From a humble village to a cosmopolitan city
Dubai has transformed from a humble fishing village to one of the most cosmopolitan and innovative cities in the world today. Tracing its origins back to 3,000 BC, Dubai's inhabitants made their livelihood from fishing, pearl diving, boat building and sea trading, before the discovery of oil in the late 1960s. In 1971, Dubai joined its neighbours to form the United Arab Emirates, safeguarding the area's prosperity.
1 Dirham (AED) = 100 fils
The currency in Dubai is the dirham (AED or Arab Emirate Dirham). One dirham is divided into 100 fils and a US dollar is worth around AED3.67.
For our currency converter, please click here.
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Thanks to split-shift staffing systems, many shops are open 24 hours a day while most others stay open until 21.00 or 22.00. On Fridays many shops close from 11.30-12.30 for Muslim holy day prayers. Times are revised during Ramadan.
Around 3 million
Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing
One Central Building 2
4th Floor (Reception)
P.O. Box: 594
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 600555559
Website: visitdubai.com
Dubai is a city that must be seen to be believed. Record-breaking architecture stands alongside traditional quarters, while man-made islands jut out of the coastline. Here are the top places to tick off your sightseeing list when you’re in town.
The Dubai Fountain
Bluewaters
Dubai Parks and Resorts
Dubai Opera
Madinat Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah
Burj Khalifa
Burj Al Arab
Dubai Water Canal
City Walk
Etihad Museum
Dubai Historical District
The Dubai Mall
Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Ski Dubai
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Jumeirah Mosque
Dubai Creek
Dubai Frame
Your guide to applying for a visa to Dubai
The type of visa needed to enter Dubai depends on several factors such as your nationality, the purpose of your planned visit, and duration.
The government of Dubai is also committed to easing entry requirements in the future, so visitors from around the world can enjoy a hassle-free travel experience. For example, tourists from Mexico can now receive a 180-day visa on arrival without any prior visa arrangements, using a regular passport that's valid for at least six months. There’s also the option to extend their stay.
Here is a quick overview of the different visa types available and how to apply.
30 Days Visa
90 Days Visa
Transit & Stopover Visa
Overview of visa types
How to apply?
Wondering where to find the best restaurants, family-friendly activities or hottest art galleries? Here's a handy guide to the Dubai’s hottest neighbourhoods, packed with plenty to suit all travellers. Add these easy-to-explore districts to your Dubai holiday itinerary and experience the city like a local.
Downtown Dubai & Sheikh Zayed Road
Old Dubai
Business Bay & Dubai Canal
Dubai Design District
Palm Jumeirah
Al Quoz
Dubai Marina
Jumeirah Lakes Towers
A thriving urban beach scene
Dubai is one of the few places to enjoy a beach vacation within a thriving city. Experience a holiday Dubai-style, combining high-energy city action with the beauty of the Arabian Gulf. With a vibrant atmosphere and beachside shopping scene, luxury resorts and watersports, Dubai offers the best of the city and the sea. Kite Beach, La Mer and The Beach next to JBR are popular seaside spots where you can take in the waves after a leisurely stroll or jog along the water.
JBR Beach
Kite Beach
Beach Clubs
Beachside Dining
Watersports
Family Beach Clubs
Beachside Cafés
City meets Beach
Beach Activities
La Mer
With year-round sun and a dramatic combination of both the desert and beach, Dubai is the perfect setting to be swept away by high-adrenaline activities. Rocket across the Arabian Gulf in a speedboat or roar along the circuit in a race car, skydive over Palm Jumeirah, ski around The World, paddleboard along the coast or swim with dolphins and sharks. You can even leave the city and dune bash in the desert or soar above the sand in a hot air balloon. Fasten your seatbelt, harness or helmet — it’s going to be an exciting ride.
Buggy Safaris
Flyboarding
Jet-Ski
Quad Biking
Sandboarding
Camping
Dubai Safari
Hot Air Balloon
Hatta Wadi Hub
Extreme Fun
Safaris, sunsets and star-gazing
When it comes to Dubai's majestic desert, visitors have many options to discover its beautiful landscape. Beyond the popular off-roading or desert safaris, there’s much to do amid the dunes. Whether you're taking in some history with a traditional Bedouin meal, cycling through Al Qudra or watching for wildlife, don't miss the opportunity to experience the desert. Visit a resort or conservation reserve, or simply watch the sunset before some stargazing.
