Dubai

Dubai (Arabic: دبي‎‎) is a cosmopolitan metropolis and global city on the Arabian Peninsula. The city is one of the ten most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city is also considered one of the most modern and progressive cities in the Middle East - certainly in the Arab world - and is also sometimes nicknamed as "City of Gold" due to historically being a hub for gold trade as well as the rapid transformation from a desert into a luxurious city.

Dubai is characterized by a vast landscape of desert which transforms into a futuristic style of skyscrapers along the coastline. The city offers both insights to the old merchant and pearl diving history of the Arabs in Deira and Bur Dubai and the new modern skyscraper business and bustling life in Jumeirah and Jebel Ali. Dubai is sometimes mistakenly thought of as a country, however it is an Emirate and is part of the United Arab Emirates. It is the financial centre of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai is also considered a commercial and cultural hub of the Middle East, it's a global transport hub, and has attracted world attention through many large innovative construction projects and sports events. The city is symbolised by its skyscrapers, including the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in addition to ambitious development projects including man-made islands, world class luxury hotels, and some of the largest and extraordinarily modern shopping malls in the world.

Dubai was initially a small fishing village on the coast of the eastern Arabian Peninsula. At the beginning, the town made it's income as a small pearl diving town. However, as expanding trade boomed across the gulf, it became a trading hub between Iran and India and gained a lot of notoriety for its imported goods from the east. In fact, the currency of Dubai used to be the Indian rupee historically. It was also used as a smuggling town to smuggle gold from Africa and elsewhere and import it to India, this made Dubai a well know point in the map for various traders. When oil companies looked for oil around the Trucial States, Dubai was shown to not have any significant oil reserves compared to Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, then the leader and Sheikh of Dubai, continued on the booming expansion of trade in Dubai instead of relying on any oil income. He welcomed Indian traders, Iranian traders, and even western officials and travelers in his hometown. The open policy of commerce and tolerance of foreigners made Dubai a willing destination for any non-Arab or non-Muslim, in stark contrast to other cities in the Arabian peninsula who viewed non-Muslims with suspicion. Sheikh Rashid's son, Sheikh Mohammed, had a vision of establishing Dubai as the middle eastern tourist destination. In his memoir, when he met with other GCC head of states after the British withdrawal from the gulf and proposed on making Dubai a tourist destination, the rest of the Sheikhs laughed at him. They told him nobody would like to come and visit a barren desert. Nevertheless, Sheikh Mohammed made the effort of hiring tourism experts and changed the entire infrastructure of the city to welcome tourists, established free-zones with no taxes,invested in major tourism projects and opened the city for everyone regardless of race or religion. Multiple western companies and institutions, wanting to expand their influence in the middle east, welcomed Dubai's tax-free open arm invitation. Dubai was seen as the only city in the Arabian peninsula that would allow non-Muslims to live, drink, and enjoy their lives by their own laws and western or non-Islamic standards.

Just a five hour flight from Europe and three hours from most parts of the Middle East, the Near East, and the Indian subcontinent, Dubai makes a great short break for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining, sporting events, and even a few sinful pleasures. Its situated ride in the middle of the Middle East and was considered a great spot to stop for someone traveling from east to west or west to east. This brought the city into the influence of the rest of the world. Western and eastern traders all established outposts and communities in the city. Despite the fact that Arabic is the official language, due to the fact that foreigners outnumber Emiratis by almost 4 to 1 in Dubai, English serves as the lingua franca. All signs are bilingual in Arabic and English and speaking Urdu, Hindi, or Tagalog will help you further than Arabic considering most of the population are expatriates from Pakistan, India, and the Philippines. The weekly day off is Friday as it is considered the end of the week and a blessed day in Islam. Since September 2006, a harmonized weekend of Friday and Saturday has been adopted for the public sector and schools. Government departments, multinational companies, and most schools and universities take Friday and Saturday off.

The city of Dubai is situated on a coastal strip bordered by desert and gets very hot in the summer. It is dry on the hottest days and humid during the cooler days in the summer. Cooler, more pleasant weather lasts from the end of September to the beginning of May (although pleasant is relative, with daily temperatures from October to January and March to May still being 20–, but be prepared for cold night temperatures. In winter the temperature at night is usually from 10to. From May to September, the sun is intense and in August temperatures can touch 54°C in the city and even higher in the desert. The heat, coupled with a humidity of 60%–70% near the coast, effectively precludes most activity outdoors for the daylight hours during summer. Summer and winter are effectively the only two noticeable seasons the city experiences.

December to April generally produces the highest precipitation, though little of it, at 100mm total per year. Some years yield no more than a few minutes of shower. Rain is celebrated in the UAE and most people take days off and some schools give rain days off to enjoy the little amount of precipitation the city experiences.

Dubai is a mixture of old and new, traditional and modern. From old traditional souks and historical buildings (now being preserved for cultural reasons or already part of the national heritage) to modern Dubai's overwhelming shopping malls, incredible artificial islands and giant modern skyscrapers that include the world's tallest building, Dubai is a world in itself and offers plenty of wonderful attractions.

