Information
Dubai at a glance
Dubai is the second largest of the United Arab Emirates, after neighbouring Abu Dhabi. It is located on the Persian Gulf, between Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
To differentiate it from the emirate, the main city is sometimes known as Dubai City. Dubai is divided into nine sectors, and each of these is subdivided into communities. There are 132 communities, the borders of which are major roads. Dubai city is divided in two by the Creek, an inlet from the gulf that bisects the centre of the city. Around the Creek are some of the oldest parts of the town, and it is a fascinating mixture of ancient and modern. North of the Creek, the Deira area houses the spice, fish and gold souks. On the south side of the Creek is Bur Dubai, an area with a strong Indian influence. Many expatriates live in the Jumeirah area, where there is a good choice of international schools and high quality accommodation.
The city is one of the fastest growing in the world and major construction projects constantly add to it's impressive array of skyscrapers and high-tech buildings. The city's evolution from a collection of Bedouin settlements around the creek, to a modern city with over 500 skyscrapers and has been dramatic. The rulers of Dubai have taken their responsibilities for development seriously, resulting in a well-managed and carefully thought out city, designed to meet every modern need.
Dubai is unusual, in that it's population consists mainly of expatriates, the majority of whom come from south and South East Asia. UAE nationals are in a minority, at just 20% of the total population. There are some 100,000 Western European expatriates in Dubai, many of them British.
Dubai Fast Facts
1. Population
1,400,000
2. Currency
Name: UAE Dirham
Code: AED
Symbol: Dh
For up to date currency conversion rates please go to http://www.xe.com/
3. Electrical Plugs
British-style plug with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade 220V 50Hz
4. Time Zones
GMT/UTC +4 (Standard Time)
5. Visa Requirements
If you are not sure as to whether or not you will require a visa to travel to Dubai http://dubai.travel-culture.com/links.shtml has a list of countries requirements as well as detailed information about the UAE consulate in each country around the world.
6. Weather forecasts
For up-to-date weather forecasts for your trip to Dubai the following link provides both °C and °F for your preference
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/41194.html as well as extended forecast.
7. Maps
To make Dubai easier for you to navigate, the following link has a facility for you to print region maps & street maps with accuracy http://www.dubaicityguide.com/MAPS/MAPS.ASP
Getting Around
Dubai was really two towns merged into one and divided by Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai), an inlet of the Gulf. Deira lies to the north and Bur Dubai to the south. Both districts are home to traditional architecture and bustling souqs, but the old city centre is in Deira. Glittering new office buildings along Sheikh Zayed Rd have moved the centre of Dubai further towards Abu Dhabi, while Jumeirah has stretched close to Jebel Ali, an area many are calling the 'new Dubai'. The focal point of Deira's hustle and bustle is on Baniyas Rd, which runs along Dubai Creek; Baniyas Square, also known as Al-Nasr Sq, which is at the heart of this commercial centre; Al-Maktoum Rd and Al-Maktoum Hospital Rd; and Naif Rd. On the Bur Dubai side, the old souq area runs from Al-Ghubaiba Rd to the Diwan (Ruler's Office) and inland as far as Khalid bin al-Waleed Rd.
Street addresses aren't used in Dubai. People refer to the main roads by name, but the smaller, numbered streets remain largely anonymous. If someone offers you directions like 'It's in the white villa, next to the big tree, across from the Avari Hotel,' don't fret. Your taxi driver will probably know the way.
Buses run between Dubai International Airport and Deira bus station every 15 to 20 minutes; however, the most popular way in and out is the metered, beige-coloured Dubai Transport taxis - which are also the best to catch anywhere, as most drivers know their way around.
Local buses run from the Deira bus station, near the Gold Souq, and the Bur Dubai station on Al-Ghubaiba Rd. Monthly bus passes, known as taufeer , get you unlimited travel on one or the other side of Dubai Creek or, more expensively, throughout the city. Driving in the city of Dubai is considered an extreme sport, but masochists love it. If you hire a car, bring your credit card and a copy of your passport. Note that all accidents, no matter how small, must be reported to the police.
