Organize your stay Dubai
Money Dubai
The official currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (abbreviated AED), divided into 100 threads. There are coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 threads and 1 AED, and bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 AED. The dirham is pegged to the dollar. And the exchange rate (September 2022). 1 AED = 0,27 € / 1 € = 3,71 AED. It is possible to use your bank card almost everywhere and without any minimum amount. You will find exchange offices in all shopping centers and they are generally very correct on the commission they charge. On the other hand, those at the airport are less interesting.
Budget & Tips Dubai
The cost of living in the Emirates is about 20% higher than in France, except for transportation. Three categories will increase the cost of your vacation: accommodation, restaurants and especially alcohol. Be aware that hotel prices vary greatly between high and low season, but especially according to the location of the hotel in the city. Indeed, hotels on the seaside are always very expensive. You can find luxury hotels with excellent value for money in areas further away from the coast. As far as food is concerned, you can eat very well and very cheaply in the Indian, Pakistani and Levantine restaurants of old Dubai, but also in the neighborhoods along the coast. What makes the bill skyrocket is the alcohol, which is taxed very heavily.
Bargaining is a time-honored tradition in the souks of the Arab world and particularly in the Emirates. Thanks to a few negotiations, starting prices can sometimes be cut in half. However, it is important to know that once a price has been verbally agreed upon, the customer is supposed to buy. To anticipate a budget per day, here are our recommendations as a rough guide:
Small budget. Count from 800 AED per day and per person (about 206 €) per day, with accommodation in 3 star hotels, meals in Indian or Pakistani restaurants, public transportation, some cabs and visits.
Average budget. Count on 1,600 AED per day per person (about 412 €), for accommodation in 4-star hotels, meals in fast food restaurants, visits, cabs and some activities.
Big budget. It's hard to say, because in Dubai, there are no limits, but let's say that if you want to stay in the big hotels on the seaside, you have to count at least 5,000 AED per day per person (about 1,290 €), with good restaurants, shopping, cab rides, visits and fun activities such as spas, private clubs. This is an average budget in the big budgets.
Passport and visas Dubai
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date or 3 months if you are a resident. The Visit Visa is a tourist visa issued at the airport on arrival to any European citizen and allows a maximum stay of 90 days, in one go or in several stays, for a total duration of 180 days. There are new residence visas that are easier to obtain for those who wish to settle in Dubai.
Tip. Before you leave, remember to photocopy all the documents you take with you. Take one copy of each document with you and leave the other with someone in France. This will make it much easier for you to renew your documents with the consular authorities if they are lost or stolen. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.service-public.fr). All you have to do is create an account and scan all your identity documents and other important documents in the confidential space.
Driver's license Dubai
If you're only staying in the city of Dubai, only take cabs. The Uber app works very well and the local app to download is called Careem. We advise you to rent a car only if you want to move around the country. To rent a car, your valid European license will be enough. However, without GPS and without 4G to activate your Wi-fi, it is easy to get lost! If you prefer the option of a car with driver, all hotel receptions will be able to help you.
Beware of speed cameras, they are everywhere. A system of artificial intelligence and drones can also check if you are talking on your cell phone while driving or if you are exceeding the speed limits outside the omnipresent speed cameras. In Dubai, it is impossible to go unnoticed.
Health Dubai
No real hygiene problem in the United Arab Emirates, where the tap water is even drinkable. But as it does not taste good, people have taken the habit of drinking mineral water.
Wildlife. There is no risk of being stung or bitten by venomous animals in the city. The only dangerous venomous insect that has been found in populated areas is the redspider. If you are unlucky enough to come across this black spider with a red dorsal pattern, simply avoid teasing it! As sandy areas are home to many varieties of scorpions and snakes, an antivenom is useful in rural or desert areas. At night, if you are camping in the desert, remember to inspect your shoes, clothes and sleeping bag, where some unwanted visitors may come and nestle! And absolutely avoid open shoes, whatever the season!
Sun. It is the main false-friend of tourists staying in the Emirates. Outside the months considered "mild" (November to March), the sun is very strong and forbids any exposure in the middle of summer. The risks of burning are real and it is more than advisable to adopt high sun protection indexes all year round (30 minimum). Also remember not to lie down in the sun during the hottest hours (from 11am to 4pm), to protect yourself from sunstroke by covering your head and from hydrocution by entering the water only very gradually. In summer, floors, walls and objects exposed to the sun (slides) are hot: avoid walking barefoot, sitting on a low wall or letting a child climb on outdoor games.
