Dubai Travel Guide
Overview
Originally a small fishing settlement that became a busy port of
call on the ancient trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus
Valley, the emirate was rapidly transformed into an international
business centre and modern tourist destination following the
discovery of oil in 1966.
Today Dubai ranks as the country's foremost commercial centre, a
city whose skyline is constantly being upgraded with new
developments providing the infrastructure and facilities needed for
a progressive society, including world-class hotels, shopping
plazas and outstanding sports facilities. Dubai Creek divides the
city centre into two parts: Deira on the northern side and Bur
Dubai to the south and each has its fair share of souks,
restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and fine mosques.
From within these high standards of luxury and convenience,
visitors can experience exotic Arabia in the bustling souks or a
night in a Bedouin tent with belly-dancing under the starlit desert
skies, as well as a way of life that is still embedded in the
Islamic traditions of an ancient land. Dubai's attraction lies in
the contrast between the ultra modern and the enchantingly
traditional, which gives the city a personality like no other and
visitors a variety of experiences to choose from. From desert oases
and unspoiled beaches, camel races and old wind towers, to
top-class shopping opportunities, avant-garde architecture and the
finest international cuisine, Dubai has more than enough depth to
satisfy even the most seasoned of travellers.
One of the city's top attractions is its excellent shopping. As
an open port with low import duties, Dubai can offer an incredible
range of top brand names at cheaper prices due to the tax-free
environment, and 'shopping tourists' are drawn from around the
world to this paradise of malls, souks, boutiques and modern
department stores selling everything from Paris fashions to
Japanese electronics. The annual Shopping Festival attracts
millions of tourists to the city for a shop-til-you-drop
holiday.
Attractions
Dubai Creek
The natural seawater inlet that cuts through the centre of the
city is the historical part of Dubai where visitors can take an
abra (small water taxi) and view the old trading port and the dhows
from the water. A cruise to Al-Maktoum Bridge will pass many of the
city's historic as well as modern landmarks. A stroll around the
wharf offers a picturesque glimpse of Dubai's trading heritage,
where dhows bound for distant places dock to unload their
goods.
Bastakiya
Location:Bur Dubai
The old Bastakiya district is a step back in time to the days
before electricity and air-conditioning, where traditional
courtyard houses were cooled by wind towers. Old Dubai was famous
for its wind towers that lined the Creek on both sides, and today
the narrow lanes festooned with the distinctively Arabian
architecture is a popular historical attraction that has been
marked for tourist development.
Souks
Location:Both sides of the Creek, in Deira and Bur Dubai
Admisson:Free
The souks or traditional markets are popular with bargain
hunters as well as sightseers and photographers. The most famous is
the gold souk where the narrow streets are lined with shops selling
everything golden from 24-carat bars to rings and elaborate
necklaces and all at low prices. The tiny lanes of the traditional
spice souk are scented with sacks of cinnamon, incense, spices, and
dried fruit, while the modern fish souk bustles with activity and
is redolent with smells of a more unpleasant nature. At the heart
of the Bur Dubai souk lies Al Fahidi Street, selling the latest
electronics, photographic equipment and home appliances at
competitive prices. Other streets sell everything from materials
and carpets to traditional coffee pots, loaves of unleavened bread
and hubble-bubble pipes.
Opening Times:Daily 7am to 12pm and 5pm to 7pm; Fridays 5pm to
7pm
Grand Mosque
Location:Al Mussalla Road
Boasting the city's tallest minaret at 230 feet (70m), the Grand
Mosque is a notable landmark with its multi-domed style and
impressive size. It is an important place of worship and can
accommodate up to 1,200 worshippers inside. Non-Muslims are not
permitted to enter the Mosque.
Location:Jumeirah Beach Road, between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and
the Burj Al Arab Hotel
Admisson:Dhs 150 (age 13+); Dhs 125 (children 4-12). For
individuals staying either at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel or Burj Al
Arab, access to the Wild Wadi Water Park is free
One of the most advanced water theme parks ever designed, the
five-hectare (12-acre) water park at Wild Wadi offers families and
thrill seekers hours of fun, relaxation and adrenalin-pumping
action. Designed like an Arabian wadi (oasis), the park has an
Arabian folklore theme and features some of the highest and fastest
water rides outside of North America with 24 state of the art,
high-adrenaline rides and slides. Rides for thrill seekers include
Jumeirah Sceirah, a 108ft (33m) free-fall at 50 miles per hour
(80km/hr), Master Blaster slides that are water roller coasters
propelled uphill by high-powered jets, the white-knuckle ride at
Rushdown Ravine or the high waves at Breakers Bay.
Opening Times:Daily from 11am. In January and February it closes at
6pm; from March to May at 7pm; from June to August at 9pm; and from
September to December at 5pm
Events
Venue:Throughout the city, but the main focal point of the
festival is the Global Village, Emirates Road
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) was started in 1996 by the
government to promote retail trade in the city, and has since grown
into the foremost shopping event in the world, an annual
extravaganza of shopping and entertainment that promotes tourism
and attracts millions of people from around the world to Dubai
every year. The city is already known as a shopping paradise, but
for a whole month thousands of retail outlets offer further
specials, with hotels, travel companies and airlines also extending
special discounts to visitors during this period. Besides the
shopping malls and souks, one of the most popular shopping spots is
the Carpet Oasis, showcasing thousands of exclusive carpets from
around the world. Other events include nightly fireworks,
laser/light shows, international fashion shows, street
performances, music concerts and many cultural events. Daily raffle
draws offer very attractive prizes of money, gold, cars and 4x4s.
The festival also coincides with the richest horse race in the
world, the Dubai World Cup (US$15,250,000 in prize money).