The city has numerous museums and historical buildings, but Dubai Museum is a must see for a first-time travellers to the Emirates. It provides a glimpse of the old life of Dubai, its people and their culture and heritage. A number of other museums are located in nearby Sharjah.

Dubai has a justified reputation as a concrete jungle, but there are nice pockets of greenery within the city, such as Safa Park. The city parks are modern and very well-maintained, with the most popular located in Jumeirah.

• Abra ride. Best done at night in the cool weather and to enjoy the city lights. Abras can be hired for a private tour (for a price negotiable with the driver, but usually very cheap). This is quite a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver is able to enliven the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek. Just make sure that the purpose of one's abra hire is made clear at the outset, otherwise you will be in for a very expensive cross-river trip or a crowded private tour. See also the Get around section above.
• Beaches and sea. There are endless water sport opportunities as Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world. Ocean temperatures range from 22°C in winter up to 35°C in summer, there are few wave breaks and the strong winds can make swimming difficult. The water is also very salty so many prefer to use their hotel swimming pool. Diving activities have been severely affected by offshore construction work for the Palms and The World; consequently, long boat trips are necessary to reach wreck sites. Alternatively, one can make the 90 minute road journey to the East coast Emirate of Fujairah or the Sharjah enclave, Khor Fakkan, for top class diving on coral reefs supporting extensive marine life.
• Camel race track. One of the more unusual attractions, with races being held on Thursday and Friday in the winter. You can watch the races, and you'll have the opportunity to visit the paddocks. Vendors sell everything from beads to rugs and blankets, so you can purchase souvenirs.
• Desert safari or dune bashing. Head out to the desert in an SUV with specialist desert drivers. The drivers will take you for a thrilling roller-coaster ride over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point and then take you to a traditional Arabic Bedouin campsite where you'll be offered lavish barbecue buffet dinner with music and belly dance to complete the atmosphere. The duration of tour is usually around five hours and cost per person at around 150 dirham. You may want to stay clear of the dune bashing if you get carsick easily. A desert safari is one of the best things to do while in Dubai. Another option would be renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the UAE, but only if you're an extremely experienced driver and hold an international driving license. Many of them have websites including Emarat 4x4, Tour Dubai, and UAEoffroaders. Neighboring cities including Abu Dhabi also have their own, such as AD4x4. For all of the Dubai-based clubs, membership is free of charge and they conduct trips for beginners into the desert on a regular basis.
• Natural outdoors. Although at first glance the outdoors may seem dull and uninteresting, and even dangerous due to the desert conditions, there are actually amazing natural destinations in the Emirate of Dubai, which extends into Hatta. There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils, even freshwater lakes.
• Yacht charter. An easy way to explore the man-made Palm Islands and coastal skyscrapers. Fleets are available for hire from Dubai Marina from many of the yacht charter agencies.
• Dubai Creek cruise/ride. Dubai Creek is the foundation from which Dubai grew. It was built as a port for trading vessels plying to and from India, Africa and the Middle East. Today a bit of the old shipping culture still remains. In and around the Creek one can see some of the original buildings that have served as customs houses and defence structures. You can book a ride (usually four hours) on the Dubai Marina cruise or rent a private boat to take you on an hour-long ride up and down the Creek.
• Burj Khalifa. Visit the tallest building in the world with the magnificent centrepiece of Dubai, Burj Khalifa is surrounded by hotels, must-visit shopping destinations and a world of entertainment options. More infos can be found in the Jumeirah district article.
• Golf. It may be a desert, but a lot of money and water is spent on irrigating opulent golf courses. Alternatively, for a more local flavour, try sand golf.
• Hot Air Balloon Ride, +971 4 388 4044, +971 54 425 4995 (WhatsApp). 8 Sep – 31 May. Great fun seeing all the sand dunes and mountains early in the morning or during sunset. 1,100 dirham/adult, 950 dirham/child.
• Big Bus Company tour. You can take a bus tour, both day time and night time, of many of the attractions in Dubai.

Abra ride. Best done at night in the cool weather and to enjoy the city lights. Abras can be hired for a private tour (for a price negotiable with the driver, but usually very cheap). This is quite a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver is able to enliven the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek. Just make sure that the purpose of one's abra hire is made clear at the outset, otherwise you will be in for a very expensive cross-river trip or a crowded private tour. See also the [[#Get around|Get around]] section above.

Beaches and sea. There are endless water sport opportunities as Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world. Ocean temperatures range from 22°C in winter up to 35°C in summer, there are few wave breaks and the strong winds can make swimming difficult. The water is also very salty so many prefer to use their hotel swimming pool. Diving activities have been severely affected by offshore construction work for the Palms and The World; consequently, long boat trips are necessary to reach wreck sites. Alternatively, one can make the 90 minute road journey to the East coast Emirate of [[Fujairah]] or the Sharjah enclave, Khor Fakkan, for top class diving on coral reefs supporting extensive marine life.

