Dubai
City Info:
Quick Links - Handy Info | Events | Getting Around / There | Tips for Tourists
Dubai is one of the seven Emirates of UAE that is well known for sun, sand and sea. It is a warm and friendly city that is famous for its amazing infrastructure and thriving economy.
Intro - Overview, Culture, History
Well, if you are planning to make a living in Dubai or thinking about a leisure trip to Dubai, you are choosing one of the finest destinations and tourist spots of the world that is well known for its burgeoning economy. Dubai is also well known for being one of the thriving industries in terms of economic condition with strong dirham.
Dubai is located on the coast of Persian Gulf at 52 feet above sea levels. Some of the bordering regions of Dubai include Abu Dhabi, Oman, Sharjah, Ajam, Hatta and Ras Al Khaimah. Dubai is surrounded by the date trees and desert. Some of the common sightings in the desert of Dubai include caracal, hyena, desert fox, Arabian Oryx and falcon. Some of the prominent geographical condition of Dubai include hot and humid climate with light rainfall during the months of January to March. In terms of demography, Dubai has mixed demography were one finds harmonious and cordial relations between various communities.
Apart from a strong Muslim community, Dubai is a strong base of non-Muslim communities such as Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. Some of the commonly spoken languages in Dubai include Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Tagalog and Urdu. This makes Dubai a multi lingual and multi cultural nation. However, there are strong legal laws incase of offence to Islam. This makes Dubai a multicultural and cosmopolitan society that has people from all ethnicity and nationality.
According to the census of year 2006, the population of Dubai is 1,492,000 with a density of 895.2 square meters. The geographical location of Dubai along with its strategic industries has been a haven for merchants and traders all over the world. However, lying within the Arabian Desert, Dubai’s topographical features are different from the rest of the UAE. However, seismically, Dubai is a stable zone.
Dubai is a strong tourist destination where its promotion is one of the top most priorities of the Dubai government in order to make Dubai a thriving foreign direct investment (FDI) economy. Dubai lies at the strategic cross roads of nations like Europe, Africa and Asia where major cities have direct international flights. Dubai is an important part of shopping tourism where every year large number of shopping tourists comes from far off place such as India, Europe, China and Sri Lanka.
Dubai is a modern day city that has state of the art shopping malls, departmental stores, electronic shops, boutiques and duty free shops cover every luxury items. Dubai Shopping Festival is a well know for its shopping tourism where tourists come from various parts of the world. This festival was started in the year 1996 and has been running strong ever since its conception. For all those who are planning to visit Dubai they will hardly find much difficulty as Dubai is a well connected city that is covered by major airlines throughout the world. Dubai International Airport is well connected airbase for all international flights. However, once in Dubai, you will find rental cabs that help you in finding ferrying you to the destination of your choice. However, if you have an international driving license of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, United States, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Cyprus, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, UK, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium or Germany; you can get a temporary driving license in Dubai. You just have to furnish a national license, valid passport and two latest photographs.
Dubai is one of the parts of United Arab Emirates that was created in the year 1971. Dubai has been under the rule of Al Maktoum since 1833 and the present Prime Minister hails from the Al Maktoum dynasty- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
However, if we divulge deep into the history of Dubai, before of advent of Islam, powerful empires of Sassanian and Byzantine were hailed as the great powers of Arabian Peninsula. However, it was Ummayad Caliph who drove off Sassanians from this region after the advent of Islam. One of the earliest life artifacts where one finds the mention of Dubai is the Book of Geography by Arab-Spanish geographer- Abul Abdullah al Bakri in the year 1095. In terms of culture, Dubai has a strong Islamic base. It is a cosmopolitan nation where one finds people of all nation and religion. In Dubai, expatriates have full freedom to practice their faith. Some of the popular cultural activities of Dubai include camel racing, falconry and dhow sailing. The official language of Dubai is Arabic where localities wear traditional dresses. Men can be seen in khandura or dishdasha- a full length dress. It is worn along with a gutra-a traditional head gear. For women, abaya is a long robe that is worn over clothes. In terms of population, 85% of Muslim population is Sunni and 15% are Sunnis. Talking about multi cultural society, Dubai is the only place that has both Sikh Gurudwara and a Hindu Temple. In spite of a strong Islamic culture, UAE offers full freedom to practice any religion.
