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Drummore

Drummore is a village in Dumfries and Galloway in southwest Scotland. It's the most southerly village in Scotland, near the tip of the Rhins, the peninsula that ends at the Mull of Galloway. It's a tiny place with a population of 534 in 2011, but has facilities out of proportion to this, serving as a visitor base for this scenic area.

Get in
Stranraer 17 miles north is the transport hub, with trains from Glasgow and Ayr, buses from Dumfries, and ferries from Belfast and Larne to the port at Cairnryan.

By car from Glasgow follow A77 south, from Carlisle and Dumfries follow A75 west, then turn off onto A716 south towards Mull of Galloway.

Bus 407 runs along A716 from Stranraer via Lochans and Port Logan to Drummore four times a day M-Sa, taking 45 min.

Get around
You need a car or bike to get around the area.

See

 * has views across to the Ards peninsula in Northern Ireland. There's been a lighthouse on the Head since 1913, but the present structure is a metal tower installed in 2009.
 * Logan House Garden, adjacent, is a Victorian woodland garden. It's open Mar-Sep: daily 9AM-5PM, adult £4.
 * See Stranraer for sights further north in the Rhins, especially Portpatrick village, and the limited amusements of Stranraer itself.
 * Logan House Garden, adjacent, is a Victorian woodland garden. It's open Mar-Sep: daily 9AM-5PM, adult £4.
 * See Stranraer for sights further north in the Rhins, especially Portpatrick village, and the limited amusements of Stranraer itself.
 * See Stranraer for sights further north in the Rhins, especially Portpatrick village, and the limited amusements of Stranraer itself.

Do

 * Mull of Galloway Trail starts at the Mull and runs up the east shore of the Rhins via Drummore and Sandhead to Stranraer (26 miles). It continues up the coast via Cairnryan and Finnart Bay to Glenapp (11 miles), where it joins the Ayrshire Coastal Path to Skelmorlie (100 miles). The Mull-to-Stranraer stage is just right for a marathon, run annually in June, with a half-marathon from Ardwell to Stranraer.

Eat

 * Queens Hotel is best bet for local dining, see Sleep.
 * Queens Hotel is best bet for local dining, see Sleep.

Sleep

 * B&Bs are in the village centre.
 * B&Bs are in the village centre.

Connect
As of March 2022, you might get a basic mobile signal from Three, but nothing from the other UK carriers. Finish up any important calls before you leave the main road at Stranraer.

Go next

 * North via Stranraer to Alloway near Ayr, Robert Burns' birthplace, and ferries run from Ardrossan to the Isle of Arran.
 * East via Newton Stewart and Dumfries to Gretna and Carlisle or northeast into the Scottish Borders.

title: Drummore


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Drumnadrochit

Drumnadrochit is a village in the Great Glen, the fault line that traverses the Scottish Highlands. With a population of 1130 in 2020, it stands on the west shore of Loch Ness at the outlet of the River Enrick. This was difficult to ford in spate so Thomas Telford built a bridge in 1811, hence Druim na Drochaid, "the ridge of the bridge". The impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle stand nearby, but the town makes its living from the legend of the Loch Ness Monster, and every coach tour of the Highlands calls here.

Get in
The village is on the A82 between Inverness and Fort William. The usual approach is by road from Inverness, 15 miles north, which has an airport and rail services.

Citylink buses from Inverness take 30 min via Dochgarroch at the north tip of the loch and continue south past Castle Urquhart to Invermoriston. Bus 919 continues on A82 to Fort Augustus, Laggan, Spean Bridge and Fort William, running four times M-Sa and twice on Sunday. Bus 917 branches west on A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree on Skye. This runs twice daily.

Stagecoach Bus 17 runs from Inverness Raigmore Hospital and bus station to Drumnadrochit, then heads into the hills along A831 to Corrimony, Cannich and Tomich, so it doesn't run past the castle. There are five M-F and three on Saturday.

Get around
The core of Drumnadrochit is around the junction of A82 and A831. The south end is nominally the separate village of Lewiston. It's all walkable.

The A82 between village and castle is busy but there's a sidewalk. Buses 917 and 919 stop at castle and village.

See

 * Nessie (pictured above) basks in the pond outside the Centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?
 * Nessie (pictured above) basks in the pond outside the Centre, no charge to view. Frankly it resembles the corpse of a swan: did it eat something it shouldn't?

Do

 * Craig Monie is the wooded hill by the village, carpeted with bluebells late spring.
 * Boat trips: Loch Ness Cruises sail April-Oct.
 * Horse riding: Highland Riding Centre is at Borlum Farm, off A82 south of village.
 * Walk or cycle the Great Glen Way and other trails.
 * Shinty: Glenurquhart play in Mowi Premiership, the top tier. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Glenurquhart Highland Games are held in August in Blairbeg Park, with the next on Sa 24 Aug 2024.

Buy
Scotmid Coop south side of the village is open M-F 6:30AM-10PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-10PM. Fuel is available at Esso nearby.

Gift shops stock all the Nessie kitsch you could ever want.

Eat

 * The Italian Job is a pizzeria behind the Co-op, open Tu-Sa 4:30-7:30PM.
 * Shack's Fish and Chips next to the Italian Job is open daily 4-10PM.
 * Taste of China 100 yards north of the Co-op is open Tu-Su 4-10PM.
 * Nessie's Gelato Cabin behind the Loch Ness Drumnadrochit Hotel is open daily 11AM-5PM.
 * Nessie's Gelato Cabin behind the Loch Ness Drumnadrochit Hotel is open daily 11AM-5PM.

Drink

 * All the hotels have well-stocked public bars.
 * Great Glen Distillery within the Loch Ness Centre makes gin.

Sleep

 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Morlea is a cosy B&B on Village Green.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.
 * Loch Ness Lodge Hotel next to Nessieland is a fine Victorian Italianate building, but the hotel is sad and run-down.

Connect
As of July 2023, Drumnadrochit has 4G from all UK carriers but with many dead spots on the approach roads. 5G has not yet reached this area.

Go next

 * For a scenic loop take A831, which runs west into the hills to the tiny village of Cannich in Glen Affric; it then follows the glen north towards Inverness.
 * Follow A82 south to Invermoriston, where A887 branches off over the hills to join A87, for Kyle of Lochalsh and the bridge to Skye.
 * South end of the loch is Fort Augustus, where the Caledonian Canal ascends by a flight of locks.
 * North of the loch is Inverness, a pleasant Victorian town.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Drumnadrochit


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Druskininkai

Druskininkai is a town in Dzūkija, the southern region of Lithuania, with a population of 13,170 in 2023. It's a spa town with very salty spring waters.

Understand
Druskininkai probably takes its name from druska, meaning salt - an essential commodity for food preparation and preservation in bygone ages. The town is far from the sea, but very salty water bubbled up from a dozen natural springs. From the 18th century it was believed that mineral waters could cure all sorts of conditions, the nastier the taste the better, so the town evolved into a spa. City dwellers came from as far away as Saint Petersburg, from 1862 sped by the railway to Warsaw, and genteel accommodation and entertainments encouraged them to linger. This continued when the town passed from Russian to Polish control, with the mighty General Piłsudski spending his summers here and pushing development. Demand for mineral water outstripped the natural springs but boreholes reached down towards the salt beds. The Soviets built great clunky spa hotels to rest their weary Stakhanovites, and a modern generation of "wellness resorts" follows in their footsteps.

Get in
Druskininkai is 130 km southwest of Vilnius, follow A4, which continues across the Belarus border to Grodno. From Kaunas take Highway 129 south past Alytus, 136 km.

Buses from Vilnius run hourly and take 2 hours. From Kaunas they're also hourly, taking 2 hr 30 min via Prienai and Alytus - one daily bus starts from Palanga and Klaipėda. For times and online tickets see Autobus Bilietai.

the "bus station" is just a draughty square.