Desert Safaris
Desert Hotels
Desert Activities
Al Marmoom
Desert Dining
Desert Conservation
Between Dubai’s grandiose malls including The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates to traditional souks such as the Gold Souk and Perfume Souk, you’re practically guaranteed to find a souvenir to treasure from your holiday to Dubai. Plus, with massive citywide shopping celebrations like Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), you could snag the deal of a lifetime during your visit to this global shopping destination.
Malls
Souks
Beachside Shopping
Luxury Shopping
Boutiques
Markets
Festivals
Homegrown Labels
There’s nothing the people of Dubai love more than to dress up and dine out. You can choose from a glittering array of celebrity restaurants and a huge variety of Middle Eastern food, plenty of them family friendly and almost all in Instagram-worthy locations.
Dubai Food Festival
Emirati Cuisine
Brunch
Cafés & Bakeries
Fine Dining
Celebrity Chefs
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
Beachside Dining
Outdoor Dining
Vegan & Healthy Eating
Street Food
Experiential Dining
Business Restaurants
Private Dining
Fast Food
With big ambitions and the expertise to make even the wildest dreams a reality, Dubai is becoming the most exciting adventure playground in the world. Whether it's family fun or hair-raising thrills you're after, there are laughs in store for all.
Wild Wadi
Aquaventure Waterpark
IMG Worlds of Adventure
LEGOLAND
Bollywood Parks
Motiongate
Global Village
Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai Garden Glow
The Green Planet
LEGOLAND Waterpark
Laguna Waterpark
With Dubai Opera, the arts district Al Quoz and the discovery of relics from the Iron Age, Dubai is fast evolving into a cultural hotspot. The city’s rich culture ranges from the Iron Age to stark modernity and there is no better time to see its evolution than now.
Museums
Art Galleries
Dubai Opera
Souks
Historical Neighbourhood
National Heritage
Al Seef District
La Perle
Mosques
Dubai’s world-class tennis courts, golf courses and sports clubs are here to help you achieve your personal best. Whether you're looking to tee off at an iconic golf course or challenge friends to a game of football, there's plenty to pursue. Plus, the fun carries on throughout the year with cool indoor facilities hosting all the action during the summer months.
Golf
Running
Rugby 7s
Cycling
Motorsports & Off-roading
Tennis & Squash
Cricket
Football
Watersports
Boating & Fishing
Polo
Horse Riding
Hiking
There are literally hundreds of spas in all shapes and sizes, from five-star options like the Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray to internationally-acclaimed centres and neighbourhood wellness spots. Common to all are great service and value.
Spas
Beauty Salons
Hammams
Destination Spas
Arabian Beauty
Yoga
Mindfulness
Take a break from the stunning skyline and explore the natural wonders that make the city come alive. There are enormous green spaces with picturesque lakes and lawns right in the heart of the emirate. Discover on your own, or take advantage of tour guides who specialise in the region’s diverse flora and fauna.
Parks
Animal Experiences
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
Desert Wildlife
Birds
Turtle Rehabilitation
Sea Life
Al Marmoom
Hatta
Dubai has it all. From world-class performances and revered art exhibitions to award-winning fairs and concerts by global superstars, we've got just the ticket. Here are just a few of the many events taking place in 2019.
Dubai Shopping Festival
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Dubai World Cup
Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC)
New Year in Dubai
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
Dubai International Boat Show
Omega Dubai Desert Classics
Dubai Food Festival
Art Dubai
Sikka Art Fair
World Art Dubai
Middle East Film and Comic Con
Al Gaffal Long Distance Race
Ramadan
Eid Al Fitr
Dubai Summer Surprises
Dubai Sports World
Fashion Forward
Experience the magic of Dubai with our handy itineraries. Whether you're in the city for 8 hours or the weekend, we've packed in all the highlights but with plenty of time to let you discover some hidden gems along the way.
Layover in Dubai
Dubai in 24-Hours
Dubai in 48-Hours
Dubai in 72-Hours
Five Days in Dubai
Dubai for Business
Get ready for a night to remember in Dubai. The city boasts rooftop lounges with skyscraper views, iconic venues for a glamorous evening with friends and chic speakeasys that combine the best in food, music and entertainment.
Dynamic Nightspots
Shopping
Lounges
Live Music Venues
Cinema
Book an unforgettable stay in the city of dreams. Check-in to five-star hotels right at the heart of all the action in Dubai or choose to unwind at one of the city's many beachside resorts with endless waterside views and memorable hospitality.
