EXPLORE DUBAI:

Discuss Dubai and you could be talking the deepest, the tallest, the most expensive, and the most lavish. All of these things you'll find in Dubai. It was almost as if this city were built for the modern man and woman. You may be far from the typical tropical beach destinations, but you will discover things in Dubai that you would never have seen before. Dubai is a destination that has intrigued people since the turn of the 21st century. Now a firm favourite on the holiday world map, you can find everything from a seven-star hotel to a series of artificial islands built in the shape of countries. When you are not visiting the tallest building in the world, you could be swimming in the warm sea or enjoying the designer boutiques that cover Dubai. And despite the fact that this is a Muslim city, it's a destination that is surprisingly cosmopolitan. Enjoy the traditional abra boats as they gently sail to and fro, or make a move a few kilometres out of the city and experience the endless beauty of the nearby desert.

Before jumping into the Arabian dream that is Dubai, it may be prudent for you to look at the basic information you need to know about the city. First of all, you will be in time zone GMT +4, and the local currency is the UAE dirham. As an approximation, the US dollar is typically worth between three and four UAE dirham. Temperatures can range from between 50 degrees centigrade during the blistering summer to no less than 10 degrees centigrade on the very coolest days of winter. In light of this, visiting during spring or autumn time when temperatures are not too hot are the most ideal times. However, even when visiting in the summer, every building in the city is fully air-conditioned.

Unlike many of the other countries in the region, citizens from the vast majority of countries are entitled to a 30-day free visa on arrival. This can even be extended while there if 30 days isn't enough for you. This applies to citizens of the UK, USA, Australia, and most countries of the Far East. Dubai is one of the most accessible regions of the Middle East, making it an ideal starting point for a tour of the region!

As the Dubai islands are blessed with a warm, tropical climate year-round, it's always a good time to visit, although different times of the year may be better suited to your particular interests (see below). May-Sep bring drier, slightly cooler weather and choppier seas, particularly on the southeast. During this period, some south and east facing beaches are prone to more seaweed. Between Dec-Mar, the northwest trade winds bring more heavy spells of rain, along with warmer weather and a higher humidity. However, even during these 'wetter' months, there is usually around 6 hours of daily sunshine. Rain is possible all year round but normally in short sharp showers, hence the lush green vegetation. The transition periods of Apr and Oct tend to offer hot temperatures with slight breezes and calm seas. The sea is at its liveliest in Jul-Aug. The Dubai is situated outside of the cyclone belt.

You have a number of options for getting to Dubai. By far, the most convenient is to fly in directly to Dubai International Airport. Airlines are starting to compete to offer the best deals for glamorous destinations like Dubai. Plan well enough in advance and this competition can work in your favour. You can also enter via Abu Dhabi International Airport or Sharjah International Airport, but this will always cost more, in terms of both the flight and transport to Dubai. There is a bus network that links the six cities of the UAE, so theoretically you could arrive at any of these and make your way to Dubai. These buses operate under the Emirates Express brand; many of the buses depart their locations as frequently as every hour. Finally, you could travel to Dubai by boat. Its position as a major trading hub in and out of the Indian Ocean brings ships from all over the world. Travellers that want to get into the city this way have few options available. The majority enter the country after making private arrangements with the captains of private vessels. There's only one conventional boat service, which will take you to and from Iran. It leaves Bandar Lengeh twice a week and docks at Port Rashid in Dubai. Take note that you do need a separate visa to enter Iran.

Dubai is far from the strict Islamic nation that something like Saudi Arabia is, for example, but Islamic customs must still be upheld, regardless of whether you're a Muslim or not. You're unlikely to be followed on the street by a secret police force, but you can be issued with fines if you are doing anything that would be considered offensive to Islam. Overt displays of public drunkenness and drinking outside of licenced bars, hotels, and restaurants can lead to fines. Public displays of affection, even a brief peck on the cheek, can also catch the eyes of the local police force. Finally, women should refrain from wearing overly tight or revealing clothing. Your embassy will be unable to intervene to prevent you from being fined, deported, or even imprisoned.

Dubai's location at the edge of a desert means you are going to have no problem with any tropical diseases here. However, visitors are encouraged to take anti-malarial medication, so check with your GP or local nurse to find out the precise medication to be taken.

You'd be right to think that Dubai mainly caters to Western tastes. Proof of this is the majority of fast food chains setting up shop in Dubai. Nonetheless, Dubai still has excellent cuisine on offer in its array of wonderful restaurants and top class hotels. The most common type of food item you'll find from street stalls is shawarma. This is the equivalent of a burger and is really just meat cooked on a skewer. It comes with pita bread and vegetables. You should also try some Dubai falafel. The closest thing to this is the Western kebab.

Dubai's tipping culture is a cross between European and American culture. You generally tip everyone, including taxi drivers and the people packing your bags at the supermarket, but the majority of small transactions just require you to leave small change. In restaurants, whether you tip or not depends on if service charges have been included. If they haven't, you should tip between 10% and 15%. But this is where Dubai tipping culture differs from American tipping culture. If the service wasn't good enough, there's nothing wrong with not leaving anything at all. But the best tip you can give is just to tell people how grateful you are. Saying thank you will go a long way in Dubai!