What are the benefits of a holiday in the UAE? Trip to Dubai: tips for tourists. Here's what to see in Dubai

After almost a year and a half without a normal vacation, I realized that I urgently needed a vacation, and not just somewhere in another country, but at sea. Before that, I had successful experience of an independent holiday in Hong Kong and Bali (which, I hope, I will talk about in other articles), so I decided not to take a tour, but also book a hotel, buy tickets and get a visa on my own.

After Egypt and Turkey were closed for flights, there was little choice left: I really wanted to visit Thailand, but, unfortunately, award tickets for Aeroflot miles were not sold there. Therefore, the choice fell on the UAE, namely the emirate of Dubai, especially since my friend flew there the previous summer, from whom I hoped to glean useful information about the country and about all sorts of nuances that for some reason are not written about in review articles and reviews of travel. I did not plan to celebrate the New Year in the UAE, because hotel prices for this period soared to cosmic heights in this already very expensive city (and with the fall of the ruble, Dubai became cosmically expensive for Russian tourists). Therefore, I bought tickets a week later than the New Year, when the main stream of compatriots was already returning to their homeland. Let me make a reservation that at the time of my trip 1 dirham (AED) was equal to 20 rubles.

After successfully purchasing a ticket, I went to the well-known hotel booking site and began to sort offers based on reviews, ratings, location and other amenities. It should be noted that hotels in Dubai are very expensive. For the money that I paid for a 2* hotel, in Asia I could easily rent a 5* room. My choice fell on the Holiday Inn Express Internet City, located near the foot of Palm Jumeirah and not very far from the bay.

My Holliday Inn Express

The hotel was attracted by the rating, which was higher than 8 on the booking, location, transport accessibility (you can walk to the metro station, as well as a tram stop), which was important for me, since I did not plan to use a taxi. The hotel also had free Wi-Fi and breakfast included. What was disappointing was the additional taxes and service fees that were not included in the room price (10% tax, 10% tourist tax, 10% service charge). The real price was 30% higher than the one stated on the booking! Somehow it's not very fair. Well, okay, the booking conditions in other hotels were not very different. The money is debited from the card one day before arrival, so on the website I could see how the cost of my vacation in rubles increased daily.

When the hotel was finished, I took care of the visa. At first, the idea arose to also do its own design in order to save money. But, as it turned out, the visa is not issued through the embassy, only through tourism companies. The visa to the UAE is electronic; to obtain it, you need a “sponsor” in the country of holiday - a company that vouches for you (as far as I understand). For Emirates passengers, everything is simple - for them the airline itself acts as a sponsor. I was flying with Aeroflot, so I decided to apply for a visa at the visa center, since you can submit documents, pay and get a visa via the Internet without going outside. All you need is a scan of your passport and a color photograph. The visa cost me 7,000 rubles.

What an independent traveler needs to do before visiting Dubai is to download a city map in 2GIS to your smartphone. Surprisingly, this application offers a very detailed map of Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman with all public transport routes and bus stops. For an independent traveler who tries not to spend money on a taxi, this is just a godsend. Unfortunately, the application does not have a map of Abu Dhabi, which would be very useful, but I hope it will be added in the future.

I also recommend purchasing tickets online in advance for attractions - the observation deck at Burj Khalifa (At the Top) and one of the water parks. But I don’t recommend taking a ticket to the Dubai Mall Aquarium; there’s absolutely nothing to see there.

And now the New Year holidays have died down, early in the morning I went to Sheremetyevo and from there on a direct flight to Dubai. At the airport of departure, I advise you to buy a small amount of cash for rubles, because upon arrival at the airport you will not have time for this, fortunately the exchange rate is not very different from the official one.

In January, the temperature in Dubai is around 22-27 degrees, so it is recommended to take off a warm jacket at the airport and put it in your luggage before check-in. Upon arrival, the longest procedure is going through border control, where they check your visa and also do a retinal scan (and they do this from a fairly large distance: you will just need to look at the pole with a camera behind the border guard), this procedure is not quick, the border guards They work slowly and the queue can last for an hour.

Having dealt with all the formalities, I hurried to the metro station, where I bought a Nol Silver transport card, and went to my hotel, which took about an hour to get to without transfers. You can get an idea of the ultra-modern Dubai Metro, which operates without drivers, from the following video:

Ride the Dubai Metro

From Dubai Internet City to Mall of the Emirates

I’m also posting the metro map:

The cost of the trip depends on the distance: from the airport to the hotel it cost 7.5 AED, the minimum cost was 3 AED. This card can also be used to travel by bus and tram. But to ride the monorail along Palm Jumeirah, you will need to buy a separate ticket, which costs 25 AED round-trip. You can also use the Nol card to take a regular bus to Abu Dhabi.

