10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO DUBAI

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With this guide of tips for traveling to Dubai We want to help you organize your trip to one of the most amazing cities in the world, where you can enjoy such impressive places as the incredible Burj Khalifa or the Burj Al Arab, to which we advise you to add some extra days to make a trip to Desert and of course its neighbor Abu Dhabi, another city that we are safe, will not leave you indifferent.

Based on our trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Rub 'al Khali we leave you a selection of those that are for us 10 essential tips for traveling to Dubai. We start!

1. What is the best time?

In this case, before planning the trip, it is highly recommended to check what is the best time to travel to Dubai since depending on your choice, city tours can be quite difficult due to high temperatures.

High season (December to February): unlike in most places in the world, the winter months are the best months to travel to Dubai since these are the ones with the most pleasant and bearable temperatures.
Mid season (March and April / October and November): during these months temperatures usually reach 35-40 degrees during the day although in the morning and at night it usually refreshes. Although it is not the best time, if you can not travel in winter, spring and autumn would be the best alternatives.
Low season (June to September): these are the hottest months of the year, reaching 45 degrees in many points of the city and 95% humidity. It is best to avoid these months if you want to enjoy the city.

2. Entry requirements in the United Arab Emirates

If you are a Spanish citizen or of the European Union (EU) you must bring the passport to travel to Dubai and make a trip to the United Arab Emirates, with a maximum stay of 90 days without payment for a visa.
If you have another nationality, we recommend you check the embassy website before your flight to Dubai to know the requirements for entering the country.

Something important at this point is to keep in mind that as indicated on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the passport should not have any seal of Israel to travel to Dubai.
In our case we had the stamp stamped on the passport, of our trip to Israel and Palestine and after talking with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Madrid, they told us that currently and despite what they indicate on the Ministry's website, you can Travel with this stamp.
Although we recommend informing you, we can say that we did not have any problems and we believe that they did not even check the passport stamps.

Tips for traveling to Dubai

Another thing to keep in mind is that in the US they are very strict with the medication when traveling to Dubai. It is very important to consult this list before to know what you can take or not, since medications such as paracetamol or some very common anxiolytics are prohibited in Spain, without a doctor's prescription and letter.
In our case we were carrying a medication, which although his name was not on the list, it was his generic name. As we did with the seal of Israel, we called the embassy and they told us that if we carried the exact dose for the days of our trip, it was best to carry it in the suitcase and check it out. We did so and we had no problem.

Insurance to travel to Dubai

In addition to the documentation, to travel to the United Arab Emirates, it is very important to hire the best travel insurance so that if necessary, you have the best medical care and the best services.

We always travel insured with Mondo, with whom we carry a totally adequate insurance to the needs that we will have on the trip. Hiring your insurance here with Mondo, just for being a Street Travelers reader, you have a 5% discount.

3. Security

Travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi It is totally safe, whether traveling as a couple, group or alone as a woman. You can walk perfectly alone and take taxis or Uber without any problems although it is highly recommended to dress with certain respect avoiding pronounced necklines, showing shoulders or wearing very short pants or skirts.
You will see that many tourists do not follow these recommendations and of course, nothing happens, but we believe that it is appropriate to show respect for the country you are going to travel no matter how much you disagree with its rules. This does not mean that you go completely covered, although in some places, such as the Jumeirah Mosque, it is forced to do so.

Other important things is knowing that drug use or possession is considered a serious crime and there is zero tolerance for alcohol while driving.

Yas Mall

4. Money exchange

Another of the tips for traveling to Dubai It's about the currency exchange. In the United Arab Emirates the currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) and currently has an equivalence of 1 euro = 4AED.

Although many people still think that it is best to change at the airport or at any city or bank agency or even change at your trusted bank, we after many trips have opted for another alternative with which we save the abusive commissions that banks and exchange agencies charge.

Currently we always use the N26 card to pay and the BNEXT card to withdraw money from the cashier, with which all the commissions are returned and in addition you will receive 10 euros if you sign up from this link. In this way we do not pay commissions and we always have the change of the day.
We leave you the post of the best cards to travel without commissions, in which we comment all the details on this topic.

