United Arab Emirates

General Info

Last visited

October 2012

Food

Talking about Dubai: Indian, Arabi, Lebanese, Western food, whatever you like. Most of the cheap eateries and stalls with tables outside serve Indian food and Kebab. There's all kind of food-chains in Dubai. If you like to have a Cappuccino and Croissant and read the paper, go to Starbucks, they are all everywhere. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are rarely served in public spots.

Transport

Taxis are fairly inexpensive, starting with 4 AED. A 10km drive costs you approx. 40 AED (10 USD). The Dubai metro system is new and modern. Currently two lines are in operation. You get from the Airport to Burj Khalifa as far as Dubai Marina. Currently a daypass costs 16 AED and includes transport in public busses. Al Ghubaiba bus station connects metro and busses which operate to the beaches (Line no. 8 operates along Jumeira beach passing by famous Burj al Arab). Far distance busses depart from there as well. A ride to Abu Dhabi takes about 2 hrs and costs 25 AED.

People

Traditional Arabian women wearing niqap (covering their face with a slot for the eyes) sitting in the metro next to Western women in high heels and strapless shirts. Indians and Philippinos are populating snack and kebab stalls. Sheiks in white dishdash and kufya are sitting outside Starbucks having all the time of the world and probably the money as well wheras foreigners make the city grow.

Do

... travel by metro. It is fast, cheap and connecting major landmarks.

Don't

... walk. It is too hot, distances are enormeous and 8 lane motorways are crisscrossing all over the city make it impossible for pedestrians to cross....Or would you walk around Los Angeles?
... stay outside at daytime from about 10 am to 4 pm. It's just too hot.
... do shopping even though Dubai is called a shopping Mekka. You just might not have a Sheik's wallet.

Dubai

If you are travelling with Emirates Airlines, why not stop here for a day or two? It is absolutely worth. Have a day at the beach before you go back to the cold northern climate. There's plenty of hotels of all price scales. Go and see the Creek, the gold souk of the old town, you won't miss burj Khalifa, the currently highest building of the world. Take a picture of the sail, burj al Arab in the evening light. All in all, your stopover will be a pleasure.

Abu Dhabi

Two hours away from Dubai by bus. There's many sky scrapers as well but the city is not as vibrant as is Dubai. From the main bus station you can take public buses to the sea front which is called Corniche. You pay 1 AED at the driver's money box and sit or stand at the back, if you are a male. Front seats are reserved for women. At the northern end of the Corniche is the Emirates Palace, a multiple star hotel which is open to the public. Have a look around and find the Gold ATM. Worth a visit is the enormous Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahayan mosque. It is a new construction and beats all records. Take a cab for about 30 AED one way and make sure you are early. The mosque closes at 12 noon for public access.

Burj al Arab - Dubai

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahayan mosque - Abu Dhabi

Burj Khalifa (828m) - Dubai