Why visit Dubai?

Having long been a hub for trade, due to the location of its ports, opening the way to the Indian Ocean for merchants from the Middle East, it first acquired wealth with the pearl trade. Various great families then attempted to control emirates in the region.

Attracting the covetousness of European powers, wanting to control the trade route in the region. It is especially with the British that the emerging power will establish agreements and treaties, by establishing precisely from 1853 a guarantee of the stopping of piracy on British ships.

It was from this agreement that the name Trucial States came, which would be the name given to the current emirates for 150 years. It was from a new treaty in 1892 that the Trucial States became a protectorate, thus belonging to the British colonial empire. The protection of the empire allowed the pearl industry to prosper until after the Second World War.

Now, the United Arab Emirates are known among the most important producers and exporters of oil, discovered in the 60s and which led the emirates to claim their independence in 1971. But as black gold is not infinite either, they turn to new technologies, but also luxury tourism.

Personally, I was taking advantage of a stopover with the Emirates company, whose base is Dubai airport. As I returned to France that year (the first time, by the way) that I was returning to the country after leaving for Thailand), I told myself that it was an opportunity to see more than just an airport during a stopover that was obligatory anyway.

The company promotes extended stopovers, so I tested a ticket that would allow me one night on site and therefore time to visit a little of this surreal city that emerged from under the sand. y not even 50 years old. 

It must be said that being an amateur photographer, I told myself that the city, which had just inaugurated a few years ago the tallest tower in the world (Burj Khalifa), there was something to “have fun with”.

So for me, architecture is one of the main attractions. But I also discovered its souk, next to the port where the boats unloading the goods were lined up. It contrasted quite a bit with the modern aspect of Dubai and its mind-blowing buildings. Especially at the Marina, where other boats are parked, the luxury Yachts.

And if I didn't have enough time to do it, I was very tempted to go for a 4x4 ride in the desert right next door. It is indeed possible to do an excursion on the sand dunes, with barbecue and night in a tent, a little adventure in short (well luxury version eh...)

Another temptation, but that's because I live in a corner of Asia where snow doesn't exist, I was considering skiing in the indoor dome created for that. Delusions of grandeur, we tell you. 

Here is a summary of some essential information to know before any stay in Dubai.

Here is at least one section that will be short. The answer is "it depends". If you are French, since May 6, 2015, you get a visa exemption, for stays lasting from 90 days maximum.

For the others, I think of the Belgians, Canadians who read me, it is YES, you need a visa to travel to the United Arab Emirates. MAIS, the latter is obtained free of charge for a certain number of countries upon arrival in the United Arab Emirates. We are talking about a 30 day tourist visa and which therefore concerns holders of a passport from one of the following countries: Germany, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Saint-Martin, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Vatican.

Otherwise, there are several types of visas which are as follows:

• the 48-hour transit visa (this is the one I had during my visit, it is extendable up to 4 days, or 96 hours in total for an amount of 50 AED),
• the tourist visa, valid for 30 days and renewable once (renewal fee required),
• 30 or 90 day visit visa,
• the multiple entry visa, valid for 6 months, for stays never exceeding 14 days.

Transit and visit visas are not renewable. So if you are in transit (this is the case for a long stopover), you just need to show your plane ticket including your next destination and, if applicable, your hotel reservation.

Coming to Dubai

The most practical and direct is with the company of the emirate of Dubai, Emirates. If you want to go to Abu Dhabi, it's with the company Etihad Airways. These remain 2 excellent companies which are also good choices for coming to Thailand or traveling in Asia.

My Emirates Airlines A380 waiting for me at Dubai airport.

Getting around the United Arab Emirates

I will mainly elaborate on Dubai since I have not set foot outside. I would just say that to move from one city to another, apart from taxis, you have public buses which are rather cheap by the way.

Dubai – Abu Dhabi

A trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is 25 AED (approximately € 6). There are 2 lines, the E100 et E101 the first of which ends in the south of Dubai while the second goes up to the north of the city.

Dubai – Ras Al Khaimah

If you want to go to the northern mountainous area, in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, there is a shuttle bus from Dubai airport (terminals 1 and 3) to promote the area. There are 6 buses per day between 6am and 1am (so not many people). It costs 20 AED one way and normally takes 45 minutes.

Dubai – Fujairah

The other mountainous area, located to the east of the emirates, with enclaves in the heart of Oman, its neighboring country. You have to take theE700 which departs every hour from Dubai's Union Square Metro Station and stops at the Dubai bus terminal Fujairah 2h later. Price = 25 AED.

Dubai – Ajman

The smallest of the emirates, Ajman, is located north of Dubai and should set you back AED 12 for a 40-minute journey. It operates daily between 4:30am and 23:30pm (weekday hours).

Getting around within Dubai

Since 2009, you can use the official map of restricted areas and no-fly  NOL (Christmas Card), a rechargeable card that allows you to easily use all public transport in the city of Dubai. This also applies if you take the intercity public buses that I just mentioned.

It is practical to avoid having to take out cash every time you go somewhere and it is also possible to associate this card with your smartphone to pay directly with your mobile. (subject to compatibility). Afterwards, I suspect that this solution is especially advantageous for people staying longer on site.

Dubai Metro Map.

The metro in Dubai

There are currently 2 metro lines in Dubai, partly above ground and partly underground. The main one, the red line, is the one that starts from the international airport and runs through the city from north to south. The other, the green line, makes a sort of serpentine in the "historical" part, to the north of the city.

An underground metro entrance.

It is very convenient and since the city is very long, it allows you to access different areas easily. Plus, it's really not expensive since it costs less than 5 AED the journey.

