There is a lot of talk about Dubai. Much. It is associated with greatness, luxury, shopping, the artificial, oil, religion, the weather… For this reason, it is one of those destinations that never leaves you indifferent. You love or you hate. There are no middle terms. What is true is that, like everything in life, you have to try it to know it. For an affordable initial recommendation, taking Dubai Holidays may be considered.
In 2017, Dubai – which is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates – was the fourth most visited destination on the planet. In fact, traveling there makes it quite easy for you: if you are going to stay for less than 90 days, you do not need a visa, you do not have to be vaccinated, they speak English perfectly, it is a very safe city (there are almost no robberies) and there is a lot of frequency of flights from our countries, since Emirates, one of the best companies in the Gulf, has good prices to connect with Asia.
Oh, and unlike what happens in many other cities, taxis are very cheap. This makes them a very convenient way to get around the city (oh, you can get stuck quite often, so – if you’re interested – they also have a very modern driverless metro). The reason why getting around by car or taxi is so cheap is that gasoline costs around 30 cents per litre.
However, there are still many travelers who are not sure. There are still many prejudices, doubts, questions about Muslim culture. Luckily, we have a person who knows the answers to most questions because he has lived it himself. Her name is Kim Taylor and she is a luxury travel journalist based in Dubai.
After living there for a long time, she knows everything there is to know about the singularities of this Arab emirate and, if she doesn’t, she knows a lot of people who can give answers. So here are some tips on what to do -but also what not to do- when you travel to Dubai.
Drink alcohol?
In a word, yes. Dubai has a massive nightlife. With bars like the Gold on 27 in the Burj Al Arab skyscraper, Dubai offers some of the most hyped places on the planet. On weekends, foreigners who reside there flock to the restaurants for champagne brunch. Ladies can even drink for free most nights of the week thanks to special Ladies Nights.
Of course, when it comes to drinking, there are things that need to be taken into account. Once in Dubai, you will not be able to buy alcohol if you do not have an alcohol license. You can buy some alcohol at the airport Duty Free, but the exact amount will vary depending on the country of origin. Do not carry or drink alcohol in public places (such as beaches or parks). Don’t get into trouble, arguments or fights either; This is precisely where things start to get ugly and that is when tourists are generally arrested if they happen to be carrying alcohol.
You must always be very careful and respectful of their culture and way of life, try to stay classy and know how to be, and keep drinks in the places where they are served exclusively.
The golden rule to follow when you land in Dubai is to be respectful. It’s a Muslim country, you know. In general, you should cover your knees and shoulders. This varies depending on where you are and what you are doing. At typical city brunches, people dress like they’re in Los Angeles. In shopping malls, you’ll see everything from shorts to abayas (the abaya is a foot-length robe worn over clothing in Arab countries and North Africa.
