First time in Dubai: 15 things to know before you land

Dubai is an easy city for a first visit: it is safe, almost everyone speaks English and the airport is close to the centre. A few local rules and habits are still worth knowing before you land. Here are the fifteen that matter most.

Before you fly

1. Check your visa. Many nationalities receive a free visa on arrival. Others must arrange one before travel, usually through the airline or a hotel. Check the rule for your passport, and make sure the passport is valid for at least six months.
2. Know which airport you are using. Dubai has two: Dubai International (DXB), close to the city, and Al Maktoum International (DWC), about 45 minutes further south. Our guide to DXB and DWC explains the difference.
3. Check your medicines. Some prescription medicines that are common elsewhere are controlled in the UAE. Look up the rules of the UAE Ministry of Health before you pack, and carry the prescription with you.

Money and practical details

4. The currency is the dirham (AED). It is fixed to the US dollar at about 3.67 dirhams to one dollar. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. Keep some small notes for the souks, tips and small shops.
5. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Friday is a normal working day until midday prayers, and some shops and offices open later on Friday afternoon.
6. Plugs are the British three-pin type (type G). The supply is 230 volts. Most hotels lend adapters.
7. Getting online is easy. Visitor SIM cards and eSIMs are sold in the arrivals halls, and the airport and the malls have free Wi-Fi.
8. Tipping is welcome but not required. In restaurants, 10 to 15 per cent is normal if a service charge is not already on the bill. Taxi fares are usually rounded up.

Weather and what to wear

9. Choose your season. November to March is warm and pleasant. From June to September the temperature is often above 40°C, and most people stay indoors during the day. Buildings and cars are strongly air-conditioned, so carry a light layer all year.
10. Dress for the place. Swimwear is fine at the beach and the pool. In malls, souks and public buildings, cover your shoulders and knees. Mosques that welcome visitors ask for covered arms and legs, and a headscarf for women.

Local rules that surprise visitors

11. Alcohol is served in licensed places only. That means hotels, and the restaurants and bars inside or attached to them. The legal age is 21. Drinking in the street or on a public beach is not allowed, and there is no tolerance for driving after drinking. The neighbouring emirate of Sharjah does not serve alcohol at all.
12. Keep public behaviour polite. Holding hands is fine. Kissing in public, swearing and rude gestures can lead to a fine. Ask before you photograph people, and do not photograph government or military buildings.

Getting around

13. The city is long. Dubai stretches more than 50 km along the coast, so the area you stay in decides how much time you spend in a car. Our guide to where to stay in Dubai compares the main areas and their transfer times.
14. The Metro is cheap and clean, but it does not go everywhere. The Red Line serves Terminals 1 and 3 of DXB, Downtown and the Marina. It does not run through the night, and you need a Nol card to use it. The Palm, most beach hotels and the desert resorts are reached by road.
15. Taxis use a meter, and the roads have tolls. An airport taxi starts at a higher fare than a street taxi, and each Salik toll gate is added to the bill. See how the numbers compare in our guide to Dubai Airport taxi fares.

Your first hour in Dubai

After a long flight, the first hour is the hardest part of the trip: passport control, baggage, then finding the right car. Our arrivals guide to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 shows the route step by step.

If you would like a driver waiting with your name on a sign, book a Dubai Airport transfer before you fly. The price is fixed when you book, with tolls, parking and waiting time included, and you can pick the vehicle on our fleet page.