Table of Contents
Dubai is one of the most accessible city in the middle east! With Emirates flying to pretty much everywhere in the world, I definitely think it’s worth leaving the airport to explore. In this Dubai travel guide, I’ll give you all the information on transport, money, weather, hotels, site seeing, and shopping for diamonds. In Dubai, you can experience the glamorous and the traditional in the United Arab Emirates’ largest city.
I wrote this travel guide after my second trip to Dubai. I absolutely love this city and there’re so many awesome things to see and do! It’s crazy to witness the creation of so many man-made structures in the middle of the desert!
Dubai Travel Guide, Some General Information;
Using The Dubai Metro
I always found the metro to be the easiest and at times the quickest way to get around. During our first trip, we purchased the reusable cards and it’s easy to top them up with credit as you need.
The trains are very reliable and we never had to wait longer than 4 minutes for one.
It’s forbidden to eat, drink, or chew gum on the metro. This ensures that they are always clean and comfortable for users. There are certain carriages reserved for only gold pass passengers and carriages reserved for women and children only.
So keep an eye out for the signs, breaking these rules could result in fines.
Local Currency & Cost in Dubai
The local currency in the United Arab Emirates is Dirham. I always like to have some local currency on me when I arrive in a country but there are plenty of currency exchanges and ATMs throughout the city.
Credit cards are widely available and we never found anywhere that would add on additional fees.
Cost-wise, you could do Dubai super expensive and fancy. I’m pretty sure having high tea at the Burj Al Arab was going to set us back nearly $600AUD. WOW!
We definitely didn’t do Dubai that fancy! We stayed at beautiful 3-star hotels and found them to be pretty cheap (under 120AUD per night). When it came to food we easily found meals for the same price as what we’d pay at home in Australia.
The metro is the cheapest mode of transport and we found taxies to be much cheaper than getting an Uber.
Weather in Dubai
Obviously being in the desert it’s going to be hot but there is pleasant hot then completely boiling hot. To give you a general guide on when to travel to Dubai, these were my experiences.
My husband and I have been to Dubai in May and July. May was pretty good, it was hot but for someone who loves the heat, I was pretty comfortable. It was generally mid to high 30’s (degrees Celsius). July though was pushing 50 degrees and after 5 minutes outside I was dying. Get me air conditioning!
We couldn’t even go to the Marina that trip because walking around outside for too long would’ve been hell.
December is the coolest month and I’m told it sits at about 25 degrees.
Language Barrier?
The majority of those living in Dubai have English as their second language, so we never had any issues communicating with anyone. If you can’t speak English or Arabic you may need google translate.
You’ll notice that the menus and signs are written in English and Arabic too.
Public Displays of Affection in Dubai
It’s not a good idea to show public displays of affection while in Dubai and technically you can’t share a hotel room with a person of the opposite sex unless you’re married.
Although Lawrence and I were never questioned about whether we were married or not. Most of the hotel staff are ex-pats and have never seemed concerned or bothered about it. I’ve also read that this is never really enforced.
Food & Alcohol in Dubai
You can find pretty much any type of food imaginable in Dubai. This is one of the reasons I love it so much. It’s very multicultural and there are many international fast-food chains around.
Alcohol isn’t widely available, but tourists can drink in licensed venues but never on the streets or beach. Hotels have fully stocked bars for guests but this area is generally in another room and not in the view of the public.
Accommodation in Dubai
There’re endless amounts of hotels options in Dubai, and they all vary in price. I think as long as you’re within a short walk to a metro station you’ll be fine.
These are 3 Hotels I would recommend in Dubai that would be perfect for a mid-range budget (click for Booking.com).
Travel Guide to Visiting Dubai During Ramadan
The last time I traveled to Dubai was in May and this was during the month of Ramadan. I was a little apprehensive about visiting during Ramadan as I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get food during the day and we’d find most restaurants closed.
This wasn’t the case at all and it ended up being a great time to visit. We had no issues getting food, restaurants were still operating as per normal. Except they had all the blinds closed so passers-by couldn’t see in.
Also, the food court’s in the malls were still operating but were surrounded by temporary walls.
I think the only difficult part was not being able to drink while walking around in the heat. We found the city to be pretty quiet during the day so that was nice and it was good to see all the non-Muslims being respectful of Ramadan.
Buying Diamonds in Dubai
So now to the exciting part… Diamonds! Lawrence and I have been to Dubai twice and both trips revolved around our wedding and engagement rings.
You can get diamond rings custom-made in Dubai for far less money than what you would pay in many other countries (in Australia you’d pay nearly triple the price).
I love doing it here too because you generally buy the diamonds loose, so you can have a good look at them before they are set. Also, Dubai is not only one of the cheapest places to buy diamonds, but it’s also one of the top three diamond trading hubs in the world, along with Belgium and India.
I wouldn’t say this is a hard process but it is definitely time-consuming. On the last trip when we purchased both our wedding rings, we were in the mall for 9 hours. Going to many different stores, looking at the diamonds they had, and negotiating prices.
The only place we’ve shopped at (and I wouldn’t have considered going anywhere else) is the Gold & Diamond Park.
This is along the Red Metro Line and across the road from station ‘First Abu Dhabi bank (FADB)’.
I recommend knowing pretty much what you want before you arrive, (color/clarity/cut/setting) and having a budget in mind. There are so many options and everything looks so beautiful so if you have no idea it could be a bit overwhelming.
If they don’t have the diamond in-store it is possible for them to source it from overseas, but for that, you’ll need to be in town for at least a week.
Generally, 3 – 4 days in Dubai will give you plenty of time to shop and have the jewelry made. But keep in mind their weekend is Friday and Saturday.