It’s better not to change dollars at the airport, because the exchange rate there is unfavorable, plus they charge a commission. It’s better to do this in UAE Exchange exchangers, this is what they look like:

They are found in many shopping centers and subway lobbies.

The UAE has a huge expat population, mostly from Asia, which is why English is the main language spoken in the UAE. Almost everyone here speaks English, even Arabs, perhaps with the exception of Russian and Chinese tourists (which is why organized tourism is so popular among them). The difficulty is that all these people from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan and India speak English with accents, and for an inexperienced Russian ear it can be very difficult to understand at first what they are saying to you. You have to ask again several times until you get it.

Having safely reached the hotel and checked into the room, I discovered that although the room was double, it was prepared for one person: one bottle of water, one teaspoon on the table (although there were two mugs). Plus, the shower didn’t work, I had to call the reception and call a repairman, fortunately he fixed everything, and the sheets had holes. Overall, the impression of the room was satisfactory - Holiday Inn Express fully lived up to its name.

After resting a bit, I went to explore the surroundings. As it turned out, there were many different cafes nearby, which I was very happy about, because the only food at the hotel was breakfast. Having tried several, I can immediately recommend two small chain cafes:

where they serve pizzas and salads in huge portions (average bill 100 AED for two),

and London fish&chips -

Mall of the Emirates from inside

It should be noted that I liked this shopping gallery more than others in Dubai. It is easy to navigate, it is quite spacious, there is no such crowd as in the Dubai Mall and there is a Carrefour hypermarket.

The closest beach to it is Jumeirah beach, which is a 15-minute walk from the metro.

Forward to Burj Al Arab

Across the road from the beach there is a small shady park where you can relax with children, and next to the bus stop they sell freshly prepared delicious ice cream, and the seller there is a Russian-speaking girl - be sure to check it out.

The Dubai tram makes the same lasting impression as the metro:

Knowledge Village tram station

The train consists of 7 sections connected by a through passage. When entering a stop, do not forget to attach your Nol card to calculate the fare, and when exiting at a stop, you must attach the card again to write off the funds. Special employees are vigilantly monitoring this. You can take the tram to a small area of skyscrapers on the coast - Dubai Marina. You need to come here at night, because with the onset of dusk this area comes to life.

Here you can leisurely stroll along the promenade along the canal, ride on Dou boats, swim to the other side on a water bus, wander around the Marina Mall and, of course, take unforgettable photographs.

Of course, the main attraction of Dubai is the tallest structure ever built by man - the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. It is impossible to visit Dubai without at least once going up to the observation deck of this engineering marvel.

But still, the main highlight of the center of Dubai is the dancing fountain! It was he who made an indelible impression on me:

The Dubai Fountain - Con te partirò (Time to Say Goodbye)

The feeling of it cannot be conveyed either by photography or video - it needs to be felt personally.

But what can really disappoint you is the aquarium in the Dubai Mall. You can admire it from the shopping gallery; it’s definitely not worth buying a ticket to take a photo in the tunnel under it. The ticket will also take you to the top deck of the aquarium, where they will show you how the fry are bred and the fish are fed. Even higher is a small zoo.

For more reasonable money, it is better to visit the Moscow Oceanarium at VDNH; you will be much more impressed.

The next day I had a water park planned. And not some Wild Wadi, but himself. Although after visiting the water park I somewhat regretted my choice, I still had to take Wild Wadi. I bought the ticket in advance, so I couldn’t guess the weather: although it was sunny, it wasn’t very hot, about +22.

From my hotel you can walk along the tram tracks to the monorail to Palm Jumeirah. You need to buy a ticket for the monorail separately; this attraction costs 25 AED round trip, and on the way back the ticket will be taken away from you, so you won’t even be able to keep it as a souvenir. The trip itself lasts 5 minutes, if you are interested, you can watch the video.

Ride the Palm Jumeirah Monorail

The train arrives at the station located in the water park itself, the entire territory is visible on the right hand:

Aquaventure water park area

Because of this, it is tempting to go right at the exit. But there is only a parking lot there for buses. To get to the water park, you need to turn left and go in the direction of the hotel. By the way, there is also a stop for Big Bus excursion buses. On the way to the water park you will come across quite a few boutiques, as well as this wonderful gold vending machine:

Would you like some gold to go?

You need to show the ticket purchased and printed in advance to the girl at the entrance, then you won’t have to stand in line at the ticket office, she will immediately indicate where to go. It turns out that in this water park a locker is not included in the price of admission (very strange, however). You can take one for two, a locker costs 40 AED. You will have two bracelets on your hands: one for the entrance, the other for the locker. Make sure that they are well glued, because the bracelet may tear during skating (which actually happened to me, fortunately I noticed it in time and prevented the loss of the bracelet). Also, you don't necessarily have to go to the nearest locker room to the left of the entrance, which may be packed. There are also changing rooms at the far end of the water park, you can easily walk there along the paths, and at the same time explore the water park.