In terms of art and culture, dance and music is synonymous with Arab culture. The Arabian music is played with acoustic instruments such as drums and tambourines, flute (also known as Nai) along with Rababa, tanboura and violin. Ayyala is the ancient dance form that emulates war. This is a martial dance form that attracts a large base of tourists in Dubai. It is one of the oldest and traditional dance forms of Arabian world that has an enthralling appeal over its audience.
Unlike the traditional conception were western world imagined Arabian women as meek and docile, the women of UAE are dynamic who take active part in the development of their society. The constitution of UAE grants equal status to men and women where they (women) have liberty to choose their professional as in case of men. In this regard, the Sheikha Fatima’s UAE Women Federation (founded in 1975) is a milestone in the empowerment of Arabian women. This federation is well known for its various committees such as religious affairs, social affair, mother and child development, cultural affairs, sports, arts and heritage. Women can be seen in all walks of life where they practice fields of their choice. They are no live under the shadow of their husband or depend on the family of in-laws. They are dynamic and independent citizens of UAE who have a specific place in the Dubai society. Therefore, women play an active role in the development of modern day Arabian world.
Apart from a strong Muslim community, Dubai is a strong base of non-Muslim communities such as Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. Some of the commonly spoken languages in Dubai include Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Tagalog and Urdu. This makes Dubai a multi lingual and multi cultural nation. However, there are strong legal laws incase of offence to Islam. This makes Dubai a multicultural and cosmopolitan society that has people from all ethnicity and nationality.
According to the census of year 2006, the population of Dubai is 1,492,000 with a density of 895.2 square meters. The geographical location of Dubai along with its strategic industries has been a haven for merchants and traders all over the world. However, lying within the Arabian Desert, Dubai’s topographical features are different from the rest of the UAE. However, seismically, Dubai is a stable zone.
Dubai is a strong tourist destination where its promotion is one of the top most priorities of the Dubai government in order to make Dubai a thriving foreign direct investment (FDI) economy. Dubai lies at the strategic cross roads of nations like Europe, Africa and Asia where major cities have direct international flights. Dubai is an important part of shopping tourism where every year large number of shopping tourists comes from far off place such as India, Europe, China and Sri Lanka.
Dubai is a modern day city that has state of the art shopping malls, departmental stores, electronic shops, boutiques and duty free shops cover every luxury items. Dubai Shopping Festival is a well know for its shopping tourism where tourists come from various parts of the world. This festival was started in the year 1996 and has been running strong ever since its conception. For all those who are planning to visit Dubai they will hardly find much difficulty as Dubai is a well connected city that is covered by major airlines throughout the world. Dubai International Airport is well connected airbase for all international flights. However, once in Dubai, you will find rental cabs that help you in finding ferrying you to the destination of your choice. However, if you have an international driving license of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, United States, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Cyprus, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, UK, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium or Germany; you can get a temporary driving license in Dubai. You just have to furnish a national license, valid passport and two latest photographs.
Dubai is one of the parts of United Arab Emirates that was created in the year 1971. Dubai has been under the rule of Al Maktoum since 1833 and the present Prime Minister hails from the Al Maktoum dynasty- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
However, if we divulge deep into the history of Dubai, before of advent of Islam, powerful empires of Sassanian and Byzantine were hailed as the great powers of Arabian Peninsula. However, it was Ummayad Caliph who drove off Sassanians from this region after the advent of Islam. One of the earliest life artifacts where one finds the mention of Dubai is the Book of Geography by Arab-Spanish geographer- Abul Abdullah al Bakri in the year 1095. In terms of culture, Dubai has a strong Islamic base. It is a cosmopolitan nation where one finds people of all nation and religion. In Dubai, expatriates have full freedom to practice their faith. Some of the popular cultural activities of Dubai include camel racing, falconry and dhow sailing. The official language of Dubai is Arabic where localities wear traditional dresses. Men can be seen in khandura or dishdasha- a full length dress. It is worn along with a gutra-a traditional head gear. For women, abaya is a long robe that is worn over clothes. In terms of population, 85% of Muslim population is Sunni and 15% are Sunnis. Talking about multi cultural society, Dubai is the only place that has both Sikh Gurudwara and a Hindu Temple. In spite of a strong Islamic culture, UAE offers full freedom to practice any religion.
In terms of art and culture, dance and music is synonymous with Arab culture. The Arabian music is played with acoustic instruments such as drums and tambourines, flute (also known as Nai) along with Rababa, tanboura and violin. Ayyala is the ancient dance form that emulates war. This is a martial dance form that attracts a large base of tourists in Dubai. It is one of the oldest and traditional dance forms of Arabian world that has an enthralling appeal over its audience.