City Hotels
Beach Hotels
Desert Hotels
Business Hotels
Budget Hotels
Iconic Hotels
Dubai International Airport
Dubai International (DXB) is located four kilometres (2.5 miles) southeast of Dubai. Transportation from the airport is possible by taxi, bus or metro. The Terminal 1 departures concourse (Sheikh Rashid Terminal) is linked to Terminal 1 via a tunnel with travelators. Terminal 2 is used exclusively for business and charter flights. Transfers between the terminals takes about 10 minutes using the airport shuttle service.
Taxis are provided by the government-run Dubai Transport airport taxi, where each cab is meter-run.
Bus stations are located opposite both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Buses run frequently and serve the most popular places in Dubai (www,dubai-buses.com/index.aspx).Tickets must be bought prior to the journey.
You can also take the metro to and from the airport. The metro runs at ten-minute intervals and stops at various stations located across the city.
Address: The Dubai International Airport, Dubai
Email:
Phone: +971 4 224 5555
Website: www.dubaiairports.ae
More Information:
Dress code and customs
Dressing in public
Dubai is a cosmopolitan city that is a melting pot of diverse cultures and religious faiths. All attires and cultural preferences are generally acceptable. Swimwear is permissible on beaches, pool and spa areas and for water-based entertainment, but is not considered appropriate in areas such as business districts and shopping malls. It is pertinent to note that in the more historical quarters of the city and places of religious worship, dressing conservatively is appreciated. In mosques, clothing that covers shoulders, arms and legs and head scarves for women, are required.
Displays of affection
Local tradition provides that handshakes should be initiated by women as a sign of respect, and that public displays of affection are kept to a minimum. Holding hands is acceptable; but kissing and hugging in public areas is not permitted.
Drinking alcohol
Alcohol is served in licensed establishments such as hotels, bars and specialised shops to those over 21 years of age. However, drunk and disorderly conduct, as well as drunk driving are not acceptable. Use or possession of illegal drugs is also strictly prohibited.
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Embassies and Consulates
Nearly 100 foreign embassies are located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, and Dubai is home to almost 80 consulates. Consulates are found in major cities outside of a country’s capital and handle minor diplomatic matters like issuing visas.
Embassies and consulates are usually open Sunday to Thursday (the UAE workweek) and are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, on all UAE public holidays and public holidays of the embassy's home country. Opening times vary depending on embassy and purpose of visit. So arrive early or book an appointment online, as most operate some sort of queuing system, especially for visa applications.
For location and contact details of your embassy or consulate, please visit: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/travel-planning/travel-tools/embassies-and-consulates
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Currency
1 Dirham (AED) = 100 fils
The currency in Dubai is the Dirham (AED or Arab Emirate Dirham). One dirham is divided into 100 fils and has been pegged to the US dollar since the end of 1997 at an average rate of AED3.67.
Need a currency converter? Please visit:
https://www.visitdubai.com/en/travel-planning/travel-tools/currency
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Buses
The bus service in Dubai is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to get around in the city, operated by the Dubai Municipality Transport Section. Fares are low, and a pre-purchased Nol Card is the most convenient payment option. There are special 24-hour passes available for visitors; these work on all forms of transport and allow visitors to easily reach most tourist sites.
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Website: www.dubai-buses.com
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Metro
There are two metro lines in Dubai, red line and green line. The Red Line runs every 3-4 minutes during peak time and 7 minutes during off-peak hours. Every metro station will have bus connections and taxis ready to be hailed.
To travel on the Dubai Metro you need to buy a Nol Card or Nol Ticket. You can buy these at ticket vending machines or at the ticket office inside the station, or through RTA authorised sales agents across the city. Each time you travel, tap your Nol Card / Ticket at the card reader on the fare gates.
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Phone: +971 4 800 9090
Website: www.rta.ae
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Taxi
Taxis are the most convenient way of getting around in Dubai. Beware of uninsured illegal taxis. The four government franchised official operators have strictly controlled fares. Cabs can be hailed at the roadside or booked via telephone by calling +971 4 208 0808. For those with data services, Uber and Careem are handy and easily available. Driver knowledge is sometimes lacking, so use a major landmark to hone in on the vicinity.
Address:
Email:
Phone: + 971 4 208 080 8
Website: www.nationaltaxi.ae
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