Get around
Town buses reach the outlying villages. Buses 2C 3 3A 3B 3C run to the forest park. Buses 3C and 4B run to Česnulis sculpture park.

Taxi firms are Nice Taksi (+370 628 30502), Transfer-Taxi Druskininkuose (+370 615 22155), B Basalykienes (+370 313 51313) and E Buro (+370 313 51213).

See

 * (Dievo Motinos ikonos "Visų liūdinčiųjų Džiaugsmas" cerkvė) is a charming wooden Orthodox church on a roundabout on Laisvės a.
 * Vila Radium is a fine wooden mansion 200 m north of JofAWS Church at T Kosciuškos g 7. It's private apartments so you just admire the exterior.
 * Church of Saint Mary's Scapular (Švč Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia) is opposite the town museum at Vilniaus al 1. It's a neo-gothic red-brick building of 1931.
 * Church of Saint Mary's Scapular (Švč Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia) is opposite the town museum at Vilniaus al 1. It's a neo-gothic red-brick building of 1931.
 * Church of Saint Mary's Scapular (Švč Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia) is opposite the town museum at Vilniaus al 1. It's a neo-gothic red-brick building of 1931.
 * Church of Saint Mary's Scapular (Švč Mergelės Marijos Škaplierinės bažnyčia) is opposite the town museum at Vilniaus al 1. It's a neo-gothic red-brick building of 1931.
 * (Šv Apaštalo Baltramiejaus bažnyčia) is a sturdy neo-gothic structure in Ratnyčios 2 km southeast, rebuilt in 1921.
 * is a village 4 km south of town, close to the border with Belarus, with many traditional wooden buildings.
 * is a village 4 km south of town, close to the border with Belarus, with many traditional wooden buildings.
 * is a village 4 km south of town, close to the border with Belarus, with many traditional wooden buildings.
 * is a village 4 km south of town, close to the border with Belarus, with many traditional wooden buildings.

Do

 * Ride the cable-car from Aquapark 1.2 km north across the river to Snow Arena. In 2024 an adult return ride is €6.
 * Golf: Wolf Golf Club is 15 km north in the village of Kamorūnai.
 * Narcissus Flower Festival is in April when the daffodils are in bloom.
 * Druskininkai Resort Festival is over a long weekend at the end of May.
 * M K Čiurlionis Music Festival is in June.
 * Druskininkai Poetic Fall is in October, with poetry events here and in Vilnius.
 * Druskininkai Resort Festival is over a long weekend at the end of May.
 * M K Čiurlionis Music Festival is in June.
 * Druskininkai Poetic Fall is in October, with poetry events here and in Vilnius.

Buy

 * Supermarkets near Aquapark are Iki and Rimi. Maxima is at M K Čiurlionio g 50, open daily 08:00-22:00.

Drink

 * Mineral water is what the place is renowned for. It rises from aquifers 300 m below ground and is almost twice as salty as sea water. This will cure you of a catalogue of ailments about as often as ordinary tap water does. Of course if you have cardiac or renal problems it'll finish you off.
 * Bars include Senfortis by the orthodox church, and Bagira Lounge at Vilniaus al 20.

Connect
Druskininkai and its approach highways have 4G from all Lithuanian carriers. As of Feb 2024, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Leipalingis old town is worth a quick look if you drive north towards Marijampole.
 * Liškiava has well-preserved old buildings on the river bank northeast of Druskininkai.

title: Druskininkai


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Drvenik

Drvenik is a coastal town of 420 people (2021) on the Makarska coast between Split and Dubrovnik, 24 km south-east from Makarska. Drvenik consists of two settlements, Gornja and Donja Vala, about a kilometre apart. Donja Vala is further north, and Gornja Vala is further south.

Get in

 * With the ferry from Sućuraj, Hvar-island.
 * It is on the Adriatic highway, the most important Croatian coastal road.

title: Drvenik


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Drymen

Drymen is a village in Stirlingshire  in the Central Belt of Scotland. It's within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, four miles from the east shore of Loch Lomond, and this is the main reason to visit. In 2020 the population was 830.

"Drymen" is from Gaelic Druiminn, a hillock. It's by a crossing point on the Endrick Water and until mid 19th century was one of many points where cattle drovers brought their black cattle out of the Highlands and headed to lowland marts such Crieff and Falkirk. Those droves ended once railways enabled direct shipment of livestock. Drymen remained agricultural, but also developed tourist accommodation as an access point to the loch. The actor and comedian Billy Connolly (b 1942) lived here in the 1970s.

Get in
McColls Bus 309 runs daily every 90 min or so from Alexandria via Balloch station (for trains from Glasgow) to Drymen (15 min) and Balmaha.

From Glasgow take M8 / A82 to Balloch then A811 north. From Edinburgh take M9 to Stirling then A811 west.

Drymen is the first significant village on the West Highland Way after starting out from Milngavie. From Drymen the route crosses Conic Hill to Balmaha then follows the east shore of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan and Inversnaid.

Get around
Drymen is small enough to explore on foot.

See

 * is the village green, a common layout in England but rare in Scotland. The bus stops here. The village is much more peaceful since A811 was diverted east of Drymen, with the loop of its former route now B858.
 * is a fenced-off ruin by the golf course. It was a mansion built in the 1850s for the Duke of Montrose, but abandoned in 1954. Rudolf Hess was briefly held here after his flight to Hamilton in 1941, then sent to the Tower of London.
 * Catter Law south of the river by the junction of A811 and A809 was a medieval motte, an artificial hillock reinforced by wooden palisades. It was never converted to a stone castle. The site has been much altered and is on private property.
 * is a baronial mansion built in 1884. It's nowadays private mansions so you'll have to be content with a distant view - but that development has saved it from sharing the fate of Buchanan Castle.
 * is a scenic ravine reached down a staircase, where a circular rock is known as "The Devil's Pulpit". The only deed that the devil is reliably known to have committed here is to make it a TV location for Outlander in 2014, whereupon tourists flocked and messed up the area. However other TV sagas have been and gone since then so you may find it tranquil.
 * is a bird-life reserve on the loch shore at Gartocharn, follow signs for Lagganbeg caravan park. The car park is open daily 9AM-5PM and the reserve is free.

Do

 * Golf: Buchanan Castle GC is west near the castle off A811 (don't follow the bumpy lane off B837); white tees 6133 yards, par 70. Strathendrick GC has nine holes, south of the village.
 * West Highland Way Stage 1 is Milngavie to Drymen, 12 miles of fairly level lowland going. Stage 2 from Drymen climbs over Conic Hill then descends into Balmaha; you then follow the east bank of Loch Lomond to Rowardennan. Conic Hill can be climbed by itself but that's better done from Balmaha.
 * Rob Roy Way is a 79-mile hiking trail from Drymen to Pitlochry. Section One to Aberfoyle heads north on the lane (Old Drymen Road) for four miles to Loch Ard forest. (On-road bikes stay on the lane all the way to Aberfoyle, off-road bikes can turn off onto the hiking trail.) You pass Corrie Aqueduct and waterworks of Loch Katrine, then descend by Bofrishlie Burn into Aberfoyle.
 * Drymen Agricultural Show and Highland Games are held on the showground half a mile south of the village in late May.

Buy

 * Spar is the village convenience store on The Square, open M-Sa 6:30PM-10PM, Su 8AM-10PM For a big supermarket drive to Dumbarton.

Eat

 * Drymen Bakery & Deli on The Square is open daily 08:00-17:00.
 * Skoosh is a friendly cafe on Main St 100 yards south of The Square, open M-Sa 8AM-4PM.

Drink

 * No pub, try the hotels. Drymen Beer Shop is an off-licence at 15 Main St open M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-8PM.

