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Dubai 101
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Persian Gulf Coast, The Middle East
09 March 2015
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Indeed, who are we to question the workings of Fate?
I'm going to skip personal theatrics and get down to the nitty-gritty: Welcome to Dubai! :D
After nearly 2 years of hiatus from this blog, I have returned to offer you a brief description of how it is to travel around Dubai (I know! I'm surprised myself!). While this may not be the best blog to look around for discounts, cheap tours and whatsoever, I can assure you (yes, YOU who may have stumbled through this blog by chance) that I can provide you with details about how to move around glamorous Dubai.
Take note: I have only been working here for nearly 1 year now-- just a month shy from today (29 Jan 2016)-- so, there may be some things that I still cannot answer. I'll do my best to answer your query though, if you have one or a few more.. :)
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| Left: Philippine Coast; Right: Persian Gulf Coast |
AIRPORT
The airport in Dubai is huge, clean and ultimately better than what we Filipinos are used to (despite being taxed, like, 30% monthly as compared to them being completely tax free -_-), but then again, nearly every airport in this world is better compared to NAIA. It's also hassle-free, well-organised, and you'll find out pretty soon upon arrival that everything has been positioned strategically-- from the arrival platform, immigration check and baggage claim.
No Tanim-Bala modus and all. Yey!
Now, because this airport is huge, may I just point out that you will be walking quite a lot. As in, maybe a mile or two. But that's okay, because it's good for your health; and, besides, there are walk-a-lators scattered around the place so if you have a health condition, you'll be able to rest for a minute or two. :)
Immigration lines are divided into several categories but, to summarise, it is divided between countries not needing visas to enter the country and those that do require visas.
Lines are mostly long in the "visa-required" queus, but the kandora-wearing men and (sometimes) abaya-wearing women work real fast, so it's not much of an issue. The immigration area is, also, noticeably under renovation possibly because they are working on a new system that is less time-consuming. I wish my country would work on something similar as well. -_-
Anyway, you'll be asked to show your passport and visa; stand properly once your turn comes, remove your glasses if you're wearing any, and then get scanned. Once you're clear, you can pass through the immigration area to claim your baggage in one of them carousels, and then you're done. You can finally get out of the airport! :D
And, once you're out, you'll know you're in Dubai by just smelling your surroundings-- it'll be that unmistakeable mix of sweet Arab perfume and coastline breeze permeating your nostrils.
Take a cab towards your hotel and rest. You have a full day ahead. Also, do not be surprised if you see a female taxi driver in Dubai, although that taxi can only be hired by families or female passengers. :)
Weather
Since Dubai is located on the coastline, the weather is a lot different than most will expect from a country in the Middle East (hint: desert). Most of the year, it's hot; about a third, it's warm... but expect a sudden drop in temperature come winter time in December. It doesn't snow here though, unlike in some parts of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh experienced snow-fall on January 2016). So yes, temperature can drop to around 15 degrees Centigrade every December, but it can also spike up to 50 degrees Centigrade during Summer, mostly during the month of July.
Rainfall? Rare. Since I came here, I think I've only seen rain maybe 4 or 5 times.
Fog is almost as rare as rainfall too.
Sand-storm? I've seen it three times; the first one I've witnessed was, by far, the strongest sandstorm I've seen. If it happens and you're somewhere in the Middle East, STAY IN-DOORS. It will hurt your lungs like hell for a couple of days even if you've only managed to inhale miniscule grains.
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| Filter not needed. |
If you're going to travel a lot via bus or train/metro, buy a NOL card. That is like your pre-loaded wallet and you use it every time you're going to get in and out of the bus or metro station. There are several kinds of NOL cards, but I'll just tell you to buy the silver one. Pay 30 dirhams (or AED) in one of them card booths inside a metro station, and that should cover your expense for two trips if you won't be travelling far. Be mindful of your card's balance though because RTA has already imposed a minimum of 15 dirhams balance in your NOL card. If they find out that you have less (by any stroke of bad luck), you will be fined 200 dirhams.
Dubai's transportation is controlled by the RTA (Road and Transport Authority) and they do not joke around with maintaining order and policing compliance of people with regards to their rules. You'll find some RTA officers randomly getting on and off of buses with card checkers (it looks like one of those credit card machines) to see if you have enough balance to travel around the city.
Transportation system here is top-notch, extremely safe (unlike other places), and (of course) well-organised. Phone apps are available to check if a bus is scheduled to arrive at the designated bus platform; as well as another app dedicated to the metro/train if you want to plan your trip ahead of time. Taxis are also available, but you may find that it doesn't come cheap as well. Flat rate is 12 dhs, meaning even if the meter says the distance travelled would only cost you 6 dhs, you would still pay 12 dhs. :( The good thing about taxis here in Dubai though, is that they are all well-regulated by the government and you can call a phone number provided by the government if you want to request for a cab-- regardless of where you are in Dubai.
Pretty neat, huh? :)
Just a tip: If you don't know where you are, take a cab and ask the driver to drop you off in the nearest metro station and you can start again from there. Or, you can just ask the driver to drop you off in your destination. Most of them are competent drivers anyway with years and years of experience.
Hotels
When finding a hotel, I suggest booking somewhere in Deira or Burjuman if you can find a decent and cheap place NEAR a metro station. Remember, if you're near a metro station, the chances of you getting lost will be almost close to 0%.