Camel race track. One of the more unusual attractions, with races being held on Thursday and Friday in the winter. You can watch the races, and you'll have the opportunity to visit the paddocks. Vendors sell everything from beads to rugs and blankets, so you can purchase souvenirs.

Desert safari or dune bashing. Head out to the desert in an SUV with specialist desert drivers. The drivers will take you for a thrilling roller-coaster ride over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point and then take you to a traditional Arabic Bedouin campsite where you'll be offered lavish barbecue buffet dinner with music and belly dance to complete the atmosphere. The duration of tour is usually around five hours and cost per person at around 150 dirham. You may want to stay clear of the dune bashing if you get carsick easily. A desert safari is one of the best things to do while in Dubai. Another option would be renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the UAE, but only if you're an extremely experienced driver and hold an international driving license. Many of them have websites including Emarat 4x4, Tour Dubai, and UAEoffroaders. Neighboring cities including Abu Dhabi also have their own, such as AD4x4. For all of the Dubai-based clubs, membership is free of charge and they conduct trips for beginners into the desert on a regular basis.

Natural outdoors. Although at first glance the outdoors may seem dull and uninteresting, and even dangerous due to the desert conditions, there are actually amazing natural destinations in the Emirate of Dubai, which extends into Hatta. There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils, even freshwater lakes.

Yacht charter. An easy way to explore the man-made Palm Islands and coastal skyscrapers. Fleets are available for hire from Dubai Marina from many of the yacht charter agencies.

Dubai Creek cruise/ride. Dubai Creek is the foundation from which Dubai grew. It was built as a port for trading vessels plying to and from India, Africa and the Middle East. Today a bit of the old shipping culture still remains. In and around the Creek one can see some of the original buildings that have served as customs houses and defence structures. You can book a ride (usually four hours) on the Dubai Marina cruise or rent a private boat to take you on an hour-long ride up and down the Creek.

Burj Khalifa. Visit the tallest building in the world with the magnificent centrepiece of Dubai, Burj Khalifa is surrounded by hotels, must-visit shopping destinations and a world of entertainment options. More infos can be found in the [[Dubai/Jumeirah#See|Jumeirah district article]].

Golf. It may be a desert, but a lot of money and water is spent on irrigating opulent golf courses. Alternatively, for a more local flavour, try sand golf.

Hot Air Balloon Ride, +971 4 388 4044, +971 54 425 4995 (WhatsApp). 8 Sep – 31 May. Great fun seeing all the sand dunes and mountains early in the morning or during sunset. 1,100 dirham/adult, 950 dirham/child.

Big Bus Company tour. You can take a bus tour, both day time and night time, of many of the attractions in Dubai.

Dubai is practically synonymous with shopping and could be called "Do buy". Low tariffs and a huge amount of cargo passing through its port ensure that practically anything is available at fairly competitive rates, although the appreciation of the Dirham and the plentiful supply of shoppers means that Dubai is no longer a bargain basement shopping city. You'll also find products in Western chain stores, still with the original tags quoting euro or sterling prices, being sold with a 20-30% mark-up once converted to dirhams. The best things to buy are textiles, electronics and gold; electronics are believed to be much cheaper, while there is a wide selection of textiles and gold.

Dubai shops suffer from the standard developing world shopping phenomenon of having no storeroom and no stocks in reserve, even in the mega-malls – and for clothes shopping this may mean that you struggle to find the style you want in the size you want. Shops open as early as 09:00 and stay open to 22:00, and on weekends to midnight or 01:00.

Remember to haggle in the souks, as discounts are almost always available and even in situations where the item will not become much cheaper, the customer is always expected to "play the game" of haggling. A simple question of "what's your best price?" will often result in a shop-keeper going to extraordinary lengths to sell his stock. Prices in the malls and other Western shops tend not to be negotiable. Far from being a bad thing, this allows the canny visitor to work out comparative prices for common souvenirs – an invaluable aid when a shop-keeper in a souk is asking for a higher price.

Dubai Shopping Festival has been the biggest shopping event in the Middle East since 1996. Almost every shop has a sale, starting in January and ending February. The DSF is not limited up to Shopping but also produces some mind blowing stages shows and performances performed by international celebrities. There's also a very similar Dubai Summer Surprises trying to pull in punters during the summer low season.

Dubai is known for its gigantic malls and is a magnet for shoppers. Among the dozens of malls, two stand out due to their size and quality. See the district articles for more detail on malls. Several malls have a large supermarket where you'll find the lowest cost electronics, and groceries for self-catering. There are many supermarkets, and international brands such as Carrefour, Géant and Waitrose have multiple locations as do 'home-grown' brands Choithrams, Spinney's, Union Co-Operative and Lulu, amongst others.

