Dubai Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors 2024

Located on the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is one of the most dynamic cities in the world.

It attracts millions of tourists given the emirate’s extravagance, ultramodern architecture, haute cuisine, gleaming skyscrapers, one-in-a-lifetime adventure, exceptional desert expeditions, rich Emirati culture, and exceptional hospitality.

Though the emirate exudes opulence, encompasses iconic tourist destinations, and offers abundant hedonistic pleasures, it is a city that devoutly practices Islam.

Dubai’s local culture and social etiquette strictly adhere to Islamic laws. Thus, visitors are expected to embrace cultural and traditional sensitivity as long as they stay in Dubai.

If you are planning to visit Dubai for the first time and want to know what the city imbibes and offers, here is an in-depth Dubai travel guide.

This travel guide walks you through things you should know before traveling to Dubai and highlights the affluent neighborhoods you must visit.

Things To Know Before Travelling To Dubai –

Before traveling to Dubai, you must look out for several important considerations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.

1. Visa Requirements and Passport

The visa requirements in Dubai vary depending on your nationality, the purpose of your visit, and how long you plan to stay. Dubai offers visas on arrival at the airport to citizens of most countries visiting the emirate as a tourist. The tourist visa allows you to stay in Dubai for up to 30 or 90 days, depending on the visa type and validity. However, you must check your eligibility and visa requirements before traveling.  

Further, your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the UAE.

2. Currency

The currency used in Dubai and throughout UAE is the United Arab Emirates Dirham, the symbol for which is “AED”.

One Dirham is equal to 100 fils.

Further, the Dirham is pegged to the US dollar. Thus, the exchange rate for dollars to dirhams stays the same. (1 US Dollar = AED 3.67)

As a tourist, you can easily exchange currency as currency exchange services are readily available all over Dubai.  You may find currency exchange houses in shopping malls, ATMs, hotels, airports, and exchange offices.

Don’t forget to carry an ID. Also, if you prefer using an ATM for exchanging currency, you may have to bear withdrawal and foreign currency exchange fees on using the international card. So check with your bank before traveling.

3. Security and Customs

When you Travel to Dubai, as a Tourist, you are subject to certain personal allowances and customs regulations that the UAE government has set. These allowances define the quantity and value of goods you can bring into the country without being subject to duties or taxes.

As per Dubai Customs, the following are some of the common items that you are allowed to bring into Dubai without paying any customs duty:

• Gifts not exceeding AED 3,0000
• Maximum of 4 liters of alcohol or 48 cans of beer no exceeding 355 ml each can or its equivalent
• Maximum of 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 500 gms of tobacco
• Cash not exceeding AED 60,000

To see the complete list of permitted items, check out Dubai Customs.

4. Dubai Sim Cards and VoIP Calls

Upon arrival in Dubai, you must purchase a local SIM card as international roaming charges for calls, texts, and data can be expensive.

• There are Two main Sim Cards which provide telecommunication services in Dubai: Etisalat and Du sim cards. Both offer special mobile phone packages for tourists that you can purchase easily at Dubai Airport and shopping malls all over Dubai.
• Free internet calling services such as WhatsApp and Facetime don’t work entirely in Dubai. That’s because UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) bans almost all VoIP calling to protect the telecom industry. You can only send and receive WhatsApp messages, but you can’t make video and voice calls.
• Check out the VoIP apps legally allowed in Dubai for making voice or video calls. In addition to these apps, you can ​​use fee-based services from Etisalat and Du.

5. How to get around in Dubai?

As a First-time traveler, you can get around Dubai by using the Dubai Metro, Public Bus Transport and Private/Local taxis. The metro is an affordable mode of transportation which connects many significant landmarks in Dubai and is economical, safe, and reliable. However, taxi fares are extremely costly.

Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro is the most convenient, affordable and accessible way to travel in Dubai.

• Rules and Violations.

1. Eating, Drinking and Smoking are not allowed inside the metro. You can be fined 100 AED for Eating/drinking and 200 AED for Smoking,
2. Men in the Women and Children compartment in the metro will be fined AED. 200.