Of course, the biggest impression is made by the slide "": you slide down at an angle of 75 degrees from a height of 28 m and fly in a pipe under a pool with sharks. At the top there is usually a queue of the same daredevils as you. It is there, at the top of Neptune's tower, that fear begins to creep through you...

Another test awaits the most reckless and fearless in the farthest corner of the water park - the Poseidon Tower.

Tower of Poseidon

Having climbed to the very top, you will find two capsules that will shoot you almost vertically down - this is “Poseidon’s Revenge”. I am attaching a short video, not filmed by me, solely to demonstrate the process:

Poseidon's Revenge Atlantis Dubai

After watching this video I wanted to ride the slide again!

Otherwise, the water park offers a relaxed relaxation in the hot sun. The downside of my visit was that it was cold. The water in the slides and in the main river was not heated; after half an hour, teeth began to chatter in the water.

When going to the UAE, I decided to definitely visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. You can get to the capital of the Emirates by regular buses, one of which - E100 - comes from the center of Dubai, and the other, more convenient for me, - E101 - from the Ibn Batuta metro station. By the way, at this metro station there is also an interesting shopping center - Ibn Batuta Mall. It is interesting because it consists of halls decorated to resemble the countries that the great Arab traveler Ibn Batuta once visited, after whom the station is named.

Ibn Batuta Mall, Egyptian Hall

Ibn Batuta Mall, Chinese hall

Payment on the bus is made using Nol cards, a one-way ticket costs 25 AED, so make sure that you have 50 dirhams on the card (the card is applied at the beginning of the trip and at the end, at the exit). It takes an hour and a half to get to the capital of the emirates, and it is advisable to get up early.

You arrive at the bus station, whose interior is very similar to its counterparts in Russia, especially for the restroom.

To move around the city by public transport, you need to buy a separate card; Nol is not valid in Abu Dhabi. It is possible to buy a temporary card right at the station, which costs 2 AED and put at least 10 AED on it. A trip from the bus station to the mosque will cost 2 dirhams one way.

When leaving the bus station, an unpleasant surprise awaited me - a police patrol stopped me and asked me to show my Emirates ID. During a long conversation with law enforcement officers, I was asked to show my passport, visa, or their electronic versions on my phone. To be honest, I didn’t take any documents with me on the trip, so I frantically rummaged through my phone. The impression of the capital of the Emirates was completely spoiled. Therefore, dear travelers, do not repeat my mistake. Carry a printed visa and a copy of your passport with you.

The difficulty of moving around Abu Dhabi by public transport is that the stops are not marked on any map, even Google does not know about the Abu Dhabi bus network. But near the bus terminal at the stop there is a schedule and a picture of a mosque with a caption that we need route 54. You need to exit from the western side of the mosque (a stop named after a hospital).

The mosque is truly magnificent: a huge courtyard, the largest carpet in the world and amazingly beautiful chandeliers are amazing.

After visiting the mosque, I took a Big Bus Tours ticket and headed towards Yas Island because I wanted to see the Ferrari theme park. Now I understand that I shouldn’t have done this, because there was half a day left and it would have been better to take this bus to the city center. Or, if you really wanted to see the theme park, you should just take a taxi, it would be cheaper.

By the way, Big Bus Tours buses also run around Dubai; a ticket for the whole day costs about 260 AED. If you have a free day, I recommend a bus tour of the city, especially since the audio guide includes Russian.

Another place worth visiting in Dubai is the Global Village exhibition and entertainment complex. You can get to it from Union metro station by bus 103, the fare will cost 10 AED.

The complex opens at 16:00 and is open until 1 am.

Useful tips - help for vacationers in the United Arab Emirates will make your vacation easy, comfortable, unforgettable, and protect you from troubles and failures.

The United Arab Emirates is a green oasis in the desert with artificial islands, incredibly amazing architecture and huge shopping areas. The UAE is a country of contrasts with its own customs and strict laws, the knowledge and implementation of which will make your vacation enjoyable and protect you from unforeseen troubles.

Posted in the previous article, it introduces the sights and customs of this wonderful country, and the useful tips below summarize the impressions of a holiday in the Emirates and help organize it correctly, economically and without incidents.

1. It is better to vacation in the UAE from October to April; it is not very hot in the Emirates at this time.

2. You should not go to the Emirates during the month of Ramadan, as there are great restrictions: you cannot drink, smoke, chew on the street or in public places before dark.

3. Women should not wear clothes that reveal knees, shoulders or décolleté.

4. When visiting mosques, women do not expose their bodies, arms, legs, wear clothes with sleeves, trousers and cover their heads with a scarf, veil or wide scarf, and men should not wear shorts and T-shirts. Bring socks with you to avoid walking barefoot in the mosque, as shoes are left at the entrance.