Shawarma is the most available food item on almost all streets (and cheap) in Dubai. It is the Arabic equivalent of the burger. It is meat that has been cooked on a skewer and then cut into thin strips and placed into a kuhbus (pita) bread with vegetables and dressing. It costs about 5 dirham for either the plain-jane variety or the more exotic Lebanese and Iranian varieties. The shawarma sold by Indian restaurants are arguably the cheapest.

Another local snack is fala-fil (felafel, falafel), which is as cheap as shawarma.

Most of the American fast food chains have set up shop, including KFC, Chillis, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, and McDonalds. The beauty of the food in Dubai is that you will probably find cuisine for every taste. All food is halal.

Dubai has a big selection of budget Indian food. Dosa, vada, idlee, samosa, chapaati/roti, with generous servings of sabji (cooked vegetable stew) are available at throwaway prices, typically less than 10 dirham per course. The more expensive stuff costs up to USD 5. Bur Dubai (particularly Meena Bazaar area) and Karama are the places that abound in these restaurants. Most of them are open from 07:00 till 22:00 or 23:00 throughout the week.

Pork is eaten here mostly by non-Muslim Filipinos and Europeans. Pork sections exclusive for non-Muslims are found in Spinneys (numerous branches, including ones in Jumeirah and Dubai Marina), Al Maya Lal's (generally caters to Filipinos; there's a branch in Satwa) New Westzone Supermarket (has a branch in Satwa that's bigger than nearby rival Al Maya Lal's), Choithrams and Waitrose.

Most malls have food courts, which offer good value menus and are a fast and reliable option for visitors and locals. There are also several food chains of many different types (Pakistani, Indian, burger) scattered all over the city. See the district articles for individual recommendations.

• Automatic, this is a chain of popular Lebanese restaurants found all over Dubai. Famous for its lamb chops & Friday lunch buffet. No alcohol served.

Automatic, this is a chain of popular Lebanese restaurants found all over Dubai. Famous for its lamb chops & Friday lunch buffet. No alcohol served.

The top hotels all have at least one restaurant serving (most commonly) some form of international cuisine - Italian, Japanese, Indian and so on. Quality tends to be high, along with price, but non-guests are able to reserve tables as well, thus allowing the rest of us to experience a bit of these hotels. Floating restaurants for dinner come sight seeing in Dubai Marina are also popular among both non-travelers and travelers. And ew agencies like Trilogy-Yachts & Nalora Cruise have licensed floating restaurants and hence charge a high price for the quality of food and service.

Dubai has supercharged the nightlife in the last decade and most international known brands have a sister location in town. Most 3-5 star hotels have bars and nightclubs for those interested in the nightlife. World-class DJs frequent Dubai's nightclubs, and many A-list musical celebrities are adding Dubai to their list of tour dates. There is nothing missing and during the high tides of the party time, the impression of being in Ibiza is not misleading. Most of the night life is geared at the beaches of Jumeirah or the Dubai Marina. Bur Dubai is more family-oriented (e.g. Dubai Fountain), while Deira was able in parts to maintain its more Arabic focussed style. Dubai is very popular with Arabic travellers, so an Arabic blend is added quite often

Dubai has several laws regarding alcohol which travelers should be aware of:

• Alcohol is available only at licensed premises, usually attached to hotels (most nightclubs and bars are in or attached to hotels, though they may have separate entrances).
• Alcohol is not sold on religious holidays. It was not sold during daylight hours in Ramadan, not even to non-Muslims. This law was relaxed in 2016.
• It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, and there is a zero-tolerance policy on drunk driving. Anyone involved in a collision found with alcohol in their blood will usually get a month's jail sentence and fine.
• Alcohol can be bought only for home consumption at certain outlets in Dubai, and an alcohol license is required. Supermarkets only stock non-alcoholic beers. Even food items containing alcohol are not sold in supermarkets.
• Remember to carry some sort of identification when visiting a bar if you are young, as you will not be let in otherwise. The law prohibits anyone below 21 to enter.
• The authorities take disruptive behavior while intoxicated very seriously, which will lead to jail time or deportation.
• Prostitution is illegal but can be seen in bars. Both parties act illegally, but in rather (in-)famous clubs it can be rather obvious. Keep in mind that most hotels have a strict guest policy.

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, and there is a zero-tolerance policy on drunk driving. Anyone involved in a collision found with alcohol in their blood will usually get a month's jail sentence and fine.

Dubai is a fast growing city that has its share of problems but nothing that using common sense can't avoid.

Driving and pedestrian safety has also been an issue given the different nationalities that share the road. Do not jaywalk or cross where there are no clear pedestrian markings. Speeding is common here, and the odds of you being knocked over are quite high unless you follow the rules. Avoid driving on the extreme left lane of highways to avoid being "flashed" and being forced to move a lane over. Road rage is also starting to become an issue given the increase in traffic jams and poor driving courtesy.

Rude hand gestures (the "finger", etc.) and profanity can lead to fines and jail times if reported, so keep your cool if you are cut off or are behind an erratic driver. In general, you will find those gestures and actions that some may find only slightly offensive in your home country, or perhaps not offensive at all, can at times be extremely offensive to the Dubai locals. Therefore, use a degree of common sense of what is right and wrong to help you stay out of trouble.