Sleep

 * The Hawthorns and Braeside are B&Bs on The Square.
 * The Hawthorns and Braeside are B&Bs on The Square.

Connect
As of Dec 2022, Drymen and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and 3G from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Balmaha is the only village on the east shore of Loch Lomond. The lane continues north to dead-end at Rowardennan, start of the ascent of Ben Lomond.
 * Balloch at the south end of the loch is a larger town with more amenities.
 * Stirling to the east is a miniature Edinburgh, with its castle perched on a crag.

title: Drymen


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Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a United States national park that contains a cluster of islands about west of Key West, Florida, on Garden Key.

History
Construction of Fort Jefferson was begun in 1846 but never completed. President Franklin Roosevelt declared it and the waters surrounding it a National Monument in 1935.

Climate
The Dry Tortugas exist in a subtropical climate. Temperatures range from the mid-50s to mid-80s (°F). April and May are often idyllic. There are essentially two seasons: The winter season (December-March), which can be windy with rough seas, and the tropical storm season (June-November) during which Dry Tortugas experiences both hot, humid weather and calm seas or severe weather events. Due to the ever-changing weather patterns, an accurate weather forecast is recommended before your visit.

Get in
The park is open year round during daylight hours, and is only accessible by boat or seaplane.

Fees and permits
The $10 (as of 2020) entrance fee for individuals is valid for seven days.

Get around
This is a cluster of 7 small islands not connected by causeway to the rest of the Florida Keys. As such the only way to reach them (and travel between them) is by boat or seaplane.

The largest of the islands, Garden Key, hosts Fort Jefferson. Walking tours are provided and snorkeling is a must. All traffic is on foot.

Do
Popular activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, guided fishing trips, guided wildlife viewing trips, and sailing charters.

Camping
There's a small campground on the island, with overflow space when the official campsites are full. You must bring all your own drinking water. Camping is not allowed outside the official campground.

Stay safe
The invasive lionfish has been spotted around Fort Jefferson. They can be identified by their red and cream colour and long spines. Stings are excruciatingly painful and can be fatal. Any sighting of the fish should be reported to National Park Staff immediately.

title: Dry Tortugas National Park


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Dubai

Dubai (Arabic: دبي Dubayy) is a cosmopolitan metropolis and global city on the Arabian Peninsula. The city is one of the ten most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city is also considered one of the most modern and progressive cities in the Middle East – certainly in the Arab world – and is also sometimes nicknamed as "City of Gold" due to historically being a hub for gold trade as well as the rapid transformation from a desert into a luxurious city.

Dubai is characterized by a vast landscape of desert which transforms into a futuristic style of skyscrapers along the coastline. The city offers both insights into the old merchant and pearl diving history of the Arabs in Deira and Bur Dubai and the new modern skyscraper business and bustling life in Jumeirah and Jebel Ali. Dubai is sometimes mistakenly thought of as a country, but it is actually one of the emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It is the financial centre of the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai is also considered a commercial and cultural hub of the Middle East, it's a global transport hub, and has attracted world attention through many large innovative construction projects and sports events. The city is symbolised by its skyscrapers, including the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in addition to ambitious development projects including man-made islands, world-class luxury hotels, and some of the largest and extraordinarily modern shopping malls in the world.

History
Dubai began as a small fishing village on the coast of the eastern Arabian Peninsula. At the beginning, the town made its income as a small pearl diving town. However, as expanding trade boomed across the gulf, it became a trading hub between Iran and India and gained a lot of notoriety for its imported goods from the East. In fact, the currency of Dubai used to be the Indian rupee historically. It was also used as a smuggling town to smuggle gold from Africa and elsewhere and import it to India, this made Dubai a well-known point in the map for various traders. When oil companies looked for oil around the Trucial States, Dubai was shown to not have any significant oil reserves compared to Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, then the leader and Sheikh of Dubai, continued on the booming expansion of trade in Dubai instead of relying on any oil income. He welcomed Indian traders, Iranian traders, and even Western officials and travelers to his hometown. The open policy of commerce and tolerance of foreigners made Dubai a willing destination for any non-Arab or non-Muslim, in stark contrast to other cities in the Arabian peninsula which viewed non-Muslims with suspicion. Sheikh Rashid's son, Sheikh Mohammed, had a vision of establishing Dubai as a Middle Eastern tourist destination. In his memoir, when he met with other GCC heads of state after the British withdrawal from the gulf and proposed on making Dubai a tourist destination, the rest of the Sheikhs laughed at him. They told him nobody would like to come and visit a barren desert. Nevertheless, Sheikh Mohammed made the effort to hire experts and change the entire infrastructure of the city to welcome tourists, established free-zones with no taxes, invested in major tourism projects and opened the city for everyone regardless of race or religion. Multiple Western companies and institutions, wanting to expand their influence in the Middle East, welcomed Dubai's tax-free open-arm invitation. Dubai was seen as the only city in the Arabian peninsula that would allow non-Muslims to live, drink, and enjoy their lives by their own laws and Western or non-Islamic standards, though it is now rivalled by nearby Doha and Abu Dhabi in this regard.

Climate
The city of Dubai is situated on a coastal strip bordered by desert and gets very hot in the summer. It is dry on the hottest days and humid during the cooler days in the summer. Cooler, more pleasant weather lasts from the end of September to the beginning of May (although pleasant is relative, with daily temperatures from October to January and March to May still being, but be prepared for cold night temperatures. In winter the temperature at night is usually from . From May to September, the sun is intense and in August temperatures can touch in the city and even higher in the desert. The heat, coupled with a humidity of 60%–70% near the coast, effectively precludes most activity outdoors for the daylight hours during summer. Summer and winter are effectively the only two noticeable seasons the city experiences.

December to April generally produces the highest precipitation, though little of it, at total per year. Some years yield no more than a few minutes of shower. Rain is celebrated in the UAE and most people take days off and some schools give rain days off to enjoy the little amount of precipitation the city experiences.

Talk
Arabic is the official language, but as foreigners outnumber Emiratis by almost 4 to 1 in Dubai, English serves as the lingua franca. All signs are bilingual in Arabic and English and speaking Urdu, Hindi, or Tagalog will get you further than Arabic given that most retail and service staff are expatriates from Pakistan, India, and the Philippines.

Visitor information

 * Visit Dubai website

Get in
See the Get in section for the United Arab Emirates for visa and customs regulations.

By plane
Dubai is a five-hour flight from Europe and three hours from most parts of the Middle East, the Near East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Dubai's main airport is the Dubai International Airport. Its eventual replacement, Al Maktoum International Airport, is open to passenger flights but is only serving a few flights. You can also enter Dubai by using Sharjah International Airport in the neighboring emirate of Sharjah.

Airlines often have price wars to glamorous destinations like Dubai and this can work to your advantage by careful planning and comparison of the various airlines serving Dubai. Emirates is the flag carrier of the emirate of Dubai, and connects Dubai to over 100 destinations while FlyDubai is Dubai's low-cost carrier. Etihad has shuttle services from their exclusive check-in facility in Sheikh Zayed Rd or Central Business District of Dubai to and from Abu Dhabi Int'l Airport, you can also fly with Sharjah's low-cost carrier; Air Arabia which flies to over 46 destinations within the Middle East. Low fares from North America are most often found on Qatar Airways.

By car
Dubai's only international road border is with Oman at Al Wajajah. Expatriate residents of Oman will require an official permit to exit Oman by road. Visitors do not require a permit. There is a charge per vehicle to exit Oman and, if returning, retain the charge receipt as it will be required to re-enter. Ensure that insurance is valid for the UAE (preferably before commencing the journey). Temporary UAE insurance can be purchased at the border for a premium price.

There are also road borders between the neighbouring Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Oman at the Al Burami Oasis which divides the sister cities of Al Ain and Al Burami, Oman.

