ideal where
traditional streets are recreated but which houses modern restaurants and
shops.
- Dubai Marina or
the new Dubai.
5. How do I get to Dubai?
Dubai is located in the Middle East, so
there are connections from different parts of the world. It is common to find
direct flights with essential destinations in Europe and Asia, such as Delhi,
Prague, Madrid, and Berlin, to name a few options.
One of the easiest and
fastest ways is to fly Emirates with a stopover in Barcelona, Spain. This is
an excellent way to get there faster if you don't have a US visa. If you take
this option, do not forget to check the health requirements to travel through
Spain. Another option for flights to Dubai from Mexico is
traveling on AirFrance. The route they offer you is with two stops: the first
at Detroit Wayne County Airport in the United States, for which you will need a
US visa, and the second at Detroit Airport. Paris-Charles De Gaulle.
6. Time in Dubai
GMT+4. If you consider
central Mexico's time, you must add +10 hours. To know the exact time
in Dubai.
7. Sanitary requirements in Dubai
Although it is one of
the freest Emirates for travelers, these are the health requirements
to travel today in Dubai 022.
8. Dubai Metro
The easiest option to get around the city is
the metro. It's clean, tidy, easy to use, and reasonably priced (from 4 AED one
way or 1 USD). In addition, it connects with the airport. The problem is that
it still does not cover the entire city, so some routes have to be completed by
tram (for the Dubai Marina area) or bus (to go to Abu Dhabi, Global
Village, Miracle Garden, terminal 2 of the airport and the rest of
Dubai).
9. Taxi and Uber in Dubai
Specific routes in
Dubai can be completed by taxi, and the good news is that they are affordable:
a journey of 10 km traveled in 15 minutes costs 30 AED (8 USD). Prices from the
airport are higher because the starting price is AED 20, while from the rest of
the city, it is only AED 5 (USD 2).
However, the distances
and the traffic can increase the cost of the trip. There are also Uber and
other types of applications, but in my experience, the taxi cost was lower
every time I quoted a journey with Uber.
10. What is the official
currency of Dubai?
The dirham (AED) is the currency of Dubai, and due to the number of travelers and
migrants in the city, it is straightforward to find exchange houses: at the
airport, some metro stations, shopping malls, etc. Another option to have local
currency is to withdraw money from ATMs.
It is also possible to
pay by credit or debit card practically anywhere: supermarkets, metro tickets,
restaurants, markets (souks). Therefore, you can almost take a trip to Dubai
without exchanging money. However, the same is not valid if you visit other
Emirates, where you may need cash for some purchases, so consider this if you
plan to leave the city.
Travel tip. If you are Mexican and have an HSBC or
Banamex card, you should know that there are HSBC and Citibank in Dubai. So I
recommend you withdraw from those ATMs to avoid extra commissions.
11. Dubai is a Muslim
city, but with a powerful Western influence,
Dubai is a destination open to other beliefs
and ways of life. Unless you plan to visit a mosque, it is NOT necessary to
comply with any dress code. Women can walk freely through the streets
without being harassed or frowned upon, but it is always advisable not to abuse
necklines or miniskirts. Bikinis are allowed on public beaches. If you want to
know what to pack for your trip to Dubai, here is the
information.
12. Women can travel
alone.
Traveling to Dubai is
entirely safe, and women can walk the streets alone without any problems. Also,
if you prefer, there are pink taxis driven by women. Based on my experience, I
can confirm that immigration will not ask you additional questions about
traveling alone.
13. Dubai doesn't have to
wipe out your savings.
Although it is not known for being a cheap destination and offers
quite expensive experiences, Dubai can be more affordable than you imagine. If
you want to know how much my trip to Dubai cost clicks here.
14. Lots of free stuff in Dubai
It is also essential
that you know that there are several activities to do for free in
Dubai or that you can do with little money. Some examples:
- Visit the typical souks and markets where you can find
specific products of the country such as spices or souvenirs.
- Go to public beaches.
- See the Dubai fountain show.
15. Dubai is a very safe
city
The high purchasing
power in the country, and the strict laws of the United Arab Emirates have made
Dubai a very safe city, where robberies are practically non-existent. So when
walking around the city, you will feel very safe. However, it is also not
recommended to leave your belongings unattended.
16. Not everything is
luxury
Dubai has become
famous for being a city full of extravagance and luxury, and while it is true
that Downtown or The Palm is a good reflection of this, many areas retain a
traditional and modest air. A good example is the Deira area, famous for
hosting souks such as gold and spices and being on the banks of the Creek, the
mainstream. If you want to know the different neighborhoods of Dubai, here
I leave you a guide.
17. The city of world record
In the city of world
records, Dubai, you will have
the opportunity to meet several world records, such as the Burj Khalifa, the
tallest building in the world; the Dubai Mall, the largest shopping center; the
Burj Al Arab, the famous sailboat-shaped hotel is the most expensive on the
planet; the gold souk concentrates the most significant number of jewels per
square meter and also has the giant gold ring in the world. Click here
for the list of what you cannot miss on a trip to Dubai.
18. Dubai is one of the
seven United Arab Emirates
Dubai
is undoubtedly the most famous, but six other emirates also have attractions.
The one you cannot miss is in Abu Dhabi, the country's capital. It
is a destination betting on tourism but is still developing. It already has
attractions such as the Emirates Palace, Ferrari World, the
luxurious Sheikh Zayed Mosque, and the Louvre Dubai Museum. If you
want to know what you can do in Abu Dhabi, click here.
