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.
Table of Contents
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
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:
- Burj Khalifa: At 828 m, the tallest skyscraper in the world is Dubai’s new landmark. The observation decks in the center and top third of the tower are among the most popular attractions in Dubai.
- Desert: A desert safari with red sand dune bashing, camels, and dinner at a Bedouin camp is one of the highlights of a trip to Dubai.
- Deira and Dubai Creek: The Abra boats in Dubai’s old town, together with the souks, are reminiscent of the past of the former British colony.
- Burj al Arab: The self-proclaimed 7-star hotel is the symbol of high-class tourism in Dubai. Other examples are the Atlantis The Palm and the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa.
- Beaches: Dubai’s man-made white sandy beaches with promenades, hotels, and gently sloping water combine a city trip with a beach holiday. Our recommendations are La Mer, Marina Beach, and the hotels around the Burj al Arab with The Palm.
- Dubai Mall and Emirates Mall: Both shopping centers have shops from all over the world, with additional attractions such as the famous indoor ski area in the Emirates Mall or the Dubai Aquarium in the Dubai Mall. The entrance to the Burj Khalifa is also in the Dubai Mall.
- Theme Parks: Visit Dubai Frame for a great view of nearby Dubai Garden Glow Park or Miracle Garden for floral Instagram photos. Bollywood Park, Dubai Legoland, and Universal Studios Dubailand are popular theme parks.
- The Palm Jumeirah: Luxury hotels such as The Palm and villas worth millions make the peninsula, artificially designed in the shape of a palm tree, a sight in Dubai in its own right. The new Palm Jebel Ali and the artificial islands are laid out in the shape of a world map The World is the future.
- Abu Dhabi: A day trip to the neighboring emirate Abu Dhabi with the snow-white Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace is part of a trip to Dubai.
- Yacht Cruise: Either on Dubai Creek with a public abra, dinner cruise, or an exclusive yacht along the artificial island The Palm, the Burj al Arab, and the palaces of the rulers of Dubai.
Top 10 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:
- Currency Dirham: The national currency of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates is the Dirham AED. Local shops extremely rarely accept euros or dollars. Changing from euros to dirhams is therefore necessary in Dubai. Ideally, pay with a travel credit card. This is the cheapest.
- Budget: Plan at least €100 per day including your hotel, €150 is more realistic. A meal in a normal restaurant costs €20, admission to a museum usually also €20, and a ride with an Uber around €10.
- Traffic: Dubai is a city for drivers. There are only a few subway lines in the city. Install Uber or another taxi app before a trip. This is the easiest, fastest, and most time-saving mode of transportation in Dubai.
- Foreign currency fees: The fees for withdrawing money from ATMs in Dubai of mostly 5 to 10 €.Therefore, compare the conditions of your credit cards. Giro cards often do not work in Dubai!
- Language: 80% of Dubai residents were not born in Dubai. English is very popular in Dubai. As a result, you can get by with English almost anywhere in the emirate.
- Sockets: Dubai was a British colony. For this reason, British sockets type G (British 3-pin) are installed in Dubai. Modern hotels often have adapter sockets.
- Culture: Alcohol is not allowed everywhere in Dubai. There are very strict laws against drugs, and insulting celebrities and there are separate laws for locals and immigrants.
- Location: Dubai is divided into several city centers from north to south. One center is, for example, the Dubai Mall with the Burj Khalifa, another center is Jumeirah with The Palm, the Burj Al Arab, and the Emirates Mall. These are the two most central locations for living during a city break. If you are planning a beach vacation, be sure to look for a hotel in Jumeirah.
- Duration: You can take a sightseeing tour with a stopover in Dubai or stay longer than a week. Both are easily possible. For a proper city trip, we recommend at least five full days. More is easily possible in combination with the beach holiday.
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
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.
- Flights: The airport is located in the northern part of Dubai. The transfer to the hotel from the airport usually takes 20 to 40 minutes by taxi or Uber. The airport is also connected to the metro. The most exclusive airline for a flight to Dubai is Emirates. European airlines have direct connections to Dubai from almost all major airports. The alternative to flying to Dubai is the airports in the neighboring emirates Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In this case, the transfer time is 60 to 90 minutes.
- Public transport: Public transport in Dubai is comparatively poorly developed. Most places can only be reached by bus. But there are now some central metro lines. In addition, there are abra boats on the Dubai Creek. Locals prefer to drive on the multi-lane roads. Uber is the easiest means of transportation for travelers.
- Train and long-distance bus: Rail transport in the United Arab Emirates is under construction. The first route has been in operation since 2016. For the trip to the neighboring emirates, we recommend guided tours, a rental car, or a long-distance bus.
- Abra: The old traditional boats navigate the Dubai Creek. A ticket costs 1 or 2 dirhams between Old Deira and the other side of the creek.
- Car and rental car: The streets in Dubai are excellently developed with sometimes up to eight lanes in one direction. This means that traffic jams are very rare. This also makes it easy for travelers to travel by car. Renting a car is usually only possible with a credit card.
- Taxi: The easiest means of transport in Dubai are taxis. The cheapest way to do this is with the local taxi app Careem and the easiest way is with Uber.
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
- The high-class hotels in Dubai are among the top 10 sights in the Emirates.
- Calculate a price of at least 2,000 euros for a night in the Burj Al Arab. That sets the price for other normal hotels in Dubai. A normal 3-star hotel in a decent location with good reviews costs at least €70-90 for a night.
- The cheapest hotels in Dubai are near the airport with a 35 to 60-minute drive to the top attractions.
