Looking to visit Dubai? Check out these articles that help cover some of that basics about Dubai and the UAE below:
- Where is Dubai? 12 interesting Dubai facts & information
- Dress code in Dubai for females plus tips for men
- Tourist rules in Dubai; 22 Important Dos & Don’ts
- Is alcohol in Dubai illegal? Dubai’s Alcohol laws in 2024
- Can you drink tap water in Dubai?
- Dubai for women; 6 things you need to know
- Doha v Dubai; differences between Dubai and Qatar
- Is Dubai a country or a city? 15 common misconceptions
- What is the UAE? What is it famous for? Your most wanted answers
Dubai Flights & Airport
- 11 Best Hotels near Dubai Airport
- How to save money on Emirates flights & travel from Dubai
- Etihad vs Emirates; which airline is best for you?
Dubai Hotel Guides
- 15 Best luxury hotels in Dubai
- Best area to stay in Dubai & 41 area guide from a local
- 11 Best Hotels near Dubai Airport
- 15 Best 4 Star Hotels in Dubai; luxury with less cost
- Burj Al Arab Facts; 13 of the most popular questions
- 9 Burj Al Arab restaurants and dinner price
- The absolute best 10 Hotels on Palm Jumeirah Dubai
- 19 of the best hotels near Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall
Planning your Dubai Trip
- Bed bugs in Dubai and does the city of luxury have them?
- What currency is used in Dubai? Exchange rates, banks & more
- What plug do electrical outlets in Dubai use? Best adapter?
- Everything to know about getting a sim card for Dubai
Getting around Dubai & Dubai Transport
- The Ultimate Dubai public transport guide
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus: Cheapest way from a local
- Etihad vs Emirates; which airline is best for you?
- The Ultimate Dubai visa run guide; Car, bus or plane?
- Hop On, Hop Off: Best Tourist Bus in Dubai guide
- Dubai Jetski hire guide; Plus 5 best jet ski tours in
- Bus from Dubai to Muscat; the cheapest way to Oman
Best restaurants in Dubai & dining out guides
- 10 Best Outdoor Romantic Restaurants in Dubai
- 21 absolute best restaurants in Dubai with a view
- 11 best cocktail bars in Dubai for drinks or mocktails
- Best Kunafa in Dubai; 9 of the absolute best places
- Best healthy food in Dubai; restaurants & dishes
- 11 of the absolute best Mandi restaurants in Dubai
- 27 Best Cafes in Dubai for a great coffee every time
- 9 Burj Al Arab restaurants and dinner price
- Traditional food of UAE; 11 Emirati dishes to try in Dubai!
- 11 best Kerala restaurants in Dubai with prices
- Restaurants inside Burj Khalifa; All 10 for dining
- 9 Best Buffet Restaurants in Dubai with prices
- 17 Epic family and kid friendly restaurants in Dubai
- 15 best restaurants with Burj Khalifa views
- 9 incredibly tasty Arabic desserts you must try in the Middle East!
- 8 of the best Iftars and Iftar buffets in Dubai, including family and budget friendly
Things to Do in Dubai & Days Out
- Which Burj Khalifa Ticket to buy + Best time to visit
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus: Cheapest way from a local
- Where can I dive in UAE? 13 Best Scuba Diving sites
- Best malls in Dubai for a shopping spree by a local
- Dubai Fountain Show Times plus 10 of your questions answered
- Emirates Mall; Ultimate guide to Mall of the Emirates
- Hop On, Hop Off: Best Tourist Bus in Dubai guide
- Dubai Jetski hire guide; Plus 5 best jet ski tours in
- Guide to all 4 water parks in Dubai from a local
- The Wonders of Dubai: 11 things you can find only in Dubai
- The ultimate guide to camel racing in Dubai
- 48 hours in Dubai itinerary; maximise time by a local
- 5 reasons to visit Butterfly Garden in Dubai
- 10 unique things to do in Dubai; THE Ultimate Bucket list for 2022
- Maximise ALL the fun at Kite Beach in Dubai with our guide
- Everything you need to know about buying Gold in Dubai
- 24 hours in Dubai; two options for a fabulous classic Dubai experience
- BEST shopping guide for Meena Bazaar Dubai’s ‘Little India’
- Ultimate list of breathtaking lakes Dubai & how to get there
- Dubai luxury itinerary; best way to spend all of your money
Dubai Itineraries
- The Wonders of Dubai: 11 things you can find only in Dubai
- 48 hours in Dubai itinerary; maximise time by a local
- 24 hours in Dubai; two options for a fabulous classic Dubai experience
- Dubai luxury itinerary; best way to spend all of your money
- How to spend the best 48 hours in Abu Dhabi
Special Events & Activities in Dubai Guides
- Ultimate Ramadan guide plus Ramadan Dubai dates until 2025
- The ultimate guide to camel racing in Dubai
- Spending Ramadan in Dubai, what you need to know!