5. Men should not pester girls on the street or even touch the hand of an Arab woman. You cannot kiss or smoke in public places, you must behave decently.

6. In the UAE they don’t mess with tourists and can even be rude and deceive over small things. Be careful and don't argue with Arab men, they are very vindictive.

7. Nobody understands Russian there, so learn basic conversational phrases in English or take an English phrasebook or translator with you, this will make communication easier for you, since the service staff can speak English.

8. Beware of the scorching sun, even outside the beach and in cloudy weather. Tie a wide scarf made of natural fabrics around your neck. To avoid sunburn and protect your eyes, use sunscreen and glasses from the first hours of your stay in the United Arab Emirates.

9. If you are going on vacation with children, rent a car economically. The minimum driver age is 21 years. The rules on the roads are very strict. Speed limit 80-100 km/h. There are radar cameras everywhere that detect speed and issue fines, even for minor violations.

10. Bring extra money with you. Even if you are not a shopaholic, it will be difficult to resist shopping, since prices for quality goods are not high in the Emirates and there are still discounts.

11. Don’t forget to bargain in shops and markets, even if there are price tags on clothes, Arabs are good at making concessions. You can also bargain in a taxi if it is not equipped with a meter.

12. To visit the Emirate, do not forget to obtain a visa.

13. Do not buy excursions at the hotel, try to visit excursion sites on your own - you will save your budget.

14. Many hotels do not have Wi-Fi, so decide in advance how you will contact your relatives back home.

15. Take a small snack with you on the day of arrival to eat after checking into the hotel, since on the day of arrival you may be left without breakfast, lunch or dinner, and when purchasing food in some places they may refuse to accept dollars.

16. For alcohol lovers: supermarkets in Dubai do not sell alcohol; it can be purchased at the hotel.

17. Follow the rules of good manners and do not violate the laws of the country in which you are vacationing. Failure to comply with the rules of conduct in the United Arab Emirates is punishable by fines or imprisonment.

If the above tips help you in any situation, you can consider your vacation a success.

Dancing fountain show in Dubai

To feel the lightness and energy of the Arab East, watch the video: “Dubai. Dancing fountains at the Burj Khalifa tower,” where the splashes of water from the dancing and singing fountains seem to come to life, turning into images of white swans, giving way to the mysterious silhouettes of the water kingdom:

If you decide to relax in the Emirates, I really wish that you have only pleasant memories of a country that you will want to return to many times!

The United Arab Emirates receives more and more tourists every year, most of them from Russia. Where do our tourists fly? The most popular emirate for holidays is Dubai. He gained his popularity for a reason. This is where all the infrastructure, crazy skyscrapers and expensive hotels are concentrated. You can stay in the city of Dubai itself, as well as on the coast of Jumeirah. It all depends on the thickness of the wallet. City hotels have poor territory, their pools are located on the roof, there are no balconies and, of course, they are far from the beach. Therefore, saving on accommodation, you will have to take a bus to the public beach. And imagine what it’s like to be in a concrete city in 40 degree heat. It's obviously hard. Air conditioning is a salvation; they are even at bus stops, which is undoubtedly a plus.

Dubai city.

Relaxing on the coast of Jumeirah is much better. Luxurious hotels, high service, beautifully decorated areas. It is here that the well-known Burj Al Arab sail hotel is located, to which the excursion alone costs $100.

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UAE weather map:

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How much does a holiday in Abu Dhabi cost? March 2019.

tour cost

This year we chose the United Arab Emirates, since in March there is ideal weather for both excursion and beach holidays. The cost of the tour for 7 nights for three people was 106 thousand rubles and we took about 50,000 rubles with us. We flew from Yekaterinburg, since the nearest city of Tyumen sends tourists to the UAE from Roshchino airport for a higher price. We got to Yekaterinburg by train, but in any case the price was lower than the flight from Tyumen.

We spent two days in Abu Dhabi, the rest of the time we lived in Sharjah. Abu Dhabi is the capital, so prices for hotel accommodation and food here are several times higher, but at the same time there are fewer comfortable beaches here, so I advise you to choose Sharjah or Ajman if you are planning a beach holiday.

Food and products

Lunch in an Abu Dhabi restaurant for a family will cost about 200 dirhams (in rubles this is about 4000). You can save money by going to shopping centers in the food court area, where you will find fast food restaurants with sets for 40 dirhams, which includes both food and drinks.

Souvenirs and other goods

There is nothing cheap in the Emirates, although you can often hear that many people go there for shopping. This is especially true for gold. Firstly, it is of a higher standard, but at the same time it looks like cheap yellow jewelry, and costs from 20 to 50 thousand rubles for a 42 cm chain. Secondly, you can easily be deceived by selling gold of a lower standard for a lot of money, realizing that you don’t understand this, but simply decided that there is a lot of gold in the Emirates, so it should be cheap.

