Dubai Vacation Rentals - Dubai travel tips and information

When to visit

The best time of the year to visit Dubai and the UAE is between November and April, when the weather is at its best. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and about and exploring. Ramadan, the muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE; that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is in December-January for the next couple of years.

Phone Numbers in Dubai

Landline to mobile number starts with 050
Mobile to landline number starts with 04
Mobile to mobile just enter number
Landlines to landline just enter number

Phoning outside of the UAE 00 44 drop the 0 on the dialing code
Phoning from the outside of the UAE 00971 drop the 0 on the dialing code

Phone cards can be purchased from most supermarkets, petrol stations and phone shops in denominations of Dhs 25, 30, and 40.

Local Currency

The monetary unit is the dirham (Dhs.), which is divided into 100 fils, also known as AED (Arab Emirate Dirham).

Changing Money

There are currency exchange services in all malls and large shopping districts.

Taxi numbers

Dubai Transport Corporation - 04 208 0808
National Taxis - 04 3390002
Emirates Taxi - 04 339 4455
Metro Taxi - 04 267 3222

* If you have hired a mobile phone from Oasis Home Trust then the emergency and taxi numbers are already in the contact list.

Car Hire

All Car Hire companies will require basic documentation (passport, your driving license plastic and paper parts, an international license * if you wish to drive outside of Dubai e.g. to Oman and a credit card number as a deposit).

* If you do not have an international license and you wish to drive outside of Dubai you can obtain a temporary local license for the UAE from the traffic department. All the above documents will be required a long with plenty of passport photographs, money for the fee and patience for the time it may take to process this. (An eye test will also be conducted at the traffic department). If you wish to drive into Oman you will also need to take out extra car insurance.

The hire company will bill any traffic fines incurred on the car to you, with an added charge for their administration.

Driving in Dubai

Driving in Dubai is definitely not for the fainthearted. There is no such thing as lane discipline here or giving way. Many find routes that are not entirely legal around traffic, and there are times when even the most competent of drivers may need to get out of a sticky situation quickly. Horns are used as a reminder to move when the traffic lights turn green and as a warning that “I am here so don’t pull out”.

Flashing lights are not a kind gesture to pull out. Again they should be seen as a warning sign that I am coming through. DO NOT PULL OUT IF SOMEONE FLASHES YOU.

Whatever you do you must remain calm, and if necessary only use your horn as a sign of your annoyance at someone pulling out on you. DO NOT engage in an abusive road rage situation where obscene language or gestures are used. You may find yourself in a worse situation when the police are called, especially if the other party is a local emirate.

For further advice in this area please contact Oasis Home Trust.

Traffic in Dubai

There is no rush hour as such in Dubai. However, it is worth noting that if you are driving into Dubai early morning or mid to late afternoon you will most definitely hit bad traffic. This increases 10 fold early evening so it is best to avoid these times. Most taxi drivers will be honest with you when you say where you want to go at these times as they have no wish to spend over an hour getting into Dubai city.

The three main roads that run parallel to each other in Dubai are the Beach Road, Al Wasl Road and Sheikh Zayed Road. A bad accident on any one of these is enough to congest the other two considerably. Dubai has two main bridges over the creek and a tunnel. ALL are heavily congested in the evening.

Hospitals

For minor ailments the pharmacists are fully qualified and are used in Dubai as an effective doctor. They will not take temperatures, look at sore throats but with a list of symptoms they can prescribe the correct antibiotics etc.

There are two types of healthcare on offer in Dubai government and private.

Government - The main government hospitals are listed below. They all offer free emergency treatment but some may charge for follow up care. Make sure you take a credit card or cash with you. It is not uncommon to be taken to the cash desk before any non-emergency or follow up care is administered. Please also note that overnight stays on children’s wards and visits to opposite gender wards may be subject to hospital policy.

Rashid Hospital (337 4000). Main emergency hospital in Dubai located next to Dubai Creek Park they charge approximately 100dhs for non-emergency consultations. Prescriptions must be purchased and must be paid for at a local pharmacy.

Iranian Hospital (344 0250). Situated at the Satwa end of the Al Wasl road. Consultation costs are approximately 50dhs, but any prescriptions can be obtained from the on site pharmacy free of charge. A very busy hospital.

Al Wasl Hospital (324 1111). Located near Wafi interchange and is the main hospital for pediatric care. Consultations will cost approximately 200dhs.

Private Hospitals- Dubai has many that offer a top quality service. Medical insurance is necessary. Please refer to page 181 ‘Explorer Guide’ 10^th Edition for further details.

Pharmacies
Codeine is illegal in Dubai unless supported by a doctor’s note stating it has been prescribed to you.

24 hour pharmacy - Life pharmacy (344 1122). They also offer a delivery service.

Supermarkets

There are several supermarkets in Dubai ranging in price, quality and products.

Spinneys - Very mush the Expat supermarket. Quite small but offers a wide variety of UK brands. Its own brand is Waitrose so prices reflect this somewhat. Good quality but pricey!

Choitrams - Slightly cheaper than Spinneys and offers very similar products.

Carrefour and Geant - Found in the big shopping malls. French based companies that are more in line with hypermarkets, like Asda or Tesco’s. Definitely cheaper and offer a variety of UK brands.

Mosque shops - Most mosques will have a shop selling your basic sundries such as bread and milk.

Beaches and Parks

Dubai boasts many gorgeous beaches and parks. Most of the public beaches however have ladies only days. At these times teenage boys and men are not allowed. Most parks and beaches will display signs stating the ladies only day. Bear in mind also that if you are dressed in a bikini, or have a young child with blonde hair you are likely to be starred at! This does not mean that your safety is in question and tends to be an action undertaken through curiosity. If this makes you feel uncomfortable then you can use most of the hotel beaches and facilities at a cost. These vary in price dependant upon the resort.

For the use of some public beaches and parks a fee is charged. Friday is the main day off in Dubai so be warned that the public parks and beaches will probably be very busy on this day.

Consumption of Alcohol and Pork in Dubai

Alcohol consumption in Dubai is restricted to your hotel, apartment, and certain restaurants or within the confines of a resort. A license is required to buy alcohol in Dubai from an off license; this requires a residency visa in the main to obtain. Clubs and most restaurants that are attached to hotels do offer alcohol. It doesn’t however go hand in hand with restaurants that they serve alcohol. For instance the Marina as it stands at the moment does not serve alcohol in any of its restaurants. To avoid disappointment ask before you order. Alcohol cannot be purchased in supermarkets.

It’s worth noting that although you can consume alcohol in Dubai if you are found intoxicated and asleep in the back of a taxi, on the street or causing trouble it WILL be frowned upon and you may very well find yourself at the local police station.

Pork products can be bought from the supermarket in special areas for non-Muslims (Expect to pay almost double in some cases for pork products). It is also served at restaurants to non-Muslims.

The basic ‘Don’ts’ in Dubai

Do not use abusive language or hand gestures.
Do not wear T-shirts in public places with obscenities on them.
Do not go into a mall/restaurant or bar in swimwear.
Do not consume alcohol in a public park or public beach.
Do not drink and drive.
Do not use a mobile phone whilst driving.

Visa requirements

British citizens and nationals of most Gulf countries do not require visas; Gulf citizens can stay as long as they want, Britons for up to three months. All other visitors are required to have visas. Your hotel can sponsor you for a 15-day, nonrenewable transit visa or a one-month renewable visit visa. Note that if your passport shows evidence of travel to Israel you will be denied entry to the UAE.