- Ramadan, Eid Clothes & Outfit ideas for 2023
- 8 of the best Iftars and Iftar buffets in Dubai, including family and budget friendly
- Friday Khutba in English in Dubai & online in UAE
- 5 cool things to do in the hot Dubai summer
Dubai Weather & Climate
- Weather in Dubai December; 7 things to know & expect
- Weather in Dubai November; 7 things to know & expect
- Weather in Dubai October; 7 things to know & expect
- Is Dubai dusty and what is Dubai air quality really like?
- The climate of Dubai? Sunny paradise or hotter than Hades
- 5 cool things to do in the hot Dubai summer
Dubai Culture Guides
- Loneliness in Islam; 11 powerful Muslim ways to to fight it
- Dubai Traditional dress; 10 basics of Emirati clothes
- Revert vs convert & my conversion to Islam in Dubai story
- Traditional food of UAE; 11 Emirati dishes to try in Dubai!
- Ultimate Ramadan guide plus Ramadan Dubai dates until 2025
- Spending Ramadan in Dubai, what you need to know!
- Shatafa meaning: The Middle Eastern Bidet & why use it?
- World Hijab Day; 10 reasons why women wear the hijab
- Guide to visiting a mosque for the first time
- 8 of the best Iftars and Iftar buffets in Dubai, including family and budget friendly
- Friday Khutba in English in Dubai & online in UAE
- How to pray at work in Islam: 7 practical tips for salah
Other Emirates in the UAE Guides
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus: Cheapest way from a local
- 15 amazing short trips from Dubai to make the best memories
- What is the UAE? What is it famous for? Your most wanted answers
- How to spend the best 48 hours in Abu Dhabi
Dubai travel restrictions since Covid
Although Covid now seems a distant memory, here are some common questions answered in case you’re concerned about it affecting your Dubai vacation.
Dubai has been one of the most open countries throughout the Covid pandemic. They had an initial short lockdown during the early stages however quickly re-opened to tourists before many other countries.
In 2023, all previous covid restrictions have been removed. There is no more testing, wear masks or any other type of restrictions on people entering Dubai or the UAE.
You can find more information here and keep up to date with any changes via the official Emirates website:
Emirates Entry Guidance for Covid 19
Dubai tourist entry requirements
Dubai also has the following entry requirements according to immigration to enter as a tourist:
- Valid health or travel insurance that includes coverage for Covid 19
- Return flight
- Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months
Common questions about Visiting Dubai
How much does a Dubai tourist visa cost?
For many countries, Dubai offers a free on arrival tourist visa. These are valid between 30 to 180 days, depending on the country you are coming from. Some countries such as India, Pakistan and Philippines require a pre-arranged visa that costs from $10 USD up to $460 USD for a long term multiple entry visa.
For the full list of eligible countries, Etihad has the latest information in a very easy format and allows you to apply for a tourist or transit visa if you’re not from an eligible free on arrival visa.
Can I drink alcohol in Dubai?
Yes, you can drink alcohol in Dubai. You can purchase and enjoy an alcoholic drink at many locations across Dubai including hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants and in your hotel room. The only place not allowed is public spaces such as parks, outdoors etc It must be a licensed venue, hotel or private home. You can also buy from an off license to drink at your home or hotel with an alcohol license.
For more information on all the rules and regulations in regards to drinking in Dubai including how to get a tourist alcohol license if you want to buy alcohol from a shop outside of the airport, read my helpful full guide about alcohol in Dubai here.
Is it compulsory to wear hijab in Dubai?
There is no need to wear hijab in Dubai and in fact Dubai has never had any rules that visitors should wear hjiab. There is only one place where a hijab is needed and that’s if you decide to visit a mosque like Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque in Abu Dhabi.
For more information on what to wear in Dubai and where it’s appropriate to where certain outsides, make sure to check out my full article here “The Dubai Tourist Dress Code”
Who we recommend to use for your Dubai Vacation
Booking.com for unique places to stay
Get Your Guide for tours
When booking your hotel accommodation, Booking.com has a wide arrange of different types of accommodation and makes using their website very easy
I particularly like to arrange their hotels available by “Best Reviewed and Lowest Price” so I can find the best hotels in terms of value
For tours and excursions, we highly recommend using Get Your Guide.
This is for a few different reasons:
- They have good customer service & are easy to book
- The offer a generous cancellation policy, allowing you to cancel up to 24 hours in advance without incurring a fee
- They have a wide range of amazing tours, activities and excursions available
- They are usually the best priced in Dubai compared to competitors
Hilton for hotel accommodation
Hilton has a good range of hotels for the majority of budgets and many hotels available internationally. Even their more affordable hotels have a luxury feel to them plus you get a free cookie when you check in for being a Hilton member! Yay!
There are a few advantages to booking directly through their website:
- You earn points which are redeemable on future bookings.
- They guarantee the best rate when you book direct.
- For reward bookings you get the 5th free when you book 4 consequtive nights
- You can earn Silver, Gold, or Diamon status the more nights you stay which gets free things like late check out and free breakfast
We’re constantly updating and adding more information about visiting Dubai, the best places to go, restaurants, general information and more! So make sure to bookmark this page and keep checking back for updates! I hope you have an amazing time in Dubai and enjoy all the many things Dubai has to offer