Total money spent on vacation

Helpful information?

Impressions from a holiday in March

For me personally, it was a great time to relax, the air temperature was up to +30 degrees, and the sea warmed up to +26, a very comfortable month for a trip. Moreover, at that time there was still snow and it was cold, but here we were in summer and enjoying it to the fullest.

Vacation with children

Dubai has a lot of entertainment for families with children: excellent water parks, Legoland, Zabeel Park, warm sea and the Ferrari Museum (especially for boys, it’s a fairy tale).

Family holiday

Dubai has a lot of entertainment for the whole family; all you need to have a great holiday is the mood and some cash.

What to take with you on vacation?

Be sure to take a protection cream of at least 60 SPF, you can get sunburned very quickly here. If you are planning to go on a desert safari, then of course you need scarves. If you decide to celebrate your arrival on vacation with a glass of wine or strong alcohol, it is better to bring it with you, because you will not be able to buy it in Dubai (only in bars, restaurants, clubs, where the price is correspondingly much higher). And of course, take with you all the cash you don’t mind spending, because in the Dubai Mall you will want to spend everything.

Holidays in Dubai: travel tips from Andrey Burenok

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To ensure that your visit does not end at the airport customs point, it is worth remembering some simple rules about what you can and what you should not have with you.

You can import into Dubai without declaration:

Foreign and national currency, but all amounts over 100,000 dirhams (€25,000 or $27,225) must be declared
Gifts worth no more than 3,000 dirhams (€750 or $815)
Personal hygiene items and personal items
Allowed to import 400 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco for each adult (over 18) non-Muslim
You can import no more than 4 liters of alcoholic beverages or 2 blocks of beer (each block has a maximum of 24 cans, each can has a maximum of 355 ml)
Carrying liquids in hand luggage is permitted provided that their volume does not exceed 100 ml and the container is packed in a transparent plastic bag
Medicines: for a maximum of 3 months for your personal use. You must have a prescription from a certified physician. All medications must be in their original packaging and have a valid expiration date. The import of any psychotropic drugs (even for personal use, with a prescription or in small quantities) is prohibited!
Video cameras (as well as cassettes for them), computers, laptops
Baby strollers
Sport equipment
Wheelchairs.

It is prohibited to import:

Narcotic drugs and substances.
Goods manufactured in .
Printed publications, paintings, photographs, sculptures that contradict Islamic norms or insult Muslims.
Home-cooked products (home-cooked food).
Sharp objects and weapons.
Military equipment, ammunition and equipment.
Explosives and fireworks/firecrackers/crackers and so on
Flowers, their seeds, trees (and their seedlings), soil.

A written declaration is required:

Import of pets (you need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Environment). The imported pet must have an international veterinary certificate indicating all vaccinations and their dates.
Import of animals (or their skins, stuffed animals, etc.) belonging to rare or endangered species.
Special radio equipment and other similar devices.
Films, CDs, books and other media.
Gifts over AED 3,000.
National or foreign currency worth more than 100,000 dirhams.

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Be prepared for an original check at Dubai airport: in addition to going through customs and passport control, they also scan your retina. Your data is entered into the state register, and if you commit a crime and are deported from the country, you will definitely never return back. The procedure itself is completely painless and short. You will have to wait no more than five minutes for your turn.

In Dubai: Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. The cheapest way to get to the city from there is by bus or metro.

Bus

From Dubai International Airport you can get to the city center by bus, which stops opposite Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Tickets cost 3 dirhams (€0.70).

Thus, bus No. 401 goes along the route “Airport - Deira City Center” with stops at DNATA Airline Center, Al Mak-um Road, Deira taxi station, Al Sabkha bus station.

Bus No. 402 goes along the route “Airport - Center” with stops Deira City Center, Al Karama, Golden Sands, Al Mankhool, Al Ghubaiba bus station.

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There are also night buses running from 23:30 to 06:00. In Dubai they make several stops: Al Rashidiya bus station, Gubaiba bus station, Al Qusais bus station, Gold Souq bus station, Satwa bus station.

A free 24-hour shuttle runs between Terminals 1 and 3 (every 20 minutes).

Bus No. F55 runs from Al Maktoum Airport to Battuta Metro Station (every hour when the metro is open). There is also bus number F55A that runs between the airport and Satwa bus station when the metro is not operating.

Metro

You can also get to the city by metro: a train runs from Terminals 1 and 3 every 10 minutes. The metro opens at 05:50 (05:30 on Thursday) and runs until midnight (01:00 on Thursday and Friday). On Friday morning the metro is closed and starts operating only at 13:00.

The Dubai Metro is mainly overground and has only two lines, and the stations are conveniently linked to public transport stops. Tickets can be purchased at the airport station (the price depends on the number of zones you are going to travel through).