In addition to BNEXT and N26, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it is also advisable to carry cash to be able to pay in small businesses that do not accept cards or for tips.

4th. Internet in Dubai - United Arab Emirates

To have internet when traveling to Dubai It is very easy, although depending on the need you have, it is better to opt for one option or another.

SIM card

Among the best known and recommended companies are Du and Etisalat, which is the one with the highest and best coverage in the country, as well as having broader plans than the first.
Remember that in order to make use of these cards, you must have a free phone and you can purchase it directly at the airport, we are the option we recommend so you don't have to worry again or at any of the stores in the city, in the Most occasions in shopping centers.

Du: Covers the city of Dubai, the coast to Abu Dhabi, the city of Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah. In Al-Fujayrah coverage is quite poor.
Etisalat: In addition to the areas covered by Du, this company also covers Umm al-Qaywayn and the coastal area of the emirate Al-Fujayrah.

We opt for Etisalat, with more coverage in the country and with more data packages. Having to work, we opted for a 5Gb card for AED170 and another 8Gb card for AED220 that have lasted the entire trip making continuous use of the internet.
You can check the packages offered by Du here.

Etisalat plans

Wifi in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

In most tourist places of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in addition to accommodation and restaurants, you have the option of using Wi-Fi, which is also of quality.
The only problem is that in some of them, such as shopping centers, to be able to use it they ask you to register with a local phone number, so if you do not have a SIM you will not be able to connect.
If you do not need to have a permanent connection, we recommend buying the cheapest card and using all the Wi-Fi points in the city.

SIM card with reservation

This is another of the most recommended options, especially if you do not want to worry and have internet from the first moment.
You only have to buy it through this link and pick it up at the Book My Wifi counter (Terminal 1 or 3) of the Dubai International Airport that is open 24 hours a day.
There they will activate it and you can have internet from the first moment you arrive in the city.

Dubai airport

5. How to start the trip to United Arab Emirates?

The first and most important at the time of travel to Dubai It is to ask how many days you want to dedicate to the trip and what places you want to visit.
If you only want to know Dubai, we recommend you spend 3 full days in the city and two more days to get to know one day Abu Dhabi and another one to make a desert excursion.
If you want to extend the trip and go to Rub'Al Khali, the largest sand desert in the world, it would be necessary to add a couple more days, leaving a full 7-day trip plus two flights.

Once you have clear days, the next step is to look for flights, especially if you travel in high season or during a holiday. For this we recommend using this flight search engine, with which you will find the best options at the best prices.
Remember that if you want to make a route like ours it is highly recommended to make a multi-destination Entering Dubai and leaving Abu Dhabi, to avoid having to return to the origin and save time.

The next point will be to reserve the rental car in case you want to make the second part of the trip, Abu Dhabi and Rub Al Jali for free. For this we recommend reviewing this rental car comparator, which has the best offers and also has a premium insurance that you can take out and have full-risk insurance at much tighter prices than with the car rental companies themselves.

With this already booked, it's time to look at the accommodation in the cities and in the desert. For this we recommend using this hotel search engine, which is the best in the market and where you can find the best deals.
For more information we recommend you read this post about where to stay in Dubai: best neighborhoods and hotels.

Although all cities can be visited for free, we recommend taking advantage of an excursion or tour in both the city and the surrounding area, to learn more about the history and, above all, to get a more global idea of the United Arab Emirates.
You can see all the tours and excursions in the United Arab Emirates here as well as make the reservation directly and check the transfers to / from the airport here.

Rub al-Jali road with rental car

6. Route by UAE

If we consider you have chosen to travel to Dubai and make a trip to Abu Dhabi in addition to making an excursion to the surroundings, as we mentioned before, the ideal is to have about 7 effective days and a couple of days for flights.
In our experience, we would recommend you start flying to Dubai to spend 4 full days in the city knowing the most touristic places in the city and even one afternoon, take a desert excursion to watch the sunset and enjoy some traditional show.
After these days, the route would continue to rent a car to go to Abu Dhabi, where you can stay a full day or two, if you have an extra day and from there travel the 200 kilometers that separate the city from the Rub 'al Khali desert, where We recommend you spend one or two nights as a perfect icing for this trip.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Another option, which more and more travelers sign up for travel to Dubai It is to take advantage of a long scale between destinations and thus know the city.
We believe that this is also a perfect option as long as the season coincides with winter, spring or autumn, since in summer, as we have said on several occasions, temperatures are very high.