Dubai is a very car-oriented city and most visitors will choose to take taxis instead of the public transportation system. You can easily find them in the taxi queue or you just simply wave at one on the road, but this could be just difficult during rush hours. Also, some of them even refuse short rides in jammed areas.

Signage is terrible in Dubai, and taxis often get lost. The best thing to do is navigate from well-known landmarks, such as hotels. GPS devices are often outdated. Street and road names can be very confusing, because the different transliterations from Arabic, you will notice that the slight variance in the spelling is very important.

You can find a lot of car rental agencies that will give you a vehicle with very cheap rates and only an International Driving Permit, if you don't have an UAE one. Some agencies also offer a car hire service with drivers, an option much more comfortable for visitors, especially if the driver speaks English and knows the way around the city better than most taxi drivers.

Some of the best car rental companies are: Careem Car Services, which offers an easy booking system with a real-time tracking app and, if you need it, you can hire a car with a child seat. Ahdab International Luxury Transport is a highly experienced team of professionals but their rates tend to be quite expensive.

By bus
The Government of Dubai operates a network of buses linking Dubai city with the capitals of the other six emirates of the UAE. The buses run under the name Emirates Express and operate from various bus terminals in Dubai, for timetables see the website.

 * From Abu Dhabi: Buses operate every 40 minutes starting at 06:20 from Abu Dhabi's main bus station to Dubai's Al Ghubaibah or Ibinu Bathutha bus station. The two-hour journey costs 25 dirham.
 * From Sharjah: Frequent buses run between Dubai and Sharjah. There are several different routes and buses depart from various bus stations in Dubai including Al Karama, Gold Souq, Baniyas Square, Jebel Ali and Al Ittihad Square.
 * From Al Ain: Buses operate every hour from Dubai's Al Ghubaibah bus station. It's a two-hour journey.
 * To/from Fujairah: The bus to Fujairah leaves from the Rashidiya Metro station and takes about 3 to 4 hours.

For bus travel from Saudi Arabia, SAPTCO offers daily bus services from cities such as Dammam and Riyadh.

By boat
Dubai is a trading hub for dhows from around the Indian Ocean. Travellers wanting to arrive in the city this way will probably need to make their own arrangements with the captain of the vessel. Most of the dhows sail to Iran; some also head to Yemen and Somalia. Emulating Michael Palin and heading to India on a dhow is difficult-to-impossible.

Dubai has an international cruise terminal at Port Rashid. During wintertime, Costa Cruises has bases at least two of its cruise ships (Costa Luminosa & Costa Fortuna) in Dubai.

Valfajr Shipping Company runs a boat service that leaves Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Abbas in Iran supposedly every second day and docks in Port Rashid in Dubai, returning the following day. Crossing the Persian Gulf takes roughly 6 hours. The ticket includes Iranian-style lunch.

Get around

Dubai's public transport system is probably the best in the Middle East, especially after the launch of the metro, but it's still a very car-oriented city and most visitors end up taking taxis quite often. The Wojhati journey planner can suggest the best way to travel.

There is a day pass valid for unlimited rides on the metro, tram and buses, while the Nol Silver stored-value card gives a 10% discount on both metro and bus fares. Both are available at metro stations and major bus stations. The Silver card is useful for public transport users who stay in Dubai for more than a day. Check out at the end of your trip (this includes buses).

By metro

Dubai Metro has two lines which are open as of 2024:

The Red Line is long and opened in September 2009. It's the second metro in the Arab world after Cairo. While the line does not serve the old city centre, it's handy for zipping along Dubai's long coastline and includes stops at the airport, Burj Khalifa and the Mall of the Emirates.

The Green Line, which burrows through the city core, opened in September 2011. You can transfer between the two lines at Union Square and Khalid Bin Al Waleed (BurJuman).

There are also Blue and Purple lines under construction with opening dates in the next few years. The track 2020 expo was completed in 2020.

A single non-rechargeable ticket cost starts at 6 dirhams for a trip within one zone, 8 dirham for two zones, etc. Tickets can be purchased in automated machines, ticket offices or at the gate information clerk. Cash and payment cards are accepted (Visa and MasterCard). Trains run every 3–5 minutes from 05:50 to midnight every day except Thursday and Friday, when services are extended to 05:50–01:00 limited to 13:00–23:59, respectively. All stations are air-conditioned and there's a large network of feeder buses. If you plan to travel late in the evening, check station working hours as the last train may depart earlier than the official system operating hours.

By monorail
A monorail system shuttles passengers across the Palm Jumeirah to the Atlantis hotel. It connects with the Dubai Tram. This is not a part of the rest of Transport, and therefore, you will need to buy a separate ticket (15 dirham one-way and 25 dirham return).

By tram

The latest of Dubai's modern transportation system is the Dubai Tram, which opened on November 12, 2014. It provides commuters with a comfortable transit service around the prime business and leisure districts of Dubai. The Dubai Tram operates for 19 hours daily running for 14.5 km along Al Sufouh Road. It passes around the vibrant Dubai Marina where passengers are treated to breathtaking sights of towering skyscrapers and luxury yachts, and then travels down Jumeirah passing by the iconic Burj Al Arab.

The Dubai Tram connects with the Dubai Metro at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers and DAMAC stations, and links with the monorail of Palm Jumeirah. Outside of Europe, the Dubai Tram is the first tram system that uses the state-of-the-art ground-level power supply cable system which eliminates the unsightly and overhead cables.

By bus
Dubai Public transport is a cheaper means of travelling within the several districts of Dubai. A map of the bus system can be found online, as well as detailed route maps and timetables. Public buses are clean and cheap, but unfortunately not very comprehensive and (on some routes) quite infrequent. The bus system is most useful for getting between different areas of central Dubai, or between the various suburbs, rather than general transport. Taxis or a fair amount of walking will also be required if you visit Dubai without a car of your own.

You will require a Nol card or ticket for fare payment. Cards can be purchased from most bus stations, metro stations, and sometimes from the bus driver.

The main bus stations are Gold Souq Market (in Deira) and Al Ghubaiba bus station (in Bur Dubai). Clear route maps and timetables are placed inside a few bus stands. Ramadan timings differ. The front seats are reserved for women.

Probably the single most useful service for the casual tourist is Line 8, which starts at the Gold Souq, takes the tunnel under the Creek to Heritage Village, and then sets off down Jumeirah Rd (just behind the beach) and all its hotels and malls, up to Burj al-Arab and Wild Wadi. It terminates near the Internet City, while its 8A variant goes down a little further and also serves the Mall of the Emirates.

By taxi
Taxis ply the streets of Dubai and are relatively easy to spot with their cream bodies and coloured roofs. The easiest place to find them is at the taxi queue at one of the malls or outside a hotel. Taxis can also be booked on the Careem mobile app which is similar to Uber. Waving down a taxi on the road is possible, but can be difficult during rush hours. At peak times (07:00-09:00 & 16:00-19:00 workdays, and Friday evenings) demand exceeds supply, and not only are taxis hard to find, but those who deign to pick you up may demand crazy off-meter fares or refuse short rides in congested areas entirely. If you accept an off-meter quote, ensure that the driver clearly says 'Dirhams' as occasionally the word metamorphoses into 'Dollars' when you reach your destination. Also, the drivers of Dubai Taxi Corporation go through their shift change between 16:00-18:00 daily and it can be more difficult to find taxis during this time. The standard of driving in Dubai ranges from poor to wild - taxis are some of the worst on the roads. Taxi drivers are pretty good at knowing where the main shopping malls and hotels are, however less well known places will mean the driver calling his brother-in-law to get directions, whilst he drives around in circles on your time - hence it is a good idea to have a rough idea of where you are heading or what a nearby landmark is.