The United Arab Emirates might seem to have more relaxed laws than their other Arab counterparts, but the laws are still very different from most Western countries, and their laws are strictly enforced. A simple kiss in a public place, having an alcoholic drink in the wrong place or even losing your temper could land you a month or more in prison. Exercise caution and common sense when visiting, and make sure you are aware of all their laws or expect severe consequences that could seriously ruin your visit.

Dubai strictly follows Islamic laws which should be respected by all visitors. Islam is the official religion, therefore do not publicly criticize or distribute material against it. Eating in public during the holy month of Ramadan is prohibited from sunrise until sunset and visitors should consume meals in the confines of their hotel or residence.

In conversations about politics and world affairs, avoid criticizing the ruling family of any of the seven Emirates or prominent business families. The United Arab Emirates does not have any formal relations with Israel, and the government publicly supports causes that involves the Palestinian people or Palestinian statehood.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon and public sexual acts can lead to prison sentences followed by deportation. In 2008, a British couple were arrested and faced prison sentences because they had sexual contact on a beach in Dubai. If all tourists remain respectful, decent and ensure that they do not upset the local people, there should be no problems.

Homosexuality, along with all sexual relations outside of marriage, is a criminal offence with possible deportation or months of prison. Public displays of affection or cross-dressing may lead to prison sentences and/or deportation. They should be avoided completely in public to ensure that no problems arise. In 2013 a Norwegian woman reported she had been raped but then, following bad advice, rescinded it. She was then sentenced to 16 months in prison for extramarital sex and filing a false police report. After public pressure she was pardoned and deported.

Women should dress sensibly and avoid wearing revealing outfits. This is especially true when travelling to districts like Karama, Deira and Bur Dubai, where the streets are packed with men, especially on evenings and weekends. While swimsuits and bikinis are a common sight on Dubai beaches, avoid sunbathing topless or wearing microbikinis—even in the private beach of a hotel.

Prostitution is illegal in Dubai but still it is visible at nightclubs, bars and other places. Law enforcement ignores partially the solicitation but penalties are high if something is too obvious or others call the police. The biggest problem is that many prostitutes don't have a legit residence permit so human trafficking and forced prostitution is an issue to keep in mind.

While petty crime is hardly reported or mentioned in the news, keep an eye on your wallet or purse when in crowded areas like Naser Square or Deira in general. If withdrawing large amounts of cash from ATMs or banking institutions, either conceal the notes or ask the institution's security to escort you to your vehicle. Cases have occurred where people have been robbed of large amounts of cash when in crowded places just because they were not careful.

Conmen are ever present in Dubai, especially the "Nigeria 419" scammers. Do not arrange meetings or entertain their requests or give any personal details. Should they not comply, individuals who will be happy to listen to their business propositions are the police.

Thanks to Dubai's new property boom and bust, real estate fraudsters are also popping up, so exercise extreme caution if you are interested in buying or renting.

Drug use and distribution are serious criminal offences, even when in the company of the person consuming the material, and can lead to a prison sentence of several years or even to be in front of the firing squad. Passenger baggage is screened quite thoroughly when entering Dubai. Even prescription drugs (without original prescription note and sometimes even with one) or ones that you bought over the counter in your country can lead to a prison sentence.

You need to be careful when you are a tourist in Dubai, like many places around the world, people have a keen eye for tourists and can cheat you. For example taxi drivers can drive a longer way to the destination given that you pay by meter or try to charge you 20 dollars when you are sure you heard them say 20 dirham: (they do sound rather similar).

The international code for UAE is +971, for Dubai, add a 4 afterwards for land lines.

Local mobile phone numbers start +971 50 xxx yyyy or +971 56 xxx yyyy for the GSM provider Etisalat and +971 55 xxx yyyy for the GSM provider Du.

GSM – Those with GSM phones can expect auto roaming from their home countries. As roaming fees are quite high (easily 3 USD per minute and often more for a call to Europe) and incoming calls are also charged, consider to buy a local prepaid GSM SIM card, designed especially for tourists, from one of the two cellular providers of the UAE:

• Etisalat - product Ahlan - 90 dirham - available at the Duty Free Shop (arrival hall) of Dubai Airport
• Du - product Visitor Mobile Line - 70 Dirhams - available at the Telefonika kiosk in the arrival hall of Dubai Airport. Using these products, calls to Europe will be charged at maximum of about 0.55 USD per minute. Incoming calls are free of charge.

Phone booths – Phone booths are located on most streets. Phone cards can be purchased from hotels and tourist shops.