7. Dubai

Without a doubt, Dubai is the main objective of the majority to travel to United Arab Emirates. Known for being a city of luxuries and greatness, which in many occasions conveys a somewhat strange feeling of love-hate, this is also a destination to visit once in a lifetime.
With places as incredible as the impressive Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Al Arab, the only 7-star hotel in the world, The Palm, some artificial palm-shaped islands or the Dubai Mall, the most commercial mall Great in the world, Dubai is a destination that we are sure, will surprise you.

We recommend you dedicate a minimum of 4 days to the city to be able to visit all the places to see in Dubai essential in addition to making an afternoon excursion to the desert of Dubai, considered as one of the best tours and excursions in Dubai.

The Frame in Dubai

In addition to following the list of places to see in the city, we recommend you take a look at these personalized guides for days, with which you can know all the interesting places of Dubai:

To make the arrival in the city easier, we recommend you to read the post How to go from the Dubai airport to the center and to go up and enjoy the tallest building in the city this Guide to climb the Burj Khalifa: tickets and price.

Apart from these guides, it is highly recommended, if you want to know the city and its history to the fullest, book this Tour of Dubai in full, this Offer: Tour of Dubai + Desert Safari.

In addition, if you have an extra day it is highly recommended to do this Excursion to Abu Dhabi, with a guide in Spanish or this Desert Safari with dinner and show.

Sunset in Dubai

8. Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is another essential visit when traveling to Dubai. Sometimes found with its neighboring Dubai, this city has among its tourist attractions some wonders such as the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the largest in the country or the Louvre, one of the most incredible museums in the United Arab Emirates and one of the places to see in Abu Dhabi essential.

To get to know the city, we recommend you spend a minimum of one day, during which you can visit, in addition to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Louvre, places like Corniche, the city promenade or approach the Ethiad Towers, the Emirates Palace Hotel or visit the Qasr Al Watan.
You can go perfectly for free to Abu Dhabi, do not forget to read the post How to go from Dubai to Abu Dhabi or if you do not want to worry about anything book this guided tour of Abu Dhabi with a guide in Spanish.

In addition to following the list of places to see in the city, we recommend you take a look at this personalized guide, with which you will be able to know all the interesting places of Abu Dhabi:

In addition to this, if you have more days or want to know the city at the hands of a guide in Spanish, we recommend you check the following tours and excursions:

Sunset from Oasis of Dignity

9. Rub Al Jali Desert

Known for being the largest sand desert in the world, Rub 'Al Khali or Empty Quarter, is the perfect icing for travel to Dubai.
If you want to visit it, we recommend you have a couple of extra days and have a rental car in the United Arab Emirates, as there are no excursions to this area of the country.
From Abu Dhabi you can travel the 200 kilometers that separate Abu Dhabi from Rub Al Khali, through an infarct road, surrounded by dunes, in which only the landscapes fully justify the trip.

Liwa Oasis

We recommend you follow this personalized guide to not miss anything in this area of the United Arab Emirates.

And if you want to put a perfect weekend, nothing better than staying at the impressive Anantara Qasr at the Sarab Desert Resort, one of the most incredible hotels in the world and without a doubt, one of the best photos of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort

10. Gastronomy

Although we know that it is impossible to summarize in a few lines all the typical cuisine of the United Arab Emirates, yes we want to leave you a list of some of his best known dishes so that at travel to Dubai, you can enjoy them and some of the most recommended restaurants in the city.

