Things to be Aware of When Travelling to Dubai

The tourism industry in Dubai is in full bloom at the moment and displays no sign of slowing down. The city is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, and popular with South Africans flying via Dubai to other destinations or directly to Dubai to visit expat friends and family who have settled there.

If you are planning a trip to Dubai with friends, family or spouse, to experience the majestic blend of modernism and traditionalism, it helps to have a certain understanding of how Dubai works and to know certain things beforehand, in order to have a wonderful and mesmerising vacation.

To make things easy, here are some things that you really ought to know:

What Should You Wear?

As you may know already, Dubai is a part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is a Muslim nation and hence, you have to bring dresses with you that enable you to dress modestly. You need to take care of your clothing in the mosque and public spaces like malls, cafes, public transport, airport etc. For ladies, it is ideal that their shoulders and knees be covered. It is recommended that ladies carry a pashmina packed in their bag at all the times for public areas.

However, although it is a Muslim nation, Dubai is not entirely conservative. It is fine to roam around in a bikini by the poolside or beach. Though it is not desired that you roam around in your hotel’s lobby in a bikini or shorts! However, there are designated lounges and beach clubs where you can stay in your bikini or beach wear all day long.

Where to Eat

Dubai is one of the top spots for foodies. Since the population of Dubai is pretty diverse in nature there are a number of food options to choose from and all are equally delicious.

In fact you don’t even need to visit luxury restaurants to enjoy the cuisine of Dubai. There are plenty of budget-friendly options. Visit the Bur Dubai area to feast on Iranian, Filipino, Yemeni, Indian, Pakistani, Afghan and even Bangladeshi food. You can even book with some local travel agencies who provide tours covering the entire local cuisine to satisfy the foodie inside you.

In short, the food scene in Dubai is pretty exciting and the awesome taste will linger on your taste buds for long.

Don’t Miss The Dhow Dinner Cruise in Dubai

The dhow is a traditional Arabic vessel which was used in Dubai for fishing. Later on, when the city embraced modernism the dhow vessels were replaced by modern cruise vessels. But, some entrepreneurs have taken out and refurbished these dhows into a floating restaurant where you cruise and enjoy the majestic marine sightseeing of Dubai along with a delicious dinner. Even cultural dance and songs are organized over the dhow dinner cruise. You can either go for Dhow Cruise Marina or get a dhow cruise from Dubai Creek. The only difference is the location. Dubai creek dhow cruise is more of having a glimpse into the past of the city. While the dhow cruise at Dubai Marina cruises through the modern part of the city. The choice is yours. You can have an amazing candlelight dinner with your spouse or enjoy a full main course meal with your family over the dhow cruise. Altogether it is a perfect way to spend some good moments in Dubai.

Weekends in Dubai

In Dubai, a significant part of the population has Fridays off as the Muslims get together for congregational prayers. Some businesses remain closed on Fridays; although a majority remain open nowadays. Hence, if you are looking to party the nights when the crowds are out in full swing are Thursday and Friday. You will also notice there are a lot of people visiting malls on Thursdays and Fridays. So, make your plans accordingly.

Dubai is Safe

Dubai is considered to be the world’s second safest city. Street crime cases are almost negligible. You can roam around at night without worrying about any kind of crime or theft. Also, it is entirely safe to board a taxi at night. If you want to know what the biggest dangers in Dubai are, then let us tell you: they are irresponsible driving and crossing the roads. People tend to drive recklessly in Dubai and many motorcycle lovers ignore the fact that there are pedestrian crossings.

Hence, it is advised that if you are walking on the streets don’t look above at the skyscrapers; instead walk straight with eyes down so as to eliminate the possibility of a possible road accident. Also, if you have to, please cross the roads carefully and always use the pedestrian crossings.

Make your Bookings in Advance

It is essential that you plan everything in advance and make reservations. Hotel reservations – please do it even before you start for Dubai. Moreover, it is essential that when you arrive in Dubai, you book restaurants and other attractions that you would like to visit in advance, or at least as soon as you arrive in Dubai. This is because, unlike other tourist destinations, the number of tourists in Dubai is pretty high and you simply can’t go anywhere and demand a table. That is not going to happen and you might end up wasting a significant number of days of your holiday. Hence, planning and making reservations in advance is highly recommended.

Alcohol 

Alcohol is available but the sale of alcohol is limited to restaurants that are present within hotels, bars, and clubs. You need to be staying at a hotel to get alcohol from its respective restaurant. Also, please note that you shouldn’t get drunk as it is extremely frowned upon in the city and you may attract the intervention of the local police. So, drink only an amount which you can comfortably and easily handle.

Conclusion

So, these are a few of the important things that you need to take care of when traveling to Dubai. You may have some other concerns. If you are booking through a travel guide it is best to consult them for tips.

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