Dubai Guide

The City

Deira and Bur Dubai form the traditional city centre of present day Dubai. The Dubai Creek separates these two areas with Deira to the North and Bur Dubai to the South. Although the city has grown exponentially over the past two decades, Deira maintains its importance as a centre for banking, commerce and tourism whilst Port Saeed, a small port on Deira’s shores, offers a glimpse of Dubai’s past with small fishing boats and traditional dhows.

Deira Waterfront

Shopping

Shopping is a huge draw for visitors to Dubai and everything you could wish to buy can be found here, from designer labels to Persian carpets and even cars. As Dubai is an open port, and has very low import duties, prices are low and many find that some tax-free goods are cheaper to buy here in Dubai than in the countries they originated. Normal shopping hours are from 9.00am – 1.00pm and 4.00pm – 9.00pm or later. Shopping Malls are abundant and house a whole array of shops, boutiques, restaurants and supermarkets. These tend to open from 10.00am – 10.00pm. All shops close on Fridays from 11.30am – 1.30pm for prayers.

Souks

Every kind of souk you could imagine can be found in Deira, the most famous being the gold souk, where you can purchase a variety of jewellery in 18, 21 and 22 carat gold. The narrow streets of the spice souk , the fish souk, and the fruit and vegetable souk are all worth a visit for the bustling atmosphere as well as the bargains. In Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi Street has a wide choice of electronic goods shops, while Cosmos Lane boasts umpteen stores selling textiles of every type.

Deira Souks

Sports

There are many different sports to be enjoyed in Dubai. Boasting four world class championship golf courses it is fast becoming one of the more popular golf resorts in the world. Racing is another firm favourite, especially as Dubai is home to the World Cup, which is the richest horse race in the world. Events usually take place between October and April. Camel racing proves extremely popular with visitors, but be prepared for an early start as most races start around 8am. Power boat events are regular and are held year round at Dubai International Marine Club. Scuba Diving and a variety of watersports are also a big draw for visitors with sand ski-ing offering something more unusual.

Nightlife

Dubai enjoys a varied and lively nightlife with lots of bars and clubs ranging from informal British and Irish style pubs to sophisticated cocktail lounges. Some bars serve food and many have live entertainment. Most clubs tend to be based within hotels in order to serve alcohol and some have cover charges. Middle Eastern nightclubs feature Arab dancers and singers. Dubai’s wide array of restaurants will ensure plenty of choice to suit all tastes and budgets.

• Currency

  The unit of currency in Dubai is the Dirham (Dh), which is divided up into 100 fils. Approximate exchange rate for Dh1 : (GBP) £0.15, (USD) $0.27, (Euro) €0.21.

• Language

  The national language in Dubai is Arabic, although English is widely spoken and understood.

• Religion

  Islam is the official religion in Dubai and there are a large number of Mosques throughout the city. Non-Muslims are not permitted to visit a mosque.

• Water

  Dubai tap water is desalinated (sea water). Although it is safe to drink, most tourists prefer to buy bottled water, which is readily available.

• Climate

  Dubai’s climate is dry and arid with very little rainfall. February and March are classed as the wettest and rainfall amounts to 13 centimetres a year on average!. October through to May are ideal temperatures for Winter Sun, while the summer season from June to September is hotter.

• Telephones

  International calls can be made from any public telephone or from your hotel, although costs will be considerably more expensive from hotels. Phone cards for public telephones can be purchased from most hotel bookstores and supermarkets.