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Looking like a futuristic city with its majestic infrastructure in places, Dubai immerses you in the Middle Eastern desert just a few kilometers away. You can just as easily enter a typical souk with disorderly stalls as you can enter ultra-modern shopping centers. And if you thought that in temperatures over 45 degrees, you could only enjoy swimming pools and beaches, you are wrong… Indeed, you should know that you can also walk ski slopes containing real snow.
In short, you must visit Dubai at least once in your life. But first, find out everything you should know before planning such a trip.
What are the formalities for going to Dubai?
Dubai saw more than 8 million tourists enter its territory during the first quarter of 2022. And it does not intend to stop there, since it is expected that there will be 21.2% more arrivals in 2023. The fourth most visited city in the world attracts foreigners for its excess, its luxury, its multiple facets, but also for its sun which never leaves the sky. Indeed, it’s always hot in Middle Eastern Manhattan. But we can still distinguish two seasons.
The first is from May to October and, there, the subtropical climate is truly arid with temperatures reaching 48-50 degrees. It is therefore at the second that it is advisable to go to Dubai. It occurs between November and April and is accompanied by milder heat as it varies between 25 and 35 degrees. However, you should know that during this time of year, prices soar even more and the number of tourists is impressive.
So, the most judicious would be to visit this emirate in the months of October-November or in the months of April-May, that way, you will limit the inconveniences.
What are the formalities for going to Dubai?
In order to be in compliance during your trip to the economic capital of the United Arab Emirates, you will need to have a biometric passport in your possession. The latter must be valid for a period of at least 6 months from the date you begin your stay in Dubai.
Even though this country normally requires a visa for its tourists, nationals of the European Union, and therefore of France, are exempt. As a French traveler, your passport will be stamped upon arrival at the airport.
Note that the obligation to present a vaccination pass, a vaccination certificate or a PCR test is no longer relevant.
Furthermore, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance. Such a document may not be obligatory, but the idea of doing without it should be excluded.
Dubai, with its bling-bling side and all the splendor it displays, can scare away those who don’t have big budgets. Although it is clearly not as affordable as Tunisia or Turkey, it is possible to manage your expenses well by organizing yourself a few months in advance to reserve the plane ticket, for example. Besides, if you take a connecting flight it will last 7 hours, but you will save money. Allow on average 350 to 400 euros for your transfer from France to Dubai.
Once there, know that you will have the choice between the bus, the metro and taxis. The latter are much more expensive than the former since they cost around 20 euros for a short journey compared to 2 euros in public transport.
Now, for accommodation, you should plan on between 50 and 150 euros per night in a hotel. The more stars the establishment displays, the more likely it will increase the bill.
For meals too, the price range will depend on the places you choose. In a fast food restaurant or in old Dubai, you can eat for around ten euros. Plan, on the other hand, a minimum of 25 euros per person in a good restaurant.
Finally, it is up to you to set your visits and activities budget. Please note, for example, that to access Burj Khalifa, you will pay around forty euros. A buggy trip in the desert will cost around a hundred euros while a hot air balloon flight will cost around 300 euros.
We remind you that there are organized trips to the city of excess from France. The prices charged are generally very attractive, especially since you could pay the total amount over several months.
What is the official language of Dubai?
The official language of Dubai is of course Arabic. However, there are several variations of this idiom. You will hear literary Arabic, used in newspapers and legal texts, less often than Khaliji, the version specific to the country of the Gulf. To help you out as little as possible, we’re going to teach you a few terms that might prove useful. Know that “Ahlan” means welcome and “Shokran” means thank you. “Naam” means yes and “La” means no.
But don’t worry, if you have an average level of English you will do very well in this emirate. Indeed, the majority of people who live there (locals and expats) speak the language of Shakespeare.
