Dubai & UAE
Travel Guide

Plan outdoor walks, waterfront drives and indoor breaks around the forecast. These are the next five full calendar days in Dubai.

Approximate daily temperature ranges and wind speeds. Forecasts can change; check local alerts before outdoor activities.

Dubai uses the UAE dirham (AED or Dhs), divided into 100 fils. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar at approximately AED 3.67 per USD 1; the amount you receive can differ because of provider fees.

Cards & cash

Major hotels, malls and restaurants commonly accept cards. Keep some smaller dirham notes for traditional markets and everyday purchases.

Currency exchange

Compare the final amount after fees at licensed exchange counters or your bank. Check your card issuer’s foreign transaction charges before your trip.

Plan your rental budget

Ask for the total rental price, deposit arrangements, mileage allowance and how tolls, parking, fuel and any extra kilometres will be charged. Keep your booking confirmation and receipts.

du and e& offer visitor mobile services. Choose a tourist SIM or a compatible eSIM through an official operator, airport counter or authorised store.

Bring identification

Have your passport and visa or entry documents available. e& requires your physical passport and visa copy to issue a Visitor Line.

Before choosing an eSIM

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Use the operator’s tourist activation process rather than a resident-only Emirates ID route.

Compare the whole plan

Look at data allowance, local and international minutes, validity, top-up costs and renewal conditions. Short welcome-data offers may expire before the end of your stay.

Keep the essentials offline

Save your hotel address, booking details and important contacts before leaving airport Wi-Fi. The UAE country calling code is +971.

Dubai drives on the right. Follow the posted speed limit and road signs, leave a safe distance and signal before changing lanes. Do not assume speed-limit tolerances are the same throughout the UAE.

Documents before handover

Confirm that your licence is accepted and whether an International Driving Permit is needed for your nationality and licence. Carry the documents requested by your rental provider.

Protect everyone in the car

Wear seat belts, use an appropriate child restraint and keep your phone out of your hands while driving. Never drive after drinking alcohol.

Parking

Read the zone code, operating hours and tariff on the local signs. Pay using the method shown for that parking area and renew your session before it expires.

Salik

Dubai’s toll system uses variable pricing. Charges depend on the time and applicable schedule; confirm the current toll and your rental company’s billing arrangement rather than relying on a single fixed rate.

Routes beyond the city

Confirm allowed destinations with your rental company. Use designated paved roads; arrange a licensed operator for desert activities instead of taking a rented sports car off-road.

Mix Dubai’s destination restaurants with a meal in its older neighbourhoods. Start around Al Fahidi or Al Seef for heritage surroundings, then explore the city’s many international cuisines.

Emirati flavours

Arabian Tea House and Al Khayma Heritage Restaurant offer heritage settings; Al Fanar is another option for traditional Emirati cooking. Try a breakfast platter or a fragrant rice-based machboos dish.

Long-standing local favourites

Al Ustad Special Kabab in Bur Dubai is known for Iranian grills. Bu Qtair near the Jumeirah fishing harbour is an option for casual seafood.

Snacks to look for

Try shawarma, karak tea, dates, Arabic coffee and luqaimat when they appear on the menu. Choose dishes around your dietary needs and ask about ingredients.

Plan a relaxed meal

Check the branch, current menu and reservation policy. For a premium dinner, choose the setting you prefer—Downtown, DIFC, a beachfront terrace or the Marina—before arranging your drive.

Build your route around a few neighbouring areas instead of crossing the city repeatedly. Early morning and late afternoon are useful times for outdoor photography and softer light.

Downtown Dubai

Burj Khalifa and Burj Park offer iconic city views. Book ahead if you want to visit an observation deck rather than only photograph the skyline from ground level.

Old Dubai

Explore Al Fahidi, Al Seef and Dubai Creek for wind towers, heritage lanes and waterside scenes. A traditional abra crossing adds a different perspective.

Waterfront views

Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Marina provide promenades, skyline reflections and sunset backdrops. Palm Jumeirah offers another coastal setting.

Respect your surroundings

Ask permission before photographing identifiable people and follow venue rules. Never stop a vehicle in a traffic lane for a photo; use designated parking and safe public viewpoints.

Dubai combines large air-conditioned malls with traditional market districts. Pick the area that fits your sightseeing plan and allow time for parking and walking.

Dubai Mall

Combine shopping and dining with a Downtown visit. The mall also offers attractions such as Dubai Aquarium and family activities, so it can fill more than a shopping stop.

Mall of the Emirates

A useful option for shopping, dining and indoor entertainment, including Ski Dubai. Check individual attraction booking requirements separately.

