TRAVEL TO DUBAI

VISIT TO DUBAI

Dubai may be known worldwide as the artificial capital of luxury, ostentatiousness and consumerism but, in reality, this city has a character that goes much further.

From the small alleys of the old town to traditional souks, the magnificent desert and lots of interesting places to visit outside the city, such as Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, you will see that there are so many things to do in Dubai that even a week may not be is enough to explore the Arab country as a whole.

The following travel guide shows you what to do in Dubai, the most cosmopolitan city in the Arabian Gulf, including a 5-day itinerary in Dubai and 2 day trips to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Keep in mind that this article does not only show you the tourist places but also shows you how to explore the most unusual places.

A couple of quick tips before planning what to see in Dubai

When to visit Dubai - Avoid summer at all costs, from June to September. In July and August, the temperatures are around 45ºC on average, in addition to prevailing a really disgusting humidity. In September, they go down slightly, but the humidity still persists, so it is not that life can be done on the street, even at night. Try to come from mid-October to mid-May.

By the way, remember that the Emirates is a Muslim country where sharia law predominates. As a result, Western tourists traveling to Dubai have to be a little careful, and not behave as they would in their respective countries.

You do not have to worry too much. It just uses common sense.

Dubai is a country with a double moral - On the one hand, the places where Westerners frequent, the beaches are full of girls in bikinis, while in the clubs, you will probably find girls dancing in costumes that look almost like bikinis. These areas are very tolerant in terms of the way they dress, but in more conservative places, that is, where there are places, it is recommended to cover your shoulders and knees, although the good news is that there is no need to cover the head.

The signs of affection are not tolerated in the UAE - and not just kissing, but even embracing in public could be considered illegal, even in the most western areas. I was once thrown out of a bar because there was no place to sit, my girlfriend was sitting on my lap. To be fair, the security told us three times, but we never paid any attention to him, and that rule seemed totally ridiculous.

The month of Ramadan - I do not recommend that you come during Ramadan, but if you happen to walk around here, remember that during the day, you can not drink or eat or smoke or even chew gum in public. If they catch you, they're going to fine you. Also, many bars will be closed and practically half of the country is paralyzed, so I insist that you better not come to Ramadan because you will not find much to do in Dubai.

Remember that tolerance to alcohol is 0 - If you get caught with alcohol and driving, or that you have drunk a quarter of a fifth, you risk being put in jail. In my three years of living there, I never saw any breath control, but if you had any accident, they will make you blow and as you get caught, these guys can destroy your life.

And the same with drugs - The Emirates also have zero tolerance for drugs. If they found you, not even 0.1g of grass at the airport, they will send you a good season in chirona. It is not a joke, and that is that there are real horror stories of kids who found marijuana micro-traces in their pockets and that came from the last joint that was smoked. No need to explain how bad they ended.

Drink alcohol - For your information, in Dubai you can drink alcohol. Normally, only 4 and 5 star hotels can sell it, but the thing is that people are dedicated to open normal bars and pubs and open it next to or inside a hotel. As you can imagine, there are countless hotels in Dubai and they all have lots of bars. In addition, there are also several stores where you can buy, although you must obtain a license that only expatriates and residents can get. Alternatively, if you have a car, 90km from Dubai, in Umm Quwain there is a store called Barracuda where everyone can buy.

Activities and tours - 

There are a lot of activities and things to see in Dubai where you probably want to go on an organized tour, such as Musandam, Abu Dhabi mosque or desert safari. Basically, the tours are cheaper than going by taxi or renting a car and, unfortunately, you can not go by public transport. On the other hand, for other activities, such as going up to the Burj Khalifa for example, it is advisable to buy the tickets in advance, since at the ticket office you will get more expensive. Whatever the activity, I advise you to keep an eye on those of GetYourGuide, since they offer lots of activities with different offers and combinations for a host of activities and adventures throughout the country.

Transportation: How to get around Dubai and other cities

How to get around Dubai

Metro - There are 2 subway lines that go through the most touristy places to see in Dubai. Both the station and the wagons go with the air conditioning to the top and everything is very modern. A trip costs less than € 1, but keep in mind that Dubai is gigantic, so moving from one place to another can take time. Also that you know that the main tourist places have a station, but to go to more alternative places, you will be quite limited.

Taxi - The most comfortable way to get around. If you look at what each kilometer is worth, it is cheap, but given that the distances are very large, traveling can be expensive. The shortest trip costs 15AED (3.50 €). Going from Marina to the old town can cost around 60-70AED (€ 16-19).

How to travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Bus - There is a bus to Abu Dhabi every twenty minutes, from 6 in the morning until 11 at night, and leaving from the bus station Al Ghubaiba, in Dubai. The buses are comfortable, with air conditioning and costs only 25AED (€ 6).

Taxi - A trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi costs 300AED (€ 70), one way.

Etihad Coach Service - For those who travel with Etihad, there is a bus service from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Make your reservation 24 hours before your trip through the Etihad page.

How to travel from Dubai to Sharjah

Public transport - You can take the subway from Dubai to Rashidya. You can also take a bus to Sharjah from the Deira Metro station, just 15 minutes by taxi from the Dubai airport. If you are in Bur Dubai, take a bus from Al Ghubaiba station to Sharjah.

Rent a car

Due to the lack and ominous public transport, renting a car is highly feasible, besides gasoline is very cheap.

If you got your driving license in Spain, it is possible to rent a car. However, for most Latin American countries, you will need an international license.

Where to stay

Dubai is a huge city with even more enormous distances and composed of many very different neighborhoods.

The area you want to stay in will depend on what you want to visit in Dubai, as well as your budget, since the prices vary enormously by area.

Also, if you decide to visit cities such as Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Al Ain, you must decide if you want to visit them in a day or, otherwise, you would like to spend a night there.

I recommend that you stay all week in Dubai, since in the other cities the nights are very boring.

I also advise you to do the relevant research regarding what area or neighborhood you will be staying. Keep in mind that if you decide to stay in the old part, for example, you will be more than 30km from Marina beach, which is almost 2 hours by metro and the taxi costs 75AED (20USD).