In my Dubai Travel Guide (Part 1) I reviewed my favourite places to stay and eat in this over-the-top, luxurious city.  In this post I’m excited to share with you guys what you need to know before travelling to Dubai; how to dress, get around, as well as a list of my favourite things to do!

WHAT TO KNOW

If you’re getting set to experience the wonderful world of Dubai, here are some things you should know before heading there:

• The weekend in Dubai is Friday and Saturday. Sunday is a regular working day.
• Dubai is not cheap! If you’re eating on the palm, expect to pay upwards of $250 on a dinner for 2 at most restaurants. The average price for a cup of coffee is $10.
• Some restaurants don’t serve alcohol, so check in advance if you’re hoping for a glass of wine with your meal. We picked up wine at the airport so we could enjoy a drink or two while getting ready.
• Warning: Don’t get belligerently drunk in public. It is illegal to be under the influence in public, and could land you in hot water with the police.
• Avoid flying with Emirates. We chose to fly with Emirates because of their reputation, but in all honestly it is not worth the extra buck. The service is terrible, the extra leg room is not noticeable and the food is nothing special. I would have preferred to have flown with Air Canada.
• Avoid PDA.
• If you’re a male travelling on the metro, pay close attention to the signs to ensure you don’t end up sitting in the section for women and children only.
• Travel with a universal adapter or check to see if your hotel has international plugs.
• Don’t forget that Dubai lies within the Arabian desert, so even in winter, it’s quite hot. The ideal time to travel to Dubai is between January and March, and you likely want to avoid traveling there in July and August when temperatures are extremely high.
• Tipping is not expected but it is common practice. Nitin and I always tipped the same as we do in Toronto because the service was excellent almost everywhere we went.
• The currency in Dubai is the dirham. I use the XE Currency App to do my conversions when travelling.

HOW TO DRESS IN DUBAI

The million dollar question: how do I dress in Dubai? Although you are in the middle east, Dubai is not as strict as you may think. In shopping malls, souks and in the main streets I recommend covering up respectfully. By covering up, I mean don’t go rocking a crop top and mini skirt, but mid to long length skirts (like this one or this one) are perfectly acceptable. Some malls, like The Mall of Emirates, will have signs advising visitors to have their knees and shouldered covered so I always respected those rules. I wore a long skirt and off-the-shoulder top to The Dubai Mall and didn’t turn any heads. I did wear dresses, but kept the vast majority of my outfits on the conservative side.

When you are in hotels, they are considered international property so you can rock pretty much anything you feel comfortable in. You can wear your bikini/ trunks to the beach, but if you’re travelling from your hotel room to the beach (or from another destination to the beach) I recommend putting on a cover, as there can be local Emiratis at your hotel since these hot spots are a major part of the Dubai social scene.

HOW TO GET AROUND

Taxi – This was our most commonly used method of transportation. The taxis are reasonably priced and super easy to flag down or grab from your hotel.

Private Car – We hired a private car for longer drives (Dubai Mall, Abu Dhabi) because it was more comfortable, and our driver served as a mini tour guide which was a nice bonus.

Metro – Nitin loves checking out public transportation in different countries we visit. While Hong Kong is still home to the best public transporation in our opinion, the Dubai metro is an economical way to get around if you’re on a budget. It can get crowded, but it’s clean and fairly easy to navigate.

WHAT TO DO

Ah, where to begin; there is so much to do in Dubai! We had 5 full days to pack in as many sites as possible, while still finding time for some R&R. Here is a list of our top places to visit/ things to do while in Dubai:

Burj Khalifa  – If you’ve made it all the way to Dubai, you can’t leave without seeing the tallest building in the world. Nitin is huge on architecture, so this was a must-see for us. Tip: I recommend getting the speed pass, especially if you’re going during prime hours. It does cost more but it’s totally worth it because you avoid the long lines. We went during sunset, and thankfully got to bypass the insanely long line. If you don’t purchase your tickets in advance, you can purchase them from a booth inside The Dubai Mall (in front of the aquarium, near Hermes).

The Dubai Fountain – One of my favourite sites in Dubai! The singing fountains are located outside The Dubai Mall, and they run everything 30 minutes between 6:00pm – 10:00pm (Sunday – Wednesday) and between 6:00pm – 11:00pm (Thursday – Saturday). There are also two afternoon performances every day except Friday, at 1:00pm and 1:30pm. The Friday afternoon shows take place at 1:30pm and 2:00pm. The fountains dance to the music of Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Houston, MJ as well as a range of songs from popular Bollywood films. Tip: I recommend visiting The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Foundation in one day since they are all in the same area and are pretty much connected to the mall. Be prepared for a crowd, as this musical extravaganza is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dubai. We made reservations at one of the restaurants lining the river (note – most of these restaurants don’t serve alcohol) and enjoyed some apps while getting a great, uninterrupted view of the foundation.

