Dubai

Dubai (دبي) is one of the United Arab Emirates.

Understand

The Department of Tourism has more information for visiting Dubai.

A relatively new tourist destination, Dubai has gained in popularity in the last 7 years. It is esentially a desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies and excellent tourist amenities. Just 5 hrs from Europe and 3 hrs from most parts of Asia, Dubai makes a great short break for Shopping, Partying, Sunbathing, Fine Dining, Sporting Events and even a few Sinful Pleasures. It is a city of superlatives. For the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination.

The weekly off is on Friday. Government departments are off on Thursday and Friday while a lot of multi-nationals are off on Friday and Saturday. Most local companies work a half day on Thursday.

Weather: Dubai is situated in a desert and gets very hot in the summer. Cool & mild weather lasts from end September to begining of May. In May, June, July, August and September the sun is intense and tempreatures touch 50 degree Celsius!

Get in

By plane

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the largest hub in the Middle East and the home base of the Dubai's flag carrier Emirates. The airport is famous for its duty-free shopping. Alcohol is also available at an inbound duty free store situated in the baggage reclaim area. The allowance is 4 bottles (or 6 packs) per person.

Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) is located in the emirate of Sharjah. It is only half an hour by road from Dubai and is taking an increasing number of international flights as Dubai airport struggles to keep up with demand. A taxi ride to Dubai will typically cost Dhs 50. The airport is fairly basic but is being expanded.

Frequent visitors from countries granted automatic visa on entry may wish to purchase an e-gate card to speed up immigration formalities and save passport pages. The e-gate card office is situated in the upstairs foodcourt area of the departures concourse. The card will cost AED 150. Note: If you intend to buy an e-gate card in Dubai, you must have entered UAE via Dubai airport and not Sharjah.

By train

At the moment no Train network exists, however Metro Rail is expected in 2009, but not for inter-city travel.

By car

Dubai's only international road border is with Oman at Al Wajajah. Expatriate residents of Oman will require an official permit to exit Oman by road. Visitors do not require the permit. There is an OMR 3.000 charge per vehicle to exit Oman and, if returning, retain the charge receipt as it will be required to reenter. Ensure that insurance is valid for the UAE (preferably before commencing the journey). Temporary UAE insurance can be purchased at the border for a premium price. Exiting Oman is fairly orderly but several kilometres down the road, entry into the UAE is totally disorganised; so, be prepared for a wait.

By boat

Dubai is a trading hub for dhows from around the Indian Ocean. Travellers wanting to arrive in the city this way will probably need to make their own arrangements with the captain of the vessel.

Get around

By bus

Dubai has a good bus service with buses at intervals of about 20 min in general. However the bus service is not recommended for tourists as it does is not as comprehensive as in other major global cities. The main bus stations are Gold Souq Market (in Deira) and Bur Dubai bus station (in Bur Dubai). Bus services are also available to other emirates. Ramadan timings differ.

Use the Dubai Public transport as a cheaper means of traveling within the several districts in Dubai. The fare comes up to an easy 1.50 AED, affordable for those who prefer a cheaper mode of transport. There's a bus stand on almost every road in Dubai and with all the friendly people in Dubai, you won't find it difficult to get help at any point of time. Self-explanatory maps and route marks and their bus numbers are placed inside every bus stand. At any time, if in doubt, simply ask the bus driver for help!

By taxi

Taxis are reasonably priced and easily found on all main roads in built-up areas, 24 hours. The official taxis (cream color) are a lot cheaper than people approaching you at the airport saying "you want taxi?". They are metered thus saving a haggle over prices. From the airport, there is a standing charge of AED 20; all other pick ups attract a standing charge of AED 3.50. There is nothing to choose in rates between the 5 players: Dubai Transport, National, Cars, Metro, and Arabian; so, take the first one that comes along. Driving standard in Dubai ranges from poor to wild - taxis are some of the worst on the roads.

By car

There are a countless number of Rent-A-Cars that will provide a mode of transportation for very cheap rates and very little paperwork. An International Driving Permit is now being asked for. In the past this was only needed for travel outside of Dubai.