- A good 5-star hotel in a central location costs more than €150 per day.
- One of the best locations for city breaks is the region around the Dubai Mall. An example of this is the Armani Hotel in the Burj Khalifa. The Atlantis Hotel on The Palm makes it possible to combine a city break with a beach holiday.
- There are also good beach hotels in Madinat Jumeirah with a view of the Burj al-Arab. An exclusive tip is the Al Maha a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa with Bedouin tents for overnight stays in the desert.
Security Tips and Tourist Traps
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.
- Pickpockets: As in all other countries, the Federal Foreign Office warns against pickpockets in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
- Rental cars: Check the small print of the contracts, make sure you have adequate insurance and the duration of the rental (especially the time of the return of the cars).
- Crime: The crime rate in Dubai is low. Violent crime is low in Dubai. This also has a lot to do with the far-reaching public surveillance with cameras.
- Dynamic Currency Conversion: In Dubai, always settle payments with cards in the local currency Dirham. Otherwise, operators of ATMs, card terminals, and online shops are allowed to set the exchange rate between the euro and the dirham themselves. It can be 4 to 12% worse than the daily Visa or Mastercard rate. This is the most common tourist trap in the world in my opinion.
- Rules of conduct: Only photograph people with their consent. Don’t drink alcohol in public, don’t do drugs, and avoid endearments between you and your partner. Homosexual relationships are still a very specific issue in the Emirates. Drinking alcohol is only possible in tourist places.
Culture, language, and cuisine
- Religion: Islam is the state religion in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. The majority are Sunnis. 80% of Dubai residents are immigrants. As a result, there are many Hindus, Sikhs, Shiites and Christians in the emirate.
- Music: The music of the Bedouins “Liwa” and dances of the Khaliji with young girls are part of the culture of the Emirates. Along with other folklore, they are part of the program of desert safari evening shows. Appearances by international stars at festivals such as Dubai Desert Rock are increasing in Dubai.
- Dress: There is no Islamic dress code. The Emiratis still prefer the traditional Kandura. This is the typical ankle-length white shirt. Local women often wear an abaya. This is a black outer garment that covers the body. Immigrants and tourists wear their usual attire. However, make sure your shoulders and knees are covered outside of the beach.
- Film and theatre: Western films from Hollywood predominate in Dubai and, for the increasing number of Indian residents, films from Bollywood. Films must be approved by the Ministry of Information.
- Emirati Literature: Poetry is the main form of literature in the Emirates. The oldest known poet of today’s United Arab Emirates is Ibn Majid. He lived between 1432 and 1437 in present-day Ra’s al-Khaimah. 40 compositions are known from his oeuvre, 39 of them verses.
Emirati cuisine
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.
- Chebab: Emiratische Pancakes (Al Fanar).
- Dango: Chickpea Salad (Al Fanar).
- Machboos: Yellow rice with Arabic spices such as saffron and chicken, fish, shrimp, or beef (Al Fanar).
- Fattoush: The originally Lebanese salad with pomegranate syrup, mint, and fried bread slices is a national dish (Arabian Tea House and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant).
- Balaleet: Noodles cooked with cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron (Arabian Tea House and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant).
- Biryani: A rice with Arabic spices and chicken, fish, or mutton.
- Kebab: A twist on Persian-inspired kebabs is a staple on the menu at Emirati restaurants (Al Fanar, Arabian Tea House, and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant).
- Madroobat: Traditional wheat and chicken stew (only at Al Fanar in Festival City on weekends).
- Leqaimat: Dough balls with date syrup (Al Fanar, Arabian Tea House, and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant).
- Karak Tea: The original Indian tea is now a national drink in Dubai (Arabian Tea House).
- Arabic coffee: Coffee traditionally prepared with an ibrik, optionally with additional spices. (Al Fanar, Arabian Tea House, and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant).
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 Lâ |
| Sorry almaʿṯrah |
| Toilet al-ḥ ammām |
| Entrance madḫal |
| Exit maḫrağ |
Best time to travel
| Month | Temperature | Rainydays | Sun | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15 to 24 degrees | 4-5 | 6-8 | 22° |
| February | 16 to 26 degrees | 4-5 | 7-9 | 20° |
| March | 18 to 29 degrees | 4-5 | 8-10 | 23° |
| April | 22 to 33 degrees | 1-2 | 8-10 | 25° |
| May | 25 to 38 degrees | 0-1 | 9-11 | 29° |
| June | 28 to 40 degrees | 0-1 | 11-13 | 31° |
| July | 30 to 41 degrees | 0 | 11-13 | 32° |
| August | 31 to 41 degrees | 0 | 10-12 | 32° |
| September | 28 to 39 degrees | 0-1 | 9-11 | 31° |
| October | 25 to 36 degrees | 1-2 | 9-11 | 30° |
| November | 21 to 31° | 1-2 | 8-10 | 27° |
| December | 17 to 26 degrees | 4-5 | 7-9 | 25° |
- Temperature: average minimum and maximum temperature
- Rainy days: per month
- Sun: hours per day
- Sea: water temperature
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
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.
Recommended websites
Useful links
- Booking.com: Hotel reviews and the widest range of available hotels in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
- Uber: To drive a taxi in Dubai. This is the easiest way to get around in Dubai. With Uber, the price and route are immediately clear.
- Airbnb: To search for a cheap holiday apartment in Dubai.
- GetYourGuide: reviews, descriptions, and booking of tours, excursions, tickets, and desert safaris in Dubai.
- Dubai Pass
