DUBAI GUIDE 101

All you need to know about travelling to Dubai

A trip to Dubai excites a lot of people and you begin to wonder and question why people love to go on vacation to this city. Yes! Dubai holds a lot of intriguing and interesting reasons to be one of the best-sought cities for vacation in the world. Of course, you will hear different tales from people talking about the extravagance and lavishness of the city and this sort of puts off some people who are not much into this, it is okay to feel sceptical about your vacation to this beautiful city, but trust me there is a lot to explore and enjoy in the city.

My first trip to this city some years got me searching the internet for as much information as I can get, I didn’t want to be left out of any information especially because it is a Muslim city and I wanted to stay out of trouble and enjoy my vacation as much as I can. So I started by checking out for dress codes and what’s appropriate to wear (I love to wear sleeveless and shorts so I needed to know if I could do so while on vacation in the city) while in the city. That seem to be my number one worry and I didn’t worry much about every other thing which ranges from the accommodation, places to visit and many more because I wasn’t travelling alone.

Oh, Dubai. It’s a city I can’t get enough of and blame me not, there is a lot more to Dubai than what you hear about it being excessively flashy and loud. Especially when it comes to infrastructure and its evolvement the city has a history of rapid development and if you are very curious about the development and learning about the city’s richness as much as you are ready to explore then you are on the right page. I looked forward to my vacation on my first trip but didn’t know what to expect but I will say to this day my Day-cation at WILD WADI is one of the most enjoyable moments I have had in the city. (I am a water person, maybe you can call me ‘AQUA WOMAN’)

So I will be giving you TOP REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT DUBAI. But first let me give you a hint about dress codes: there isn’t anything of such, yes! Dubai is a city where you will find different people from different parts of the world ranging from the Philippines, Pakistanis, Indians, Americans, Africans and more. It has a high rate of tourists visiting every day hence people are dressed in all sorts but when you are visiting the local areas where the Arabs live then you are to dress appropriately and that’s you wearing modest clothing as a female and as a man (they barely dress inappropriately) you got no issue but then don’t stare much at their women!

HERE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE VISITING DUBAI

1. When is the best time to travel to Dubai? Dubai is known to enjoy the sun all around the year but there are seasons it is extremely hot! Remember Dubai is a desert city hence the hotness. (I remember a trip to Dubai and when I travelled back home I was so tanned; I mean I got dark!!!) Yes, the sun during that period (October) was scorching except you are coming from a very cold country and you are looking forward to very sunny weather and tanned skin.

So the best time to travel to Dubai is from November to March. Yes, during this period the sun is not so hot and the weather is pleasant. This allows you to enjoy a wide range of activities from swimming to skiing, cool evening walks and more.

2. What currency is widely accepted in Dubai? The emirate currency is called ‘DHIRAM’, if you are planning your next vacation and Dubai is the destination then ensure you change into the local currency which is ‘DHIRAM’. Although you will find different exchange rates offices where you can change some money and it’s a good thing to know that the American dollar is widely accepted as you will find a lot of stores and souks that accept the American dollar and exchange per rate of the day. Also paying with your MasterCard is easy and acceptable as many stores accept international cards but ensure your bank knows you are travelling overseas for a vacation hence your card is not restricted. I had an issue with payment one time at the ‘Gold souk’ where my card was restricted and I had to call my bank and they started asking me a lot of security questions coupled with the fact that the line keeps going off and I had to call back and started all over with another agent till the transaction got approved. You do not want to have my kind of experience.

3. Accommodation in Dubai: Let’s talk about accommodation in Dubai, firstly I will say going on vacation anywhere requires proper planning and where to stay during your visit is a major thing you need to consider and it requires careful selection. Dubai is an expensive city but you will also get affordable accommodation, one thing is Dubai provides different accommodation for budgets. Which ranges from shared hotel rooms (this is for people of the same gender), to single rooms, apartments, beach houses, luxury hotels and many more. Let me share my experience of a shared hotel room with you.

 On my last trip to Dubai, I travelled alone and that was the first time I ever did. It was a kind of impromptu vacation because I tried changing my ticket but things happened, the travel agent messed things up and I had to travel alone and suddenly. I had to quickly book a hotel for a night so when I get there I can sort myself out. I spent the first night at the hotel and didn’t like the place and decided to change the hotel then I met another Nigerian lady at the hotel and we decided to check out and move to a new place together. The hotel we moved to offered shared room services and we ended up staying in the same room (2 beds in a room). It was one of the best vacations I had.

4. Check if you need a Visa: Depending on your nationality you can get a visa on arrival or you can apply for your prearranged visa from Dubai immigration before you travel.

5. COVID 19 PROTOCOLS: The last time I was in Dubai was before the Covid 19 outbreak hence it was a free world without any health or safety restrictions but then I have a few friends who have travelled recently and here are the things they’ve got to say about travelling to Dubai. All passengers travelling to Dubai from all countries (GCC included) must fulfil one of the following requirements:

• Present a valid vaccination certificate(s) reflecting that the passenger is fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the WHO or United Arab Emirates (UAE), and includes a QR code.

