Dubai Events & General Information

Dubai is one of seven regions or emirates that make up the country known as the United Arab Emirates. Established in 1971, the UAE borders the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the west, Oman to the east and both the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, boasting a coastline of over 1000 km. Dubai is the second largest emirate, after Abu Dhabi, where the capital is located.

Useful information

Money - The unit of currency is the Dirham which is made up of 100 Fils. The exchange rate is approximately 1 US$ = Dhs 3.67. All major credit cards are accepted at most hotels and malls.
Time zone - GMT/UTC +4
Electricity - 220/240V 50Hz - three-pronged square plugs (the same as those used Britain and Ireland)
Language - Arabic (official) and English (widely used)
Country telephone code - +971
Religion - Islam (although other faiths are freely practised)
Water - tap water in Dubai is desalinated but generally safe to drink. Bottled water is usually very reasonable to buy though (around Dh 1 a bottle) and probably your best bet.

Weather

November to April is the best time of year to be in Dubai. It's not nearly as hot as the steamy summer months that reach 50 degrees C but also not too chilly. The average high for the month is around 26 degrees C while the low is around the 16 degree mark.

Tourist attractions

While watching rugby will, of course, be top of your to-do list in Dubai, if you have a few extra days to spare, there is plenty you could be seeing and doing.

Bastakiya
This is the historic district of Dubai, characterised by narrow lanes and tall wind-towers - the pre-air conditioning form of cooling buildings down in the sizzling summer months. This area gives visitors a glimpse of what old Dubai would have looked like.

Dubai Museum
Housed in one of the city's oldest structures, the historic Al Fahidi fort, the Dubai museum offers fascinating insight into the history of the area, documenting its progress from pre-oil days to the bustling metropolis it is today. It's both interactive and informative - a great way to spend a morning.

Souks (markets)
Dubai's souks offer a unique shopping experience and wondering through them could take an entire day, depending on how dedicated you are to the shopping cause. Bargaining is an accepted form of doing business. There are various souks including: Gold souk (near St George's Hotel, Deira), Spice souk (creekside, Deira), Textile souks (Bur Dubai and Satwa), Electronics souk (Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai), Fish souk (Deira) and Fruit and vegetable souk. Most souks are open from 9am to 1pm and 4-10pm. On Fridays they are open from 4-10pm only.

The Madinat souk is a little different and is located in Jumeirah. It is an indoor, more upmarket (and more expensive) replica of a souk which includes several restaurants and coffee shops and is open all day.

Jumeirah Mosque
This place of worship is an impressive example of modern Islamic architecture and unlike many of the other mosques in the area is open to visitors on certain days of the week. Tours are held every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am. Make sure you're properly dressed for a visit though. Women need to cover their heads and wear loose-fitting trousers/long skirts and a long-sleeved top while men must also wear long trousers.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum was the grandfather of the present ruler of Dubai and his house, built in the late 1800s, has been restored as a museum. It was built in a strategic position near the sea so the ruler could keep an eye on all the shipping activity at the time from the comfort of his balconies.

Beaches
Many of the city's beaches are owned by hotels but there are several public beaches (if you happen not to be staying at one of those hotels), the most popular of which is probably Jumeirah Beach Park. Alternatively, many of the hotels offer daily rates to make use of their beaches and facilities.

Wild Wadi water park
Located right at the base of the famous Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotels, Wild Wadi always provides a great day out and there's nothing like the adrenaline rush provided by the thrilling 80km per hour Jumeirah Sceirah… (www.wildwadi.com)

Impressive buildings
No visit to Dubai would be complete without catching a glimpse of the famous seven-star Burj al Arab hotel. Located on the Jumeirah Beach Road, the best way to see it (if you're not willing to pay for a pricey meal or afternoon tea there as you can't simply wander in free of charge) is from the Madinat complex or from the beach just next to it. Also hard to miss will be the Burj Dubai. It's still under construction but it already the tallest building in the world.

Bus and boat tours
There are numerous city tours available, either by bus or along the creek by boat, which are a good way of taking in some of the city's top tourist attractions. Check out the websites below to find out more information of how to book these.

Further afield
If you're looking to venture outside of Dubai, a desert safari can be quite an experience. Other options include quad biking, desert balloon rides and 'wadi bashing' (driving in 4x4s through dried up river beds in the scenic Hajar mountains).
If you have a bit more time, you could fit a trip to the historic fort town of Hatta or to one of the other six emirates that make up the UAE. Check out some of the website links below for more details.

Religion and Culture

Islam is the official religion of the UAE and forms an extremely important part of culture and daily life. The government of Dubai practises a policy of tolerance towards other religions, however, and the emirate is the only one to house churches and Hindu temples.

It's important to remember local culture and beliefs when in Dubai, however, and while visitors are not expected to cover up completely when it comes to clothing, some respect should be shown in terms of not dressing in too revealing a manner when not on the beach or at the pool.

Alcohol is served in the hotels (and at the rugby ground) but cannot be consumed in public outside of these venues and only residents who hold an official alcohol license may purchase it in shops.

Also important to remember is that there is a zero tolerance policy when it comes to driving so if you have had even one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car.

UAE culture

For older women the home remains the sphere of activity while younger women, benefiting from their access to modern education, are playing an ever-wider role in the society. An estimated 13 per cent of the UAE's labour force is female, and women are increasingly represented in government posts.

Reflecting the mix of modern and traditional influences, clothing styles in the UAE are both Western and indigenous. Most Emirati men wear the dishdasha, a white, loose-fitting garment that is comfortable in hot weather. Most women wear the enveloping black abaya and a face mask called the burka, although this tradition is beginning to be abandoned by younger, educated women.

Courtesy and hospitality are among the most highly prized of virtues in the Arab world, and visitors will be charmed by the warmth and friendliness of the people in UAE.

Visa regulations

There are several types of visas for visitors to Dubai. Some visitors need to obtain a visa prior to traveling to the UAE while others can obtain a visit visa, valid for 60 days, upon arrival.

According to the latest information available, nationals of the following countries can obtain a visit visa on arrival in the UAE:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vatican.

GCC country passport and certain visa holders from those countries also do not need to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UAE. These countries include: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Please Note: It is important to consult the UAE Embassy or High Commission in your own country for the latest visa information before setting off on your travels as visa regulations may change.

Entertainment

Dubai boasts an incredible array of restaurants with cuisine from across the globe. Your best bet is to pick up a copy of one of the city's weekly entertainment magazines which have extensive lists of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and clubs to choose from.

Another of many visitors' priorities is to fit in some shopping while in Dubai and again there are plenty of malls to choose from (see below).

Most of the malls also offer entertainment areas, which include cinemas and other attractions.

For the more adventurous shoppers, there are the traditional souks (markets) along the creek where you can go bargain-hunting (see Tourist Attractions section for more info). The Karama district also offers plenty of bargains, and a plethora of brand-name knock-offs.