Some agencies will hire out cars complete with drivers. Visitors taking advantage of this option will need to make certain that their driver knows his way around, as many do not.

When driving on the main roads, such as Sheikh Zayed road, the junction numbers are not in logical order! Junction 13 is just after 18 and are rarely as shown on the maps. Road names can also be very confusing with slight differences in spelling (due to transliteration from Arabic) being very important.

Driving during morning and afternoon peak hours is not recommended, as traffic slows to a standstill and even a simple trip across a bridge can take up to 45 minutes. There is also a scarcity of parking spaces in many parts of the city.

By boat

An easier way of crossing the Dubai Creek is by abra, essentially a small ferry. Abra stations are located along the Creek on both the Bur Dubai and Deira sides, and the system of filling the boats is remarkably efficient. The cross-river trip costs 50 fils per passenger, payable to the driver after the boat has left the station, and affords a very picturesque view of the city (not to be missed). Abras set off very regularly, and the service is available round-the-clock.
Abras can also be hired for a private tour (for a price negotiable with the driver but usually very cheap). This is quite a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver is able to enliven the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek.

The Creek is also the home of many boats offering more comfortable (and correspondingly more expensive) tours, often in boats designed to resemble dhows. Prices tend to the higher end of the scale, particularly for dinner cruises with on-board entertainment.

By metro

Dubai Municipality has embarked on an ambitious project to introduce a Metro Rail system. According to the official site Dubai Metro construction is expected to start in a few years and complete by 2009.

See

• Bastakiya District. The historic home to many reconstructed buildings in the traditional style. While information on the structures is slim here (see the museum in preference), the atmosphere is very evocative.

• Burj al-Arab hotel. For a real glimpse into "how the other half lives", a tour of the the tallest hotel in the world (popularly known as the only 7 star hotel in the world, however is actually a 5 star deluxe hotel, with a unique shape of a boat's sail) may be an interesting experience. Call ahead of time to see if tours are running, as they are not run when the hotel is full. A "smart casual" dress code applies.

• Dubai Museum, Al Ibn Abi Tarib Road, (+971-4) 353-1862. A must-see for anyone interested in the social history of the Emirate (and indeed the country). The centrepiece of the museum is a reconstructed souq from the pearling days, complete with authentic sights and sounds. There is also a considerable focus on the speed at which the transition from poor pearling village to modern metropolis occurred. Admission 3AED.

• Dubai Zoo, Jumeirah Road. An outdoor zoo near to the beach. Considering the extreme temperatures during the summer months, there are plans bring the zoo indoors. Admission 3AED.

• Gold Souq Deira. One of the more startling sights in the city, even for those not interested in making a purchase. Most of the gold is 22ct quality (although in some shops this is a veneer placed on lesser metals) and quite expensive - although even here the shopkeepers are prepared to bargain - and the craftsmanship can be remarkably detailed. The gold items are sold by weight with a "making charge" added on top to cover the workmanship. It pays, therefore, to go shopping armed with the current gold price and a knowledge of the making charges in order to hone the bargaining process. Most visitors here can expect to be offered "copy watches" as well, often by very persistent hawkers.

• Ibn Battuta Mall. Commissioned in early 2005 this mall is worth visiting less for the shopping it offers and more for the architectural ambience created in its six courts designed according to the traditional architecture of China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia

• Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Road, Jumeirah 1 (opposite Palm Strip Mall). Generally considered to be one of the more attractive mosques in the region, as well as one of the few which are open to non-Muslims for tours. Tours run on Thursdays and are followed by a question-and-answer session about Islam for those who want to know more.

• Mall of the Emirates. Home to what is currently the world's largest indoor ski slope. Guests at the nearby hotel have free ski passes and clothing hire, while other visitors need to purchase these.

Do

• Shopping - Dubai is a shopper's paradise. Shops open as early as 9 am and stay open to 11 pm. There are innumerable shopping centers and malls around town to keep any shopper happy!

• Entertainment - As Dubai has grown from a small town into a bustling city, so has the entertainment. There are many music and sport events through out the year. Dubai also has a Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises to entertain visitors and residents. Most 3-5 star hotels have bars and nightclubs for those interested in the nightlife.

