CityHoliday Hotspots

Dubai is the big brother of Abu Dhabi and more open-minded than the other Emirates. Alcohol, for example, is permitted in various hotels, restaurants and clubs. An afternoon of shopping? Shop till you drop definitely applies here. After all, Dubai Mall is the largest indoor shopping centre on the planet! It even has a cinema and the largest aquarium in the world...

There are very few reminders of Dubai’s humble origin as a fishing village; this impressive city has grown to become a fantastic metropolis. Nothing here is average, but over-the-top. For amazing views, climb to the top of one of the tallest buildings in the world, the Burj Khalifa. From the 800 metre-high panorama terrace, you can see the boat-shaped luxury Burj al Araab Hotel. Just outside the city is the desert, where sandboarding and night-time desert safaris are everyday sights. Want to cool down a bit? Take a refreshing dip or sailing trip on a Dhow. This Arabian boat offers round trip cruises along Dubai Creek.

Country: UAE

Currency: Dirham

Best time to visit: October - April

More info: Dubaitourism

Visum information: Received on entrance

Weather forecast

Budget tips

Map

Airport

To and from the airport:

Metro

Trains run roughly every 10 minutes from Terminals 1 and 3. Services start 5.50am (5.30am on Thursday), and stop at midnight (1am on Thursday/Friday). Please note there is no service on Friday mornings and only starts at 1pm.

There are just two lines, making the network simple to use even for newcomers. Most stations have connecting buses and taxi ranks for onward travel. Most major hotels and tourist destinations are relatively close to a station. You can buy your ticket at the airport stations. The cost depends on how many zones you travel, but is always extremely affordable.

Try the Nol card. It can be charged up with credit, and also gives you a discount on standard fares. The front carriage on each train is ‘gold class’, for a small premium – kids will love the view through the driverless front window! There is also a carriage for women and children only.

More information to be found at: To/from the airport