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Top 7 things to know before traveling to
Dubai
There are some travel guidance
from thisisinsider.com about Top 7 things to know before traveling
to Dubai.
Dubai dazzled over 14 million visitors last
year with its glittering skyline, man-made islands, massive shopping malls, and
luxury hotels. While there are many reasons why you should choose Dubai for your
next vacation (like ascending the Burj Khalifa, sky diving over the Palm
Jumeriah, and indulging in Friday brunch, just to name a few), there are also
some things that you should know before you visit. Here, we've rounded up eight
of them.
1. Expatriates comprise about
92 percent of Dubai's population.
Kamran Jebreili/AP
That's right—only 8 percent of Dubai's residents hold an
Emirati passport. And, in addition to that, the median age is 27 years old,
which means there's a global millennial population that keeps the many
restaurants, bars, and beach clubs in business.
2. There's only one temperature—hot.
If you come from a place where there are usually four
seasons in one year, adjusting to Dubai's climate can be challenging. That's
because the desert climate of Dubai remains more or less the same. It only rains
a few days per year, and the temperature swings from hot to hotter. During the
winter months, it averages about 77 degrees, and in the summer, it's known to
soar past 113 degrees.
3. You can have almost anything you need delivered to your door (and it's awesome).
We're not sure if it's because of the extreme heat, the
stiff competition of international brands, or the fact that many people in Dubai
don't own a car, but amazingly, most restaurants, stores, and even services in
Dubai deliver or come right to you. Long before companies like Task Rabbit or
Seamless were created, businesses in Dubai have been catering to those who
prefer not to leave the comfort of their own air-conditioning. Instead, with one
simple phone call or a click of a mouse, you can have almost anything delivered
to your door. We're talking practical things like freshly laundered clothing,
medicine from the pharmacy, or groceries from the super market, as well as such
goodies as a birthday cake from Cold Stone Creamery and even a single Starbucks
Frappuccino.
4. You can be arrested for PDA.
Whenever traveling the world, it's important to respect
the local culture. And as Dubai is a Muslim city, kissing, cuddling, and even
holding hands in public are not only frowned upon by many, but actually illegal.
All too often, naive foreigners are arrested for committing indecent acts. This
is just one example of actions that might be legal in your own country, but
aren't in Dubai. Others include drinking alcohol in public (except at licensed
establishments) and giving someone the middle finger (or even using the emoji!).
Committing any of these offenses may see you fined, stripped of your passport,
and thrown in jail.
5. Weekends are from Thursday to Saturday, not Friday to Sunday.
Therefore Sunday, not Monday, is the dreaded first day of
the work week.
6. Expect a different city during Ramadan.
If you visit Dubai during the Islamic festival of
Ramadan, you'll experience the calmer side of the city. As Muslims are required
to fast during the day, many restaurants will be closed, and the ones that
remain open often put screens in the window to prevent passersby from seeing
inside. Similarly, the nightlife will be toned down, and visitors can expect
some of the major tourist destinations, like the malls and the Burj Khalifa, to
be significantly less crowded (which is one great reason to visit during this
time). Do plan to dress more conservatively during the holiday, as is
custom.
Immediately following Ramadan, however, is the Eid
al-Fitr festival, which breaks the fast. Dubai comes back to life in grand
fashion with many extravagant parties, so visitors will see rates rise
dramatically and rooms fill up quickly. If you're looking to celebrate here, be
sure to book your hotel well in advance, otherwise you might be shut
out.
7. Dubai is home to many of the biggest things in the world.
In downtown Dubai, you can find the world's tallest
building (the Burj Khalifa, of course), the largest shopping mall by land area
(Dubai Mall), and world's largest choreographed fountain show (at the Dubai
Fountain). But those aren't the only things that Dubai does bigger and better
than anywhere else. The city is also home to the world's largest man-made
islands, the Palm Islands, and has publicly announced plans to build the world's
largest airport, the world's largest entertainment complex, and the world's
largest ferris wheel over the course of the next ten years.
