Dubai is much more than the glitz and the hoopla surrounding the shiny and tall skyscrapers, stunning malls, breathtaking views from the top and the lively nightlife. The trip to this famous country was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. Lined with beautiful stretches of white beaches, some historic neighborhoods, and equally glamorous shopping centers there can never be a boring day in this spellbinding city in UAE. However, here is a special travel guide that I have created to make traveling to this city easier. Read ahead to know the dos and don’ts that you should definitely follow in Dubai for a fun, safe and memorable experience!!
Dos:
● Respecting the local culture
Despite the cosmopolitan vibe that Dubai exudes, it still has a rich culture. The people here are kind, generous, humble and courteous. Make sure to respect the sanctity of the religious places, sites of historic importance and other public places.
● Greeting appropriately
Greet an Arab with an Assalam Alaikum and place your hand on your chest. Wishing or introducing them with a handshake is considered rude.
● Dress appropriately
Make sure to dress in an appropriate fashion. Women and men both should wear attires that cover their shoulders and knees. Wearing revealing and transparent clothing should be avoided. Cover your head while visiting a mosque. Carry a jacket along when on the Desert Safari, as it tends to get cold at night.
● Safety during shopping
While Dubai is a heaven for people who love shopping, you need to be very careful from scamsters roaming in the markets. Keep an eye out for sellers heckling you into buying something or scam artists who know who is a tourist and who isn’t.
● Travel
Dubai has a fantastic public transport system comprising metro and bus options. You can choose to rent a car or book a hop-on hop-off tour ride for the day. You can also opt to ride on the Dubai Tram or Palm Jumeirah Monorail. Or better to download Careem app, which can help you with everything from food, pickup options, restaurant choices to transport.
● Be careful while walking or driving
Be careful while walking on the streets of Dubai as they are not exactly pedestrian-friendly. If driving, remember to drive on the right side of the road and at a considerable speed that does not end up irking other drivers. You should maintain a safe distance with other vehicles and avoid tailgating or overtaking in a dangerous manner. It is not a good idea to text or call while driving on Dubai roads!
● Use Google translate
You need not know Arabic to have a memorable holiday in Dubai. Use Google translate to your advantage so you can effortlessly wade through the large number of tourist attractions without a hassle. It was a personal savior for me and my 45 yo mother touring through the labyrinth streets in this marvelous country which was only our 2nd international trip.
● Tipping
You can tip the janitors, blue collar workers, street cleaners. Tips are a great way to appreciate the contribution of these under-appreciated folks.
Don’ts:
● Photography
Photographing the government, semi-government and military sites in Dubai isn’t allowed without a permit. Avoid photography in these areas. Do not photograph the locals without their permission.
● Alcohol consumption
Do not consume alcohol in non-designated areas in Dubai. If you feel tipsy, it is better to take a taxi and head straight to the hotel as drinking alcohol in public spaces is illegal.
● Sharing your views
Do not share your religious, social or political views when in Dubai. Doing so can land you in trouble. Also do not trust anyone who may come across over-friendly.
● Do not look for cheaper alternatives
There are no cheaper alternatives or discounted tickets for tourist attractions, water parks, museums etc. Do not get scammed by anyone following you to offer you the same at a lesser cost.
Overall, try to maintain the decorum of all places by avoiding shouting, arguing, swearing, yelling or being loud which could get you arrested. Follow these dos and don’ts and your Dubai trip will be as awesome and you will want to go back there again and again – just like I do.
Explore the beautiful locales in Dubai and do not miss out on these locations:
● Exploring the beaches
If you are a beach person, then you should definitely not miss out on exploring the plethora of Instagrammable beaches this city has! Jumeirah public beach, Kite beach, Mercato beach, Burj Al Arab, La Mer and the Beach are some that ought to be on your visit list!
● Desert Safari
Next on our list is the adventurous Desert Safari that was a really exciting addition to my itinerary and is worth experiencing at least once in your trip to Dubai. Camel rides, a land cruiser jeep ride in the sand dune, enjoying the picturesque sunset in the desert and some yummy BBQ food are some marvelous highlights of the desert safari. Horse riding, falcon photography and quad biking are some other activities that you can participate in. Though riding up and down the sand dune was the most exhilarating bit which made my hair stand on end! There is also the hot air balloon that you can ride on to get some mesmerizing views from the top.
● Dubai frame
This spectacular attraction offers tourists a bridge between its past and its aspirational future thus underlining the need to preserve the cultural richness of the past while embracing the modern future. There is stainless steel gold-plating on the frame lending it an added touch of elegance and luxury. Take out some time to witness the grand locales of Dubai from its 93 meter tall viewing bridge! The glass-floored viewing deck inside is the cherry on the cake. Augmented reality screens present you with fascinating trivia of the landmarks you see.
● Burj Khalifa
This towering tourist attraction offers the most outstanding and spectacular views of the entire city! Witnessing the landscape below is the most mesmerizing experience one can have. There are 3 observation decks situated on the 124th, 125th and 148th floor. Enjoy high tea at the lounge situated on the topmost level! You also can regale yourselves with the art and craft exhibits if you are an enthusiast. Remember to book ahead of your visit to beat the rush.
● Adventure activities
The adventurous souls can also have a thrilling time with activities such as zip lining, skydiving, scuba diving, dune bashing and more. IMG world of adventure
and Legoland are some of the exciting destinations to visit to experience the mega- adventure themed indoor parks. Also, this is an interesting spot to catch up with superhero, action heroes and cartoon characters if there are children and teens in the family. Plan ahead in advance if you wish to opt for skydiving.
I will be glad to know if this post makes you sit up and take notice to utilize the long weekends to discover the fascinating city of Dubai!
For any further queries, please reach out to holidays@lykke.travel
Credits:
Blog post is written by: Rajas Dhongde
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