• Beaches and sea - There are endless water-sport opportunities as Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world, as well as the Wild Wadi water amusement park. Ocean temperatures range from 22 in winter up to 35 degrees Celsius in summer, meaning you might as well forget a hotel and bathe in the ocean. Very salty though.

• Desert Safari - Head out to the desert in an SUV with specialist Desert Drivers. The drivers will take you for a roller-coaster ride over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point and then take you to a lavish dinner with music and dance to complete the atmosphere. For a brief while you would experience what it is like to be a Sheikh! Not to be missed

• Ski - Dubai now has its own snow skiing centre. Located in the new Mall of the Emirates (MOE), on the Sheikh Zayed Road, it offers both skiing and snowboarding. The slope is quite large for an indoor area. All equipment is available for hire and a 2 hour package typically costs Dhs150. You must take warm clothing since it is well below freezing inside.

• Wild Wadi Located in the heart of the city, next to Jumeriah Beach Hotel, this is a water amusement park that is loved by kids as well as adults. It has light as well as adventurous rides; and sports like water surfing. A great way to beat the heat and enjoy the day away from the bustle of the city.

• Dubai Creek Cruise/Ride The Dubai creek is the foundation from which Dubai grew. It originally served as a port for trading vessels plying to and from India, Africa and the Middle East. Today a bit of the old shipping culture still remains. In and around the creek one can see some of the original buildings thats served as customs houses and defence structures. You can book a ride on the creek with a dinner cruise or even rent a private boat to take you on a hour long ride up and down the creek.

Learn

Dubai has set up a free-zone Knowledge Village to house institutes and universities, providing both on-line and in-class training.

Work

Dubai presents an affluent stylish image to the visitor. What is not so obvious to the regular visitor are the people that actually make it work. Unfortunately, the people working in the service industries are underpaid, often have very poor working conditions and no employment rights. For example, a hotel waitress in one of the top hotels could expect $400 per month and to work very long hours. It is common for people to come from Asia and CIS countries, attracted by the Dubai image, but many return home disillusioned.

Buy

Dubai is practically synonymous with shopping. The huge amounts of cargo passing through its port and the low tariffs ensure that practically anything is available at competitive rates.

Remember to haggle in the souks, as discounts are almost always available and even in situations where the item will not become much cheaper, the customer is always expected to "play the game" of haggling. A simple question of "what's your best price?" will often result in a shop-keeper going to extraordinary lengths to sell his stock.
Prices in the malls and other Western shops tend not to be negotiable. Far from being a bad thing, this allows the canny visitor to work out comparative prices for common souvenirs - an invaluable aid when a shop-keeper in a souk is asking for a higher price.

Malls

• Mall of the Emirates - near 4th interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road - The largest shopping mall outside of North America. 200+ shops, cinemas, plus the Ski Centre. Has many high premium brand stores.

• IBN Batuta Mall - Jebel Ali - Areas themed around six countries (China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and the Andalusia.) Wide range of shops, although no high class brands. Has various restaurants.

• Souk Madinat Jumeirah - Jumeirah Road, - 75 shops, numerous bars, restaurants and cafes, a nightclub, theatre...

• Burjuman Centre - Khalifa Bin Zayed Road, - Recently opened after expansion, plenty of premium brand stores.

• Deira City Centre - This is by far the most popular mall in Dubai and no visit to Dubai is complete without a visit. Debenhams, Virgin Megastore, Zara....

• Wafi Mall - Marks & Spencer, Goodies

• Emirates Towers Boulevard, Sheikh Zayed Road - Part of the Emirates Tower Hotel complex. The shops here match the hotel - very high class, plus a Starbucks!

• Mercato Mall - Jumeirah Road - The only Renaissance themed shopping mall in the Middle East. Cinemas.

• Gold Souk - Not a mall, but a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the origin of Dubai itself. Located at the mouth of the creek, it dazzles people by selling gold in large quantities and with no security. A must visit for shoppers and sightseers.

• Gold & Diamond Park Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road (South side)- sells gold and diamond products.