Attention! The metro does not serve Al Maktoum Airport. But there are regular bus routes from the airport to Battuta Metro Station

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On a note! In the Dubai Metro, the first carriages of the train are “gold class”: they do not have a driver's cabin, and you can admire the city through the windshield. But you will have to pay more to travel there.

To make your life easier, you should purchase a Nol Card - a card that allows you to pay for any type of travel (buses, metro, trams and water buses), as well as parking. For card holders, travel will cost less, and certain categories of people will have a reduced fare (for example, travel is free for disabled people, and students are entitled to a 50% discount).

There are several types of Nol Card:

Silver Card

Costs 25 dirhams (€6.25). Can be purchased at any ticket kiosk. The maximum amount for replenishment is 5000 dirhams (€1250). Allows you to use any public transport, as well as transfer from one to another.

Gold Card

The same conditions and prices as the “silver” card, only with a bonus - the opportunity to use “golden” metro cars at a premium price.

Personal card

The same set of functions as the previous two (though without premium travel in “golden” metro cars). Plus, there is the function of SMS notifications about card transactions (replenishment of account, balance, etc.), blocking of the card if it is lost/stolen, discounts for preferential categories of cardholders.

Cost - 70 dirhams (€17.50 euros).

Red card

For those who do not plan to use transport often. The card can be loaded with a maximum amount of 10 trips. This type of ticket can only be used for travel on one mode of transport (for example, only on buses or only on the metro).

Sold at any ticket machines and costs 2 dirhams (€0.50).

More information about the cards can be found (website in English).

There are two mobile operators in Dubai - Du and Etisalat. For city guests, the most profitable option would be to buy a prepaid SIM card (Wasel). This can be done online, at the supplier's offices or in stores with the Wasel logo/newsstands/tobacco shops.

When purchasing, you must present a copy of your passport with a visa and pay an entry fee of 165 dirhams (€41), 10 of which will be immediately credited to your account. It is better to immediately ask the seller to activate your SIM card, as this must be done within an hour after purchase.

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The tariffs for both operators are different: for Etisalat it is about 30 fils per minute (1 dirham = 100 fils). Du charges per second. Incoming calls are free, but only if you are in the country. The cost of SMS to local numbers is approximately 18 fils per message, to foreign numbers - about 60 fils.

You can top up your Etisalat account at self-service terminals or operator offices. Prepaid SIM cards are topped up with an electronic voucher.

You can top up your account with Du in the operator’s store, in the terminal or by bank transfer. You can also register a credit card in the operator’s system for online debiting of payment from your account.

The ancient and intricate (for many) traditions of the United Arab Emirates have long become a living legend among travelers. What do you need to know to avoid getting into trouble when visiting Dubai?

If you are invited to visit, it would be impolite to refuse - by doing this you will show your disrespect to the inviter.
It is not customary to refuse if someone wants to treat you to coffee (for example, at a party): among the locals, offering a cup of aromatic drink is considered a sign of good manners and goodwill towards the guest.
When entering a mosque or someone's home, you need to take off your shoes.
If you decide to sit down to rest, it is worth remembering that your soles should not be directed in any direction. The same rule applies to mosques.
While in the mosque, you need to maintain silence and not attract unnecessary attention to yourself. Remember also that walking around worshipers in front is impolite and offensive.
It is also not customary to eat standing or on the go, and also to closely look at a person busy eating.
Take food, money or other things only with your right hand.
Walking the streets in beach or sportswear is considered the height of indecency.

A traditional ship along the coastline with ultra-modern developments has its own symbolism. This is an opportunity to get a clear look at the past and present of the Persian Gulf, because when the details are shrouded in the veil of night, all that remains is a sparkling boat from centuries past and glittering skyscrapers.

But don’t be surprised, in chic Dubai you can find quite budget cafes and restaurants, where lunch won’t put a dent in your tourist wallet. Here are some of them:

Shetty Lunch Home Restaurant

The menu includes Indian and Chinese cuisine: appetizers, soups, main courses, desserts and drinks will delight you with variety. You can take what you ordered with you. The minimum order cost is 40 dirhams for two (€10). The establishment accepts cards and cash and is open from 12:00 to 00:00. Address: Al Karama, near Talal supermarket.

The diner offers a wide selection of rolls, pastries, pizza and salads, as well as desserts and drinks. The menu includes Arabic, Libyan and Central Asian cuisine. The average order price for two is 50 dirhams (€12.50). Opening hours are from 08:00 to 22:00. Address: Jumeirah Lake Towers, J2 Tower, Cluster J.

There are a number of rules in Dubai, compliance with which will make your holiday in this emirate much easier.

