TRAVEL TIPS
DUBAI
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
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.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS DUBAI
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
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
pickup fee and per kilometre rates. Private taxi
places that best represents the city’s past, it
companies offer a non-metered service with
is well preserved and has become a tourist
a negotiable rate which can often be more
village, with Arabmuseums and restaurants.
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.
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.
Palm Islands — The Dubai Palm Islands is a
There is a public beach at Al Mamzar Park on
plan that is being executed and is on the verge
the Deira side of the Creek. The public facilities
of completion. Three large artificial islands are
there include playgrounds, barbecue sites, food
being built near Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Deira.
kiosks, and picnic areas for families.
The concept of the islands, also known as the Palm, was officially announced in 2002 and a
Water sports are very popular in Dubai and along
lot of people have been considering them as a
Jumeria Beach you can go jet-skiing, sailing,
prospective eighth wonder of the world.
windsurfing, paragliding and water skiing. Diving excursions that can also be arranged.
Beaches — Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world. The
Desert Activities also attract visitors. One can
main beaches run along Jumeira Road, more
experience midnight at an oasis under the
commonly known as Beach Road. Many of
stars in a Bedouin camp with camels tethered
these beaches are hotel and private club
nearby. Or enjoy the thrill of 4 or 3-wheeling
beaches, but they are interspaced by a few
over the endless sand dunes.
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.
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
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS DUBAI
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 fivecourse 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.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS DUBAI
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.
SHOPPING
Falafel sandwiches, which are basically pita bread filled with salad and falafel, are very popular.
Dubai is has been called the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. The city’s numerous
As Dubai has grown from a small town into a
shopping centres and souks (markets) cater
bustling city, so has the nightlife scene. Most
for every consumer’s needs. Cars, clothing,
3 to 5 star hotels have bars and nightclubs for
jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting
those interested in the nightlife. World-class
equipment and other goods will all be likely to
DJ’s frequent Dubai’s nightclubs, and many
be available under the same roof.
A-list musical celebrities are adding Dubai to their list of tour dates.
Dubai’s retail prices are reasonable and the variety of products available matches that of
However, Dubai has several laws regarding
any other major international city. Dubai is
alcohol which tourists should be aware of before
teeming with shopping malls and each mall
visiting: Alcohol is only available at licensed
reveals a different theme and experience.
premises, usually attached to hotels. (Most
The sprawling expanse of the malls, the
nightclubs and bars are in or attached to hotels.)
innovative architecture, the designer boutiques, top brands, vast product range and
It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places,
an endless choice of restaurants and cafes
and there is a zero-tolerance policy on drunk
allow visitors the option of spending an entire
driving. Anyone involved in a collision found
day in a single shopping complex.
with alcohol in their blood will usually get a month’s jail sentence and fine.
Deira is the commercial and business centre of Dubai. It is where some of the best shopping
Remember to carry some sort of identification
can be done and where the gold souks are
when visiting a bar if you are young, as you
located. The Deira City Centre is a superb
will not be let in otherwise. The law prohibits
shopping mall that offers almost three hundred
anyone below 21 to enter. The authorities take
outlets. If shopping is not your idea of fun, the
disruptive behaviour while intoxicated very
mall also provides an entertainment centre and
seriously, it can lead to jail time or deportation.
many restaurants.
Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is
Sheik Zayed Road is a relatively new area that
strictly adhered to in the United Arab Emirates.
serves as the new business area of Dubai. The
That means no eating, drinking or smoking
road itself stretches across 55 km with 5 lanes
in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that
on each side of it. The Mall of the Emirates,
normally serve alcohol stop serving it during
one of the largest shopping centres in Dubai, is
this month. Ramadan is in December-January
located on Sheik Zayed Road.
for the next couple of years.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS DUBAI
Dubai Shopping Festival has been the biggest
CURRENCY
shopping event in the middle east for some
The currency of the United Arab Emirates is
years now. Starting at the end of January and
the Dirham (abbreviated to AED or Dhs). The
ending at the end of February, almost every
Dirham is subdivided into 100 fils. Coins are in
shop has a sale. There’s also a very similar
5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and 1 dirham. Notes are
Dubai Summer Surprises which tries to attract
in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200,
shoppers during the summer low season.
500 and 1,000 dirhams. Currency exchanges
STREET MARKETS Gold 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.
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.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
914 4 999 997
COUNTRY CODE CITY CODE POLICE FIRE STATION
TOURIST INFORMATION
9714-2230000 2245252 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
216-5555