Taxis are metered at 2.19 dirham/km day and night, so no haggling is necessary. The rates of all taxi companies — Dubai Transport, National, Cars, Metro, and Arabian — are identical, so just take the first one that comes along. Street pickups attract a standing charge of 5 dirham during the day and 5.50 dirham at night (22:00-06:00). From the airport, there is a standing charge of 25 dirham; there is a surcharge for going to Sharjah. A minimum total fare of 12 dirham applies. Taxis are exempt from the Salik road toll charges.

Beware of unmarked hotel taxis and limousines though: while some of these are metered, they are not tied to the official rates, and can be much more expensive. One way to spot whether a taxi is official or not is to look for a meter: no meter, don't get in.

If you can't find one otherwise, you can attempt to call Dubai Taxi on 04-2080808 (each franchise has its own booking number but one central system), there's a surcharge to book. The booking system was notorious for its unreliability but with a significantly increased taxi fleet, many taxis now deliberately wait in unofficial holding areas waiting for bookings. As a result, on a good day it can be possible to book a taxi and have it arrive within less than five minutes. If you absolutely have to get somewhere at a certain time (say, the airport or a meeting), it's still best to book a hotel taxi in advance, and get their estimate of how bad the traffic will be.

Women should travel in the back of the taxi as some drivers see it as a sexual invitation if you get in the front.

Taxi drivers are usually friendly, but may have a different ideas on hygiene.

You can also use Careem or Uber services for moving in Dubai.

By car
There are countless rent-a-cars that will provide a mode of transportation for very cheap rates and very little paperwork. An International Driving Permit is not necessarily required, but hire companies may not rent a car without one.

Some agencies will hire out cars complete with drivers. Visitors taking advantage of this option will need to make certain that their driver knows his way around as many do not.

When driving on the main roads, such as Sheikh Zayed Road, the junction numbers are not in logical order. Junction 13 is just after Junction 18 and is rarely shown on the maps. Road names can also be very confusing with slight differences in spelling (due to different transliterations from Arabic) being very important. The construction work that is taking place throughout and around Dubai can make finding your destination a challenge. Temporary road layouts change with alarming regularity and temporary signs can be misleading or non-existent. As GPS maps are not up to date (and usually not anyway available to rent with hire cars), you will be very well off with a printed map (you can get an excellent one in Virgin stores, for example. There is a Virgin Megastore on the top floor of City Center).

Driving during morning and afternoon peak hours is not recommended, as traffic slows to a standstill and even a simple trip across a bridge can take up to 45 minutes. There is also a scarcity of parking spaces in many parts of the city.

With such a mixture of nationalities residing in the city, driving styles are mixed, to say the least. Both dangerous and experienced driving will be witnessed or experienced frequently. Dubai has one of the highest per capita road death rates in the world. There is zero tolerance for alcohol and driving with stiff penalties meted out including jail and deportation.

See Salik for information about tolls on certain routes in Dubai. If you rent a car, usually a Salik tag will be provided by the car hire company and you will be charged separately when returning the car.

By boat

An easy way of crossing Dubai Creek is by abra, a small ferry. Abra stations are located along the Creek on both the Bur Dubai and Deira sides, and the system of filling the boats is remarkably efficient. The cross-river trip is payable to the driver after the boat has left the station, and affords a very picturesque view of the city. Abras set off very regularly, and the service is available round-the-clock.

Air-conditioned water buses are a way to avoid the abra crowd and the heat. They are part of the public transport system, so a Red Nol ticket or a Nol card is required. Tickets can be purchased at the water bus station. The water bus also features a 'tourist route' round trip – while it is convenient, it can get quite expensive.

The Creek is also the home of many boats offering more comfortable (and correspondingly more expensive) tours, often in boats designed to resemble dhows. Prices tend to be higher, particularly for dinner cruises with on-board entertainment.

By bicycle
While not at all a bicycle-friendly city, there is a growing network of cycle lanes. Careem offers a bike sharing system with stations in Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach, downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Deira and a number of other districts. It costs 20 AED per 24 hours with as many 45-minute rides as you want. A phone with a data plan and a credit card is needed though.

See

Dubai is a mixture of old and new, traditional and modern. From old traditional souks and historical buildings (now being preserved for cultural reasons or already part of the national heritage) to modern Dubai's overwhelming shopping malls, incredible artificial islands and giant modern skyscrapers that include the world's tallest building, Dubai is a world in itself and offers plenty of wonderful attractions.

The city has numerous museums and historical buildings, but Dubai Museum is a must see for a first-time travellers to the Emirates. It provides a glimpse of the old life of Dubai, its people and their culture and heritage. A number of other museums are located in nearby Sharjah.

Dubai has a justified reputation as a concrete jungle, but there are nice pockets of greenery within the city, such as Safa Park. The city parks are modern and very well-maintained, with the most popular located in Jumeirah.

Do

 * Abra ride. A boat ride is best done at night in the cool weather and to enjoy the city lights. Abras can be hired for a private tour (for a price negotiable with the driver, but usually very cheap). This is quite a popular activity at sunset on a clear day, particularly if the driver is able to enliven the tour with stories about the structures on either side of the Creek. Just make sure that the purpose of one's abra hire is made clear at the outset, otherwise, you will be in for a very expensive cross-river trip or a crowded private tour.
 * Beaches and sea. There are endless water sports opportunities as Dubai has some of the whitest and sandiest beaches in the world. Ocean temperatures range from in winter up to  in summer, there are few wave breaks and the strong winds can make swimming difficult. The water is also very salty so many prefer to use their hotel swimming pool. Diving activities have been severely affected by offshore construction work for the Palms and The World; consequently, long boat trips are necessary to reach wreck sites. Alternatively, one can make the 90-minute road journey to the East coast Emirate of Fujairah or the Sharjah enclave, Khor Fakkan, for top-class diving on coral reefs supporting extensive marine life.
 * Camel race track. One of the more unusual attractions, with races being held on Thursday and Friday in the winter. You can watch the races, and you'll have the opportunity to visit the paddocks. Vendors sell everything from beads to rugs and blankets, so you can purchase souvenirs.
 * Horse racing has a long tradition in the Arab world, and Dubai's Meydan Racecourse is one of the most famous horse racing venues in the world, holding races for both Thoroughbred and purebred Arabian horses. Gambling is illegal, so there are no on-site betting facilities, but the grandstand is a marvel of modern architecture, and particularly spectacular when lit up at night.
 * Desert safari or dune bashing. Head out to the desert in an SUV with specialist desert drivers. The drivers will take you for a thrilling roller-coaster ride over sand dunes, show you the sunset from a strategic vantage point and then take you to a traditional Arabic Bedouin campsite where you'll be offered lavish barbecue buffet dinner with music and belly dance to complete the atmosphere. The duration of the tour is usually around five hours. You may want to stay clear of the dune bashing if you get carsick easily. A desert safari is one of the best things to do while in Dubai. Another option would be renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the UAE, but only if you're an extremely experienced driver and hold an international driving license. Neighboring cities including Abu Dhabi also have their own, such as AD4x4. For all of the Dubai-based clubs, membership is free of charge and they conduct trips for beginners into the desert on a regular basis.
 * Natural outdoors. Although at first glance the outdoors may seem dull and uninteresting, and even dangerous due to the desert conditions, there are actually amazing natural destinations in the Emirate of Dubai, which extends into Hatta. There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs lined with fossils, and even freshwater lakes.
 * Yacht charter is an easy way to explore the man-made Palm Islands and coastal skyscrapers. Fleets are available for hire from Dubai Marina from many of the yacht charter agencies.
 * Dubai Creek cruise. Dubai Creek is the foundation from which Dubai grew. It was built as a port for trading vessels plying to and from India, Africa and the Middle East. Today a bit of the old shipping culture still remains. In and around the Creek one can see some of the original buildings that have served as customs houses and defence structures. You can book a ride (usually four hours) on the Dubai Marina cruise or rent a private boat to take you on an hour-long ride up and down the Creek.
 * Burj Khalifa: Visit the tallest building in the world with the magnificent centrepiece of Dubai, Burj Khalifa is surrounded by hotels, must-visit shopping destinations and a world of entertainment options.
 * Golf. It may be a desert, but a lot of money and water is spent on irrigating opulent golf courses. Alternatively, for a more local flavour, try sand golf.
 * The Dubai International Film Festival is the city's not-for-profit cultural event. As a major festival for Arab cinema, it showcases a selection of films from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Work
While Dubai tries to promote itself as the business and entertainment capital of the world, the government has a complex and at times frustrating work permit procedure that the inexperienced should not attempt on their own. It is best to go through official channels when looking for work in Dubai as spot inspections are frequent and if found working illegally, both the employee and the employer will be subject to fines and even deportation.