Dubai Public Bus Transport

The Dubai Public Bus has access to a lot of localities in Dubai as the routes cover the entire city, making buses a practical choice for exploring Dubai.

• Bus Ticket

You can use only NOL cards on buses and cash payments are not accepted. All you have to do is board the bus, swipe your card at the machine, then enter the bus and find your seat.

• To know the which bus to take to your desired destination with timing. Download the Suhail App.

The Suhail app includes all the information about RTA’s means of transport, including the Dubai buses, Dubai Metro, the Dubai Tram, and taxis, and is the best way to help residents and visitors get around Dubai.

Dubai Taxis

• The Dubai taxis are found easily in all parts of Dubai making it another most convenient method but at the same time it is quite expensive.
• The Local Taxis are metered so you can either pre-book or grab a taxi hailed at a roadside curb.
• In case you don’t find a local taxi, you can book a private taxi though Uber or Careem by installing their app.

How To Book a Careem Ride Click Here.

1. Log in to the app.
2. Select ‘Rides’ on the app homepage.
3. Enter and confirm your drop-off and pickup locations.
4. Select your desired car type.
5. Choose your preferred payment method.
6. Check the fare estimate, then tap on ‘ Yalla!’ to confirm your ride.
7. If you need to book a ride for later, tap on the ‘Now’ option to select your desired date and time for the booking.

How To Book an Uber Ride

1. Open and log into the Uber app on your device 
2. Type your destination into the “Where to?” section 
3. Select the type of vehicle you would like at the bottom of the screen. 
4. Tap “request” and then confirm the pickup location. 
5. Wait for your request to be accepted by a driver and check the estimated time of arrival. 
6. Just wait for your driver to arrive. You can check their location on the in-app map, and you will be notified when they are close to the pickup location.

6. What Language is Spoken in Dubai?

Though Locals of Dubai speak Arabic. Getting around is simple because both locals and foreigners speak English, and as the population is very multicultural, you’ll hear a range of languages being spoken all around you. The street signs, menus, all the signage are both in both Arabic and English making it easy to navigate.

7. Best Time to Visit Dubai

Dubai typically experiences a warm climate all year round. Summer lasts from June to September with temperatures reaching as high as 48℃ while winter temperatures range from around 20°C to 30°C.

Overall, the best time to travel to Dubai in terms of weather is during the winter months, November to March, when temperatures are mild, and the weather is most conducive to outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Rules In Dubai You Must Know

Though residents of different countries stay in Dubai alongside one another, you must not forget that Dubai is a fairly conservative Islamic society.

Emiratis staying in Dubai respect other cultures, but they expect the visitors to respect their local culture in return.

As a first-time visitor, you must be aware of the local laws and customs to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.

• Avoid taking photographs of Muslim women, government buildings, and military or industrial installations, and photographs of strangers without their permission.
• Drinking alcohol in public places is illegal and can lead to fines; alcohol consumption is permitted only in licensed venues such as hotels, bars, and restaurants.
• Attractions such as mosques or religious sites have stricter dress codes requiring both men and women to cover up bare arms, shoulders, and legs and women to wear headscarves.
• Avoid angry outbursts, getting into heated arguments, using foul or abusive language, or making obscene gestures.
• Procure a prescription or prior permission from the UAE’s Ministry of Health before traveling with medicine such as psychotropic drugs or anything containing codeine as some medicines are considered controlled substances within the UAE.

Top Places to Visit in Dubai

Dubai is a vibrant city known for its iconic landmarks, incredible architecture, opulent shopping malls, and disparate attractions.

Here is a list of some of the top places that you must visit in Dubai:

• Burj Khalifa
• Downtown Dubai
• The Palm Jumeirah
• Jumeirah Beach
• Dubai Marina
• Deira Creekside
• The Dubai Fountain
• Burj Al Arab
• Dubai Mall
• Mall of the Emirates
• Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo