United Arab Emirates

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Dubai

Record towers and old souks

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Dubai Plan a trip around United Arab Emirates

Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency: AED
Time zone: UTC+4
Country: United Arab Emirates

Photo: bulletrain743 (Pixabay), CC0

Glass towers and giant malls beside the Creek's souks, with beaches and desert close by.

Largest cities

Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Sharjah
Al Ain
Ras Al Khaimah

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United Arab Emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
City population: 3.8M
Population of United Arab Emirates: 10.7M
Country area: 83,600 km²
Official language: Arabic
Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) · 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED
Time zone: UTC+4
Calling code: +971
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 5 m
Plugs: G · 230V
Emergency numbers: 999 · 998
Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	24°	25°	28°	33°	38°	40°	41°	41°	39°	35°	30°	26°
Low	15°	16°	19°	22°	26°	28°	30°	31°	28°	24°	20°	17°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$61
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$150
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$395

Plan a trip to Dubai

Top things to do

≈ $45
Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain
The observation decks of the world's tallest building, then the fountain show outside Dubai Mall after dark.
- Half day
- Downtown Dubai
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
≈ $2
Al Fahidi, the Creek and the souks
Wind-tower houses of the old quarter, an abra ride across the Creek and the gold and spice souks of Deira.
- Half day
- Al Fahidi and Deira
- Good for kids
≈ $41
Museum of the Future
Immersive exhibitions about the coming decades inside a torus-shaped building; book a timed ticket.
- Half day
- Downtown Dubai
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Dubai Marina walk and JBR beach
A promenade among towers and yachts, then the public beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence.
- Half day
- Dubai Marina and JBR
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $7
Jumeirah Mosque and Kite Beach
A guided open-doors visit to one of the city's best-known mosques, then Kite Beach with a view of the Burj Al Arab.
- Half day
- Jumeirah
- Indoors
≈ $14
Dubai Frame
A 150-metre picture frame with old Dubai on one side and the new skyline on the other.
- Half day
- Al Fahidi and Deira
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $60
Desert safari
An afternoon drive over the dunes with a sunset camp dinner. Choose an operator licensed by Dubai's tourism authority.
- Half day
- Desert
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $30
Day trip: Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (free, modest dress required) and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, about 90 minutes by road.
- Full day
- Abu Dhabi
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

GCC citizens enter without a visa. Many nationalities get a visa on arrival; Indian passport holders with a valid US visa or green card, or a UK or EU residence permit, can get a pre-approved visa on arrival. Check your nationality on the official UAE portal, u.ae.

Official website

From the airport

The Dubai Metro red line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 of Dubai International Airport; taxis are metered and plentiful.

Getting around

Buy a Nol card for the metro, trams, buses and water buses. Taxis and ride-hailing are reasonably priced.

Local tips

Summer is extremely hot: plan outdoor visits for early morning or after sunset from May to September.
Dress modestly in malls, souks and mosques; swimwear is for beaches and pools.
During Ramadan, avoid eating and drinking in public in the daytime.
Friday prayers change opening hours; check before planning a Friday.