19. Internet in Dubai
In Dubai, you will
find several free WiFi hotspots; however, many require registration. If you
want to avoid this and always be connected, I recommend you buy a SIM card
beforehand, and you will pick it up when you arrive at the airport. I did so on
my last trip, and the process was straightforward. You can contact your
SIM card for 15 USD here.
⚠️ Important. Consider
that calls and video calls by application, such as FaceTime or WhatsApp, are
prohibited in all the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, if you want national or
international calls, you must verify that your plan includes it. Here is
all the information.
20. What is the best area
to stay in Dubai?
The
city of Dubai is significant, and its attractions are in different
neighborhoods, so you must use public transport no matter where you visit. Here
are some options:
- Staying near the airport is a good alternative if you only stop in the
city. Prices in this area are much lower than in other areas of the city,
but the quality of accommodation remains the same. In addition, you have
an excellent connection to the center with the metro. My recommendation is
precisely for the surroundings of the metro and Deira City Center
shopping mall. For more details on this area, click here.
- I am staying in the Financial Center: one of my favorite areas for having the best
value for money in the city and an excellent location.
- Stay in downtown: one
of the most popular areas because it is home to attractions such as the
Dubai Mall or the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. The
problem is the high costs. More details here.
You can see the
complete list by clicking here if you want to see more recommended areas
to stay and the accommodations I recommend.
21. Excursion to the
desert
Visiting the desert is
a staple in Dubai, although it is not really in this city, but in the
neighboring emirate of Sharjah. It is a 45-minute journey; the best way to
visit it is to take an organized tour. Consider that driving in the desert
requires a special license and car, so it is not recommended to do it yourself.
Please book your place, hiring the tour with time, and you can do it
safely here.
22. Shopping: one of the
best activities
Dubai is
synonymous with good shopping, and the first place that comes to mind is the
Dubai Mall, the largest shopping center in the world. It is an essential stop
with its attractions, such as fountains or Aquarium. But there are also two
other highly recommended shopping malls: the Emirates Mall, famous for having
the only ski slope in the desert, and the Deira City Mall, which was once the
most important in the city. Here is the complete list of where to go
shopping in Dubai.
23. Forget alcohol or
prepare to pay
Although the
consumption of alcohol is becoming easier in the city, it is not entirely allowed,
so you will not find it available in restaurants or supermarkets. However, they
can be consumed in specific places such as hotels or bars. Know more Bosporus Turkish Restaurant in Dubai.
24. Dubai offers a
tremendous gastronomic variety
From famous fast food like McDonald's, KFC, or Pizza Hut, to
restaurants with Michelin stars or some typical food you can find in Dubai.
Options will not be lacking, and you will find an opportunity for your tastes
and budget.
25. To enter the Burj Al
Arab hotel, you have to pay
Knowing inside the Burj Al Arab, and the famous sail-shaped hotel
has a price. Entry is prohibited to anyone who is not a guest of the hotel. But
if you are not willing to pay for one of its suites, there are options, such as
reserving a meal at one of its hotels or a drink at one of its bars. Of course,
they can inform you of a minimum consumption when making your reservation. If
you want to know the Burj Al Arab, click here to see the process in
detail.
26. Public beaches
There are several immaculate public beaches in
Dubai, with very good quality and all the necessary services. The most famous
are: Jumeirah Public Beach, Kite Beach, Jumeirah Beach, and JBR Beach in Dubai
Marina.
27. Dubai has a time
difference over GMT/UTC of +04:00 hours.
This means there is 2 hours difference between European
countries like Spain and 12 with Mexico City.
28. How do I get from
Dubai Airport to the city?
Dubai has 2 International Airports, the main one being Dubai
International Airport. Terminals 1 and 3 of this airport are perfectly
connected to the city center by the red Metro line, which stops at critical
points such as Deira, Dubai Marina, or the Dubai Mall.
However, if you are
staying at the famous artificial palm tree, the Palm Jumeirah, or the Dubai
Marina, you would need to complete the metro with other transportation.
Terminal 2 of the
airport is not connected by metro, but you can look for the transfer to
terminal 1 or 3 and thus take the metro.
29. If you are Mexican,
you will NOT need a visa.
Depending on how long you will spend in Dubai and your nationality,
you will need some requirements or others, be it a passport or a ticket.
Mexicans no longer require access for tourist trips to Dubai, and the entry
requirements are the same as for entering the Schengen area in
Europe.
30. How much does a tourist visa to Dubai cost?
If your nationality
requires a visa, you can process it at your country's UAE embassy or do it
here.
31. It is convenient to
organize the trip
if you want to make
the most of your stay. It is better to plan a little since there are activities
in which you will save a lot of time in queues if you book in advance. Some
are: go up to the Burj Khalifa, here you will not only save time, but you will
ensure your entry because there are limited places; entering the Burj Al Arab
can only be reserved in advance, or visit the Aquarium. If you want to
know what you cannot miss in Dubai, click here.
Extra tip. If you have no idea how much it costs
to travel to Dubai, here is a text with all the details of how much I
spent.
31. In Dubai you will need an electircal adapter
You will need
electrical adapter plugs in Dubai,
and all the United Arab Emirates are three-pin, like those in England, and the
electric current is 220 V at 50 Hz. If you want more information about the
plugs, click here.
