Tips and interesting facts to read before traveling to Dubai or other parts of the UAE!
- Dubai is a show-off. The city currently holds the following records: tallest building, largest indoor ski resort, best hotel, largest flower garden, largest performing fountain and the list goes on.
- Residents are so wealthy they have buildings erected so they they can occupy the penthouse. Other floors stay empty.
- That means there is a ton of real estate available! Apartments and condos are equivalent to New York City prices, but brokers tend to sweeten the deal. Advertisements show they’re not afraid to throw in a Maserati or Lamborghini at closings.
- Residents often have multiple cars: city and desert version (the most popular is a white Land Rover). There’s now a car graveyard from people getting the newest version and abandoning the old.
- Police cars are flashy too! Some drive Aston Martins…because why not?
- Not all desert adventures are created equal. Reputable companies will at the very least offer a traditional meal and options for dune bashing and camel riding.
- Though people tend to dress on the conservative side during day, the nightlife scene is a whole different ballgame. Women and men get glammed up! For the ladies, bikinis are acceptable at beaches and shorts/tank tops are, for the most part, tolerated at the main landmarks and during activities in the desert.
- 85% of the population is expats and the population skews towards the younger under 40 crowd.
- Oil is no longer the biggest industry in Dubai. Now construction, manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and tourism make up 90% of the business activity.
- Alcohol is only permitted in hotels and certain restaurants. It is pricey! Otherwise the only place to buy booze is in the Duty Free section at the airport.
- Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. There is a very low crime late – probably because the laws are so strict!
- Though visitors do have to be aware of more unusual laws such as swearing, being drunk in public, too affectionate, and there is a zero tolerance for drugs. At least you would get to ride in an Aston Martin…
- Despite how ritzy Dubai is, there are no casinos as gambling or any forms of betting go against Islamic law.
- Friday and Saturday are considered the weekend. Brunch is an all day exuberant affair on Fridays.
- Construction is evident all over the city and entire new towns are being built just down the (desert) road.
- It’s not worth renting a car. The several lane highways, traffic and high speed cars make it more difficult to follow the rules of the road. There is a metro, buses, taxis and Uber service instead.
- There are specific taxis driven by women for women (pink taxis) and women-only cars on the metro. Another bonus for women: Tuesday is ladies night at most of the restaurants and bars.
- Sports enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies are welcome in Dubai. If sky diving, sand boarding, shark diving, hot air balloons and zip lining won’t cut it, there are many other options.
- The malls can get packed, especially on a Friday and Saturday. The better way to buy unique items or souvenirs is to visit a souk or boutique market, like the Ripe Market at Zagreb Park, the Collective in Al Wuoz and Souks Madinat Jumeirah.
- Islam is the official religion in Dubai. Though there is a mosque located every few blocks, only two welcome non-Muslims, such as the Jumeirah Mosque. Or ideally, opt for the trip to Abu Dhabi’s renowned Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
- When you’re out and about, you’ll hear the Call to Prayer on the speakers. Most hotels are soundproof so it won’t interrupt your sleep or jet-lagged naps.
- The last couple of years have seen an oversupply of hotel rooms, so prices and ratings aren’t always accurate or equivalent to other parts of the world. Best to look at reviews and photos!
- The addition of more hotels were in a large part due to the World Expo which is scheduled to take place in October 2020. Millions of visitors from across 192 countries are expected to attend over the course of 6 months.
If you’re heading to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, check out this extravagant luxury-based itinerary or a more budget friendly version!
