The most popular blog articles about Dubai
Highlights in Dubai
Dubai is rich in impressive sights and attractions. Here are some of the top sights you shouldn’t miss when you visit:
Burj Khalifa
The impressive Burj Khalifa skyscraper represents Dubai like no other attraction in the city. As the tallest building in the world at 828 meters, it offers breathtaking views from the At the Top viewing platform. At the foot of the skyscraper, the water and music shows of the Dubai Fountain complete the unique experience. And if you still haven’t had enough, you can do shopping to your heart’s content in the adjacent Dubai Mall, visit a huge aquarium or go ice skating.
Find out more here:
› Burj Khalifa – What you need to know before your visit
› Burj Khalifa At.mosphere Lounge
› Dubai Fountain – Show times and the best view
› Dubai Mall – Shopping center of superlatives
Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab is the very definition of luxury. With its unique sail shape, the hotel is a landmark of the city. Accommodation is available from around $1100 per night. If you don’t want to pay the money, you can still visit the iconic hotel from the inside if you make a reservation for a restaurant. Afternoon tea in the atrium or cocktails in the Skyview Bar are particularly popular.
All information here: › Burj al Arab Afternoon Tea
Desert safari
An exciting desert safari gives you an insight into Dubai’s breathtaking desert landscape. During the tour, which lasts several hours, you can expect highlights such as dune bashing, where you drive over the sand dunes at high speed, sandboarding or quad biking and visits to desert camps. At these camps, you can enjoy traditional dishes, watch dance performances, get painted with henna or simply gaze at the stars under a clear desert sky.
You can find a detailed description and selection of different tours here: › Desert Safari in Dubai
Activities
Dubai offers numerous excursions and activities to suit a wide range of tastes. Here is a selection of the best and most popular activities in Dubai:
Depending on how long you’re staying in Dubai and how many activities and/or restaurants you want to include, the Dubai Entertainer voucher app could be worthwhile for you. You can find all the information in my article › Dubai Entertainer.
Transprotation
As walking is uncommon in Dubai due to the often extreme temperatures and sprawling city structure, the metro with its two main lines is a practical option to explore the city as it serves many of the most famous sights. Single trips cost around $2, day tickets just over $5.
You can also get to and from the airport quickly and easily by metro. However, if you land after midnight, you will have to take a cab, as the metro does not run at night.
Cabs are also a good option as they are inexpensive and readily available. Even for longer distances, for example from the Burj Khalifa to the Palm Jumeirah, you usually only pay $10-20.
Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Dhow Cruise from $75
Private half-day tour with Burj Khalifa ticket from $200
Hotels
Dubai is known above all for its extravagant luxury hotels. Among the most extraordinary are certainly the Burj Al Arabthe Atlantis The Palm or the new Atlantis The Royal. However, Dubai offers accommodation for every budget.
More affordable but still comfortable hotels include the Rove Hotels, such as the Rove Downtown or the Rove Dubai Marina. But also the hotels of the chains Holiday Inn and Premier Inn chains also offer good value for money for those on a smaller budget.
Another option is to rent vacation apartments via Airbnb. This is particularly suitable for those who want to be independent or simply need more space. Many apartments even have a pool and a gym in the building.
There are particularly many beach hotels on and around the Palm Jumeirah. In addition to the Atlantis hotels already mentioned, the best hotels include Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spawhich offers a huge pool area as well as a fantastic beach, and the The Ritz-Carlton with views of the Palm Jumeirah and the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel.
Cruises from and via Dubai
Another way to explore Dubai is to take a cruise. Cruises from and via Dubai also take you to Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The modern ships guarantee comfortable accommodation and offer a variety of activities and culinary highlights. A cruise therefore allows you to travel in comfort without having to constantly pack your suitcase and offers the chance to explore several places in the Persian Gulf.
With AIDA or Mein Schiff, the 7-day cruise is available from just €549 per person. You can find all shipping companies with Orient routes at e-hoi.
More about cruises here: › Dubai & Orient cruise – Ports and excursions
General travel information
Flight and entry to Dubai
Direct flights from Germany to Dubai take around 6 hours and depart from Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart, for example. The time difference to Germany is +3 hours during winter time and +2 hours during summer time.
The easiest way to search for flights is with Skyscanner. There you can clearly see the cheapest travel days and compare the prices of different providers. One of the most popular and convenient airlines to take you to the United Arab Emirates is Emirates.
As a German citizen, you only need a passport that is valid for at least six months to enter Dubai. This allows you to stay in Dubai for a maximum of 90 days.
However, checks on entry can be strict, especially when it comes to medication. A medical certificate is required for certain medicines banned in Dubai. You can read more about it here. Standard medication such as aspirin and ibuprofen are not a problem, and can also be purchased in Dubai.
Laws and regulations
Dubai has quite strict regulations. For example, the consumption of alcohol in public and inappropriate behavior can be punished. Drug use is strictly illegal and punishable by severe penalties.
Dress code
There is no official or strict dress code in Dubai – unless you are visiting a mosque. By covering your shoulders and knees, however, you are not doing anything wrong and are showing respect for the culture of the locals. When you are there, you will notice that many tourists and immigrants are nevertheless more permissive and that this is accepted and tolerated by everyone. Please note, though, that swimwear is only permitted on the beach or in swimming pools.
Read all the important information about the dress code in Dubai in my article.
› Dress code in Dubai
The best time to visit Dubai
The best time to visit Dubai is from November to March. During this time, temperatures range from a pleasant summery 20 to 30 degrees, with an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine a day. In the evening it can cool down to 13 degrees, but rain is extremely rare.
It gets extremely hot from June to September in particular. Temperatures of over 40 degrees are the rule here. Even if many sights are very well air-conditioned, a vacation at this time is not recommended.
Find out more here: › Best time to visit Dubai
Money and currency in Dubai
In Dubai, the dirham (AED) currency is used for payment, with the approximate exchange rate currently being 1 euro for 4 dirhams. You can often pay either in cash or conveniently by card. With the free (Visa) debit card from DKB Bank, you can even pay free of charge or withdraw money from one of the many ATMs in Dubai. I can recommend them without reservation as I have never had any problems with them when traveling.
Culture and traditions
In Dubai, be mindful of local traditions and respect the culture, especially during Ramadan when eating and drinking in public is restricted. The opening hours of tourist attractions and public transport times are also shortened during this time. The dates for the fasting month for the coming years:
March 11 – April 10, 2024
March 1 to March 30, 2025
February 18 to March 20, 2026
Language
The official language in Dubai is Arabic, but English is widely understood and spoken, especially in the tourism sector.
Security
Dubai is considered an extremely safe city – especially for women. Nevertheless, like everywhere else in the world, you should keep your valuables safe and be careful.
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