Dubai is an immensely popular tourist destination. Every year, millions visit. If you plan on visiting, then you need to prepare for your trip. Because there’s so much to do in Dubai, preparation is essential. A failure to prepare could lead to you missing out on some of the city’s most enjoyable activities and attractions.
However, preparing for a trip to a city like Dubai can be very difficult to do (because of everything that’s going on there). This post will simplify preparing for you, by telling you everything you need to do.
Booking Flights
If you plan on visiting Dubai, then naturally the first thing that you need to do is to book your flights. However, because Dubai’s such a popular tourist destination, flights don’t come cheap. If you want good flights and perhaps even access to somewhere like the Amex Lounge in Dubai, then you need to book early, and with a reliable airline. You can usually get significant discounts on flights if you book several months in advance of your trip. Sometimes, you can get discounts on accommodation and transport, too.
Accommodation
Accommodation is the next thing that you need to think about, after booking your flights. After all, there’s no point in planning out your daily activities if you have no idea where you are going to stay. Dubai doesn’t really have a shoulder season, unlike other tourist destinations. Because of this, there’s not really a cheap time of year to book, so hotel prices are pretty consistent throughout the year. If you really want to save yourself money, then consider booking a package holiday. Package holidays tend to be more affordable than non-package ones.
Local Laws
While the United Arab Emirates is a lot more relaxed than other neighbouring countries, it is still an Islamic country, and there are some strict local laws. If you break them, you could get yourself into a lot of trouble. Public displays of nudity and drunkenness, for example, are not allowed. Behaving in such ways could lead to you getting arrested, fined, and even imprisoned. There have been very high-profile cases of tourists being arrested and sentenced to periods of imprisonment in Dubai for not following local laws. Research the U.A.E’s laws before traveling, so you know what not to do.
Acceptable Behaviour
There are some things that are not acceptable but are not arrestable offenses. When traveling to Dubai, it’s important to be aware of the things that could get you into trouble, or at least annoy the locals. For example, in Dubai, you are not allowed to take photographs of other people without their permission. Doing so could lead to you being asked by the police to delete the footage that you have taken. It could even go as far as to you receiving a filming ban, so make sure that you are careful not to capture other people’s faces in your pictures and videos.
It’s important to know about the do’s and don’ts as well as some facts about Dubai to help you travel better.
Planning Activities
Something else that’s worth doing is planning out what Dubai attractions you are going to be doing in advance. Ideally, you should create a Dubai itinerary. A lot of travel experts say that it is not a good idea to create an itinerary because it can be rigid, and take the fun out of going away on vacation. However, that is not always the case, especially not when you are going somewhere like Dubai, where there’s so much to do. Planning an itinerary can help to make each day’s activities a lot clearer, taking the stress out of your trip.
Getting Around
How do you intend on getting around in Dubai? A lot of travelers walk. However, if you have heat sensitivities, then walking might not be a good idea. The city’s public transport system is very efficient, but again, not great for people who don’t deal with heat well. One effective alternative to walking or taking public transport is to rent a car. By renting a car, you can ensure that you have access to air-conditioning at all times. Renting a car also means that you can travel a lot more freely. You could alternatively take taxis if you aren’t interested in renting a car.
Checking Weather
Always check the weather before you book the trip. Dubai is hot throughout the year, but some months are worse than others. If you do not check the weather forecast before booking your flights then you could end up being unable to leave your hotel room, because of the intense heat. The weather in Dubai is too much for some people. If you do visit during a hot time of the year, try to avoid leaving your room during the morning and early afternoon. Towards the evening the weather gets a lot cooler. Nearly all hotels have AC.
Religious Trips
If you are a Muslim, then you will love Dubai. While the United Arab Emirates is not as strict as many neighboring countries, as already mentioned, it’s still a fantastic place to go as a Muslim to explore Islam’s fascinating history. The U.A.E has some of the world’s grandest and most interesting mosques. Saudi Arabia is only a stone’s throw from the country too, so you could even take a flight there and visit Mecca. If you are not a Muslim, you can still visit mosques, museums, and important Islamic sites in the U.A.E.
Eating Seafood
Finally, be sure to try seafood when you’re in Dubai. Dubai is a coastal city, so naturally, a lot of the city’s residents survive almost exclusively on fish. If you are a fan of seafood then it’s worth checking out the myriad seafood restaurants that exist there. That said, however, it is also important to remember that there are many other non-seafood restaurants. Dubai has some of the world’s most famous, five-star restaurants. If you like food, then you are guaranteed to have a good time there. Some of them can be expensive though, which is something to bear in mind, but Dubai is an expensive city.
Dubai is a great place to go on holiday. The weather’s warm, the people are friendly, and there are hundreds of things to do. If you are planning a trip there, then take the tips outlined here into consideration, so you can get the most out of your trip.