Alcohol. Visitors are not prohibited from drinking alcohol, but only in designated places (cafes, restaurants, etc.). Appearing on the street while drunk will result in a fine or even arrest and deportation. Taking out and drinking alcohol on the street is also prohibited.
When walking around the city, you should always have documents or (better) photocopies with you. Local police check them quite often on tourists, especially in public places.
You should not get into a police car at the first request of law enforcement officers unless a specific charge has been brought against you.
When getting into a taxi without a meter, agree on payment in advance with the driver.
The fine for throwing garbage on the street is 500 dirhams (€125), even if you just missed the trash can.
Excessive attention to a woman (or misinterpreted behavior) can result in a fine of up to 60,000 dirhams (€15,000) or even imprisonment.
Foul language in a public place is severely punishable (up to 7 years in prison).
Photographing local women is prohibited.
During the holy month of Ramadan, you should refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public places during daylight hours.

The date December 1, 1971 is known to few tourists. Meanwhile, it was on this day that the state of the United Arab Emirates was formed, which now occupies a prominent place on the tourist map.

The country, which became rich thanks to oil production, wisely managed its resources, creating an empire of wonders on the coast of the Persian Gulf - manmade islands, alien-looking skyscrapers, world-famous amusement parks and luxury hotels with an unheard of number of stars.

But when it comes to family vacations in the UAE, the hot climate and gentle, clean sea come first among the country’s advantages. Luxury, beaches, surprise - these are the three pillars on which tourism in this country rests. Read our review to find out what this means in terms of holidays with children in the UAE.

Where is the UAE

The United Arab Emirates, or al-Imarat al-Arabiya al-Muttahida, is a state in southwest Asia, located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders on Saudi Arabia in the west and south, and Oman in the southeast and northeast. The western coast of the UAE is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf, the eastern coast by the waters of the Gulf of Oman. The country's territory is 83.6 thousand square meters. km. Population - 8.5 million people. The capital is Abu Dhabi.

Residents of Russia, Ukraine and many other countries have a simplified entry regime into the UAE. A national visa can be obtained at the airport upon arrival and requires only a valid passport and health insurance for each traveler.

Vacation with children

Tourists never get bored of the United Arab Emirates: every year, new wonders appear here. The tallest building in the world, the largest candy store, the largest amusement park - the list of “best” is growing.

To see all this with your own eyes, you just need to board a plane. The road to the resorts located on the Persian Gulf coast will take about 5 hours. At the same time, you can get to the main cities without tedious transfers.

And since the high season in the UAE falls on spring and autumn, imagine that in a few hours you will forget about the gloomy, chilly dampness and be transported to a shore covered with soft sand, to the warm sea. But wonderful beaches are not the only reason to travel to the UAE with children. Young tourists are delighted with the huge amount of entertainment.

Amusement parks in the United Arab Emirates exceed the wildest childhood dreams. Whisper just two names to your child - Ferrari World and Legoland, and the child will rush to pack his suitcase for a trip.

All information about entertainment is collected in the “What to do with your child” section. And in the “What to see” section there is a list of UAE attractions for older children.

But hotels have almost no children's entertainment program. If you want to relax with your child, but at the same time devote at least an hour or two a day to your own affairs, choose a hotel with a children's room and nanny services.

Is it possible to have a relaxing holiday in the Emirates? Yes, and for this you don’t even need to move too far from Dubai - the main entertainment center. Already in Sharjah there is no such whirlwind, but in Ras al-Khaimah complete serenity awaits you. It is Ras al-Khaimah, as well as Fujairah, with their peaceful atmosphere, that are most suitable for holidays with an infant. Find useful information about the country's resorts in the "Where to go" section.

When planning a holiday in the UAE, it is very important to take into account the climate. There is unbearable heat here for almost half a year, but then an amazing summer reigns - and this is just at the time when temperate latitudes yearn for warmth. You will find more information about choosing the time to travel in the sections “When is the best time to go” and “Weather and climate”.

And one more nuance: UAE hotels rarely use the all-inclusive system. This is not a sign of inconvenience, but rather a call not to stay inside the hotel walls and get to know the country. So, let's get acquainted!

When is the best time to go?

The tourist season in the UAE lasts all year round. In spring and autumn there are wonderful conditions for relaxing at sea, in winter - for excursions and trips to the desert, and in summer - for successful shopping.

The beach season attracts the largest number of tourists. To experience moderate heat and warm seas, you need to come to the country’s resorts in October-November and March-April. For a holiday with a child, it is better to narrow this time period a little more: the beginning of October and the end of April is already a very hot time.

By the way, winter is also a good time for a beach holiday. But it’s not always possible to swim, since the sea cools down to +20°C. But the swimming season in the UAE continues in winter thanks to water parks and hotel pools. Warm winter weather is favorable for holidays with a baby in the UAE: the little one will be able to spend a lot of time outdoors without the danger of overheating.