All the diamonds we looked at had certifications and the store provided us with all the relevant paperwork.
The factories are on site too, so you can ask if they’ll let you visit and see your jewelry being made.
At times I found this to be a very stressful process but it’s a lot of fun, definitely barter with the price until you and the staff are both happy.
The two stores we’ve purchased from are Le Brilliante and Passion Jewellers, we were extremely happy with both.
If you plan to travel to Dubai to buy diamonds, please note that I only based this guide on my own personal experiences.
Shopping Throughout The City
Apart from diamonds, Dubai has so much other awesome shopping. The city has some of the largest malls in the world, filled with every store you could imagine.
These are some of the most beautiful malls I have ever been to and you could spend hours cooling off in the air conditioning. My three favorites were Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, and IBN Battuta Mall.
Then, on the other hand, you need to check out old Dubai for a more traditional look. This is the area of Deira and Bur Dubai.
It’s so different compared to New Dubai, but still so much to see. This is where you’ll find the souks, so get ready for textiles, spices, and gold.
Travel Guide To The Best Sightseeing In Dubai;
At the Top – Burj Khalifa
It was pretty cool being able to go up to the top of the tallest building in the world. The tickets for this are pretty expensive and you’ll need to book them in advance to secure your preferred time. It was all very well organized, with very tight security.
The Burj Khalifa is so tall that you can watch the sunset from the base of the building, then get in an elevator right to the top and watch the sunset all over again. It’s also awesome to see the Dubai Mall fountain show at night, from a bird’s eye view.
Palm Jumeirah
The palm is insane and it’s crazy to think that humans were able to make this. We got the monorail down to The Atlantas hotel. They restrict most areas to hotel guests only. But I still wanted to include this in my travel guide as it’s such an iconic part of the new Dubai.
Jumeirah Beach
I wouldn’t say this beach is a great place to cool off, we found the water to be like a hot bath. It was beautiful though and there were no issues wearing a regular bikini. I was just dressed before we walked away from the beach.
Jumeirah Mosque
You can visit this landmark mosque at 10 am for a tour and talk inside, for only 10AED. The mosque is absolutely beautiful and I found the talk very interesting. It was great being able to learn more and ask questions regarding the Muslim religion.
Desert Safari
I definitely recommend getting out of the city at some point while in Dubai. Apart from the heat, it’s easy to forget that you’re in the desert. We did the desert safari through Rayna Tours & Travel. They’ll pick you up from your hotel and drop you back afterward.
We went dune bashing in a 4×4 on your way out to the desert camp. At the camp, you’ll find some local stores, activities (such as camel rides), and then the perfect time to take some desert sunset photos. After dark, they’ll serve the buffet dinner (they’ll be a separate queue for men and women) and afterward, there’s a show.
I really enjoyed this tour but it was super busy, at times during the dune bashing we had to wait in line like it was peak hour traffic. But the food was delicious and the show was excellent.
Even if you aren’t doing Dubai the 5 star way, I always found everywhere gave 5-star service and it’s somewhere I always felt very safe. There’s still so much construction going on here and I can’t wait to go back again and see all the new & extravagant buildings.
I hope my Dubai travel guide has helped you with your planning.
After you’ve explored Dubai, remember that Jordan is only a short flight away with Emirates Airlines from Dubai. Jordan is an AMAZING country!!! If you like you can read my Jordan Travel Guide here.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels.
Like this Dubai travel guide?
Pin It!
If you liked this article, I would love for you to share it with your friends.
Planning a Trip? Travel Resources Below;
Where to Next?
If you’re unsure of where to visit next, why not check out my Destination Page filled with exciting ideas from all over the world!
Booking Accommodation
Then when it comes to booking accommodation; if you’re after a hostel the best place to search is HostelWorld.
Or, if you’d prefer a hotel or resort, Booking.com or Agoda are two of the best sites out there, they consistently return cheap rates.
Get Your Cashback
Before you book though don’t forget to activate your Rakuten browser extension so you get cashback on these bookings.
Don’t know what Rakuten is? Read my guide here!
And, Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, everything doesn’t always go to plan but travel insurance will protect you when it comes to illness, injury, theft & cancellation. I never travel overseas without travel insurance, it’s just not worth the risk!
Cover-More is a trusted company and they also have COVID-19 benefits available.
Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
WOW– what an amazing place and so much great info !
Since I’ve only had a layover in Dubai I need to go back and see it all! It looks like a beautiful city, super clean and all the stunning architecture. I’d definitely want to go up to the top of the Burj Khalifa, do some shopping, and head out for a desert safari. Great tips too as I wasn’t aware of many!
So glad you found it helpful Vanessa 🙂 and yes, Dubai should definitely be more than just a stop over
We enjoyed two visits to Dubai but we still have much to see on a return visit. We dealt with the sun but were surprised how many days we fogged in and the sky was filled with dust. We did not buy diamonds but love the idea of having something custom made.
I’ve been thinking of travelling to Dubai for a while and had wondered how easy it would be to get by without speaking Arabic – that’s great to know how easy you found it. The desert looks amazing – I’d love to go on a desert safari in Dubai.
Thank for reading Sophie. Yeah you would definitely get by without speaking Arabic
It’s always a great time when you’re in Dubai. This is an excellent guide for anyone planning on visiting Dubai. I’ve been there many times and it’s a beautiful place with plenty of shopping opportunities, especially if you want custom made jewelry at affordable prices!
I have never been to Dubai, but I will make it some day!
I have been to Dubai recently and I am actually impressed how you included all the things to see and do in one post! Well done, you definitely put the highlights of the city but also many useful tips you cannot find in other guides. Great job, thank you for sharing
Thank you so much Francesca, I really appreciate your feedback