Look at what's happening with the Emirates, and especially with Dubai. You'll have heard, in a discussion about it, statements like: "I don't want to go there. It's all made up, it's fake."
And here comes our question: Why Las Vegas, the Singapore, Hong Kong, the Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, and even New York, what is real, according to this logic, do they have?” And the conversation stops there….
Because quite simply, both Dubai and all these cities exist, are real, modern and perhaps have something from the future. Now if development scares you, then perhaps these cities are not for everyone… okay, respect. The best way, however, to form your opinion is to go, experience it and then draw your own conclusions.
The entire United Arab Emirates has had a steady annual tourism of close to 20 million for the last five years, of which 15 million are in Dubai alone (except in 2020 due to Covid).
So the people there are doing something very well, which we also noticed. They offer amazing services and activities, which have made the country a global destination. You will appreciate the incredible cleanliness everywhere, the modern urban infrastructure, the amazing regeneration that has given beautiful areas to the public, the kindness of the people, but also the safety that you will feel everywhere.
So, don't be influenced by the haters and the supposedly sophisticated travelers and start planning your visit there because the UAE really impressed us and is truly worth it as a destination!
Additionally, we discovered something very important that makes us recommend the Emirates as a destination for those with children. It is incredibly family friendly! We met families from all over the world, even with babies of a few months old. And not without reason, as everywhere they had priority, there were pedestrian sections that one could easily go with a stroller, while even for a few steps there was always an elevator available.
Before you start planning your trip, read our tips below.
Is it an expensive destination?
A stereotype created by social media and the media is that Dubai is an expensive destination. This is of course not true as anyone can find reasonable prices for both accommodation (even in 4-star or 5-star hotels) and dining. With apps like Booking, Tripadvisor and Google reviews, one can find anything they need depending on their budget.
How will you get there?
Στο Ντουμπάι πετά απευθείας από την Αθήνα η Emirates, η οποία είναι μια από τις καλύτερες αεροπορικές εταιρίες στον κόσμο κι όπως είναι αναμενόμενο είναι ιδιαίτερα ακριβή. Προσφορές βγάζει κατά καιρούς και η Aegean, όμως οι ώρες της δεν είναι βολικές. Μπορείς, όμως, να προτιμήσεις την εξαιρετική Etihad, η οποία έχει πολλές προσφορές και προσγειώνεται στο Άμπου Ντάμπι το οποίο απέχει περίπου μιάμιση ώρα. Η πιο οικονομική λύση είναι να πάρεις μετά λεωφορείο για Ντουμπάι (κοστίζει περίπου 10 ευρώ αλλά πρέπει να αλλάξεις κάπου και γενικά θα σου πάρει αρκετή ώρα). Το ταξί κοστίζει 70 -90 ευρώ για τη διαδρομή αυτή κι αν είστε 2-3 άτομα βολεύει περισσότερο.
Where to stay?
Ideally, it would be best to "break" your trip into 2 parts, staying most of your days in Dubai and 1-2 nights in Abu Dhabi, which is also the capital of the UAE. However, if this is not possible, then you can stay in Dubai and see Abu Dhabi through a full-day excursion.
When it comes to accommodation in Dubai, there is a plethora accommodation to suit every budget. Downtown is a very convenient choice; however, La Mer won us over with its wonderful beach and brand-new facilities. As an alternative, we would also recommend Dubai Marina, which is particularly impressive. If you rent a car, a value-for-money option is thiswhereas if you prefer to stay centrally and get around using public transport and taxis, then we sugges this one.
Many travel agencies and individual tourists prefer the Deira area due to the low price of accommodation there. We would recommend you avoid it as it is far from most attractions, has a lot of traffic and is quite run down.
How will you get around?
If you are in Dubai with your family, there is no doubt that the best way to get around is to rent a car from the airport so that you have the necessary child seat. Gasoline, as you can imagine, is quite cheap and in most malls and attractions, parking is free for a few hours. If you buy anything in a mall, you keep the receipt and you do not pay a fee regardless of the hours of stay. The best offline GPS for the UAE is this one.
Otherwise, Dubai has 2 metro lines, which are not very useful. However, with a combination that also includes the option of taxis, one can get everywhere without much cost as the state (let's call them that) taxis with the red-orange roof are particularly economical. We do not recommend using buses as they make many stops and the distances there are enormous. Information about Public Transport can be found here.
In many areas we came across electric scooters and bicycles which are particularly convenient for exploring an area. Download the Careem Bike App on your mobile and get yours!