All the necessary forms and documents are written and processed in Arabic and is best left to a professional intermediary agency. These go by the name of "Government liaison officer" / "Public relations officer" (nothing like a PR in the general context) and offer so-called "PRO services".

With the price of rentals soaring in Dubai and neighbouring Emirates, it is a good idea to discuss a housing allowance when negotiating remuneration.

Despite all of this, there are a few upsides, Dubai companies are generous with holidays averaging almost 39 paid vacation days a year (including public holidays), a round trip ticket home once a year (depending on your contract) and the UAE government does not impose income taxes on foreign workers. Instead it imposes fees and charges on almost everything, so the cost of living in the UAE, and especially Dubai, is quite high.

Recruitment fraud is quite pervasive in this part of the world. Read your employment contract carefully before signing and do not pay any fees to recruitment agencies, as they are usually paid by the companies. Your passport is your personal property and cannot be withheld by the employer unless you are in a position of trust or are handling large sums of money.

Dubai-based companies have been accused by numerous organizations of effectively enslaving poor migrant workers from Southeast Asia by taking their passports and not paying them the promised salaries. Foreign workers, Western and otherwise, have no rights that will be upheld by the courts, and so they have no recourse should they feel their rights violated. Potential workers should be aware of this when considering work in Dubai.

Buy

Dubai is practically synonymous with shopping and could be called "Do buy". Low tariffs and a huge amount of cargo passing through its port ensure that practically anything is available at fairly competitive rates, although the appreciation of the Dirham and the plentiful supply of shoppers means that Dubai is no longer a bargain basement shopping city. You'll also find products in Western chain stores, still with the original tags quoting euro or sterling prices, being sold with a 20–30% mark-up once converted to dirhams. The best things to buy are textiles, electronics and gold; electronics are believed to be much cheaper, while there is a wide selection of textiles and gold.

Dubai shops suffer from the standard developing world shopping phenomenon of having no storeroom and no stocks in reserve, even in the mega-malls – and for clothes shopping this may mean that you struggle to find the style you want in the size you want. Shops open as early as 09:00 and stay open until 22:00, and on weekends to midnight or 01:00.

Remember to haggle in the souks, as discounts are almost always available and even in situations where the item will not become much cheaper, the customer is always expected to "play the game" of haggling. A simple question of "What's your best price?" will often result in a shopkeeper going to extraordinary lengths to sell his stock. Prices in the malls and other Western shops tend not to be negotiable. Far from being a bad thing, this allows the canny visitor to work out comparative prices for common souvenirs – an invaluable aid when a shopkeeper in a souk is asking for a higher price.

Dubai Shopping Festival has been the biggest shopping event in the Middle East since 1996. Almost every shop has a sale, starting in January and ending in February. The DSF is not limited to Shopping but also produces some mind-blowing stages shows and performances performed by international celebrities. There's also a very similar Dubai Summer Surprises trying to pull in punters during the summer low season.

Malls

Dubai is known for its gigantic malls and is a magnet for shoppers. Among the dozens of malls, two stand out due to their size and quality. See the district articles for more details on malls. Several malls have a large supermarket where you'll find the lowest cost electronics, and groceries for self-catering. There are many supermarkets, and international brands such as Carrefour, Géant and Waitrose have multiple locations as do 'home-grown' brands Choithrams, Spinney's, Union Co-Operative and Lulu, amongst others.

Eat
Shawarma is the most available food item on almost all streets (and cheap) in Dubai. It is the Arabic equivalent of the burger. It is meat that has been cooked on a skewer and then cut into thin strips and placed into a kuhbus (pita) bread with vegetables and dressing. There is the plain-jane variety and the more exotic Lebanese and Iranian varieties. The shawarma sold by Indian restaurants are arguably the cheapest.

Another local snack is fala-fil (felafel, falafel), which is as cheap as shawarma.

Traditional Emirati food normally involves rice and meat/chicken cooked with different spices. As such, mandi is a very popular meal and generally affordable, except when served in high end restaurants. Emirati restaurants can be mostly found in areas with local residents, such as Deira, Bur Dubai and Jumeirah. Traditional desserts are also worth trying. Search for luqaimat, deep fried dough balls tossed with date syrup on top. You'll find it at any Emirati restaurant as well as some small cafeterias or street markets.

Most of the American fast food chains have set up shop, including KFC, Chillis, TGI Fridays, Starbucks, and McDonalds. The beauty of the food in Dubai is that you will probably find cuisine for every taste. All food is halal.

Dubai has a big selection of budget Indian food. Dosa, vada, idlee, samosa, chapaati/roti, with generous servings of sabji (cooked vegetable stew) are available for cheap. Bur Dubai (particularly Meena Bazaar area) and Karama are the places that abound in these restaurants. Most of them are open from 07:00 to 22:00 or 23:00 throughout the week.

Pork is eaten here mostly by non-Muslim Filipinos and Europeans. Pork sections exclusive for non-Muslims are found in Spinneys (numerous branches, including ones in Jumeirah and Dubai Marina), Al Maya Lal's (generally caters to Filipinos; there's a branch in Satwa) New Westzone Supermarket (has a branch in Satwa that's bigger than nearby rival Al Maya Lal's), Choithrams and Waitrose.

During Ramadan, while it is not illegal for non-Muslims to eat and drink in public spaces during daylight hours, it's better to avoid doing so out of respect for those fasting. Most restaurants remain open as normal. Once the sun sets though, many locals will gather for iftar, or the breaking of the fast, and many hotels will serve elaborate iftar meals catering to this market. As a tourist, you are welcome to partake too, but be sure to reserve in advance as these are very popular.

Dubai hosts several food festivals in the spring (March - May). The largest is the Dubai Food Festival which lasts for two weeks. Across the city, there are discounts at restaurants and home / kitchen stores (such as Crate & Barrel, Williams Sonoma, etc.) World-class chefs offer master classes, special collaborations, and tasting menus.

Budget
Most malls have food courts, which offer good value menus and are a fast and reliable option for visitors and locals. There are also several food chains of many different types (Pakistani, Indian, Western) scattered all over the city. See the district articles for individual recommendations.

Mid-range

 * Automatic, this is a chain of popular Lebanese restaurants found all over Dubai. Famous for its lamb chops & Friday lunch buffet. No alcohol served.

Splurge
The top hotels all have at least one restaurant serving (most commonly) some form of international cuisine - Italian, Japanese, Indian and so on. Quality tends to be high, along with price, but non-guests are able to reserve tables as well, thus allowing the rest of us to experience a bit of these hotels. Floating restaurants for dinner come sight seeing in Dubai Marina are also popular among both non-travelers and travelers. And agencies have licensed floating restaurants and hence charge a high price for the quality of food and service.

