DUBAI TRAVEL TIPS: THE DOS AND DON'TS
The Airport Queue - The Dubai Terminal 1 airport visa queues can be quite long during peak tourism months from November to March. In 2018, the city had an incredible 15.9 million people visiting. So the busy terminal's waiting times can vary from 15 min to 1+ hours. I strongly recommend that all Dubai visitors passing by Terminal 1, pre-book a Marhaba Bronze meet-and-greet service which will fast-track you through airport formalities. Prices are approx 95 Dirhams per adult when booked online in advance. Terminal 3, on the other hand, is exclusive to Emirates airlines and is much quicker in terms of immigration lines and waiting times.
The Dubai Duty Free - For incoming passengers who wish to purchase alcohol for at-hotel consumption, the easiest place to buy is from the airport duty free which is near the baggage carousels before you exit the airport. There are different allowances which you can find out more about here. Alternatively, tourists can buy alcohol from any of the African & Eastern OR MMI alcohol stores around the emirate, upon provision of their original passports, or order online from here.
The Transit - If you're transiting through Dubai and want to leave the airport and make the likely visit to Dubai Mall, you can leave your luggage at the airport and come back later to pick it up! Dnata offers baggage storage services in its Terminal 1 and 3 stands. It's 20 DHS for every 12 hours. Or 30 DHS for bigger bags.
The Telephone - You can purchase visitor mobile packages from either 1 of Dubai's 2 telecom providers: Etisalat or Du. Make sure to ask if data is included as you may not find WiFi access everywhere. Those guys have stores/stands in airports and malls, among other locations.
The Cash - In a few places around Dubai, cash is still king. Particularly in grocery stores, traditional souqs and some restaurants. Make sure to carry smaller denominations (50 and 20 Dirham bills) to avoid a 5% credit card surcharge.
The Transportation - You can find a public taxi in Dubai by flagging one from the street or by booking in advance via Careem app to arrange a pick-up. The Careem app allows you to book public taxis when you select ‘Hala Ride’ as your ride of choice. Please note that the other vehicle options listed as ‘Economy, Business, and others’ are not applicable under public taxi rates.
All public taxis are beige in color, with a different color roof depending on the company they belong to. They are all metered and have starting meter charges which vary between day/night time and location. Please note that the minimum cab fare is 12 DHS. Rides from the airport are more expensive as they have a starting fare of 25 DHS. All public taxis can be paid by cash or credit card. You can also book your ride via ride-hailing apps such as UBER or Careem.
Tip: If you decide to use the Careem app to book Hala Rides, check out their list of available promo codes for first-time users.
The Dubai Metro Rules - The Dubai Metro has a few rules you should watch out for to avoid fines. 1) Eating and drinking inside the train is expressly forbidden. This includes chewing gum. 2) Entering cabins reserved for certain categories (For ex, women-only areas, or the Gold Class section) 3) Sleeping is not allowed anywhere in the train stations.
The Light Jacket - Yes. It may be summer and what may seem like 100 degrees Celsius. But Dubai malls and the metro are oddly freezing.
The Haggle - Before practicing the art of bargaining, scope out the market to see what the going prices are. Also, avoid answering the initial 'how much do you want to pay' question.
The Clubbing Hours - Clubs are usually open from 10PM until 3AM when the music and lights go out. Prime time is 1AM onwards.
The Reservation - Table reservations are necessary to increase your chances of getting in to clubs! Make sure you call ahead (several days in advance) to get your name on a list. Also, do the same for restaurants as the popular ones are almost always fully booked.
The Unspoken Minimum - Clubs in Dubai can have 'minimum spends' for table reservations which you won't necessarily find on the venues' webpages. When you call, make sure to ask specifically if there are any. Also, be prepared for the bouncers to have a change of heart when you get there regarding minimums. P.S This bill is an exaggerated example.
The Female to Male Ratio - Some clubs will only allow entry for mixed groups. Ladies are at an advantage here. The cheerleader effect definitely outdoes the frat boys.
The ID - The drinking age in Dubai is 21+. For tourists, bouncers will typically ask to see your passports (not copies). Other international and recognized IDs may also work, such as driving licenses etc.
The Shoes That Fit - Ladies. Some bouncers around town can be selective in who they let in. Heels can be a dealbreaker. Gentlemen. Odds are not in your favor either. Sneakers can also be frowned upon. And 'Prada' sneakers don't count.
The Late Night Bites - For those unable tor resist a late night bite after an eve out, there are a couple of good casual places to ask your cab to stop by on the way home that are open 24/7 or until 4AM.
The Entertainer - The Entertainer app offers fantastic discounts of 25% on total bills or 2-for-1 electronic vouchers for many of the UAE’s restaurants, attractions, and activities. For tourists, this can save you hundreds of dirhams especially if traveling in pairs or in big groups. Check out the Entertainer website for more info. Also, as my wanderers, I’ll be happy to share a couple of complimentary vouchers for you to avail and will walk you through the simple process of registering on the app and redeeming the vouchers.
The Photography - There are some areas in Dubai where photography is prohibited. Those are usually embassies, airports, or security facilities. Just make sure you look out for signs or ask if in doubt!
The Sky Dive - If you plan on hugging the blue sky when you get here and have or have not done this before, make sure you book well in advance (1 to 2 months) as seats or in this case, no seats fill up quick. Also, if you plan on doing this solo, SkyDive Dubai has a minimum number of jumps (300 or 500 jumps) and a couple of other requirements you can find on their website here.
