Things to Know Before Going to Dubai

Dubai, the globally renowned city of the United Arab Emirates, welcomes millions of tourists every year. In this article, I’ll list the essential information you need to know before heading to Dubai, providing insights that will come in handy during your visit.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: When to Go? When Not to Go?

Dubai experiences a desert climate, with temperatures rising above 45 degrees Celsius from June, peaking until October, where temperatures fluctuate between 45-55 degrees Celsius. Alongside the extreme heat, this period sees humidity levels ranging from 70-90%, making even simple outdoor activities challenging. In short, I advise against visiting Dubai between June and September unless absolutely necessary.

So, when is the best time to visit Dubai? The most favorable periods are from October to March. My personal favorites are definitely November and March. During these months, temperatures hover around 30 degrees Celsius, making it comfortable for both outdoor activities and enjoying the sea. You can experience Dubai’s most beautiful weather with clear, cloudy skies in these months.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Where to Stay?

Accommodation options in Dubai are endless, with hotels scattered all over the city. Since the entire city is full of hotels, there are numerous choices, and the prices vary depending on the level of luxury, ranging from $100 to $100,000 per night. Several parameters can help you choose your accommodation. Firstly, do you prefer using the metro for transportation, renting a car, or is taking a taxi everywhere okay for you? Do you have specific restaurants you want to try, or do you prefer shopping at markets and preparing meals at home? Based on these considerations and, of course, your budget, you can narrow down your options on Booking and Airbnb.

If you stay close to the tourist areas and along the metro line, your Dubai experience will be much smoother. In this case, your first options to consider are Dubai Marina and Downtown areas. Explore Dubai Marina accommodation options in here, Downtown accommodation options in here. Keep in mind that prices in these two areas may vary significantly due to their high popularity among tourists. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with a good location along the metro line, I recommend checking out two areas: Tecom and Al Barsha. You can check Tecom accommodation options from here, Al Barsha accommodation options from here. For additional accommodation choices in Dubai, you can find them listed here.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Visa

While the United Arab Emirates exempts certain countries from visa requirements and provides a visa on arrival option for some, other countries may require obtaining a visa before arrival. You can check if you need to obtain a visa here to ensure a smooth entry process.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Sim Card and Internet

In the United Arab Emirates, there are three major telecom companies: du, Etisalat, and Virgin Mobile. Du occasionally provides passengers landing at Dubai Airport with a passport control gift containing a sim card with 1 GB of internet. Du and Virgin Mobile have tourist packages; you can check the packages for du on this site and for Virgin on this site.

Another option for phone and internet is Airalo, which I have used and enjoyed while traveling lately. You can purchase an e-sim through Airalo and activate the line as soon as you land in the United Arab Emirates. If you use the code IAMONT3974 when purchasing for the first time, you’ll get a $3 discount :).

If you don’t want to buy a sim card, Dubai has a widespread Wi-Fi network. You can connect to the internet hassle-free in most public places, malls, and parks through these Wi-Fi networks.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Transportation

Dubai has two metro lines, red and green, making transportation within the city extremely convenient. The metro network covers the city from end to end. Additionally, there are other transportation options such as trams and buses. You can use the same transportation card for all these options. There are four types of cards: Gold, Silver, Blue, and Red. After getting your card, you need to load money into it from the same counter.

What’s the difference between transportation cards? Card fees and the amount you pay per use vary. Tourists usually opt for the Red or Silver card because of their economical nature. You can check card details here. Gold and other cards have separate cabins in the metro. If you don’t have a Gold card, make sure you don’t enter that section.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Useful Apps

Before going to Dubai, I recommend having a few apps on your phone that will be very useful during your stay in Dubai.

Firstly, Careem is a must. Uber is used in Dubai, but Careem is much more prevalent. If you plan to use a taxi, these apps will be very helpful.

Secondly, the Entertainer app is another essential. It’s a Buy One Get One Free application, meaning you pay for one and get the other for free. Normally, after purchasing membership for a certain fee, you pay a single-person bill in cafes and restaurants for 12 months. Entertainer recently introduced a new package for tourists; Entertainer Lite. Without paying any fees, you can visit restaurants listed here, show your app, and enjoy discounted meals. You can check the details here.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Video Calls

Making calls via Whatsapp and FaceTime is prohibited in the United Arab Emirates. The applications that work in your home country won’t work thus, you won’t be able to make voice or video calls using these apps. As an alternative, you can use Zoom or BOTIM during your stay in Dubai. Additionally, an important note: iPhones sold in Apple Stores in the United Arab Emirates don’t have FaceTime.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Activities

The list of activities to do in Dubai is endless. You can go to the desert, visit museums, take a boat tour, or climb to the top of Burj Khalifa, just to name a few. For these activities, I recommend buying tickets online before you go, allowing you to plan according to your desired day and time. You can compare ticket prices and purchase online tickets here or here.

In addition, Dubai and Abu Dhabi host various beautiful events every year. With concerts and festivals featuring world-renowned artists/DJs, there are diverse event options in the country. I recommend checking out the events in these two cities before you arrive and, if something catches your interest, purchasing your tickets in advance. You can check events in Dubai here and events in Abu Dhabi here.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Shopping

In the shopping paradise of Dubai, you’ll find numerous options to indulge in retail therapy. With shopping malls almost in every neighborhood, you’ll undoubtedly have no trouble finding them. Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Hills Mall, and Marina Mall are among the most popular ones. For instance, at Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping center, you can explore every imaginable brand and try out various products.

In addition to these, there are two separate outlet malls in Dubai that offer discounted items. The first is the Outlet Village, and the other is Outlet Mall. Both are located outside the city, and unfortunately, public transportation is not available in those areas. I recommend Outlet Mall between the two options. It houses stores of many popular brands, and the prices are genuinely reasonable compared to other stores; they indeed offer discounted products. I suggest going there, especially in the early hours of the morning, as the stores here receive new items daily, and by evening, many products may have sold out in terms of sizes and numbers.

Things to Know Before Going to Dubai: Notes & Recommendations & Closing

• You can read my article where I list the crucial areas to visit in Dubai here. You can plan your itinerary based on these highlighted regions.
• For a list of activities to do in Dubai, check out this list. Purchasing your tickets in advance will save you time during your visit.
• When you come to Dubai, your path will inevitably lead you to a shopping center. Generally, shopping malls can be a bit chilly. To avoid being affected by this, it’s a good idea to have a sweater with you, whether you visit in summer or winter.
• In the United Arab Emirates, power outlets are three-pronged. If you don’t usually use this type of outlet, it would be beneficial to bring an adapter with you.
• Privacy and personal space are highly valued in Dubai. When taking photos, it’s advisable not to include people around you, especially women, as they may feel uncomfortable being in your photograph.