TRAVEL GUIDE TO DUBAI, UAE

Quick facts:

• Dubai is a most populous city in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene.
• It is also a major transport hub for passengers and cargo.
• Population: 2.459 million as of (Jan 29, 2016).
• Sharia laws –Kissing in public is strictly illegal and can result in deportation. Non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol in licensed venues, typically within hotels, or at home with the possession of an alcohol license. Restaurants outside hotels in Dubai are typically not permitted to sell alcohol.

Trivia:

• Some theory states that the name came from a word meaning “money”, as people from Dubai were commonly believed to be rich due to the thriving trading center of the location. An Arabic proverb says “Daba Dubai” (Arabic: دبا دبي‎‎), meaning “They came with a lot of money.”
• There are 72 shopping malls in Dubai and 8 malls under contraction, one of them is the SM (Shoemart), the greatest mall from China and the Philippines, will be constructed at Al Rasheed Road corner 106th (formerly Alexandria) and Cairo Street in Dubai.
• In 2014, Dubai’s hotel rooms were rated as the second most expensive in the world, after Geneva.
• Dubai was rated as one of the best places to live in the Middle East by American global consulting firm Mercer.
• As of 2012, Dubai is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East.

What to bring:  Aside of packing your personal stuff + passport , make sure that you have visa if necessary.

• Visa-The kind of visa you need to enter the UAE depends on several factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit and its duration. Check below the lucky citizens of the following countries do not require pre-entry visas to enter the UAE:

If your country is not listed above categories, you will require a visa and a sponsor for your visit. The sponsor normally applies for the visa on your behalf. For more information check nearest UAE Embassy\Consulate.

What to wear:

• Dress code– The Emirati attire is typical of several countries in the Arabian peninsula. Women usually wear the “Abaya”, a long black robe with a hijab (the head-scarf which covers the neck and part of the head). Some women may add a niqab which cover the mouth and nose and only leaves the eyes exposed. Men wear the “Kandurah” also referred to as “dishdasha” or even “thawb” (long white robe) and the headscarf (Ghotrah).
• The above dress code is not compulsory, but prohibitions on wearing “indecent clothing” or revealing too much skin are aspects of the UAE to which Dubai’s visitors are expected to conform, and are encoded in Dubai’s criminal law. The UAE has enforced anti-indecency prohibitions in all public places (aside from waterparks, beaches, clubs, and bars).

As much as possible bring clothes that long enough and have light material cloth because Dubai has a hot desert climate. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, windy, and humid. Always check the weather updates of the country you going to visit before you start packing.

How to get there:

Emirates Airline is the national airline of Dubai. As of 2014, it operated internationally serving 142 destinations in over 70 countries across six continents. Cebu Pacific have super cheap direct flight to Dubai from Manila,Philippines. Check below other airlines have flights to Dubai from Manila,Philippines.

Where to stay: Name it! Dubai have many hotels, from budget to five star, hmmm okay 7 star hotel. haha. If you have family or friend who can be your sponsor then it’s gonna be a great news but for all the first timer, it is advisable to stay in a hotel near the metro.  Not only it is economical but easier to navigate the city and have access to all tourist attractions.I recommend also to hired a taxi and have a hotel hopping, check the different magnificent lobbies. You can check some site where you can find good hotel.

• Agoda
• TripAdvisor
• Expedia

Transportation in Dubai:

• Taxi
• Metro
• Rent a Car
• Dubai Tram

Must- see attraction:  If you are first timer  and you want to visit Dubai for few days or a week I will suggest to try Hop-on, Hop-off with Big Bus Tour for your first 24 hours. Choose from a range of tickets designed to help you make the most of your stay in Dubai. This will help you to familiarize with the city and get a chance to discover all of the famous Dubai attractions.

Here are the top places to tick off your sightseeing list when you’re in town. This must not be missed if you are visiting Dubai for the first time. If you cannot afford to get close experience at least you take some photos for souvenirs.

• Burj Khalifa  – Related Article
• Burj Al Arab – Related Article
• Dubai Fountain Show
• Atlantis The Palm
• Butterfly Garden– Related Article
• Dubai Miracle Garden
• Ski Dubai

Check here the  new list of Dubai’s newest tourist attractions is out of control. I wonder how many more {worlds only  records, highest, longest, biggest, tallest} they can get. Check out and see for yourself!

Check some of my photos here ↓