Unlike the traditional conception were western world imagined Arabian women as meek and docile, the women of UAE are dynamic who take active part in the development of their society. The constitution of UAE grants equal status to men and women where they (women) have liberty to choose their professional as in case of men. In this regard, the Sheikha Fatima’s UAE Women Federation (founded in 1975) is a milestone in the empowerment of Arabian women. This federation is well known for its various committees such as religious affairs, social affair, mother and child development, cultural affairs, sports, arts and heritage. Women can be seen in all walks of life where they practice fields of their choice. They are no live under the shadow of their husband or depend on the family of in-laws. They are dynamic and independent citizens of UAE who have a specific place in the Dubai society. Therefore, women play an active role in the development of modern day Arabian world.
Handy Info
Events:
Try and check out some of the amazing beaches of Dubai. You cannot find anything more relaxing and amazing them lounging around beaches of Dubai. It is an ideal tourist vacation that helps you in enhancing the enjoyment of your Dubai trip in an easy way. While in Dubai, you cannot stay away from the shopping festival. Make a trip to Deira City Centre and other Emirates Malls where you find amazing bargains at attractive price. A good bargain can help you in striking a lucrative deal. While shopping in Dubai, visit the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. Well, if you are adventurous, you can take a hot air balloon ride and see the beauty of desert from the sky. Similarly, a SUV ride over sand dunes can give you the thrill for life with its adrenaline thumping experience. It will be definitely an exhilarating experience that comes with ample amount of thrill and amazing adventure. Further, if you are a golf enthusiast who loves playing golf on lush green meadows, make sure you try your hand with an exciting game of sand golf. If you feel you have enjoyed enough in deserts, you can treat yourself with Dubai’s Wild Wadi theme based water park where you enjoy water based games such as joy rides and surfing. You can enjoy your lavish and sumptuous dinner on cruises along the Dubai Creek that offers you a pleasurable glimpse of Dubai city in its full splendor. However, if you are planning to try the local cuisine, do no forget to check to taste Shwarma.
While going for a Dubai trip, try to gather maximum information about the trip so as to avoid any confusion about the trip. If you are using the services of a professional tourist guide, then you need not worry much as all the booking and sight seeing facilities are handled by the guide and the tourist agency themselves. However, if you are not using such services, in that case you have to look for suitable information about the Dubai trip, places to visit and hotels to stay and restaurants to visit. Make sure you carry a good city info guide along with you that helps you in knowing the city in a better way. During the holy months of Ramadan, there is less flow of tourists. However, once the religious festivity gets over, tourists flock to Dubai and enjoy amazing shopping festivals and Dubailand.
Getting Around/There
A common site is the charted taxis that serve from airport and take guests from airport to hotels and vice a versa. However, you even find a reliable bus service in Dubai but the most preferred mode of transportation in Dubai is the taxi system. It is advised for first time travelers to hire cabs in Dubai rather than to drive cars on their own as many tourists are unaware of tourist destinations and places. This can lead to large amount of confusion that is hazardous to both tourist and other passengers. Therefore, to safeguard from confusion, it is best advised to take appropriate service of tourist taxis. In terms of road and city infrastructure, Dubai has well connected roads that are liked in proper way. So, once on Dubai roads, there is no chance of losing one’s way or the place that one wishes to visit. Though taxis are cheap, you will find that many native drivers in Dubai have poor English. Therefore, make sure while boarding a taxi that your cab driver has literally understood the place where you want to go. Rounding up of the fare is quite normal procedure. However, it is in your benefit to always remember the exact location of your hotel so as to avoid any last minute confusion.
Well, incase you have an international drivers license; you can get a temporary license that allows you to drive a hired cab on the roads of Dubai in a legal way. However, the vehicles in Dubai have right hand drive. Therefore, for all those who come from nations where there is left hand drive, make sure you ensure that you can drive systematically without causing confusion on roads. One important tip, you will not find Dubai a pedestrian friendly place as cabs and other vehicle is seen at high speed. Therefore, make sure you walk safely on roads and cross roads on traffic crossings rather than in the middle of traffic. This can be suicidal.