When wondering when is the best time to go to the UAE, travelers wonder whether Ramadan traditions will interfere with their vacation. Indeed, many restrictions are imposed on Muslims during this period, but this has little effect on tourists - museums, entertainment centers and restaurants operate as usual. In addition, until 2020, Ramadan will fall during the low season.

Weather and climate

It’s easy to get an impression of the UAE’s climate if you know this:

the weather in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is one of the hottest on Earth;
the average annual air temperature in the UAE is +33°C, while in summer the thermometer reaches +50°C;
You need to sunbathe at the country's resorts in autumn and spring, because only local residents can withstand the summer sun.

The climate of the country is really great for hiding from the cold. In October, when the temperate latitudes are covered with cold and rain, the air in the United Arab Emirates “cools down” to +34-36°C - lovers of basking in the sun come to the country for the opening of the season. In November, the temperature drops to +30-31°C, and you can calmly bask on the beach.

You can sunbathe in the UAE even in winter, since the air temperature stays between +23-26°C and the sun shines regularly. You just have to take into account that by night it gets cold outside to +13-15°C. You can swim in the sea until the end of December, then the water cools down. Dry and sunny winter weather is best for excursions, especially if you plan to venture into the desert.

Already in March the heat returns. The air warms up again to +27-29°C, and a new holiday season begins in the UAE. By April the temperature rises to +30-33°C.

Mid-spring, like the second half of autumn, is the period for the best holiday in the UAE with children. Sunny, moderately hot weather and a very warm, calm sea contribute to a pleasant pastime.

From May to September we advise you to choose another country for your holiday. A vacation in the UAE is unlikely to bring pleasure if the thermometer already shows +36-42°C in the morning, and even more at noon. The heat is especially intense in July and August.

There is no need to worry about rain while on vacation. Precipitation occurs only in winter and is more of a joy than a nuisance. But sandstorms can really interfere with plans. The cities of the United Arab Emirates are ready for the onslaught of the wind carrying sand from the desert, but two or three days of rest will have to be devoted not to walks and excursions, but to relaxing on the hotel grounds.

Sea water temperature

“The sky is clear, the air temperature is +26°C, the water temperature is +25°C.” This is what the weather forecast looks like in the UAE for... December. Can you imagine how warm the sea becomes in the summer months?

In winter, however, few people want to swim in the sea. If in December the water in the Persian and Oman Gulfs maintains a temperature of +23-25°C, then in January-February the sea cools down to +18-21°C. High waves also interfere with swimming.

But already in March, the water temperature in the UAE begins to rise. At the very beginning of spring, the sea warms up to +23-24°C, by April the temperature reaches +25-27°C, and in May +28-29°C. In summer, a thermometer lowered into the sea off the coast of Dubai or Abu Dhabi will show +30-33°C, and sometimes more.

The same sea temperature remains in September. But even in October the water remains almost hot, about +28-31°C. In November, the water temperature does not drop below +27°C.

Nutrition

The cuisine of the United Arab Emirates no longer seems particularly exotic: tourists have mastered the Middle Eastern resorts and have come to love generously spiced meat wrapped in pita bread, chickpea dishes and oriental honey-nut desserts.

Vegetable salads, meat and rice “biryani”, lamb cutlets “kustileta” and a variety of sweets are quite suitable for a children’s table.

However, the peculiarity of many local dishes is their spicy taste, and therefore it will not be possible to constantly eat in oriental restaurants with small children. Finding a restaurant serving European cuisine is not difficult: every resort has them.

If during an independent holiday in the UAE with children you want to cook familiar food for your child, almost all the necessary products can be bought in supermarkets and markets. The only exception is cereals: you need to look for them in organic stores.

Supermarkets and pharmacies sell baby food, including from well-known manufacturers. Despite the abundance of purees, it is almost impossible to buy meat baby food - it is better to bring such canned food with you.

Transport

Public transport in the UAE is well developed, but completely unpopular with tourists. Travelers only use the metro in Dubai, but avoid buses. The reason is simple - buses do not always adhere to the schedule and on many routes they run only once an hour. It is convenient to travel by bus (which, by the way, is comfortable and air-conditioned) only in the center of Dubai.

Intercity transport in the UAE is in much greater demand. You can take buses from the airport, go to a neighboring resort, or get to the Al Ain oasis. The fare depends on the distance. There are no discounts on tickets for children on buses.

The easiest way to get around the city is by taxi. Service in each emirate is organized differently: in Abu Dhabi, for example, all cars are equipped with meters, but in Ras al-Khaimah you need to negotiate a price with the drivers. In Dubai, pink taxis are available for women only.

To get around the UAE, you can rent a car. Offices of rental companies operate at airports and in large hotels, and there is also a service for pre-booking cars. The roads in the country are of exceptional quality, all resorts have paid and free parking - the pleasure of the trip can only be spoiled by a huge fine for violating traffic rules.