When to go?
The best time to visit the United Arab Emirates is from November to March. The conditions are ideal. In the morning the temperature reaches a maximum of 28 degrees and in the evening it drops to 18. That is, you will pack your summer clothes (don't forget your swimsuit) and in the evening you will need a thin cardigan or a windbreaker, like the one you wear on the islands on summer evenings. Tip: It is a good idea to have the cardigan with you during the day because in some shopping malls the air conditioning is quite strong.
We would also recommend that you avoid the Ramadan period as there are strict rules everywhere regarding dress and behavior, many attractions and restaurants are closed, and eating, smoking and even drinking water outdoors is prohibited from dawn to sunset. However, if those dates are the only ones that suit you, go for it. It is not prohibited!
Useful tips
In this section we will give you some tips that we found particularly useful during our stay there.
– The local currency is the dirham. You will find several exchange offices in the city and in most malls. We do not recommend changing money at the airport as the exchange rate there is not advantageous. Of course, there are POS everywhere, but again we do not recommend using Greek bank cards as there is a minimum charge per transaction. Instead, get a card Revolut or N26 to get the best exchange rate everywhere without having to carry cash.
– The United Arab Emirates is undoubtedly the most “advanced” Arab state in the world. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t observe some rules and respect the local culture.
– As regards the dressing you can wear whatever you want unless you are visiting a mosque or a mosque (women must cover all parts of their body and their hair, while shorts are prohibited for men). Also, in the historical districts of the city (Al Fahidi, Al Seef, Al Shindangha) a conservative dress code is simply recommended. As a general advice, we would suggest that you do not provoke with your clothing. In beaches You can wear whatever swimsuit you want. If you go to the nearest store or walk off the beach on the promenade, have a change of clothes. T-shirts with offensive slogans, gestures and skulls are prohibited.
– If you think romantics If you're going for walks with your partner, then you might need to reconsider. You can hold his/her hand, but kissing and hugging are prohibited.
– Single couples may not be accepted at some hotels, so ask your accommodation first before booking.
– Profanity and insults in public places are prohibited, while in the event that someone native makes a remark to you about something you did, know that he will be right and you will be wrong. In this case, you apologize, say you didn't know, and hope that the incident will end without further action.
– The alcohol It is allowed in indoor areas where there is a special permit such as bars, hotels and special shops. Driving or getting into a taxi while drunk carries serious penalties.
– The English They are spoken by everyone. Even on signs and traffic signs, there are English translations underneath the Arabic.
– If you meet locals (Emirati) and strike up a conversation, do not offer your hand for handshake to a woman if she doesn't do it first.
– Until 31/12/2021 the days holiday of the week were Friday and Saturday. As of 1/1/2022 this changed and is now Saturday and Sunday. As you can imagine, on these two days, prefer not to visit the mall, while if you want to go to some attractions, make sure you have booked tickets online as the lines will be long.
– The sockets The ones used are the English type, so make sure you have an adapter with you.
– Keep in mind that the hours cutting-edge on the streets is from 6:30 to 8:30 in the morning and from 17:30 to 20:00. Traffic on the streets at that time is particularly high.
– The water Tap water comes from desalination plants and is not drinkable.
– It is forbidden to photography the locals (especially the women) if you haven't asked their permission first.
– You don't need to. visa for the UAE (they give it to you at the airport for 90 days) as long as your passport does not expire within the next 6 months.
– The new Greek license driving enough to rent a car.
– This is one of the most safe countries in the world so don't worry about thefts or anything else. For this reason, it is also recommended as an ideal destination for solo travelers, even if they are women.
– If you buy anything that costs more than 250 dirhams (about 60 euros), you are entitled to a tax refund. When you get your receipt, ask for the Tax Free tag from the cashier and at the airport before you leave, find the special counter where you will present your receipts. More information here.
– The Airbnb have started to be allowed in recent years. You will find quite a few but most are without reviews. Avoid them as they are most likely not related to the apartment you are looking at. If you find one with many good reviews, prefer it. Most apartment buildings have a doorman so if you end up booking an accommodation through Airbnb, ask to be informed by the doorman because he may refuse you entry to it.
– If you belong to LGBT community, it is better not to visit the UAE or if you do, make sure to hide it as best as possible. The laws and penalties are strict.
Main article
If all this seemed useful to you, then all you have to do is read on. here our main article with everything you need to see and do in the United Arab Emirates. Enjoy!!