• Computer Plaza Next to Ramada Hotel, Bur Dubai. A mall specializing in computers, computer parts and computer add ons like monitors, VOIP Phones, Hard Drives, etc.

TIP Most malls have a large Carrefour hypermarket where you'll find the lowest cost electronics

Eat

Consult the weekly listings magazine, Time Out Dubai, for restaurant reviews and offers. It is available on line at www.timeoutdubai.com.

Most of the American fast food chains have set up shop in Dubai, including KFC, Chillis, Starbucks, McDonalds. The beauty of the food in Dubai is that you will probably find cuisine for every taste.

Snacks

Shawarma is the most available (and cheap!) food in Dubai. It is meat that has been cooked on a skewer and then cut into thin strips and placed into a pita bread with vegetables and dressing. It costs about AED 3 (80c) for the plain-jane variety and up to AED 5 ($1.30) for the more exotic Lebanese and Iranian varities. Fala-Fil is also available at about the same costs as the shawarma.

Budget

• Ravi Restaurant sells excellent Pakistani food that is incredibly cheap. A tableful of food here costs in the region of AED 20-25 per person. This is a must see for anyone with a spicy tooth.

• The Kararchi Darbar chain of restaurants scattered throughout the city is worth visiting.

Mid-range

• Goodies, Wafa Mall - excellent Lebanese cuisine and ambience. In the cooler months the outdoor verandah is a pleasure. (about AED 100). No alcohol served.

• Lebanese Restaurant in Deira City Centre. No alcohol served.

• Noodle House, Emirates Tower Mall - Asian food (about AED 100)

• Toscana, Souk Madinat Jumeirah - Italian about (about AED 100)

• Yakitori House, Ascot Hotel - Japanese cuisine, very popular with the Japanese expat community.

• Tony Roma's, IBN Batutta Mall - American food.

• Automatic, this is a chain of popular Lebanese restauraunts found all over Dubai. Famous for it's Lamb Chops & Friday lunch buffet. No alcohol served.

• Revolving Restauraunt Hayatt Regency. Serving an assortment of cusines, the highlight of this beautiful restauraunt is that it revolves giving nice tour of the city. (Dhs. 150 per person)

• Pars Located at the start of Diyafa street next to Plaza hotel, this is an open air Iranian resteraunt where one can sit in traditional machans (large bed like seating) and enjoy a fine Iranian meal. The speciality is the mixed grill which is served with live coal. After the meal smoke a traditional Sheesha. No alcohol served. (Around Dhs. 150 per person)

Splurge

The top hotels in the city all have at least one restaurant serving (most commonly) some form of international cuisine - Italian, Japanese, Indian and so on. Quality tends to be high, along with price, but non-guests are able to reserve tables as well, thus allowing the rest of us to experience a bit of these hotels.

• Chrysanthemum (Kiku), Le Merdien Dubai - Japanese cuisine. Very high quality and very popular. AED 150.

• Shang Palace, Shangri-la Dubai - Exceptional Chinese food. AED 200.
• Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab - Part of the Burj Al Arab hotel, and as you would expect is also very high quality! Seafood. AED 250.

• Legends Stakehouse, Creek Golf Club, Deria Dubai. This resteraunt is part of the Creek Golf Clubhouse. Highly popular with residents but unfortunately not known to tourists is this fabulous waterfront restauraunt. Situated overlooking the Dubai creek it provides an excellent meal and views. At around AED 200 per head very reasonable for the ambience & food.

• JWs Stakehouse, JW Marriot, Deria Dubai. This is Marriot's signature restauraunt and has won many awards over the years. Highly popular with Dubai residents. AED 350 per head

Drink

• Try the Rooftop Swimming Pool on top of The Hilton (Creek). Small bar but wonderful views especially at sunset.

• The Cocktail Bar on the 24th floor of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel has good views along Jumeirah beach and the Burj al-Arab Hotel - the photo below was taken there.
• Vodka Bar, Park Hyatt, Deria Dubai. A chilled out bar touching the Dubai Creek. Good for a one on one evening. Plays light music.