In Dubai Creek, you will find water taxis or Abars that are similar to Venician Gondolas and come with a small motor. However, Abars are not something a new phenomena in Dubai as they have been existing in Dubai for centuries. Earlier when there was no motorized Abars, it was rowed like a boat with oars. Presently, you can find large number of Abars in Dubai Creek where passengers assemble in the small water taxis and move from one place to another. | Back to Top |
Tips for Tourists
• While going forward with the trip, check all the local information about Dubai and such as its weather conditions, accommodation details and tourist spots. If you have an organized trip, you can thoroughly enjoy your trip in a hassle free way. So, it is important to manage your schedule accordingly.
• It is best advised to plan a Dubai trip during its shopping festivals. This helps you in enjoying all the tourist attractions with your family. Visiting the place in off season will fail to offer you entire view of Dubai life.
• If you are a first time visitor to Dubai, make sure you are not ignorant with the laws and customs of the place. If you are unaware of the customs and rituals of Arab nation, you can know more about it from your local guides. This helps you in staying on the safe side of laws as UAE has stringent laws. So, try to be on a safer side while enjoying your Dubai trip.
• It is best advised to visit the place during the months of November and March as this is the winter season where weather is suitable for most foreigners. Avoid planning your trip during the Ramadan that falls between October-November. It is a fasting season for Muslims that starts from 5:00AM in the morning till 5:00PM in the evening. During this time, even tourists cannot eat food, smoke or drink in public places. As a tourist, you cannot buy liquor from open markets as only those who have license cab buy it for you. As a tourist, you can get it only from nightclubs or hotels. Some of the other equally important factors that are necessary to remember are:
• Incase you are a women, be conservative in your dressing sense. In order to enjoy your Dubai trip, make sure you check out the Dubai car rental service. However, in order to get this facility, you require an International driving license. In order to get this permit in Dubai, you have to furnish your identity details with your passport and other identification procedures. With the use of Dubai cabs, you safeguard yourself from the hustle and bustle of jam packed Dubai city life.
• As it is a warm nation, keep your luggage light and carry loose clothes.
• In Dubai, weekend holidays are on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. However, malls open on all week days and work till 11 PM at night. However, on Thursdays, shops and local business ply for half day.
it is important to respect the city laws as a tourist so as to get the real fun of Dubai hospitality. So, make sure you abide by the law and enjoy your trip.
Languages: Arabic
Currency: Arab Emirate Dirham
ISD Code: 04
Emergency Services
Police-999
Fire-997
Ambulance- 999
Best time to visit: January to March
Climate:
Summer – April to September
Peak Summer Months – April to May
Winter- January to March
Peak Winter Months – January and February | Back to Top |
Events:
Try and check out some of the amazing beaches of Dubai. You cannot find anything more relaxing and amazing them lounging around beaches of Dubai. It is an ideal tourist vacation that helps you in enhancing the enjoyment of your Dubai trip in an easy way. While in Dubai, you cannot stay away from the shopping festival. Make a trip to Deira City Centre and other Emirates Malls where you find amazing bargains at attractive price. A good bargain can help you in striking a lucrative deal. While shopping in Dubai, visit the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. Well, if you are adventurous, you can take a hot air balloon ride and see the beauty of desert from the sky. Similarly, a SUV ride over sand dunes can give you the thrill for life with its adrenaline thumping experience. It will be definitely an exhilarating experience that comes with ample amount of thrill and amazing adventure. Further, if you are a golf enthusiast who loves playing golf on lush green meadows, make sure you try your hand with an exciting game of sand golf. If you feel you have enjoyed enough in deserts, you can treat yourself with Dubai’s Wild Wadi theme based water park where you enjoy water based games such as joy rides and surfing. You can enjoy your lavish and sumptuous dinner on cruises along the Dubai Creek that offers you a pleasurable glimpse of Dubai city in its full splendor. However, if you are planning to try the local cuisine, do no forget to check to taste Shwarma.While going for a Dubai trip, try to gather maximum information about the trip so as to avoid any confusion about the trip. If you are using the services of a professional tourist guide, then you need not worry much as all the booking and sight seeing facilities are handled by the guide and the tourist agency themselves. However, if you are not using such services, in that case you have to look for suitable information about the Dubai trip, places to visit and hotels to stay and restaurants to visit. Make sure you carry a good city info guide along with you that helps you in knowing the city in a better way. During the holy months of Ramadan, there is less flow of tourists. However, once the religious festivity gets over, tourists flock to Dubai and enjoy amazing shopping festivals and Dubailand.