Tajine: lamb and vegetable stew that is usually accompanied with couscous.
Tabbule: vegetable salad.
Hummus: chickpea puree. Exquisite!
Mutabal: eggplant cream very similar to hummus.
Falafel: kind of chickpea croquettes.
Faina: chickpea omelette.
Samosas: dumplings typical of this area, which are usually filled with vegetables.
Mezze: starters that usually include different dishes such as hummus, tabbule, mutabal ... etc

Mezze in Qasar Al Sarab

Recommended restaurants in Dubai

As with the gastronomy dishes, it is impossible to summarize in a few lines all the recommended restaurants in the city, but after traveling to Dubai for 4 days, we want to leave you a list of those that were the most recommended for us and that We believe, they can help you get to know the gastronomy a little better as well as enjoy unique moments and even in some cases, try some international gastronomy in highly recommended places.
Something to keep in mind is that in most restaurants payment by card is accepted and the tip is not included. This, although not mandatory, is accepted and well seen and is usually 10% of the total value of the account.

Arabian Tea House Restaurant Café: Considered one of the best restaurants in the city as well as being a very photogenic and pleasant place, this restaurant is located in the beautiful area of Al Bastakiya.
We order different entrees such as halloumi, hummus, falafel and samosas, more coconut, water and coffees for 185AED, which we can only recommend, both for the product, as for the quality and service.

Arabian Tea House Restaurant Café

Eataly: In the Dubai Mall, this is a chain that simulates an Italian market. We ordered a fungui pasta, tartufo pasta plus lemonade and water, coffees and dessert for 265AED, which we can only recommend since it is really amazing.
EatGreek: Also located in the Dubai Mall, this Greek restaurant is an excellent option if you want to change a little gastronomy. We ordered a mezze, saganaki and squid starter plus water for 189AED. Super recommended! All great and a service of 10.
Carnivore Tribes: located on the third floor of the Dubai Mall, just above the Apple store, it has a spectacular terrace, from which you can see the spectacle of the fountains from a unique perspective, with the Burj Khalifa in front.
Although the rotation is usually fast, if you do not want to wait, it is advisable to book and ask for a table on the terrace, on the front line.

Views from the Tribes Carnivore restaurant

The Observatory: On the 52nd floor of the Hotel Dubai Marriott Harbor, this restaurant offers unique views of Dubai Palm and Dubai Marina.
Keep in mind that this is the only way to have these views when traveling to Dubai, unless you opt for an activity such as a helicopter ride in Dubai, a seaplane flight or do a tandem jump in Dubai, one of the activities most incredible that can be done in the city.

More tips for traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Other of the best tips for traveling to United Arab Emirates They are:

If you are going to rent a car remember that although the driving in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates In general it is very easy and quiet, in the desert area, cars usually exceed the allowed speed. Do not do the same since the fines are usually quite common and will be charged to the card you have left as a deposit for rent.
The international driving license is not mandatory, you can rent a car with your Spanish national license, although if you have it, it is worth taking it.
Remember that when traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi you will be in a Muslim country. Although in most areas they are very flexible with tourists, it is important to show respect.
The official language is Arabic although practically everyone speaks English fluently, especially in tourist places.
The cards are a usual form of payment and with them you can pay from a cafe to a hotel.
If you are a heterosexual couple, you can walk hand in hand, although kisses and hugs are not well seen. Homosexuality is punished.
You can only drink alcohol in private spaces or in licensed bars and show signs of drunkenness is a crime as well as driving under the influence of alcohol, since here the tolerance to the steering wheel zero.
You can not do topless or nudism on any beach although you can use a bikini. Of course, only on the beach.
Remember that if you are traveling during Ramadan, being a tourist, you can eat and drink, although only in assigned areas in some of the restaurants.
To the travel to United Arab Emirates you must carry a plug adapter since the voltage is 230V, the frequency 50 Hz and the plugs are type G.

Do you want to organize this trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Rub 'al Khali for free?
Get it here:
The best deals on flights to Dubai here
The best hotels at the best prices in Dubai: here
The best hotels at the best prices in Abu Dhabi here
Get € 35 for your reservation with AirBnb here
Book your travel insurance with a 5% discount here
Book the best tours and excursions in Dubai in Spanish here
Book the best tours and excursions in Abu Dhabi in Spanish here
Book your Airport⇆Dubái transfer here
Rent your car to make a trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the best price here