Date:20 December 2006 to 2 February 2007
Venue:Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club
Part of the European PGA tour, the Dubai Desert Classic takes
place at what was the first grass golf course in the Middle East,
which was entitled
The Desert Miraclein 1988. The tournament attracts
prestigious international players to compete for the trophy and
US$2.2 million in prize money.
Date:February 2007, TBC
Venue:Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground
The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens heralds the opening of
the IRB Sevens World Series, and features 16 of the best
international rugby sevens teams each year. The event has grown
rapidly over the last few years and attracts fans from around the
world.
Date:30 November to 2 December 2006, TBC
Getting Around
The most common way of getting around Dubai is by taxi; they are
cheap and easy to find. Metered taxis are recognisable by their
uniformed drivers and cream coloured cars. Public transport
consists of a public bus service, which covers most areas of the
city and its beaches; discounted bus passes are available. Routes
and bus numbers are posted in both Arabic and English. Small wooden
motorboats (
abras) cross the Creek every few minutes between Bur Dubai
and Deira. Cars are the most popular method of transport for locals
in the city, and although roads are well signed and car hire cheap,
visitors should think twice about hiring one, as driving standards
are erratic and accidents frequent. All accidents must be reported
to the police and chances are good that a visit to the police
station will be necessary. Outside the city signposts are rare. To
hire a car, a credit card, valid passport and International Driving
Permit are required and the minimum age is 21 (drivers must have
held a full licence for one year).
Climate data
Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, the UAE has a sub-tropical arid
climate and is warm and sunny in winter, but hot and humid during
the summer months. The humidity is particularly high in the coastal
areas. Rainfall is virtually non-existent, with occasional short
showers occurring mainly in winter (December to March). Localised
thunderstorms sometimes occur in summer.
Dubai's Climate Information
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
23
|
23
|
10
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
36
|
|
0.9
|
0.9
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.4
|
1.4
|
|
12
|
14
|
16
|
18
|
22
|
25
|
28
|
28
|
25
|
22
|
18
|
14
|
|
23
|
24
|
27
|
30
|
34
|
36
|
38
|
39
|
37
|
33
|
31
|
26
|
|
73
|
75
|
81
|
86
|
93
|
97
|
100
|
102
|
99
|
91
|
88
|
79
|
|
54
|
57
|
61
|
64
|
72
|
77
|
82
|
82
|
77
|
72
|
64
|
57
|
Time Difference
GMT +4.
Currency
The currency of the United Arab Emirates is the Dirham (AED),
which is divided into 100 fils. There are no currency regulations
in the UAE and all major currencies are readily exchanged at banks
and large hotels. The Dirham is fixed against the US Dollar. The
best exchange rates are found at private moneychangers who operate
throughout the territory, particularly in the more popular souks
(markets) and shopping centres. All major credit cards are
accepted, as are travellers cheques (best carried in US Dollars or
Pounds Sterling). ATMs are common throughout the UAE. Banking hours
are generally Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm, but some are
also open between 4pm and 8.30pm.
For the latest exchange rates visit www.xe.com
Language
Arabic is the official language of the Emirates, but
English is widely used.
Passport & Visa Information
All visitors to the United Arab Emirates must hold a passport
that is valid for three months from the date of entry. All passport
photographs are to be recent colour photographs. Visitors must hold
documents and tickets needed for their next destination.
Citizens of the UK (with right of abode in the UK) will be
granted a free of charge visit visa on arrival in the UAE. Visas
are valid for 60 days. British passports not endorsed British
Citizen must hold tickets and documents for next destination and
have a sponsor in the UAE to cover their stay.
Health
No vaccinations are required for entry to the UAE, however a
certificate is required for cholera and yellow fever if arriving
from an affected area. Tap water in the major cities is safe to
drink, but elsewhere only bottled water should be drunk. Medical
care is excellent in the main cities, but extremely expensive,
while medicines and medical care are not always available in the
outlying areas. Health insurance is essential.
Safety
Most visits to the UAE are trouble free. Crime is not a problem,
but there is deemed to be a threat of terrorism against Western
interests and gathering points, particularly entertainment venues.
It is therefore wise to be vigilant when frequenting these. It is
also wise to avoid political gatherings and demonstrations. Al
Qaeda continues to issue statements threatening to carry out
attacks in the Gulf region, including references to attack Western
interests, such as residential compounds, military, oil, transport
and aviation interests.
Customs
The Emirates states are all Muslim, therefore alcohol is not
served except in hotels. It is an offence to drink or be drunk in
public and penalties are severe. Dress and behaviour should be
modest, particularly during the month of Ramadan when it is
disrespectful to smoke, drink or eat in public between sunrise and
sunset. Women's clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs.
Cohabiting, adultery and homosexual behaviour are illegal in the
UAE, and it is an offence to swear or make rude gestures, or show a
public display of affection. In general, the country has a tolerant
approach to Western visitors, but local laws and sensitivities
should be respected.
Airports
Dubai International Airport
DXB
Location
The airport is three miles (4km) from Dubai city centre
and 105 miles (170km) from Abu Dhabi.
Facilities
Facilities at the airport include the renowned Dubai Duty Free,
a food court, banking, Internet services, entertainment for
children, business facilities, medical care, special needs, an
airport hotel, post office and lounges. Passengers can also use the
swimming pool, jacuzzi and gymnasium, charged on an hourly
basis.
Transfer between terminals
There are two terminals, but most major airlines arrive at
Terminal 1. There is an airport shuttle service available between
Terminal 1 and 2.
Car Rental
There are 12 car rental firms available in the Arrivals Hall.
Some also offer a specialised limousine service.