The Dubai travel guide can be useful for those who plan to travel to Dubai, the most famous city in the UAE. Because knowing the tips and details of traveling to a city like Dubai, helps to save travel expenses and enjoy its sights well. So stay with us on the Coverdale blog to learn more about Dubai and its travel tips.
These days, when it comes to traveling to Dubai, there are few people who do not know about this luxury city. The first thing that comes to mind is the soaring towers, along with the combination of tradition and modernity of this city. These features together have made every year different people from all over the world eager to see this amazing and modern city up close.
Where is Dubai? Brief introduction to Dubai city
Dubai is one of the most modern cities in the Middle East and the Asian continent, which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. This desert city, whose name is summed up in high skyscrapers, luxury buildings, and a modern urban atmosphere, has many fans. The area of Dubai is about 4 thousand square kilometers and it has a population of 3,478,300 people.
Practical information
- Visa: required
- Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham (AED)
- Local time: GMT+4
- Official language: Arabic
- The religion of the majority of people: Islam
- The best travel season: autumn and winter
- Entertainment style: visiting modern attractions, shopping, sightseeing, exciting entertainment
- City electricity type: 220 V/50 Hz
- Souvenirs: Burj Khalifa statue and pixel, camel-shaped chocolates, dates, gold and jewelry, Arabic perfume, etc.
- The best place to stay: around Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, around Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina area, Deira area, etc.
Essential phone numbers
- United Arab Emirates phone code: +971
- Dubai phone code: 04
- Police: 999
- Ambulance: 998
- Fire department: 997
Dubai Travel Guide: How to get from Dubai Airport to the city center
Dubai International Airport has located about 5 km from this city. To access the city center and your accommodation in Dubai, you can use these ways:
Metro: Go to terminal 1 or 3 to take the metro. You can easily see the Dubai Metro station in front of these terminals. The metro of this line runs every 30 minutes. The cost of this ride will be around 3 to 4 dirhams.
Bus: If you are looking for a faster way, go to the airport bus stops. You can find these stations in front of Terminals 1, 2, and 3. You can also use the airport buses to move between the terminals.
Taxi: Airport taxis are the most convenient way to reach your accommodation. The fare of these taxis starts from 25 dirhams and for every 1 km of the route you travel, an amount equal to 1.75 dirhams is added to your fare.
Dubai Travel Guide: Famous sights of Dubai, top 5 things to See
Dubai is famous for its various attractions. Here we mention some of the most famous ones so that you don’t miss them during your trip:
Burj Khalifa
Undoubtedly, the most famous sight in Dubai! which holds the title of the tallest building in the world. This tower with its unique height of 830 meters and its spectacular architecture is located right in the center of Dubai and attracts many tourists every year. You can go to its 125th floor with 149 dirhams.
The Dubai Mall
One of the shopping malls in Dubai! It is located right next to the Burj Khalifa to make it easier for tourists. This luxury shopping center is included in the list of the best in Dubai due to its size, variety of brands and products, and of course its exciting entertainment. Among the attractive parts of Dubai Mall are the ice skating rink, aquarium, virtual reality park, horror room, etc.
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
One of the best of its kind! with its aquariums, tunnels, and large tanks, it exposes a variety of small and large, and colorful fish. This aquarium is located in the Dubai Mall and is easy to access.
The Dubai Fountain
Dubai Fountain: Right in front of the Burj Khalifa, you can visit the Dubai Fountain for free. This musical fountain is lit up in the evenings and performs a unique show until the end of the night, along with the light dance.
Aquaventure Waterpark
The best water park in Dubai, which is among the best in the world. This water park with its slides, aquarium, and unique games will make you an exciting day that you will not regret your choice.
Dubai Miracle Garden
A very large garden where you are going to watch an amazing collection of flower arrangements. In this garden, everything is covered with vivid and colorful flowers. It is a different location for you to take photos and selfies.
Dubai Travel Guide: Dubai Public Transportation
Dubai has a good variety of public transport. This city provides taxis, subways, buses, monorails, trams, and all kinds of public boats and ships. In order to use these means of transportation, it is necessary to get an electronic ticket to Dubai, which is a known as “Nol Card”.
Nol cards have different types. The most suitable nol card for tourists is the red nol card. To buy it, you just need to pay 2 dirhams and then charge your card according to the amount of usage. It is good to know that the cost of public transportation varies between 3 and 15 dirhams depending on the distance you travel.
You can choose one of the following options for sightseeing in Dubai:
Taxi: Due to the scattered type of attractions in Dubai and the lack of urban transport stations, public taxis are the most popular means of transportation in Dubai. There are different types of public taxis in Dubai and the costs are different. In total, the minimum fares are as follows: entrance fee of 12 dirhams plus 3 dirhams per kilometer
Metro: The Dubai Metro with two lines, red and green, operates from 5 a.m. to 24 hours a day. Dubai Metro has many services and makes it possible for you to get around comfortably in the city.