Gold and Spice Souks

Explore Deira for jewellery, spices, perfumes and traditional gifts. When buying jewellery, ask for an itemised invoice and details of purity, weight and making charges.

Shopping practicalities

Compare the final price, keep receipts and read refund terms. Check the official tourist tax-refund conditions before counting on a refund; participating retailers and eligibility matter.

Choose experiences around the ages and interests of your group. Reserve timed-entry attractions in advance and leave travel time between activities.

Culture and design

Look at Museum of the Future for immersive experiences, or the Dubai Opera programme for performances that match your dates.

Indoor family choices

Dubai Aquarium, KidZania, Ski Dubai and IMG Worlds of Adventure give you options away from the outdoor heat. Check each attraction’s height, age and access rules.

A special evening

Consider a live production such as La Perle, then plan dinner nearby. Use the official events calendar to see what is actually scheduled during your stay.

Keep your itinerary comfortable

One major attraction plus a nearby meal or walk often works better than several timed bookings in distant parts of Dubai.

Hotel spas and traditional hammam experiences can be a relaxed addition to your trip. Choose the treatment and facilities you want before booking a package.

Talise Ottoman Spa

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah offers hammam experiences, massage treatments and spa facilities in an Ottoman-inspired setting.

Talise at Madinat Jumeirah

Another option for massages, hammam treatments and wellness experiences in the Madinat Jumeirah area.

Before you book

Ask about treatment duration, changing-room arrangements, access to pools or thermal facilities, cancellation terms and whether facilities are included or charged separately.

Choose an appropriate treatment

Tell the venue about any health conditions, pregnancy or treatment concerns so its team can advise on suitability.

Dubai’s nightlife includes rooftop lounges, licensed hotel venues and live-music destinations. Choose your venue for the programme and atmosphere rather than assuming every night has the same line-up.

Where to start

Soho Garden on Palm Jumeirah and Soho Garden DXB at Meydan are examples of nightlife and entertainment venues. Downtown, DIFC and the Marina also have evening dining and lounge options.

Check entry arrangements

Confirm the event, reservation or guest-list requirements, dress code and accepted identification directly with the venue. Age restrictions can vary by venue and event.

Alcohol and transport

The legal drinking age in Dubai is 21. Use licensed venues, respect local laws and take a taxi or arrange a sober driver if you drink; never drive after alcohol.

Dubai’s summer is hot, and coastal humidity can make outdoor conditions feel more intense. Use the forecast above to organise each day around comfortable travel and indoor breaks.

Plan the outdoor parts

Keep long walks and photography for early morning or later in the day. Carry water, use sun protection and build air-conditioned breaks into your route.

Indoor alternatives

Malls, museums, aquariums, cinemas and indoor theme parks let you enjoy a full day without spending the hottest hours outdoors.

Seasonal offers

Check current hotel, attraction and shopping promotions for your travel dates. Annual Dubai Summer Surprises dates and offers change, so confirm the current programme.

A comfortable drive

Allow the vehicle to cool before setting off, keep drinking water available and plan stops. Avoid treating a car as a safe place to leave passengers unattended in hot weather.

Add a day outside the city when your schedule allows. Confirm your rental’s permitted destinations and plan the return journey before choosing a route.

Abu Dhabi

Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for architecture and cultural insight, then consider the museums of Saadiyat or a waterfront stop. Follow the mosque’s current booking and dress requirements.

Hatta

Dubai’s mountain enclave is a different side of the emirate, with Hatta Dam and outdoor experiences around Hatta Wadi Hub. Check the weather and activity availability before travelling.

Ras Al Khaimah

Jebel Jais offers mountain scenery and adventure activities. Arrange any ticketed experience through its official operator and stay on designated roads.

Allow a full day

Traffic, stops and attraction times affect the journey. Use a live navigation estimate and avoid packing several distant emirates into one rushed outing.

Your country’s embassy or consulate is the right starting point for passport loss and consular assistance. Many embassies are in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai hosts a number of consulates.

Find the correct mission

Use the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs directory to look up your country’s mission and its current contact details. Confirm office hours and appointment requirements directly.

If a passport is lost

Contact your mission for the required local report and emergency travel-document procedure. Keep a secure copy of your passport, visa and travel insurance details.

Emergency numbers

Police: 999. Ambulance: 998. Fire and Civil Defence: 997. Give the operator your exact location and a nearby landmark.

Save your travel contacts

Keep your hotel, airline, insurer and rental provider’s contact details accessible even when your phone has no mobile data.