Sleep

IMPORTANT Due to very heavy demand for hotel rooms in Dubai it necessary that you book your hotel atleast 2 weeks in advance to get a decent rate, especially from September to May

Budget

• Gulf Pearl Hotel - Al Baraha Street, Omar al khattab Road, tel: +971-4-2728333, (mail: P.O. Box 88767, Al Baraha Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE) Rooms from $71.

• Pacific Hotel - Sabakha Street 115, Deira, Dubai, tel: +971-4-2276700 (mail: P.O. Box 21423, Dubai, UAE, email: info@pacifichotel-dubai.com, fax: *971-4-2276761) Rooms from $80.

Mid-range

• Dubai Short Term Rentals
• Ascot Hotel - Khalid bin waleed Road, Bur Dabai, tel: +971-4-3520900 (mail: PO box 52555, Bur Dabai, Dubai, UAE, email: info@ascothoteldubai.com, fax: +971-4-3529819) Bur Dubai. Has Russian, Irish and Thai themed restaurants. Rooms from $180.

Splurge

• Burj al-Arab - PO Box 74147, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3017777 (email: reservations@jumeirah.com, fax: +971 4 3017000) . Popularly known as the first seven-star hotel in the world, however actually is a five star deluxe hotel, this striking sail-shaped building is a symbol of Dubai and one of most opulent hotels in the world. Rack rates over US $700 per night.

• Crowne Plaza. Sheikh Zayed road.

• Dusit Dubai - 133 Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 23335, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3433333 (fax: +971-4-3434222) Thai hotel. Rooms from $350.

• Jebel Ali Hotel & Golf Resort - Jebel Ali, PO Box 9255, Dubai (take exit 13 on the Sheikh Zayed Road) tel: +971-4-8836000 (email: jagrs@jaihotels.com, fax: +971-4-8835543) Rooms from $400.

• Jumeirah Beach Hotel - PO Box 11416, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3480000 (email: JBHinfo@jumeirah.com, fax: +971-4-3482273). Next to Burj al-Arab and run by the same company. Rooms from $700.

• Sheraton Dubai Creek

• Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Hotel - Al Sufouh Road, P.O. Box 53567, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3995533 (email: sherjum@emirates.net.ae, fax: +971-4-3995577) Rooms from $350.

Contact

The international code for UAE is +971, for Dubai, add a 4 afterwards for land lines. Mobile phone numbers will start +971 50 xxx yyyy

GSM Those with GSM phones can expect auto roaming from their home countries. You can also buy a prepaid GSM card. You will need a local address, which can be a hotel.

Phone Booths Phone booths are located on most streets. Phone cards can be purchased from hotels and tourist shops. Some phones accept coins & credit cards

Internet Internet Cafes are hard to find. There is one at Computer Plaza next to Ramada Hotel in Bur Dubai. Also, the French Connection, Al Wafa Tower on Sheikh Zayed road (opposite side of road from the Dusit Hotel) has wifi access and nice cakes/pastries. Surprisingly the malls do not have Internet Cafes. Most hotel business centres are equipped with Internet Cafes, but expensive.

Etisalat, UAE's telecom operator, offers a roaming, post paid WiFi internet connection known as iZone. Most coffee shops and malls across Dubai provide this service. Prices are available on their website.

Stay safe

Eating or drinking publicly during daylight hours is an offence during Ramadan except in hotels and private beach areas.

Drivers are not always as fond of the road rules in Dubai as in other cities or countries. Particularly during the morning and afternoon rush-hours, most drivers will take quite astonishing risks in heavy traffic. Taking a taxi, bus or abra is often a better bet than crossing busy roads, as even pedestrian crossings are not always observed.

The General Department of State Security operates a 'confidential' security service to allow citizens to submit any security related issues, called Al Ameen. Offers anonymity and many channels of communication to the authorities.

Cope

Get out

Dubai has worked out some treaty with Oman to allow visitors visiting permission by road through Hatta.

While Dubai itself offers ample entertainment and shopping opportunities, most tourists visit to Sharjah for its many museums, beaches and parks.

The capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, is an entirely different city and it would be worth the one and a half hour ride to see the contrast!