Heat stroke. Beware of heat stroke! Between March and November, you get dehydrated quickly. It is important to stay hydrated, drink 2 liters of water per day, wear a cap or hat and do not walk in the sun during the hottest hours if you are not used to it.
Mandatory vaccination Dubai
No vaccinations or health certificates are required at the time of printing this guide. However, remember to ask for information just before you leave, as health regulations may change according to local and international developments.
Security Dubai
There are no (or almost no) problems of delinquency in Dubai. When they exist, crimes are severely repressed. You can walk alone in the city center in complete safety, even at night. This is one of the major attractions of the destination, both for tourists and expatriates. An application exists that allows you to report any suspicious behavior with your smartphone in one click. Contrary to what happens in many other countries, the general atmosphere here is nonchalant and serene. It is accompanied by a feeling of well-being. And, as everywhere else, one should remember to keep one's documents and important belongings (passports, visas, jewelry...) in the hotel safes provided for this purpose.
The only real danger: driving. When driving, always remain extremely vigilant and know that someone can overtake you from the left or from the right, even if you have taken care to use your turn signals in advance, drive in front of your nose or turn around unexpectedly! Keep your cool and use your mirrors more than usual. On foot, walk on the sidewalks as much as possible and cross in the right lane, unless cars are coming too fast. Indeed, with 200 nationalities living in Dubai, there are 200 different ways of appreciating the rules of the road, due to cultural differences. Be careful, never get angry at the wheel, do not swear, because you could be reported and then quickly get into trouble. Calmness, temperance and vigilance only!
For single women, finally, no worries.
Time difference Dubai
3 hours difference with France during winter: when it is noon in Paris, it is 3pm in Dubai, and 2 hours in summer: when it is noon in Paris, it is 2pm in Dubai, that is GMT+4.
Spoken languages Dubai
The official language is, of course, Arabic, competing with English, which is the language of business.
The vast majority of services (cash withdrawals, miscellaneous information) are offered in these two languages, as well as signs, but as a general rule, everyone in Dubai speaks English. Due to the size of the Indian and Pakistani communities, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam are also widely spoken.
Communication Dubai
EIM (Emirates Internet and Multimedia) is the main provider of Internet services in all the Emirates, as well as the censor of inappropriate sites (same types of bans as for the written press). Under its control, sensitive subjects, related to cultural, religious, political and moral affairs, can be temporarily banned (blocked sites). Otherwise, services, technology and infrastructure are on par with their European counterparts, if not more advanced. Most areas of Dubai are already covered by 5G.
Finally, you should know that wifi is now widespread and you can connect for free in hotels and restaurants where you are a guest. In principle, the use of a VPN is prohibited. Most hotels block them. You will be able to use WhatsApp just by writing or voice messages. If you want to exchange more fluidly without breaking the bank, download BOTIM or ZOOM.
Electricity and measurements Dubai
Here, it is 220 volts. Remember to get adapters for English style plugs (available in supermarkets) and if you forgot, don't hesitate to ask at the reception of your hotel, because very often they can help you out. Liquids are calculated in liters, distances in kilometers. However, you should know that for excursions outside of Dubai, you will be given information in hours rather than in kilometers.
Luggage Dubai
Take summer clothes with some woollens and stoles for the cool winter evenings and to avoid getting sick with the air conditioning on full blast in the malls and hotel rooms. In Dubai you can enjoy the beaches, but it is forbidden to wear a monokini (even on private hotel beaches). In the evening, Dubai residents dress up a lot to go out and sportswear is often not allowed in trendy restaurants and nightclubs. If you are planning to visit mosques and museums, if you are thinking of going out of town, and out of respect for the local population, it is not advisable to wear revealing clothes, even if it is tolerated (prefer for example t-shirts with sleeves to tank tops). In short, we will try to adopt a wise and logical behavior, which takes into account the local customs. On the other hand, T-shirts with partisan slogans or insults are forbidden. And above all, do not bring any drugs in your suitcase to avoid going directly to prison.