Getting Around/There
Well, one you are in Dubai, the most common mode of transportation is the use of local taxis that offer free pickup at per kilometer rate. These cream color taxis can be seen bustling on the busy roads of Dubai, ferrying passengers and tourists from one place to another. These taxis come under the Dubai Transport Corporation. However, you can even find taxis that do not run on kilometer system. Usually, these taxis are non metered one that is quite affordable and cheap in comparison of those with meters.
A common site is the charted taxis that serve from airport and take guests from airport to hotels and vice a versa. However, you even find a reliable bus service in Dubai but the most preferred mode of transportation in Dubai is the taxi system. It is advised for first time travelers to hire cabs in Dubai rather than to drive cars on their own as many tourists are unaware of tourist destinations and places. This can lead to large amount of confusion that is hazardous to both tourist and other passengers. Therefore, to safeguard from confusion, it is best advised to take appropriate service of tourist taxis. In terms of road and city infrastructure, Dubai has well connected roads that are liked in proper way. So, once on Dubai roads, there is no chance of losing one’s way or the place that one wishes to visit. Though taxis are cheap, you will find that many native drivers in Dubai have poor English. Therefore, make sure while boarding a taxi that your cab driver has literally understood the place where you want to go. Rounding up of the fare is quite normal procedure. However, it is in your benefit to always remember the exact location of your hotel so as to avoid any last minute confusion.
Well, incase you have an international drivers license; you can get a temporary license that allows you to drive a hired cab on the roads of Dubai in a legal way. However, the vehicles in Dubai have right hand drive. Therefore, for all those who come from nations where there is left hand drive, make sure you ensure that you can drive systematically without causing confusion on roads. One important tip, you will not find Dubai a pedestrian friendly place as cabs and other vehicle is seen at high speed. Therefore, make sure you walk safely on roads and cross roads on traffic crossings rather than in the middle of traffic. This can be suicidal.
In Dubai Creek, you will find water taxis or Abars that are similar to Venician Gondolas and come with a small motor. However, Abars are not something a new phenomena in Dubai as they have been existing in Dubai for centuries. Earlier when there was no motorized Abars, it was rowed like a boat with oars. Presently, you can find large number of Abars in Dubai Creek where passengers assemble in the small water taxis and move from one place to another. | Back to Top |
Tips for Tourists
Incase you are looking for effective tips while visiting Dubai, make sure you have preplanned your trip where you have a travel guide who helps you in your leisure trip. A preplanned trip helps in saving your time as well as energy. Some of the tips are:
• While going forward with the trip, check all the local information about Dubai and such as its weather conditions, accommodation details and tourist spots. If you have an organized trip, you can thoroughly enjoy your trip in a hassle free way. So, it is important to manage your schedule accordingly.
• It is best advised to plan a Dubai trip during its shopping festivals. This helps you in enjoying all the tourist attractions with your family. Visiting the place in off season will fail to offer you entire view of Dubai life.
• If you are a first time visitor to Dubai, make sure you are not ignorant with the laws and customs of the place. If you are unaware of the customs and rituals of Arab nation, you can know more about it from your local guides. This helps you in staying on the safe side of laws as UAE has stringent laws. So, try to be on a safer side while enjoying your Dubai trip.
• It is best advised to visit the place during the months of November and March as this is the winter season where weather is suitable for most foreigners. Avoid planning your trip during the Ramadan that falls between October-November. It is a fasting season for Muslims that starts from 5:00AM in the morning till 5:00PM in the evening. During this time, even tourists cannot eat food, smoke or drink in public places. As a tourist, you cannot buy liquor from open markets as only those who have license cab buy it for you. As a tourist, you can get it only from nightclubs or hotels. Some of the other equally important factors that are necessary to remember are:
• Incase you are a women, be conservative in your dressing sense. In order to enjoy your Dubai trip, make sure you check out the Dubai car rental service. However, in order to get this facility, you require an International driving license. In order to get this permit in Dubai, you have to furnish your identity details with your passport and other identification procedures. With the use of Dubai cabs, you safeguard yourself from the hustle and bustle of jam packed Dubai city life.
• As it is a warm nation, keep your luggage light and carry loose clothes.
• In Dubai, weekend holidays are on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. However, malls open on all week days and work till 11 PM at night. However, on Thursdays, shops and local business ply for half day.
it is important to respect the city laws as a tourist so as to get the real fun of Dubai hospitality. So, make sure you abide by the law and enjoy your trip.