Try Booking.com for a list of places to stay in. Dubai is a land of financial extremes: prices can range for a couple of hundred dirhams per night to a hundred thousand.
Oh, and... please, use the pedestrian crossing if you do not want to get fined by the police. :))
Internet and Phone
Unlike in the Philippines where you can buy a sim card anytime, anywhere... in Dubai, you would have to go to the service provider and apply for one. They will give you a sim card, and it WILL be registered under your name; together with your passport number for proper identification and homeland security as well. Service providers are abundantly available in malls, and the two biggest providers are named "DU" and "ETISALAT". I think Etisalat is partnered with Smart from the Philippines.
As for the internet, if you could get-hold of someone's wifi password, use it. Internet in Dubai is EXPENSIVE, but you also get the value of your money's worth. If they say it's 8mbps, then it really IS 8mbps. For overseas workers, unless you really REALLY need it for work or something, do not get a post-paid account. A regular recharge of 20 dirhams would be enough to last you a month, depending on your service provider.
Places to Visit
If you haven't heard of Burj Khalifa then you must have been living under a rock. No kidding. :))
Aside for the Burj Khalifa, there are several key places to visit in Dubai but most of them are either big hotels (most notably the Burj Al Arab), bigger malls with never-ending sales (The Dubai Mall-- adjacent to the Burj Khalifa and it is also where the Dancing Fountain can be found-- and the Mall of the Emirates-- where Skii Dubai is located), and some other things tailor-made to blow-up your finances to non-existence.
Burj Khalifa: view from the Metro Station
(it's a veeeeeery long stretch from the Metro to the actual mall)
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| Dubai Mall, The Big Aquarium (I forgot what it's called XD) |
Panoramic view of the Dubai Mall Fountain (without the fountain. Haha.)
Near the foot of the Burj Khal-- NEAR.
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| Inside the The Dubai Mall |
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| SNOW Boarding: Mall of the Emirates |
Ski Dubai at The Mall of the Emirates
And THIS... is the Dubai Mall Fountain.
There are also seasonal parks that open only during a particular season like the Miracle Garden (during winter time only because the flowers will wilt during summer) and The Global Village.
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| The Global Village |
And then, there are also Heritage/Cultural Parks if you are into those things like me. I haven't been there because of its distance from where I live and also because of my job, but from what I have read, entrance is either free of charge or maybe 2 to 3 dirhams per head. It's not expensive, I promise.
Public beaches in Jumeirah are also free of charge, although I do not recommend going there on Fridays because it will be packed (not a very good experience, FYI.) If you want to spend some time at the beach, there are also a couple of private beaches beside it. Entrance, I think, is around 10 dirhams. That's already cheap. You can do surfing, if the weather permits or you can also do paddle boarding.
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| Burj Al Arab, where the cheapest room would cost you both arms and both legs. And your soul too. |
Oh, I almost forgot about the Desert Safari Tour. For as low as 100 dirhams per head, you can have a tour organised. Tour usually includes Sand Bashing and they would allow you to hop out of the 4x4 to take pictures, some variety show at night inside their traditional camp, and they will also be serving traditional Arab food. All else, you would have to pay an additional fee.
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| Like this pretty bird here named, Pia. Taking a picture would cost you 20 dirhams. |
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| FYI: If you crashed your car and hit a camel, you will be fined with 100,000dhs. Ouch. |
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| ATV will cost you 100 dhs for an hour. |
Food
Mostly Arabic and Indian cuisine, along with their derivatives-- heavy spices and all, but there is also an abundance of Western and Filipino restaurants. Alcohol is permitted in certain areas, but I would advise you not to over indulge. If you get caught walking around the streets in your most glorious drunken stupor, it's jail-time for you. Also, taxi drivers are given the right to drive you off to the police station if he knows you are drunk.
It is also worth mentioning that Dubai or the UAE, rather, has a special drinking license for those who would like to have a drink or so. It's not a very lengthy process, but you would still have to request for a no objection certificate from your employer to do just that. Kind of like a driver's license, but only for liquor. It's usually needed for those would BUY the good stuff, but if you're just going out to drink... there is just no immediate need, although I have HEARD that you need the license as well to drink the stuff.
Liquors/bars are banned during their Holy Month of Ramadan as well.
Places for that kind of stuff? Our go-to place is The Irish Village/ Century Village in Al Garhoud. You can also go to QD's at the Creek where they offer flavoured shisha. My favourite is Mint-grape, but double Apple is also nice.
Steaks here are considered cheap because of its portion, but if you convert to php it's roughly priced the same. Also, no pork in public places because it is still predominantly Islam but there are stores that offer pork and pork products. Just ask a "kabayan" if you want one and they will gladly point the way. :)
So... that basically covers most of my first few months in Dubai. :)
To end, let me just tell you a few more things:
Is Dubai an expensive place?
It sure is, without a doubt. But if you are working here, the answer will depend on your salary.
My advise to overseas workers?
Live within your means and avoid sales at all costs. If you could, do not apply for credit cards, or if you really don't have a choice, do NOT use your credit card. Remember, stores will ALWAYS have put on a sale, but your salary WON'T always be in your wallet.
Till next time! :)
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