Internet – Internet cafés can be hard to find. The usual rate per hour is 3-4 dirham. There are a number of cafés on Al Musalla Rd/Al Mankhool Rd in Bur Dubai, including one at 38 Al Musalla Rd and one at Computer Plaza next to the Ramada Hotel. A number of Internet cafes are found in Satwa too. In Satwa there is the French Connection in the Al Wafa Tower on Sheikh Zayed Rd (opposite side of road from the Dusit Hotel), which has wi-fi access and nice cakes/pastries. In Al Qusais, there is an internet café a 5-minute walk northwest from the Dubai Youth Hostel. Turn right out of the gates and walk to LuLu's Hypermarket. The café is located inside the food court and charges 4 dirham per hour. The Skype website is blocked.

Gaming cafes aimed at teenagers are dotted around, notable examples including Escape gaming zone (opposite lulu hypermarket in al barsha), Que club in al barsha and behind Lamcy plaza.

Surprisingly, the malls do not have internet cafés. Dubai Mall offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Mall of the Emirates offers free Wi-Fi, but you must have a local phone number. Many coffee-shops, restaurants and attractions also have free Wi-Fi, and you'll usually have to ask for the password. Most hotel business centres are equipped with internet cafés, but are expensive.

Etisalat, UAE's telecom operator, offers a roaming, post paid Wi-Fi internet connection known as iZone . Most coffee shops and malls across Dubai provide this service. Prices are available on the website. For those still using dial-up internet Etisalat provide a service when you can plug into any phone line and the line will be charged 0.5 dirham a minute

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has free Wi-Fi in the terminal. Bring your laptop to use free Wi-Fi at some hotels. There are many free public Wi-Fi spots in Dubai.

Emirates Post service is pretty efficient. You will need to rent a P.O. Box as postal service to the door is not the standard.

Thanks to the large influx of expatriates, Dubai has a wide selection of English-language newspapers and radio channels.

• The Gulf News.
• Time Out Dubai - Things to do.
• The Khaleej Times.
• The Gulf Today.
• The National.
• 7 Days.
• Emirates Business 24/7.
• Channel 4 - Plays current songs from the UK and US. 104.8FM
• Dubai Eye - Western oriented talk with focus on business, sport, lifestyle and entertainment. Owned by Arabian Radio Network. 103.8FM
• Dubai 92 - Mainly 90's music. Popular with British expats. Owned by Arabian Radio Network. 92.0FM
• Virgin Radio 104.4 - Chart music. Operates under franchise from Virgin Radio International. Owned by Arabian Radio Network.
• City 101.6 - Broadcasts Indian music.
• Abu Dhabi Classic FM - Despite its name, this station broadcasts classical and jazz music across the UAE. In Dubai it is on 87.9FM

International newspapers are also available in most hotels and airport terminals. Carrefour and Borders bookstores sell British and American newspapers. Todaily, a local printing house, can furnish newspapers and periodicals from around the world daily.

Etisalat - product Ahlan - 90 dirham - available at the Duty Free Shop (arrival hall) of Dubai Airport

Du - product Visitor Mobile Line - 70 Dirhams - available at the Telefonika kiosk in the arrival hall of Dubai Airport.

Dubai gives freedom of religion to its residents and citizens.

• St Mary's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Oud Metha opposite the Indian High School. Masses are celebrated in Tagalog (Filipino), some Indian dialects as well as in Arabic and English. There is also a Catholic school near it.
• Holy Trinity Church, a Protestant church, is also in Oud Metha.

St Mary's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Oud Metha opposite the Indian High School. Masses are celebrated in Tagalog (Filipino), some Indian dialects as well as in Arabic and English. There is also a Catholic school near it.

Holy Trinity Church, a Protestant church, is also in Oud Metha.

Dubai is home to many people of different nationalities and language backgrounds. Therefore, many countries have established full service consulates (Consulate General) in Dubai to provide consular services for their nationals living in the UAE or certain areas like Dubai and the northern Emirates, as well as visa services for others seeking to visit their respective countries (if required). Most of the consulates are located in/around Al Karama and Um Hurair (consulate district) in the Burr Dubai District, south of Dubai Creek. They can also be located in other parts of town too. If corresponding by mail/post use their PO box address as mail is only delivered to a PO Box with no post codes. If delivering to a street address with DHL, FedEx, UPS or another private courier be sure to include recipient's phone number so that the delivery driver can call for directions or clarification on the address. Some countries may have no consulate in Dubai but rather handle everything from their chancery in Abu Dhabi, while others may assign their consular duties solely to the Dubai consulate. Check their website links or call before going to or sending any correspondence:

