wikitravel.org/en/Dubai
Department of Tourism has more information for visiting Dubai. A relatively new tourist destination, Dubai has gained in popularity in the last 7 years. It is essentially a desert city with superb infrastructure, liberal policies and excellent tourist amenities. Just 5 hrs from Europe and 3 hrs from most parts of Asia, Dubai makes a great short break for Shopping, Partying, Sunbathing, Fine Dining, Sporting Events and even a few Sinful Pleasures. For the fastest, biggest, tallest, largest and highest, Dubai is the destination. Government departments are off on Thursday and Friday while a lot of multi-nationals are off on Friday and Saturday.
edit Climate Dubai is situated in a desert and gets very hot in the summer. Cool & mild weather lasts from end September to begining of May In May, June, July, August and September the sun is intense and tempreatures touch 50 degree Celsius!
It is only half an hour by road from Dubai and is taking an increasing number of international flights as Dubai airport struggles to keep up with demand. Frequent visitors from countries granted automatic visa on entry may wish to purchase an e-gate card to speed up immigration formalities and save passport pages. The e-gate card office is situated in the upstairs foodcourt area of the departures concourse.
edit By car Dubai's only international road border is with Oman at Al Wajajah. Expatriate residents of Oman will require an official permit to exit Oman by road. There is an OMR 3000 charge per vehicle to exit Oman and, if returning, retain the charge receipt as it will be required to reenter. Ensure that insurance is valid for the UAE (preferably before commencing the journey). Temporary UAE insurance can be purchased at the border for a premium price. Exiting Oman is fairly orderly but several kilometres down the road, entry into the UAE is totally disorganised;
edit By boat Dubai is a trading hub for dhows from around the Indian Ocean. Travellers wanting to arrive in the city this way will probably need to make their own arrangements with the captain of the vessel.
edit By bus Dubai has a good bus service with buses at intervals of about 20 min in general. However the bus service is not recommended for tourists as it does is not as comprehensive as in other major global cities. The main bus stations are Gold Souq Market (in Deira) and Bur Dubai bus station (in Bur Dubai). Use the Dubai Public transport as a cheaper means of traveling within the several districts in Dubai. The fare comes up to an easy 150 AED, affordable for those who prefer a cheaper mode of transport. There's a bus stand on almost every road in Dubai and with all the friendly people in Dubai, you won't find it difficult to get help at any point of time. Self-explanatory maps and route marks and their bus numbers are placed inside every bus stand. At any time, if in doubt, simply ask the bus driver for help!
edit By taxi Taxis are reasonably priced and easily found on all main roads in built-up areas, 24 hours. all other pick ups attract a standing charge of AED 350. There is nothing to choose in rates between the 5 players: Dubai Transport, National, Cars, Metro, and Arabian; Driving standard in Dubai ranges from poor to wild - taxis are some of the worst on the roads.
edit By car There are a countless number of Rent-A-Cars that will provide a mode of transportation for very cheap rates and very little paperwork. In the past this was only needed for travel outside of Dubai. Visitors taking advantage of this option will need to make certain that their driver knows his way around, as many do not. When driving on the main roads, such as Sheikh Zayed road, the junction numbers are not in logical order! Junction 13 is just after 18 and are rarely as shown on the maps. Road names can also be very confusing with slight differences in spelling (due to transliteration from Arabic) being very important. Driving during morning and afternoon peak hours is not recommended, as traffic slows to a standstill and even a simple trip across a bridge can take up to 45 minutes. There is also a scarcity of parking spaces in many parts of the city.
edit By boat An easier way of crossing the Dubai Creek is by abra, essentially a small ferry. Abra stations are located along the Creek on both the Bur Dubai and Deira sides, and the system of filling the boats is remarkably efficient. The cross-river trip costs 50 fils per passenger, payable to the driver after the boat has left the station, and affords a very picturesque view of the city (not to be missed). Abras set off very regularly, and the service is available round-the-clock. Abras can also be hired for a private tour (for a price negotiable with the driver but usually very cheap). This is quite a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver is able to enliven the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek. The Creek is also the home of many boats offering more comfortable (and correspondingly more expensive) tours, often in boats designed to resemble dhows. Prices tend to the higher end of the scale, particularly for dinner cruises with on-board entertainment.
The historic home to many reconstructed buildings in the traditional style. While information on the structures is slim here (see the museum in preference), the atmosphere is very evocative. For a real glimpse into "how the other half lives", a tour of the the tallest hotel in the world (popularly known as the only 7 star hotel in the world, however is actually a 5 star deluxe hotel, with a unique shape of a boat's sail) may be an interesting experience. Call ahead of time to see if tours are running, as they are not run when the hotel is full. A must-see for anyone interested in the social history of the Emirate (and indeed the country). The centrepiece of the museum is a reconstructed souq from the pearling days, complete with authentic sights and sounds. There is also a considerable focus on the speed at which the transition from poor pearling village to modern metropolis occurred. Considering the extreme temperatures during the summer months, there are plans bring the zoo indoors. One of the more startling sights in the city, even for those not interested in making a purchase. Most of the gold is 22ct quality (although in some shops this is a veneer placed on lesser metals) and quite expensive - although even here the shopkeepers are prepared to bargain - and the craftsmanship can be remarkably detailed. The gold items are sold by weight with a "making charge" added on top to cover the workmanship. It pays, therefore, to go shopping armed with the current gold price and a knowledge of the making charges in order to hone the bargaining process. Most visitors here can expect to be offered "copy watches" as well, often by very persistent hawkers. Commissioned in early 2005 this mall is worth visiting less for the shopping it offers and more for the architectural ambience created in its six courts designed according to the traditional architecture of China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia * Jumeirah Mosque, Jumeirah Road, Jumeirah 1 (opposite Palm Strip Mall). Generally considered to be one of the more attractive mosques in the region, as well as one of the few which are open to non-Muslims for tours. Tours run on Thursdays and are followed by a question-and-answer session about Islam for those who want to know more. Home to what is currently the world's largest indoor ski slope. Guests at the nearby hotel have free ski passes and clothing hire, while other visitors need to purchase these.
Ocean temperatures range from 22 in winter up to 35 degrees Celsius in summer, meaning you might as well forget a hotel and bathe in the ocean. The drivers will take you for a roller-coaster ride over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point and then take you to a lavish dinner with music and dance to complete the atmosphere. For a brief while you would experience what it is like to be a Sheikh!
Located in the new Mall of the Emirates (MOE), on the Sheikh Zayed Road, it offers both skiing and snowboarding. All equipment is available...
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