1. Bus
Local buses operate out of stations in both Deira and Bur Dubai. The Deira bus station is off Al-Khor St, near the intersection with Al-Soor St. There is also the Bur Dubai bus station on Al-Ghubaiba Rd. Numbers and routes are posted on the buses in English as well as Arabic. Free route maps are available at both bus stations. The best way to get to where you're going is just to say where you want to go and someone will point you to the right bus. Tell the bus driver where you're going and he'll tell you when to get off.
There are buses every day to Hatta from the Deira bus station. Also from Deira, bus Nos 4, 11 and 15 go to the airport about every 30 minutes.
2. Water Taxi’s
Abras leave constantly from early morning until about midnight. There are two routes. The one closer to the mouth of the Creek runs between Bur Dubai Abra Dock and Deira Old Souq Abra Dock, while the other is between Dubai Old Souq Abra Dock and Sabkha Abra Dock. The fare is collected once you are out on the water.
3. Taxi’s
Dubai has a large taxi fleet, many of which will beep you if they see you walking. You can also call Dubai Transport (tel: 208 0808) for a taxi. Only the beige-coloured Dubai Transport taxis are allowed to pick up passengers at the airport.
Attractions
Bastakiya Quarter
With its labyrinthine lanes lined with traditional wind-tower architecture, the old Bastakiya quarter on the waterfront east of Bur Dubai Souq is a magical place to explore.
Bur Dubai Souq
While not as old as the Deira souqs - in the old days Bur Dubai and Bastakia residents had to take a boat across to Deira to go shopping - this breezy renovated souq can be just as atmospheric and lively a place to visit. On a summer's evening it can also be cooler, as the breeze blows through the wooden-latticed arcades. The buzziest time to visit is a Friday evening when it's crowded with expat workers shopping on their day off.
While you'll find some great take-home items, what's primarily on offer are cheap clothes, shoes and textiles, mainly purchased by Emirati and Indian women. The surrounding backstreets - with its tailors, textile shops and sari shops - may not be as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but are still intriguing and worth exploring.
Deira Gold Souq
Even to people not interested in buying gold or jewellery, the Gold Souq is impressive for both its size - there are hundreds of shops here - and variety.
Every kind of jewellery imaginable is available, from gold, diamonds and pearls to elaborate Arabian and Indian wedding necklaces, bangles and headdresses, to more contemporary styles. Some of it is beautiful, lots of it is incredibly tacky. It's the largest gold market in the region, and one of the largest in the world (with ambitions to rival Antwerp in diamonds). The passing people parade is almost as fascinating as the sheer amount of jewellery. Once you're done with gawking at the blingtastic jewellery displays, take a seat on one of the wooden benches on the main thoroughfare and note how many different types of people circulate among the atmospheric wooden-latticed arcades: sun-bothered Europeans shopping for gold, blokes from the Indian subcontinent selling copy watches and fake DVDs, sweaty Afghan guys dragging heavy carts of goods here and there, East African women in colourful caftans trading something… It's all rather extraordinary.
Perfume Souq
Several blocks of perfume shops near the Gold Souq hardly warrants the title 'souq', yet these bustling stores sell a staggering range of Arabic attars (spicy Arabic perfumes), oud (fragrant wood) and incense burners. More fascinating than the perfumes is the perfume-buying ritual - just watch the burqa-covered ladies waft the smoke from burning oud under their abayas (Islamic women's dress) as they sample the pungent aromas.
Jumeirah Mosque
The splendid, intricately detailed architecture (stunningly lit at night) and the opportunity to have a look inside (normally non-Muslims can't enter mosques here) makes Jumeirah Mosque well worth visiting.
Aimed at promoting greater understanding between Muslims and other religions and cultures, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding's 'Open Doors, Open Minds' tour takes visitors through the architecture of the mosque, introduces them to Islam, and Emirati culture and traditions. The Q&A session is viewed as a vital part of the visit, so read up a little first. It's best to prebook, as it's becoming increasingly popular, and make sure to dress modestly (no shorts, cover back and arms, and women should wear a headscarf). You'll also need to remove shoes before entering.
This information was sourced from the following websites:
http://www.dubaicityguide.com
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
http://www.easyexpat.com/
