Cultural highlights, impressive high-rises and epic shopping malls are only a few things that make Dubai a popular desert destination that I would recommend anyone to travel to. From the top of the Burj Khalifa overlooking downtown Dubai, to desert safaris and camel rides, there’s no wonder this United Arab Emirates hot-spot is popular with all kinds of travellers. But before you book your trip, here is everything you need to know about travelling to Dubai.
Book activities in advance in Dubai
Maximize your time and experience by making an effort to book your activities in advance of your trip to the increasingly popular Dubai. The desert safari with Platinum Heritage was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had, but the tour does fill up — and fast. So if there’s a certain day you have in mind, give yourself months in advance to secure a spot on that day. This also goes for getting tickets to the different attractions if you want to err on the side of caution.
Visits to the Top Of The Burj, where you take an elevator to the very top of the Burj Khalifa, was a favourite sight-seeing activity of mine. Things like this are less important to book far in advance — but buying the tickets online a day or two early will save you the headache of having to waiting in line once you arrive.
Respect the dress codes of the culture
It’s always important to respect the culture of whatever country you are travelling in. With Islam being the official religion of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has a large Muslim population — and wearing something that is not too revealing is seen as respectful and appropriate. This goes for both men and women and is relevant in the appropriate places, such as the city centre. However, there is no issue wearing a bikini at the beach, as Dubai makes exceptions for their tourists who hail from all over the world.
Time your vacation for the best weather in Dubai
Figuring out the time of year to travel is key because Dubai can get very hot in the summer months where it gets well into 40 degree celsius weather. If you are planning on going, arriving between October and April is best as the temperatures will be slightly cooler — but still in the 30s. If you do decide to go in the summer months, though, don’t fear as Dubai’s malls are very popular and will shield you from the humidity outside.
PDA is not allowed (so don’t do it)
In Dubai PDA can be seen as offensive. You always want to make sure you are respecting the cultural norms of a city that you are visiting — so it’s important to note that kissing is a big no-no — and in some cases, illegal as the act falls under “indecent behaviour”. It’s not a bad idea to brush up on what is and isn’t allowed before your trip.
These are all the important things to consider before your vacation to Dubai. This is such a cool city to visit and is one I’m already itching to get back to. There’s a lot of unique experiences here from visiting aquarium at the Atlantis hotel, to going skydiving over the man made part of Dubai called The Palm. This place will leave you wanting to come back time and time again.
Laura Reid blends both information and entertainment into humorous skit videos to provide people with solutions to everyday problems. Her Youtube videos often follow her around the world as she travels to different countries. Find her on Instagram @laurareidd.