Drink

Dubai has supercharged the nightlife in the last decade and most international known brands have a sister location in town. Most 3-5 star hotels have bars and nightclubs for those interested in the nightlife. World-class DJs frequent Dubai's nightclubs, and many A-list musical celebrities are adding Dubai to their list of tour dates. There is nothing missing and during the high tides of the party time, the impression of being in Ibiza is not misleading. Most of the night life is geared at the beaches of Jumeirah or the Dubai Marina. Bur Dubai is more family-oriented (e.g. Dubai Fountain), while Deira was able in parts to maintain its more Arabic focussed style. Dubai is very popular with Arabic travellers, so an Arabic blend is added quite often.

Dubai has several laws regarding alcohol which travelers should be aware of:

 * Alcohol is available only at licensed premises, usually attached to hotels (most nightclubs and bars are in or attached to hotels, though they may have separate entrances). As of 2023 there is one public cinema that serves alcohol (Cinema City's Azul Lounge & Theatre), as well as a few private cinemas that can be booked for groups.
 * Alcohol is not sold on religious holidays. From 2016, it can be sold during Ramadan.
 * It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, and there is a zero-tolerance policy on drunk driving. Anyone involved in a collision found with alcohol in their blood will usually get a month's jail sentence and fine.
 * Alcohol can be bought only for home consumption at certain outlets in Dubai, and an alcohol license is required. Supermarkets only stock non-alcoholic beers.  Even food items containing alcohol are not sold in supermarkets.
 * Remember to carry some sort of identification when visiting a bar if you are young, as you will not be let in otherwise. The law prohibits anyone below 21 to enter.
 * The authorities take disruptive behavior while intoxicated very seriously, which will lead to jail time or deportation.
 * Prostitution is illegal but can be seen in bars. Both parties act illegally, but in rather (in-)famous clubs it can be rather obvious. Keep in mind that most hotels have a strict guest policy.

Sleep
Due to substantial increase in hotel rooms, only during Islamic holidays do prices rise substantially. The cheapest places, mainly catering to small-scale businessmen, can be found in near the souks of Deira. In Dubai you find a youth hostel and several backpacker hostels.

See the individual listings in the districts for hotel recommendations. In general tourists tend to stay at the beach hotels in Jumeirah or Jebel Ali, while city dwellers have ample choice in Deira or Bur Dubai. Dubai is a stretch along the coastline and taxis are cheap and the metro reliable, so there are always alternative options. The only hassles are ever-new construction sites and the rush hour. During the summer heat a hotel with access to a mall or shopping complex is beneficial to have a greater area for air conditioned walking.

There are luxury glamping resorts in the desert far from the city. The most well known is Terra Solis. Reservations need to be made more than a month in advance, even in summer. As of 2023, the cheapest type of accommodation (tents) cost 950 dirham per night on weeknights and 1400 dirham per night on weekends.

For long trips (a month or more), the Rove hotel collection offers summer rates from 4000 dirham per month with significant discounts on F&B, laundry, and Lets work membership (co-working space). This is cheaper than the monthly rent for an unfurnished 1-bedroom apartment in a popular neighborhood, and Dubai residents will take advantage of this if they happen to be between leases or to help a friend who has newly moved to the city.

Stay safe
Dubai is a safe city. Call 999 if facing any trouble or altercations.

Traffic
Driving and pedestrian safety has also been an issue given the different nationalities that share the road. Do not jaywalk or cross where there are no clear pedestrian markings. Speeding is common here, and the odds of you being hit by a car are quite high unless you follow the rules. Avoid driving on the extreme left lane of highways to avoid being "flashed" and being forced to move a lane over. Road rage is also starting to become an issue given the increase in traffic jams and poor driving courtesy.

Rude hand gestures (the "finger", etc.) and profanity can lead to fines and jail times if reported, so keep your cool if you are cut off or are behind an erratic driver. In general, you will find those gestures and actions that some may find only slightly offensive in your home country, or perhaps not offensive at all, can at times be extremely offensive to the Dubai locals. Therefore, err on the side of caution and keep your cool.

Islamic laws
The United Arab Emirates might seem to have more relaxed laws than their other Arab counterparts, but the laws are still very different from most Western countries, and their laws are strictly enforced. Having an alcoholic drink in the wrong place or even losing your temper could land you a month or more in prison. Exercise caution and common sense when visiting, and make sure you are aware of all their laws or expect severe consequences that could seriously ruin your visit.

Dubai strictly follows Islamic laws which should be respected by all visitors. Islam is the official religion, therefore do not publicly criticize or distribute material against it.

In conversations about politics and world affairs, avoid criticizing the ruling family of any of the seven Emirates or prominent business families. The United Arab Emirates has formal relations with Israel but publicly supports causes that involve the Palestinian people and Palestinian statehood.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon and public sexual acts can lead to prison sentences followed by deportation. In 2008, a British couple were arrested and faced prison sentences because they had sexual contact on a beach in Dubai. If all tourists remain respectful, decent and ensure that they do not upset the local people, there should be no problems.

Homosexuality is a criminal offence with possible deportation or months of prison. Egregious public displays of affection or cross-dressing may lead to prison sentences and/or deportation. In 2013 a Norwegian woman reported she had been raped but then, following bad advice, rescinded it. She was then sentenced to 16 months in prison for extramarital sex and filing a false police report. After public pressure she was pardoned and deported. As of January 2022, extramarital sex has been decriminalized.

Women should dress sensibly and avoid wearing revealing outfits when travelling to districts like Karama, Deira and Bur Dubai, where the streets are packed with men, especially on evenings and weekends. While swimsuits and bikinis are a common sight on Dubai beaches, avoid sunbathing topless —even in the private beach of a hotel.

Prostitution is illegal in Dubai but still it is visible at nightclubs, bars and other places. Law enforcement ignores solicitation to a degree, but penalties are high if it is made too obvious or if the police are called. Human trafficking and forced prostitution are real issues in Dubai.

Petty crime
While petty crime is hardly reported or mentioned in the news, keep an eye on your wallet or purse when in crowded areas like Naser Square or Deira in general. If withdrawing large amounts of cash from ATMs, either conceal the notes or ask the bank's security to escort you to your vehicle. Cases have occurred where people have been robbed of large amounts of cash in crowded areas because they were not careful.

Conmen are ever present in Dubai, especially the "Nigeria 419" scammers. Do not arrange meetings or entertain their requests or give any personal details. Should they not comply, individuals who will be happy to listen to their business propositions are the police.

Thanks to Dubai's new property boom and bust, real estate fraudsters are also popping up, so exercise extreme caution if you are interested in buying or renting.

Drug use and distribution are serious criminal offences, even when in the company of the person consuming the material, and can lead to a prison sentence of several years or even the death penalty. Passenger baggage is screened quite thoroughly when entering Dubai. Even prescription drugs (without original prescription note and sometimes even with one) or ones that you bought over the counter in your country can lead to a prison sentence.

You need to be careful when you are a tourist in Dubai, like many places around the world, people have a keen eye for tourists and can cheat you. For example, taxi drivers can drive a longer way to the destination given that you pay by meter or try to charge you US$20 when you are sure you heard them say 20 dirham (they do sound rather similar).

Connect

 * See United Arab Emirates for details of Internet and mobile connectivity in Dubai, including restrictions on popular services internet telephony services like WhatsApp, Messenger and Skype.

GSM – Those with GSM smartphones or feature phones can expect auto roaming from their home countries. As roaming fees are quite high and incoming calls are also charged, consider buying a local prepaid GSM SIM card, designed especially for tourists, from one of the two cellular providers of the UAE:
 * Etisalat - product Ahlan - available at the Duty Free Shop (arrival hall) of Dubai Airport
 * Du - product Visitor Mobile Line - available at the Telefonika kiosk in the arrival hall of Dubai Airport. Incoming calls are free of charge.

Phone booths – Phone booths are located on most streets. Phone cards can be purchased from hotels and tourist shops.