However, the city being a certain width, the metro does not allow you to reach all the major tourist sites, I am thinking especially of Burj Al Arab. It's a bit of a walk, but as it can be very hot, it's not necessarily the best option. Then there is the taxi.

Taxi in Dubai

Again, I was surprised at how affordable these were. Expecting everything to be expensive, the The support rate starts at just AED 10To give you an idea, a trip from the international airport to the Marina should cost around 80 AED, or just 20 € for 35 km.

A view of Dubai from the taxi.

Buses in Dubai

There is a public bus system. The special feature is that, given the summer heat, there are air-conditioned stops. It's not expensive either, from 1 to 4 AED the journey. But since I would have been too dependent on schedules, this was not a viable option for my express visit.

Note that there is a bus open-tour, a typical tourist bus, I will take you around the city with the main sites (hop on hop off). You take a daily package (220 AED anyway) and go up or down wherever you want. The bus route navigates between the city's important spots with a choice of 2 possible circuits. There is also a bus that runs at night to admire the lightings from Dubai.

Air-conditioned bus stop, only in Dubai!

Let's not lie to ourselves, the preferred target here is the rather wealthy clientele. Many hotels are at least 4 or 5 stars. However, the prices are surprisingly reasonable given the standard of the accommodation. So this is the opportunity to treat yourself!

Personally, I had taken a hotel a little away from the tourist areas by default and found myself in a 4 star with swimming pool for only € 60 at night, with an apartment service system (it was also called Golden Tulip Al Thanyah Hotel apartments). This meant that I had access to a kitchenette and a large space including a hallway behind the bedroom, leading to the bathroom.

As it dates back to 2013, the hotel has since converted into a full-fledged hotel (so more than kitchenette et bedroom " simple "), it has been renovated and changed its name. It became the Golden Tulip Media Hotel, but that doesn't take anything away from the concept.

I chose it because of its location, close to a metro exit, allowing me not to struggle to get there once I left the airport.

While doing the test for writing this page, I noticed that for a hotel between the end of September and the beginning of October, we find amazing prices starting from 30-40 € in 5 stars!

Better, I saw an entire villa for rent with 7 bedrooms, Dream Inn Dubai, located on the famous artificial island Jumeirah, shaped like a palm tree. You might think it's going to be outrageously expensive! Well no! "Only" €500 per night. Seen like that yes it seems expensive, but you have to see the place and the service on the one hand, on the other hand especially see that there are 7 rooms, which can accommodate 12 people, that's not even €50 per person!

Okay, I'm getting carried away, because all this is in the low season, because the heat is very strong, at the right time, count double, but I think it's still good value for money overall.

Do I need travel insurance?

If we assume that your stay in Dubai will be mainly urban, travel insurance may not seem essential at first glance. But travel insurance, especially if you are going to Asia for several months, can be more than welcome in the event of a problem, because credit card insurance is limited.

The maximum amount for healthcare costs covered by traditional credit cards may prove insufficient (around €10 compared to €000 for dedicated travel insurance) and does not cover civil liability.

I advise you ACS Travel & Expatriation Insurance Solutions.

I would like to point out that if you subscribe to the insurance via the link, I will receive a small commission. This is a simple way to help keep the site running, because insurance is preferable anyway and it will therefore be beneficial for both you and me.

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

No mandatory vaccinations. Be up to date with your DTP vaccine. Afterwards, depending on the conditions of the stay, vaccinations are recommended against typhoid fever, meningitis and viral hepatitis A and B.

The most "significant" health risk in the region is Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a viral respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus. There is no preventive vaccine for this disease. On site, in case of high fever, cough and/or breathing difficulties, consult a doctor immediately. If this happens in the days following your return to France, call 15 and report this trip.

An address to remember in case of problems on site:

• Franco-Emirati Hospital (Abu Dhabi): Tel.: +971 2 626 57 2

For your safety

The country is on normal alert. No security concerns in general, except for one case, iIt is recommended not to venture into the Tomb and Abu Musa islands, located in the Persian Gulf, as they are the subject of a conflict of interest with Iran.

On the other hand, note that it is a Muslim country with strong traditions. By this I mean that the laws are governed by the Quran. (Sharia law).

This involves being mindful of your behavior, especially emotional behavior, in public. Avoid getting yourself into embarrassing situations with alcohol, drugs. If you are a girl, avoid light clothing. On the other hand, you will have no problem if you travel alone, no need to wear a veil (unless you plan to visit mosques, provided that they are open to women).

If you are traveling as a couple and you are not married, you might simply have a problem sleeping in the same room… (in theory at least, I don't know if as such, hoteliers check and report in case of non-compliance with this...)

Practical information

– Emergency numbers –

Police: 999

Medical emergencies (ask for first responder service) on 999

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on the United Arab Emirates

Hotel – The main range is mostly towards the top, with a lot of 4 and 5 star hotels. I give you the low season rates here, so the lowest possible rate to get. In high season, expect at least double.

• For 4 stars = from €30
• For 5 stars = from €40

Meals – food – My burger at my hotel cost me (fries included) 30 AED, or €6 at the time, very reasonable. As it was my only meal there, I can't really speak for any other local restaurant, but overall it's not excessively expensive.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

• A bottle of water costs an average of AED 1,4
• A simple meal costs on average AED 25-30 per person
• A local beer 40 AED (1/2 liter)

Transport – Transport is affordable but given the distances, costs can easily add up over a day.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

• Local bus: depending on distance 1 to 4 AED
• Metro: 2 to 5 AED
• For taxi rides, expect to pay an average of AED 2 per kilometer

Any opinions, suggestions? Leave me a comment!