• Australia Australia, Level 25, Bur Juman Business Tower, Khalifa Bin Zayed Road; PO Box 124400, +971 4-508 7100.
• Bangladesh Bangladesh, Villa No. 36 & 145 Abdulla Hussain Al Malik Villa 123/3 Street, Abu Hail Road Al Wuheida, Deira; PO Box 4366, +971 4 238-8199, +971 4 265-1116.
• Canada Canada, 19th Floor Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Business Tower), Sheikh Zayed Road; PO Box, +971 4 404-8444. Su-Th 08:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00; Su-Th 08:00-14:00 during Ramadan. By appt only.
• China China, Villa No. 14, St 8, Community 357, Umm Al Sheif St, Safa 2 Area, +971 4-3944733. Su-Th 08:30-12:00.
• Egypt Egypt, Al Hamariya, Khaled Ibn Al-Walid Street, +971-4-3971122. Sunday-Thursday 09:00 - 15:00.
• Ethiopia Ethiopia, Deira, Al Wuheida, Community 132, Street No. 6, Villa No. 1, +971 4 269-9111, +971 4 269-9162.
• France France, 32F Habtoor Business Tower, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah beach Rd; PO Box 3314 (in front of Grand Habtoor Hotel, near Dubai Marina metro station, +971 4 408 4900, +971 50 644 6860 (emergencies only). Daily 08:30AM-12:30.
• Germany Germany, Jumeira 1, 8 'A' St, +971 4 348 8888. Su-Th 08:00-12:00.
• India India, Al Hamariya, Diplomatic Enclave, Bur Dubai; PO Box 737, +971 4 394 1222, +971 4 394 1333. Su-Th 08:30AM-16:30.
• Indonesia Indonesia, Al Hudaiba, Community 322, Villa No. 1, +971 4 398-5666.
• Iran Iran, No 256 Al Wasl Rd, Jumairah Area; PO Box 2832, +971 4 344 4717. Su-Th 08:00-12:00.
• Iraq Iraq, P.O. Box 85855 (Bur Dubai, +971 4 358-4700.
• Japan Japan, 28th Floor, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 4 331 9191. Su-Th 09:00-14:30; stop taking visa applications at 12:30; return completed work between 12:30-14:30.
• Kenya Kenya, Jumeirah 2, Off Al Wasl Road, Street 15, Villa 5; P.O. Box 214933, +971 4 342 8111. Su-Th 09:00-13:00.
• Kuwait Kuwait, Al Seef Street; PO Box 806, +971 4 397 8000. Su-Th 08:30-14:30.
• Netherlands Netherlands, Al Habtoor Business Tower, 30th floor, Dubai Marina; PO Box 7726, +971 4 440-7600.
• Oman Oman, PO Box 1898, +971 4 397 1000, +971 4 397 2299 (for visa section). Su-Th 07:30-14:30; Visa Applications 08:00-12:00.
• Pakistan Pakistan, Near Burjuman, opp. Iranian School, Umm Hurair One, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, Bur Dubai, +971 4-397 3600.
• Philippines Philippines, Al Qusais 3 Dubai; PO Box 94778, +971 56 501 5755, +971 56 501 5756 (Legal matters & assistance to Nationals). Su--Th 08:00-14:00.
• Russia Russia, Dubai, Umm Al Sheif, 6B st., Villa 21: PO Box 11876, +971 4 328-5347, +971 50 454-7754 (Emergencies Only). Su-Th 10:00-13:30; Citizenship issues Wed 15:00-17:00. The visa application centre is at another location at Wafi Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai (Tel +971 4 205-5717
• Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, Alhamreiah Area, Alsaeef Street, +971 4 377 8300. Su-Th 09:00-15:00.
• South Africa South Africa, Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street (also known as Bank Street) (New Sharaf Bldg in Bur Dubai, +971 4 397-5222 (consular services), +971 4 397-9901 (trade manners). Su-Th 08:30-12:30.
• Turkey Turkey, 29th Floor, Dubai World Trade Center Building، Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 4 376-0600, +90 312 292 29 29. Su-Th 08:30-14:00 (By Appt only).
• United Kingdom United Kingdom, Al Seef St Bur Dubai; PO Box 65 (Near the Dubai Creekside, +971 4 309 4444.
• United States United States, Corner of Al Seef Rd. and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Rd,, +971 4-309-4000.
• Yemen Yemen, Consulates Area, Um Hurair 1; P.O. Box 1947, +971 4 397-0213, +971 4 397-0131. Su-Th 08:30-14:00.

Australia Australia, Level 25, Bur Juman Business Tower, Khalifa Bin Zayed Road; PO Box 124400, +971 4-508 7100.

Bangladesh Bangladesh, Villa No. 36 & 145 Abdulla Hussain Al Malik Villa 123/3 Street, Abu Hail Road Al Wuheida, Deira; PO Box 4366, +971 4 238-8199, +971 4 265-1116.

Canada Canada, 19th Floor Jumeirah Emirates Towers (Business Tower), Sheikh Zayed Road; PO Box, +971 4 404-8444. Su-Th 08:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00; Su-Th 08:00-14:00 during Ramadan. By appt only.

China China, Villa No. 14, St 8, Community 357, Umm Al Sheif St, Safa 2 Area, +971 4-3944733. Su-Th 08:30-12:00.

Egypt Egypt, Al Hamariya, Khaled Ibn Al-Walid Street, +971-4-3971122. Sunday-Thursday 09:00 - 15:00.

Ethiopia Ethiopia, Deira, Al Wuheida, Community 132, Street No. 6, Villa No. 1, +971 4 269-9111, +971 4 269-9162.