• Present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within 48 hours after the sample was collected and issued by an approved health service provider with a QR code.

• Present a valid medical certificate issued by the relevant authorities that the passenger has recovered from COVID-19 within 1 month from the date of recovery to the date of arrival.

Note:

• Printed or digital PCR test certificates or vaccination certificates are accepted in English or Arabic and must include a QR code. SMS certificates are not accepted.

• COVID-19 vaccination certificates without a QR code will be accepted for travel to Dubai as long as the vaccination certificate is issued by test centres/organisations recognised/ approved by the national health authorities of the country.

• COVID-19 PCR test or vaccination certificates in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the departure point.

• PCR tests must be based on a molecular diagnostic test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid for SARS-COV-2 viral RNA. Rapid antigen, antibody or any form of rapid lateral flow tests and home test kits will not be accepted.

• NHS COVID-19 test certificates for travel from the United Kingdom to Dubai will not be accepted.

COVID-19 PCR test and vaccination exemptions

• Children below 12 years old.

• Passengers with moderate to severe disabilities:

• Moderate or severe disability includes neurological disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Example Acute spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Ataxia, autism spectrum, bell’s palsy, brain tumours, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epilepsy and seizures.

• All other passengers including does who are visually impaired, hearing impaired or physically challenged must hold a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test certificate as per the requirements.

EXCITING THINGS TO DO IN DUBAI/REASONS TO VISIT DUBAI

Visiting Dubai for the first time I know there might be some sought of an adrenaline rush, especially for some who watched Dubai at 50 and some of the videos from Expo 2020. I know you can’t wait to experience what is to come upon your arrival and in this case, I would like to share some of my travel experiences in Dubai with you. My first visit to Dubai was in 2017, like I mentioned above I went to the internet to do some research mostly about what and what not to wear. As I didn’t go alone there were already planned out things to do and the first was taking a bus tour of the city, yea that was a lot of sightseeing and fun. When I got on the bus I took a seat on the ground floor but after a while, I changed my seat (I didn’t get enough viewing) and went upstairs (it was one of those double-decker buses), I had a camera from my aunt hanged on my neck for taking pictures (you want to save memories for the future: if you can’t afford a digital camera ensure you have a phone with enough storage and good camera).

1. A BUS TOUR TO GO SIGHTSEEING: this is one of the many things exciting things to do in Dubai as the bus takes you around beautiful sites such as the Dubai Museum for a taste of history and many other exciting places. Dubai literally wants to shape the land into something very impressive and as it is many are witnessing it already. Just take a look at the palm-shaped island of Jumeirah, or the newer man-made islands built in the shape of the continents. It’s awe-inspiring, to say the least. 

Ensure you take a phone that has a good camera and enough space with you if you cannot afford a digital camera. As there is beautiful scenery to take pictures of.

2. Enjoy the amazing underwater zoo: One of the city’s tourist attractions, the Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the Dubai Mall.

I remember my trip to the underwater zoo, it was such a very beautiful experience. Viewing different species of sea life in the underwater zoo with its three-storey high, 270-degree views along the length of the glass-panel tunnels was a wow experience. Also taking a kind of mini boat cruise in the underwater zoo while the tour guide showed us around and explained about the marine life. The underwater zoo offers plenty of aquatic experiences and things to do for visitors who want a close-up encounter with some of the aquarium’s inhabitants from hand-feeding eagles rays to the diving reefs and tiger sharks.

You might be wondering if the fishes are real, yes they are! I took the picture in 2017.

I took a ride in the aquarium zoo and viewed more water animals.

Address: Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road.

3. Visit Dubai’s famed city space at Burj Khalifa: This is a landmark building and major tourist attraction, Burj Khalifa which is 829.8 meters is the tallest building in the world and is the most famous of the city’s points of interest. Night-time visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai’s famous city-lights panoramas. If you are visiting Dubai and you don’t go to Burj Khalifa your trip isn’t complete as this offers two-way fun for you which is shopping at Dubai Mall (the second-largest mall in the world) as well as visiting Burj khalifa which is just adjacent.

You do not wanna miss this, the view is breathtaking.

 Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard

4. Wild Wadi Water Park: If you are an aqua person I bet you will enjoy a trip to ‘Wild Wadi’ and if you are not trust me it’s a place to look forward to. Overlooking the Burj Al Arab hotel on Jumeirah beach is Wild Wadi Water Park which boasts 30 water attractions and draws thousands of visitors. It has a heated/cooled wave pool, multiple water slides and two artificial surfing machines. Another enjoyable feature of the park is an 18m (59ft) waterfall that goes off every ten minutes. On-site you will find gift shops, restaurants and snack stands. My experience with Wild Wadi is one I can’t forget so soon! I had so much fun gliding through different tunnels and ending in a big pool. Please notes: if you do not know how to swim kindly use floaters in some areas as the water can be kinda deep. (Although you will find lifeguards almost everywhere looking out for everyone). Also, let me share with you some tips you should know about the place: you will have to pay for small lockers where you can keep your personal items and the bigger the locker the more you got to pay. In all, you are going to have plenty of fun at Wild Wadi and don’t forget to take plenty of pictures.