Desert safari – Another one of my favourite excursions. We booked with Arabian Adventures (my research king, Nitin, decided on this one after weighing the pros and cons with other companies), who picked us up from our hotel and took us out to the dessert which is around 1.5 hours away from the palm. The evening started with a falcon show, followed by dune bashing (not for those with weak stomachs) and a desert sunset (perfect opportunity for pictures). We were then taken to the camp ground where we got to ride a camel (I’m not going to lie, I wanted to bring one back ..they are so damn cute!) and go sand boarding (we didn’t do this, but heard it was pretty tough). Once we entered the camp ground we were treated to an array of appetizers before dinner was served, and between courses we had the opportunity to dress up in traditional middle eastern clothing clothing for a mini photoshoot, have henna done, purchase souvenirs, and smoke shisha. There’s also a belly dancing show during dinner.

The Dubai Mall – The holy grail of malls! The Dubai Mall is the world’s largest mall, and is home to designer stores from around the world. It also includes an indoor skating rink, an array of restaurants and cafes and an aquarium. If you’re debating between this mall and The Mall of Emirates, The Dubai Mall wins, hands down. We did go to The Mall of Emirates but it pales in comparison.

Eat – There is no shortage of amazing food options in Dubai. Check out my favourite places to eat in Dubai here. Tip: Friday brunch is a staple in the Dubai social calendar. It’s hard to find a restaurant in Dubai that doesn’t feature an extravagant Friday brunch, so if time permits, check it out.

Emirates Palace (in Abu Dhabi) – An hour and a half outside of Dubai, Emirates Palace is a 5-star luxury hotel boasting 394 rooms and suites, 1.3km of beach, an award-winning spa and private marina. Nitin and I went here for afternoon tea, and we were blown away by the architecture and array of services and restaurants. Tips: Check out their amazing afternoon tea, and don’t leave without trying the 24K gold cappuccino. They also have a gold vending machine, which was unfortunately out of order during our visit.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (in Abu Dhabi) – I was blown away by the beauty and detail of this mosque, which is home to the world’s largest carpet and third largest chandelier. Using materials from around the world, the design is simply incredible and breathtaking. Tips: Ladies, make sure your head is covered. Women are provided with a cover to wear (no charge) before entering the mosque, which includes a hood. My hood fell off during a picture and the security guard requested Nitin delete the pictures where my hair wasn’t covered, but did encourage us to re-take the pic. Ops!

Ferrari World – We didn’t have time to check this out, but it’s supposed to be a great place for thrill seekers, hosting the fastest rollercoaster in the world.

Bollywood Theme Park – If you’re into Bollywood, this is the place to be! Nitin and I didn’t have enough time to check out this theme park, much to Nitin’s dismay, but it’s supposed to be a great ode to Mumbai’s film industry. Over 1.7 million square feet in space, you can enjoy entertainment and rides for the entire family! Tip: The Bollywood Theme Park is close to Ferrari World and not too far from Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

Spa – What’s a trip abroad without a visit to the spa? Nitin and I decided to visit the spa at the Waldorf Astoria, and while the hotel itself is amazing, we were pretty disappointed with this award-winning spa. The women’s lounge consists of a herb steam room which is nice, and water beds (not the most practical for sitting on to drink hot tea). The treatment rooms are quite blah, and without heated tables and cozy face cushions. There are separate lounges for men and women, understandably, and Nitin and I both found the overall experience and vibe to be quite lackluster. Next time we’ve decided we’ll check out the spa at the Burj Al Arab.

Dubai Marina – The Dubia marina is a great place to stroll and grab a bite to eat. Don’t budget too much time here, as aside from the array of restaurants and the Yacht Club, there isn’t much to do other than walk around.

Souks – If you’re looking for a traditional Arabian experience, the souks are a great place to visit. We took the metro to the souks and had a great time checking out the gold and spice markets. Tip: You are stepping into a different world when you visit the souks. The streets are lined with stores and locals, all trying to sell you on their collection of jewelry, spices, clothing and more. Bring cash for smaller purchases, and if you’re looking to buy gold most places accept credit cards. The souks are a great way to experience the middle eastern culture!

Happy travels lovies!

xo, Kiki