DUBAI

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OVERVIEW

The city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is located on the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf). The city is strategically located on a 6 mile (10 kilometer) creek which divides Dubai into two parts; Deira which lies to the north and Bur Dubai which lies to the south. Originally Dubai attracted fishermen, pearl divers and traders, but now it draws the attention of businessmen and tourists.

Dubai combines sand dunes and Middle East culture with stunning ultra-modern high rise hotels overlooking unspoiled beaches and the warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf. And if that’s not enough, the city is a shopper’s paradise. The tiny emirate is a duty-free zone and during itsDubai Shopping Festival, when two million visitors arrive looking for discounts on gold, electronics, clothing, and Persian carpets.

Dubai is essentially a desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies (by regional standards), that became popular for its excellent tourist amenities. Just 5 hours from Europe and 3 hours from most parts of the Middle East, the Near East, and the sub-continent of India, Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, partying, sunbathing, and fine dining.

The best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November and April, when the weather is at its best. The rest of the year can be too hot and humid for comfort.

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ATTRACTIONS

Bastakiya is one of the oldest areas in Dubai and well worth a visit. The neighbourhood is full of narrow alleys, ancient Arab buildings and the traditional wind towers. As one of the places that best represents the city’s past, it is well preserved and has become a tourist village, with Arabmuseums and restaurants.

Burj Dubai — Already the world’s tallest structure and still growing taller every day, this is one landmark you cannot possibly miss seeing. The exact final height remains a mystery, but it has already passed 600m (100m taller than Taipei 101, the previous record-holder) and is expected to pass 800m before completion.

TRANSPORT

The most common method of transport in the city is the taxi and Dubai has an extensive taxi system. The government-operated cream coloured taxis offer metered taxes with a pickup fee and per kilometre rates. Private taxi companies offer a non-metered service with a negotiable rate which can often be more reasonable than the metered taxis.

The Dubai Municipality operates a reasonable bus service. Fares depend on the destination and are paid on entering the bus. It’s useful for passengers to have the exact change ready. You can find local public buses near the Gold Souk, Deira bus stand and Bur Dubai station. These buses will take you to most of the places of interest in the city and to the beaches.

The Dubai Metro which is still under construction is a driverless, fully automated metro network. The Red and Green Lines run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. Further lines are planned. When completed, the Dubai Metro will be the longest fully automated rail system in the world with 70 kilometres of track and 43 stations, 33 above ground and 10 underground.

One of the more traditional methods of getting across the Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai is on an Abras, a type of water taxi similar to Venetian gondolas with small motors attached. There are a number of abra stations along the Dubai Creek.

Palm Islands — The Dubai Palm Islands is a plan that is being executed and is on the verge of completion. Three large artificial islands are being built near Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Deira. The concept of the islands, also known as the Palm, was officially announced in 2002 and a lot of people have been considering them as a prospective eighth wonder of the world.

Beaches — Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world. The main beaches run along Jumeira Road, more commonly known as Beach Road. Many of these beaches are hotel and private club beaches, but they are interspaced by a few public access beaches. Hotel beaches are very well maintained with luxury facilities. The public has access to use private or hotel beach clubs with daily rates that vary from $10 to $50.

There is a public beach at Al Mamzar Park on the Deira side of the Creek. The public facilities there include playgrounds, barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas for families.

Water sports are very popular in Dubai and along Jumeria Beach you can go jet-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding and water skiing. Diving excursions that can also be arranged.

Desert Activities also attract visitors. One can experience midnight at an oasis under the stars in a Bedouin camp with camels tethered nearby. Or enjoy the thrill of 4 or 3-wheeling over the endless sand dunes.

Ski: Dubai now has its own snow skiing centre. Located in the new Mall of the Emirates (MOE), on the Sheikh Zayed Road, it offers both skiing and snowboarding. The

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slope is quite large for an indoor area and all equipment is available for hire.

Dubai Creek Cruise/Ride: In and around the Dubai Creek one can see some of the original buildings that have served as customs houses and defence structures of the original port. You can book a ride on the creek with a dinner cruise or even rent a private boat to take you on an hour long ride up and down the creek.

Golf: A lot of money and water is spent on irrigating the opulent golf courses of Dubai which are famous for the innovative design of their club houses and lush fairways. Hot Air Ballooning is one of the most exciting things to do in Dubai. The city has an ideal climate and geography for ballooning presenting a great fusion of sea, sun and sand. On a hot air balloon, you can view the Dubai skyline, the nearby awe-inspiring sand dunes and the spectacular surrounding landscapes of mountains and azure waters.

WHERE TO STAY

The demand for hotel rooms continues to badly outstrip supply, resulting in some of the most expensive rooms in the world. Book at least two weeks in advance for a chance at reasonable prices, especially during the high season from September to May.

There are roughly two dozen five-star hotels and an equally good number of other lodging facilities available in Dubai. These facilities include some of the most expensive hotels in the world. Also available are many inexpensive facilities that can take care of the low-end needs.