I can’t get enough of this waterpark, blame me not I love water plus there are a lot of water activities you will love there.

Ensure you know how to swim and if not get floaters while you are at it. The beautiful thing is you will find lifeguards stationed at designated spots at the water park. In the picture, you can spot a man standing in a white and red outfit (a lifeguard on deck).

 Address: Jumeirah Dubai

5. An oasis in the desert: The Dubai miracle garden: This is one place I look forward to visiting on my next trip to Dubai, I literally can’t wait to experience it. I first learnt about the place in a movie and I questioned myself how on earth I never visited in all my previous trips to Dubai. The landscape will leave your mouth gaped; it’s not only touted as the world’s largest flower garden but this is a literal 2,000 square meters garden in the actual desert. It is a fantastic sight to behold, full of bright pinks, yellows and purples. Another fascinating thing about the place is the flowers are not only on the ground, they are planted on large scale sculptures and mechanical moving displays. That’s so unreal!

A recent picture of my friends at the miracle garden in April 2022.

I guess you can’t wait to visit.

Address: Dubailand Dubai

6. The Dubai Desert: If you talking about a Dubai vacation and visiting the desert isn’t on your bucket list then you should write it down now. The beautiful thing about the desert is regardless of when you go there are always enjoyable activities. If you go in the morning, you can have a stunning sunrise or a small hike at Fossil rock. If you go for an evening desert safari you can enjoy dinner, henna tattoos and a belly dance show. And if you ask me to choose I will say go in the late afternoon as you will also enjoy a ride on a camel’s back, get a henna tattoo (I had one done on my left hand and it was very lovely: you got to tip the person who did it), have a taste of Arabian nightlife in the desert and if you are a lover of coffee then you will get to enjoy a taste of Arabian coffee served with dates. It was such a good one to try (never had it before), also get enthralled by the beautiful belly dancers.

Don’t be scared to go on a camel ride. It’s fun!

7. The Arabian Sea: Coming from a country where the beaches are nice but not so beautiful, I fell in love with the sea and collected beautiful sea shells (planning to make a necklace of them). Dubai has some of the most beautiful deep turquoise waters, you can lounge on public beaches, go jet skiing or take a sunset boat ride on the water.

I took this picture in the evening hence it’s looking a bit dark. Jumeirah Beach 2018

Sitting pretty and enjoying the view.

 Address: Jumeirah Beach

8. Go back in time to old Dubai: Old Dubai is found in the eastern part of Bur Dubai, near Dubai creek. (I remember the day I visited the creek was on Valentine’s Day and I enjoyed a boat ride and dinner on the boat: you should try it), take a walk around souqs selling spices and clothing. You can also take a trip down to Deira and visit the gold souq or walk the outdoor Deira grand souq.

Yes, that was my first boat ride in Dubai in 2017.

9. Dubai provides a fix for adrenaline junkies: Dubai has got you covered with various activities that will get your heart pumping.

Do you want to go skydiving? (sitting pretty on my bucket list) Dubai as you covered.

Want to go skiing inside the mall? Dubai has it.

Want to sandboard down the tall sand dunes? It is completely possible. During one of my trips to Dubai while on a boat trip we sailed past a couple of people dining in the sky isn’t that beautiful!!!

So any adrenaline junkie looking for reasons to visit Dubai or what are the exciting things to do should look no further. Dubai has everything that adrenaline junkies could want and more. Not to forget dining in the sky (absolutely beautiful)

Dining in the sky is so beautiful and exciting (that is if you don’t have a phobia for heights).

10. Take a trip to Atlantis The Palm Dubai: One of the many wonders and beauty in Dubai is Atlantis The palm, a beautiful resort built on the island with a lot of attractions such as the aqua venture water park, the lost chambers aquarium which is home to over 65,000 marine animals! Isn’t that huge and lovely?

It is a beauty to behold.

Unfortunately the day I visited I wasn’t able to get a proper tour some activities were going on but I could just take a few pictures.

I can’t help but add this! of course, I am a foodie that’s why it is important for me to let you know that if you are travelling to Dubai as a Nigeria and you are worried about trying out different food asides from what you are used to (what’s a vacation without trying out something new anyway?). Worry not as you will find different restaurants that serve indigenous meals. As a matter of fact, when you step into some Nigerian restaurants, it all seems like you are back home because the ambience just feels like home plus you will find people speaking indigenous languages and Nigerian music playing in the restaurant.

I already started eating before I remembered to take a picture. Blame me not the meal was looking so delicious I couldn’t wait to eat. (that is wheat, efo riro and some proteins).

And there you have it! helpful tips for you on your next trip to Dubai, I wish I can write more and more about more beautiful places as Dubai is filled with wonders and luxuries (frankly there are plenty more) but then I would love you to go on and discover yourself.

Dubai is a lovely place with impressive man-made elements and natural scenery combined. It’s a central hub to almost anywhere and you can meet people from all over the world, also you will find lots of people having stopovers in Dubai and seizing the opportunity to have a feel of the city which can’t be enough during a stopover journey.

Anything else you would love to add to this list, let me know below!

Author: Wendy