What happened with Dubai in the last 20-30 years is astonishing. Dubai is the megacity we all need to visit if you want to see everything in one place. Even if it’s in a desert, this city will astonish you with the luxurious lifestyle and architecture.
There are skyscrapers everywhere and nearly every second car is from a luxury car brand.
Dubai has it all, and that’s great because people want to see everything in one city.
Nestled in the desert of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai and the biggest city in UAE.
The global expansion of Dubai started when the oil gathered from the country was used to fuel up the economy and created one of the greatest cities in the world. Even though the oil reserves are limited the country is investing everything into the tourism sector, real estate, and financial services.
If you are preparing to visit Dubai for the first time, our travel guide is a must read for you.
Here is what this Dubai travel guide for first time visitors covers:
The best places to visit in Dubai
While Dubai is a tourist attraction in itself, the city has many activities that you can visit and have a blast. From huge aquariums to the tallest building in the world, it has so much to offer that every tourist will be amazed.
Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is a must visit tourist attraction where you will be amazed by the sheer size of it and the yachts and boats that are present there. The project is still in development but you can stroll around and see the many skyscrapers present there. It’s a marvelous project and you can visit it for free.
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Burj Khalifa
The tallest building in the world which is Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai. You can see it from the ground and everywhere from around the city. It’s 828 meters long and the best part is there are restaurants, a hotel, a residential place and a mosque in the building.
When you finish touring the Burj Khalifa head on to The Dubai Fountain for a display of a water show accompanied with music. And if you want some shopping head on to Dubai Mall to spend some many on the many brands present in Dubai.
Burj Al Arab
No visit to Dubai is ever done without the visit of Burj Al Arab. The marvelous hotel sitting on the beach is one of the many attractions that people go after. If you can’t afford to sleep in the hotel for one night then having dinner at one of the restaurants should do the trick. The hotel is with 7 Michelin stars and one night here will cost you around $1000 and above this price.
Wild Wadi Waterpark
And one of the best attractions for your whole family is saved for last, and that is the Wild Wadi Waterpark. This famous waterpark in Dubai is a must visit for every family holiday visit to Dubai.
It is marvelous looking and it’s one of the craziest water parks in the World.
Best Dubai beaches
The beaches in Dubai are great. There are some private and public beaches around Dubai but the public beaches are amazing looking.
Sunset beach is the perfect beach to get that Burj Al Arab picture and it’s a tourist attraction for many visitors coming to Dubai.
The beach by Jumeirah Beach Residences has many activities around it with juice bars, burger joints, and boutiques to go shopping. This amazing beach is proclaimed to be the best family-friendly beach in Dubai.
Kite beach is for those adventurous tourists that want to have some fun and adrenaline pumping in Dubai. This beach is for the sports type with many non-water activities around the beach with the skatepark and outdoor trampoline. Also, you can play volleyball with someone to see who is better at it.
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Dubai Clothing Tips
If you don’t want to have any trouble in Dubai with the authority for being not dressed properly following these rules might help you.
For women having covered your shoulders is a must. Having a casual shirt or t-shirt is ok as long as it covers your shoulders. If you are feeling hot you can walk in a skirt or shorts that cover the knees. But this rule also implies for men too, no shorts above the knee or tops that reveal too much.
While entering a mosque women have to cover their heads and not wearing any shorts.
Also if you don’t have what the standard of the mosque requires they will provide you with abayas for women and kandourahs for men. It’s a good practice to always be prepared, but if you go unprepared the mosque will provide you with what you need.
The ideal clothing is something that can cover your body but give you the coolness that you need. So anything white is Ok but something with a darker color will be a problem for you.
Also, there are some rules to follow in Dubai while on the beach. For the men and women having bikinis is of course allowed but only on the beach not for getting to the beach. So while you are going to the beach put on some shorts or pants and you can change while you are on the beach. Looking decent will always be alright with the Dubai culture.
Women mustn’t go topless in Dubai. It’s not allowed and you might get banned in the country and with a huge fine for going topless. Keep it for another vacation and for another place. Alcohol is not allowed, and is prohibited to be drunk on the beaches or anywhere in public so don’t bring a beer on the beach.
Is it Safe?
UAE is one of the safest countries in the world. And don’t worry nothing will happen if you go there. Abiding by the usual travel rules will always be great like respecting the Arab culture and the laws of the country.
Just remember that you are in a different country and you should follow the rules in order to not have any unnecessary problems.
How much does a trip to Dubai cost?
Dubai is not for those on a tight budget although there are travelers that are doing that. A typical Dubai trip for two people might cost you around $500 for one week but you might pay more in the high season.
But there are different packages and different prices but $500 is the minimum for a good accommodation and without the plane prices.
When to go?
The best time to go to Dubai is from September to March. This is the high season in Dubai since it’s not as hot as the summers. It’s a perfect time to visit while half of the world is in winter.
Bear in mind that the prices might be higher and the costs might be higher, but swimming in the ocean in December feels great.