Bus: Dubai’s buses are modern and clean, and unlike the metro, they provide people with the possibility of traveling to more places. Dubai buses are white and red and have different types, including standard buses, metro line,s and double-decker buses.
Monorail: The Dubai Monorail has only one line that runs through the palm-shaped island of Jumeirah.
Tram: The Dubai Tram has only one line and connects Jumeirah Island to Dubai. In fact, the tram starts from the Dubai Metro station and reaches the Palm Jumeirah Monorail.
Water transportation: Dubai boats, water taxis, water buses, and Ebers are among the things that make water excursions possible for people and tourists. The cost of a boat ride is very diverse and depends on the duration of the ride, the type of boat, and the services of each one.
Online taxi: There are also online taxis in Dubai, the best of which are Uber and Careem. You just need to install their application on your smartphone.
Dubai Travel Guide: SIM cards of the United Arab Emirates
To make calls and use mobile internet, there are two operators in the United Arab Emirates known as Etisalat and Du. Although Etisalat SIM cards have better coverage than competing SIM cards, tourists are generally satisfied with both SIM cards and their services.
Which is the best Sim in UAE? Of course, the thing that differentiates Du SIM cards from Etisalat is the variety of services and the reasonable price of this operator’s packages, which makes it the best option for tourists. You can buy one of the two SIM cards by paying between 55 and 110 dirhams. Etisalat tourist SIM cards also cost 105 dirhams.
Dubai Travel Guide: Famous dishes of the United Arab Emirates
The food culture of the UAE and the city of Dubai is derived from other Arab countries and neighboring countries. Among the famous delicacies of Dubai, we can mention the followings:
- Shawarma
- Whole Stuffed Camel
- harees (a type of Halim)
- Mahalabia (a type of Arabic pudding)
- Quzi or Qozi (Lamb Dish over Rice)
Dubai Travel Guide: Festivals
Every year, Dubai hosts various competitions and festivals, the most popular of which is the Dubai Shopping Festival. This festival is held every year in winter and makes the shopping market in Dubai even hotter by putting up remarkable and amazing auctions. Other popular events in Dubai include sports events such as tennis, marathon, tennis, camel riding, horse riding, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
1- What are the best markets in Dubai for shopping?
The answer to this question depends on what you want to buy. If you want to buy gold, go to Dubai Gold Souk. If you are interested in traditional Arabic clothes, go to the textile souk in Dubai.
If you want to buy cheap brand items, Dubai Outlet Mall is the best option. If you want to go to a secluded market where everything is found, the Shopping mall on Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai is for you. If you are looking for a luxurious and attractive market, we suggest The Dubai Mall.
2- Which are the best entertainment centers in Dubai?
Dubai Aquarium, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, IMG Worlds of Adventure, Dubai Miracle Garden, Ski Dubai resort, and various water parks. Also, if you are looking for a place for your children to play, Legoland® Dubai is the best place.
3- Which hotel is good for staying in Dubai?
Depending on how much you want to spend, there are plenty of hotels to choose from. For example, from the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel to the 2-star Queens Hotel.
4- Which are the famous public beaches in Dubai?
The beaches of Jumeirah, Lamar, Marina Beach, Umm Suqim, Kite, Al-Safouh, Al Mamzar Beach Park, etc are among the best public beaches in Dubai.
5- What is Dubai’s climate throughout the year?
When you travel to Dubai, you enter a city with a hot and dry climate. Maybe this situation will change a little during the year and according to the weather conditions, But the general conditions are constant. This means that on most days of the year in Dubai, the sky is blue and sunny, and only sometimes does it become cloudy, in which case rain can be expected.
6- When is the best time to travel to Dubai?
Perhaps, for some, the best time to travel to Dubai is when the entire cost of traveling to Dubai is affordable and cheap for them. If we want to determine the best time to travel to Dubai with this goal, we must say that the hot and exhausting summers of Dubai are the best time.
Maybe you are one of those who are interested in shopping. In this case, the best time to travel is during auctions, when about 6000 different stores participate in sales festivals.
In terms of weather, the best time to travel to Dubai is winter, when this city spends its most prosperous days.
7- What are the 5-star hotels in Dubai?
- JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
- Swissotel Al Ghurair
- Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira
8- What are the 4-star hotels in Dubai?
- Holiday Inn Bur Dubai – Embassy District
- Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall Of The Emirates
- Aloft City Centre Deira
9- What is the 3-star hotel in Dubai?
- Arabian Park Hotel
10- What is the 2-star hotel in Dubai?
- Queen’s Hotel Dubai
11- What are the best Luxury Hotels in Dubai For Couples?
FIVE Palm Jumeirah Dubai, Four Seasons Resort Dubai, and Atlantis, The Palm are the 3 best Honeymoon Hotels In Dubai.
12- What are the best restaurants in Dubai?
- La Petite Maison
- Tom & Serg
- Dinner In The Sky
- Latitude
- TOMO
- Naya
- Shayan
- Loca
- Downtown Toko
- 101 Dining Lounge and Marina
- Wild & The Moon
- Bu Qtair
What are the best tourist spot in Dubai?