Hotels are located in Deira, Dubai’s commercial and business centre, in Bur Dubai home to mid-market hotels, in the Jumeira Road area where the world famous resorts and most luxurious hotels can be found, and on Sheikh Zayed Road which offers a superb choice of business style hotels.

Burj al-Arab Hotel has been cconsidered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels from the day it opened. The hotel was built to resemble the sail of a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel, and stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeira Beach. It is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Non-residents can visit the hotel, but entry requires a reservation.

DINING OUT

The variety of food available in Dubai is truly amazing. From spicy dishes to more subtle flavours, whatever your taste, you are sure to find the food of you choice in Dubai. From snacks and fast food to a complete five-course meal, you can get anything here, be it American, Lebanese, Iranian, Pakistani, Asian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, French, Thai, Malaysian, Mexican or Arabian. Most of the best restaurants in the city are in hotels.

Shawarma is the most available food in Dubai. It is meat that has been cooked on a skewer and then cut into thin strips and placed into pita bread with vegetables and dressing. Shawarma can be different from one restaurant to another.

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Another popular Arabic food in Dubai is the falafel. The falafel is a fried ball or patty made from spiced broad beans and/or chickpeas. Falafel sandwiches, which are basically pita bread filled with salad and falafel, are very popular.

As Dubai has grown from a small town into a bustling city, so has the nightlife scene. Most 3 to 5 star hotels have bars and nightclubs for those interested in the nightlife. World-class DJ’s frequent Dubai’s nightclubs, and many A-list musical celebrities are adding Dubai to their list of tour dates.

However, Dubai has several laws regarding alcohol which tourists should be aware of before visiting: Alcohol is only available at licensed premises, usually attached to hotels. (Most nightclubs and bars are in or attached to hotels.)

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, and there is a zero-tolerance policy on drunk driving. Anyone involved in a collision found with alcohol in their blood will usually get a month’s jail sentence and fine.

Remember to carry some sort of identification when visiting a bar if you are young, as you will not be let in otherwise. The law prohibits anyone below 21 to enter. The authorities take disruptive behaviour while intoxicated very seriously, it can lead to jail time or deportation.

Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the United Arab Emirates. That means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is in December-January for the next couple of years.

SHOPPING

Dubai is has been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. The city’s numerous shopping centres and souks (markets) cater for every consumer’s needs. Cars, clothing, jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment and other goods will all be likely to be available under the same roof.

Dubai’s retail prices are reasonable and the variety of products available matches that of any other major international city. Dubai is teeming with shopping malls and each mall reveals a different theme and experience. The sprawling expanse of the malls, the innovative architecture, the designer boutiques, top brands, vast product range and an endless choice of restaurants and cafes allow visitors the option of spending an entire day in a single shopping complex.

Deira is the commercial and business centre of Dubai. It is where some of the best shopping can be done and where the gold souks are located. The Deira City Centre is a superb shopping mall that offers almost three hundred outlets. If shopping is not your idea of fun, the mall also provides an entertainment centre and many restaurants.

Sheik Zayed Road is a relatively new area that serves as the new business area of Dubai. The road itself stretches across 55 km with 5 lanes on each side of it. The Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping centres in Dubai, is located on Sheik Zayed Road.

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Dubai Shopping Festival has been the biggest shopping event in the middle east for some years now. Starting at the end of January and ending at the end of February, almost every shop has a sale. There’s also a very similar Dubai Summer Surprises which tries to attract shoppers during the summer low season.

STREET MARKETSGold Souk is a historic market that has been a part of Dubai since the origin of the city. Located at the mouth of Dubai Creek, it dazzles people by selling gold in large quantities and with little visible security. Most of the gold is 22ct quality and quite expensive and the craftsmanship can be remarkably detailed. The gold items are sold by weight with a “making charge” added on top to cover the workmanship. Many outlets are part of chains that also have branches in malls, so they are generally reliable.

Spice Souk is another historic market not far from the Gold Souk. The narrow lanes of Spice Souk are filled with various Arabic fragrances. Vendors sell spices imported from all over the Middle East and the aroma of cloves, cinnamons, cardamoms and dried fruits lure the visitor into the market from a distance.

Remember to haggle in the souks, as discounts are almost always available and even in situations where the item will not become much cheaper, the customer is always expected to haggle.

CURRENCYThe currency of the United Arab Emirates is the Dirham (abbreviated to AED or Dhs). The Dirham is subdivided into 100 fils. Coins are in 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and 1 dirham. Notes are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 dirhams. Currency exchanges and banking facilities are available at most major airports. Exchange rates, however, are unlikely to be favourable at these outlets. More competitive rates can be obtained from city-centre financial establishments. You should avoid changing money at your hotel, as hotel rates are probably the worst on offer.

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9714-22300002245252

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

216-5555

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