Dubai Travel Tips

This is our comprehensive guide to planning a trip to Dubai. Here, we have compiled a list of the top Dubai travel tips, and recommendations for your visit. This guide includes information on flights, car rentals, the best time to go, safety precautions, desert tours, museums, local cuisine, and public transportation in Dubai.

The most dazzling of the seven United Arab Emirates on the Persian Gulf is Dubai.

With the tallest skyscraper in the world, as an airline hub, financial center, and destination for high-class tourism, the emirate has become independent of its former oil revenues.

The 3,885 km² small monarchical city-state now earns €30 billion a year from tourism. This is the world’s first place. Added to this is its status as the financial center of the Arab world, a hub for airlines and super-rich residents on artificial islands like The Palm. The everyday luxury offers are also reflected in the price of trips to Dubai, which are clearly in the upper third.

80% of Dubai residents were not born in the country. As a result, English is completely normal as a daily language.

The most famous sights in Dubai include the 828 m high Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall, artificial islands, and the 7-star luxury hotel Burj al Arab. 

Desert safaris with dune bashing and the crystal-clear sea, often embellished with artificial white sandy beaches, are among the natural sights in Dubai.

Reminders of Abra’s past as a small trading port are wooden boats on Dubai Creek, souks in Deira, and camels in the desert.

Together with the skyline, the Burj Khalifa is the new landmark of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

Top 10 Sights

Dubai Travel Tips Burj Khalifa

At second glance, Dubai is a really versatile travel destination. 

There are many more sights than mega-buildings in the ever-expanding metropolis. The deserts are a change from the skyline along with museums, beaches, markets, malls, exhibitions, and natural parks.

Here are the highlights of the sights:

Top 10 Dubai Travel Tips

Dubai Travel Tips

Here we have collected the most important Dubai travel tips: the most common questions, misunderstandings, and useful travel tips for a successful trip.

I’ll start with the basics:

Budget Tip: You are traveling to a country with a foreign currency. Pay in local currency with a free Visa Genial Card. Travel credit cards can save you hundreds of euros. I recommend at least one.

Dubai is one of the hubs of international airlines. It is therefore easy to get here from most destinations in Europe.

Tips for easy arrival

Black And White Image Of Dubai

Dubai is the international hub for flights between Europe, Asia and Africa. 

The airlines Emirates from Dubai and Etihad from Abi Dhabi have scheduled flights to all major airports in Europe.

In addition, European airlines have connections from major airports to the Emirates. Budget and holiday airlines are increasingly including Dubai with stopovers in their programs. 

This reduces the price of tickets for a flight to Dubai.

Important Laws:  The UAE has zero tolerance for drinking and driving! Alcohol leads to arrest and imprisonment for several days pending trial. The punishment for Muslims, even those not from the UAE, can be worse.

Tips for renting Hotel, Apartment & Airbnb

Dubai Travel Tips Armani Hotel Entrance
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Security Tips and Tourist Traps

Dubai Travel Tips Dubai Frame

Dubai is one of the safest travel destinations in the world. 

The crime rate in Dubai is low. Sunburn during a desert safari, on the beach, or the road between the hotel and the mall is the most common hazard for travelers. 

The Sharia-based legal system in Dubai is stricter than in many other Arab states. 

These include drunk driving, public insults to the government, possession of pornographic material, and unprescribed medication.

There are also other rules of conduct. Kissing in public is frowned upon, no one should be photographed without consent and drugs are a real problem.

Of course, the typical tourist traps also exist in Dubai, although they can easily be avoided in the form of taxi apps, credit card payments, and a look at the valuables in the souks. 

Nevertheless, I have quickly summarized the most important information from the Federal Foreign Office on travel safety here.

Culture, language, and cuisine

Dubai Travel Tips Port Of Dubai

Emirati cuisine

Traditional Emirate Dish

The cuisine in Dubai is now international.

There are more restaurants with typical Western, Asian, and Indian food than with Arabic dishes. Of course, this has to do with the population structure of Dubai, which consists mainly of immigrants and tourism.

Sushi, a burger, and curry are easier to find in Dubai than national dishes like madroobat. 

There are few restaurants with real Emirati cuisine. We only have three recommendations for this in Dubai.

The Al Fanar Restaurant in the Festival-City Mall, the Al Khyama Heritage Restaurant in the historic district of al-Bastakiyya near Dubai Creek, and the Arabian Tea House in Al Fahidi.

There are several branches of Al Fanar. We are referring here to the one in Festival City. There is also one on Dubai Creek with more seafood-inspired recipes. 

Here’s a quick list of menu items that are typical of Dubai. 

Also, read my blog post about 25 best restaurants in Dubai.

Arabic for beginners in Dubai

The official language of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai is Arabic. The slang on the streets of Dubai is to a large extent English.

This in turn is related to the very high proportion of immigrants in the Emirates. 

It is therefore unusual to meet people who cannot speak English. This applies above all to the service staff in hotels, sights, and attractions. Most of them are immigrants.

The labeling of public transport, maps in restaurants and other places is also in English.

Nevertheless, here we have collected some of the important words of the Arabic language in Dubai and in English. 

Hello Salaam Malekoum
Please afwan
Thank You šukran
Goodbye mai alslama
Yes naʿam
No
Sorry almaʿṯrah
Toilet al-ḥ ammām
Entrance madḫal
Exit maḫrağ

Best time to travel

MonthTemperatureRainydaysSunMore
January15 to 24 degrees4-56-822°
February16 to 26 degrees4-57-920°
March18 to 29 degrees4-58-1023°
April22 to 33 degrees1-28-1025°
May25 to 38 degrees0-19-1129°
June28 to 40 degrees0-111-1331°
July30 to 41 degrees011-1332°
August31 to 41 degrees010-1232°
September28 to 39 degrees0-19-1131°
October25 to 36 degrees1-29-1130°
November21 to 31°1-28-1027°
December17 to 26 degrees4-57-925°

Peak travel season

The best travel time in Dubai is between October and May. Daytime temperatures reach comfortable values ​​in the range of 30°, the sea is warmer than 25° and there is little rain.

In midsummer, many activities in Dubai are strenuous due to daytime temperatures of more than 40°. A trip is still possible with the very high temperatures for a beach holiday. Many travelers look forward to the next air-conditioned room from door to door in midsummer.

Overall, Dubai with the United Arab Emirates is a travel destination that is as close as possible to Europe in October, November, February, March, and April for a city trip in combination with a beach holiday. 

In December and January, the sea is too cold for some travelers with temperatures of 22°.

That depends on your preferences. It is 30° warm during the day in the months and therefore much more pleasant than at home.

What to wear in Dubai

Dubai Travel Tips What To Wear In Dubai

The general guideline for dressing in public in Dubai is to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Both men and women are advised to avoid wearing clothes that are overly tight or revealing. It is recommended to carry a light sweater or shawl when visiting public places as the air conditioning can sometimes be quite cool. By adhering to these guidelines, you will ensure respect for local customs and traditions while enjoying your time in Dubai.

Madinat Jumeirah In Dubai

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