France France, 32F Habtoor Business Tower, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah beach Rd; PO Box 3314 (in front of Grand Habtoor Hotel, near Dubai Marina metro station, +971 4 408 4900, +971 50 644 6860 (emergencies only). Daily 08:30AM-12:30.

Germany Germany, Jumeira 1, 8 'A' St, +971 4 348 8888. Su-Th 08:00-12:00.

India India, Al Hamariya, Diplomatic Enclave, Bur Dubai; PO Box 737, +971 4 394 1222, +971 4 394 1333. Su-Th 08:30AM-16:30.

Indonesia Indonesia, Al Hudaiba, Community 322, Villa No. 1, +971 4 398-5666.

Iran Iran, No 256 Al Wasl Rd, Jumairah Area; PO Box 2832, +971 4 344 4717. Su-Th 08:00-12:00.

Iraq Iraq, P.O. Box 85855 (Bur Dubai, +971 4 358-4700.

Japan Japan, 28th Floor, Dubai World Trade Centre, +971 4 331 9191. Su-Th 09:00-14:30; stop taking visa applications at 12:30; return completed work between 12:30-14:30.

Kenya Kenya, Jumeirah 2, Off Al Wasl Road, Street 15, Villa 5; P.O. Box 214933, +971 4 342 8111. Su-Th 09:00-13:00.

Kuwait Kuwait, Al Seef Street; PO Box 806, +971 4 397 8000. Su-Th 08:30-14:30.

Netherlands Netherlands, Al Habtoor Business Tower, 30th floor, Dubai Marina; PO Box 7726, +971 4 440-7600.

Oman Oman, PO Box 1898, +971 4 397 1000, +971 4 397 2299 (for visa section). Su-Th 07:30-14:30; Visa Applications 08:00-12:00.

Pakistan Pakistan, Near Burjuman, opp. Iranian School, Umm Hurair One, Khalid Bin Waleed Road, Bur Dubai, +971 4-397 3600.

Philippines Philippines, Al Qusais 3 Dubai; PO Box 94778, +971 56 501 5755, +971 56 501 5756 (Legal matters & assistance to Nationals). Su--Th 08:00-14:00.

Russia Russia, Dubai, Umm Al Sheif, 6B st., Villa 21: PO Box 11876, +971 4 328-5347, +971 50 454-7754 (Emergencies Only). Su-Th 10:00-13:30; Citizenship issues Wed 15:00-17:00. The visa application centre is at another location at Wafi Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai (Tel +971 4 205-5717

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, Alhamreiah Area, Alsaeef Street, +971 4 377 8300. Su-Th 09:00-15:00.

South Africa South Africa, Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street (also known as Bank Street) (New Sharaf Bldg in Bur Dubai, +971 4 397-5222 (consular services), +971 4 397-9901 (trade manners). Su-Th 08:30-12:30.

Turkey Turkey, 29th Floor, Dubai World Trade Center Building، Sheikh Zayed Road, +971 4 376-0600, +90 312 292 29 29. Su-Th 08:30-14:00 (By Appt only).

United Kingdom United Kingdom, Al Seef St Bur Dubai; PO Box 65 (Near the Dubai Creekside, +971 4 309 4444.

United States United States, Corner of Al Seef Rd. and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Rd,, +971 4-309-4000.

Yemen Yemen, Consulates Area, Um Hurair 1; P.O. Box 1947, +971 4 397-0213, +971 4 397-0131. Su-Th 08:30-14:00.

Within the United Arab Emirates:

• Neighbouring Sharjah. While dry (no alcohol) and mostly suburban, has a few beaches and museums of interest.
• Abu Dhabi. Capital of the Emirates, is an entirely different city and worth the one and a half hour ride to see the contrast.
• The city of Al Ain. It is surprisingly a city of lush gardens and trees - an aspect quite unusual in this region considering its desert surroundings.
• Peaceful Umm Al Quwain emirate. If you want a cosy and relaxing environment, free from city hustle and bustle.

• Dubai has an arrangement with Oman to allow visitors who qualify to get an Omani visa on arrival by road through Hatta.
• The Iranian island of Kish. A free trade zone that does not require a visa.
• Fjords of Musandam Peninsula. Explore beautiful caves and enjoy the awesome scenery of the desert and the mountains. to hike in the mountains or dive in the fjords.

The Iranian island of Kish. A free trade zone that does not require a visa.

Fjords of Musandam Peninsula. Explore beautiful caves and enjoy the awesome scenery of the desert and the mountains. to hike in the mountains or dive in the fjords.

Neighbouring Sharjah. While dry (no alcohol) and mostly suburban, has a few beaches and museums of interest.

Abu Dhabi. Capital of the Emirates, is an entirely different city and worth the one and a half hour ride to see the contrast.

The city of Al Ain. It is surprisingly a city of lush gardens and trees - an aspect quite unusual in this region considering its desert surroundings.

Peaceful Umm Al Quwain emirate. If you want a cosy and relaxing environment, free from city hustle and bustle.