Question 1

When to Visit Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Since Dubai is a desert city located in the northern hemisphere, the best time to visit Dubai is from November to April when the temperature is around 20 - 33°C, allowing you to enjoy what the city has to offer more.

All the other months can be blazingly hot, and the temperature can go all the way up to 41°C. When you combine that with the humidity coming from the ocean, it can feel like 48+°C, and that is just not fun at all, believe me. If you are planning to do many activities I listed here, I suggest you stick to the recommended period between November and April.

That said, due to it being the peak season, everything also becomes more expensive, especially accommodation, which can cost more than double its regular prices. For example, a 20 USD hotel room during the low season can cost more than 100 USD during the high season. So, depending on your budget, you will have to plan your visit to Dubai accordingly.

If you are looking to save some money and can handle temperatures around 28 - 38°C, September and May are also great times to visit Dubai. However, you will have to stick to mornings and evenings for outdoor activities. This way, you will be able to save a ton of money while enjoying all the awesome things Dubai has to offer.

Question 2

How to Get to Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Thanks to its national carrier, Emirates Airline, Dubai is one of the largest travel hubs in the world. Getting there from wherever you are doesn't get any easier than this, so you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to Dubai International Airport.

From the US, you can fly directly via Emirates Airlines to Dubai from over 6 cities all over the country such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, etc., so you should have no trouble getting there.

From Europe, again, you can fly directly from most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Emirates Airlines to Dubai, or you can also fly with low-cost airlines like Wizz Air or Pegasus Airlines if you don't mind transiting.

From Asia, Emirates Airlines also has excellent coverage across the continent with routes from many hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Jakarta that will take you to Dubai in less than 8 hours.

To find a cheap flight to Dubai, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.

Question 3

How to Get Around Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Dubai is a massive metropolitan area with all the best tourist attractions spread out across the city, which can be a little disorienting at first. Thankfully, the city has one of the best and most extensive networks of metros and buses that anyone can take. Additionally, the availability of Uber and Careem can be used to get to exactly where you want, fast and painless. Here are the best ways to get around Dubai.

By Metros: The Metros in Dubai are so awesome. I wish more cities' train systems were half as great as the one they have here. It has great coverage with over 50 stations, traveling more than 85 km across the city, including from the Dubai International Airport, eliminating the need for you to deal with taxis.

Dubai Metro also uses a centralized card system called Nol, which you can purchase from any metro station for 25 AED (6 AED for the card and 19 AED for usage). You can use it to pay for train and bus tickets, as well as goods from many shops around the city. It's like a universal money card that you can use for everything in Dubai, which I think is pretty genius.

The city is divided into 7 zones. Traveling within the zone you departed from is the cheapest, whereas the more zones you cross, the more expensive your train ticket will be. This also applies to both buses and trams.

The trains also have 2 exclusive passenger carriages at the front and back for Gold Class passengers, who hold the premium-priced tickets, and a women-only carriage in case you are not comfortable in the normal carriage.

All in all, if you are looking for an affordable way to get around Dubai easily, the metro is the best way to go, especially if you are traveling alone or as a couple. If you are traveling in larger groups, other options might be a more economical choice for you.

By Bus/Tram: Dubai also has an extensive bus and tram system that works the same way as the metros but with more coverage. You can use a Nol card to pay for buses and trams by tapping on the sensor when you get on and making sure you tap again once you get off. The prices will be calculated based on how many zones you are traveling across.

The price is a little cheaper than the metros, but the wait time can vary depending on the traffic. Most of the time, you should be able to rely on the timetable, the bus stop, and the route line number provided by Google Maps. I have traveled with buses a bit in Dubai, and they are great for going to places that aren't near any metro station.

By Careem/Uber: You can also use a cab-hailing app like Careem (Android|iOS) and Uber (Android|iOS) to get around Dubai. With a starting price of 12 AED, it is a bit more expensive than hailing a regular taxi, but they are extremely convenient, comfortable to travel in, and best of all, it is a guarantee that you will get a taxi no matter the destination.

Unlike regular taxis, where they often reject passengers based on the destination, taxis called from these apps are obligated to take you no matter where. So, if you are out and about and looking for a reliable way to get to your hotel, Careem and Uber are your saviors.

By Car: If you are looking to travel extensively around the UAE, which I recommend you do if you are planning to spend more than 3 days in Dubai, you can rent a car straight from Dubai International Airports and start driving around from there. It can cost as low as 120 AED to rent one from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. Hit the link below to rent a car.

Rent a car in Dubai

Question 4

How Many Days To Spend in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Depending on how much you want to see in Dubai and the UAE and the season you are there, you can spend from 1 to 7 days experiencing what this country truly has to offer. Below is a rough itinerary you can follow:

Question 5

How Much Money Do I Need For Dubai and the UAE?

Accepted Answer

With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending in the UAE as follows:

Accommodation: For 8 nights, you can expect to pay around 400 USD (1,469.20 AED) for accommodation.

Food: Food costs about 35 AED on average in Dubai, so you can expect to pay around 735 AED per person for 7 days.

Transportation: For transportation, you will be paying mostly for metro tickets and a few trips on Careem and Uber, which should be around 150 AED, plus 360 AED for 3 days' worth of car rental (200 for gas), totaling the amount of 710 AED for transportation.

Activities: For activities, the entrance fees for Al Shindagha Museum, View at the Palm, and Louvre in Abu Dhabi cost around 15 AED, 100 AED, and 63 AED, respectively. Kayaking in Hatta is 60 AED per kayak, while the desert safari should be around 85 USD (312 AED). So, in total, you can expect to pay at least 550 AED for activities.

Total Budget for 7 days in the UAE: 3,464.2 AED (943.15 USD)

Question 6

Is it Safe in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Dubai is extremely safe. In fact, it is probably one of the safest places I've been to so far, and I am not exaggerating. When I first arrived here, I was bothered by the fact that most locals leave their belongings unattended for a long period of time in cafes and restaurants. I don't even do it in my hometown, but it seems to be very common here.

From my experiences, petty theft in Dubai is very rare, especially when compared with other major cities like London and Paris, thanks to its strict laws, huge fines, and advanced surveillance system.

In fact, Dubai is so safe that the only risk you might have to worry about is breaking the strict local laws, such as COVID-19 restrictions, alcohol consumption, public display of affection, and, in certain places, dress code.

Despite being safe, you might still meet a few touters trying to sell your stuff in local markets and souks, but that is to be expected in this part of the world. They are not as hard to weed out as those scammers in Egypt.

When it comes to safety, whether you are a solo traveler or a female traveler, there is nothing to worry about when traveling in Dubai.

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