Internet – Internet cafés can be hard to find. There are a number of cafés on Al Musalla Rd/Al Mankhool Rd in Bur Dubai, including one at 38 Al Musalla Rd and one at Computer Plaza next to the Ramada Hotel. A number of Internet cafes are found in Satwa too. In Satwa there is the French Connection in the Al Wafa Tower on Sheikh Zayed Rd (opposite side of road from the Dusit Hotel), which has wi-fi access and nice cakes and pastries. In Al Qusais, there is an internet café a 5-minute walk northwest of the Dubai Youth Hostel. Turn right out of the gates and walk to LuLu's Hypermarket. The café is located inside the food court.

Gaming cafes aimed at teenagers are dotted around, notable examples including Escape gaming zone (opposite Lulu Hypermarket hypermarket in al Barsha), Que Club in al Barsha and behind Lamcy Plaza.

Surprisingly, the malls do not have internet cafés. Dubai Mall offers free Wi-Fi throughout. Mall of the Emirates offers free Wi-Fi, but you must have a local phone number. Many coffee-shops, restaurants and attractions also have free Wi-Fi, and you'll usually have to ask for the password. Most hotel business centers are equipped with internet cafés but are expensive.

Etisalat, UAE's telecom operator, offers a roaming, postpaid Wi-Fi internet connection known as iZone. Most coffee shops and malls across Dubai provide this service. Prices are available on the website. For those still using dial-up internet Etisalat provide a service when you can plug into any phone line.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has free Wi-Fi in the terminal. Bring your laptop to use free Wi-Fi at some hotels. There are many free public Wi-Fi spots in Dubai.

Post service
Emirates Post service is pretty efficient. You will need to rent a post office box as postal service to the door is not the standard.

Newspapers and radio
Thanks to the large influx of expatriates, Dubai has a wide selection of English-language newspapers and radio channels.
 * The Gulf News.
 * Time Out Dubai - Things to do.
 * The Khaleej Times.
 * The Gulf Today.
 * The National.
 * 7 Days.
 * Emirates Business 24/7.
 * Channel 4 - Plays current songs from the UK and US. 104.8FM
 * Dubai Eye - Western-oriented talk with focus on business, sport, lifestyle, and entertainment. Owned by Arabian Radio Network. 103.8FM
 * Dubai 92 - Mainly 1990s music. Popular with British ex-pats. Owned by Arabian Radio Network. 92.0FM
 * Virgin Radio 104.4 - Chart music. Operates under franchise from Virgin Radio International. Owned by Arabian Radio Network.
 * City 101.6 - Broadcasts Indian music.
 * Abu Dhabi Classic FM - Despite its name, this station broadcasts classical and jazz music across the UAE. In Dubai it is on 87.9FM.
 * Talk 100.3 - Tune in to Talk 100.3, Dubai's best radio station, and experience the best of news, sports, and conversation from around the world.
 * LUV 107.1 - LUV 107.1 plays a mix of music from the 90's through today.

International newspapers are also available in most hotels and airport terminals. Carrefour and Borders bookstores sell British and American newspapers. Todaily, a local printing house, can furnish newspapers and periodicals from around the world daily.

Cope
The weekly day is traditionally Friday, as it is considered the end of the week and a blessed day in Islam. However, since 2022, the public sector has Friday as a half working day, ending at noon, and the weekend extends through Sunday.

Religious services
Dubai gives freedom of religion to its residents and citizens.

 * St Mary's Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Oud Metha opposite the Indian High School. Masses are celebrated in Tagalog (Filipino), some Indian dialects as well as in Arabic and English. There is also a Catholic school near it.
 * Holy Trinity Church, a Protestant church, is also in Oud Metha.

Consulates
Many countries have established full service consulates (Consulates General) in Dubai to provide consular services for their nationals living in the UAE or certain areas like Dubai and the northern Emirates, as well as visa services for others seeking to visit their respective countries. Most of the consulates are located in/around Al Karama and Um Hurair (consulate district) in the Burr Dubai District, south of Dubai Creek. They can also be located in other parts of town too. If corresponding by mail/post use their PO box address as mail is only delivered to a PO Box with no post codes. If delivering to a street address with DHL, FedEx, UPS or another private courier be sure to include a recipient phone number so that the delivery driver can call for directions or clarification on the address. Some countries may have no consulate in Dubai but rather handle everything from their embassy in Abu Dhabi, while others may assign their consular duties solely to the Dubai consulate. Check their website links or call before going to or sending any correspondence:

 * 🇦🇺 Australia
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇳 China
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇮🇳 India
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia
 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇮🇶 Iraq
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇪 Kenya
 * 🇰🇼 Kuwait
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands
 * 🇴🇲 Oman
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇷🇺 Russia
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇾🇪 Yemen

Go next
Within the United Arab Emirates:

Other countries

 * Dubai has an arrangement with Oman to allow visitors who qualify to get an Omani visa on arrival by road through Hatta.

title: Dubai


text:
Dubbo

Dubbo is a city in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia.

By car
Dubbo is approximately a 4-hour drive west of Lithgow on the Great Western and Mitchell Highways, and a 4-hour drive west of Sydney.

Dubbo is accessible from Newcastle (via the New England and Golden Highways). Approximately 2-hour drive.

Dubbo is roughly half-way between Melbourne and Brisbane on the direct inland route, bypassing Sydney.

By train
NSW TrainLink operates an XPT train service between Sydney and Dubbo daily. There is an additional coach connection to Lithgow (connecting with the unbooked train service there) and a coach connection to Cootamundra (connecting to the Sydney to Melbourne XPT).

Dubbo is one of the few places in regional NSW to which it is practical to take the train without requiring transport at the other end. There is accommodation within easy walking distance of the station, from where you can explore the centre of town and the attractions there. The zoo is only a 5 km taxi or bus ride, where you can hire a bike, car or walk around the zoo.

By plane

 * Regional Express operates flights to Dubbo from Sydney and Broken Hill.
 * Qantaslink flies between Sydney and Dubbo.

By bike
There is an off-road cycleway (Tracker Riley Cycleway) from the centre of Dubbo and the Macquarie River out to the Western Plains Zoo. It is an easy cycle, and then you can use your bike to cycle around the zoo as well.

By taxi
The zoo is only a short distance from town, and it is quite economical to catch a taxi there. You can hire a bicycle at the zoo to get around when you get there.

By bus
Dubbo Buslines does the trip from the centre of town to the zoo five times a day on weekdays, and three times on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, there is almost a frequent service between Orana Mall and the town centre - with three bus routes doing the trip. Limited service on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is also a weekday scheduled bus service to the neighbouring towns of Narromine and Wellington

Do

 * Dubbo History Walking Tour. +61 404 238 209. dubbopubhistory@hotmail.com. Discover Dubbo, 'the hub of the west' on a 2-hour self guided walking tour. Explore its oldest hotels & pubs and hear the stories behind the first settlers.
 * Dubbo History Walking Tour. +61 404 238 209. dubbopubhistory@hotmail.com. Discover Dubbo, 'the hub of the west' on a 2-hour self guided walking tour. Explore its oldest hotels & pubs and hear the stories behind the first settlers.
 * Dubbo History Walking Tour. +61 404 238 209. dubbopubhistory@hotmail.com. Discover Dubbo, 'the hub of the west' on a 2-hour self guided walking tour. Explore its oldest hotels & pubs and hear the stories behind the first settlers.

Buy

 * Farmer’s Markets There are farmers' markets every month in Dubbo. They are on the first and third Saturday of every month, near the Tourist Information Centre. Fresh produce, poultry, coffee, jams, preserves, olive oil, sourdough bread, etc.

Drink
There are a number of pubs and bars in Dubbo, with the Commercial Hotel, the Pastoral Hotel, Milestone, Western Star, Macquarie Inn and Dubbo RSL attracting quite a few locals and tourists on weekends.

Sleep
Dubbo is a popular stopping off point, and has a large range of accommodation. Except at the busiest times of year, it's possible to get motel accommodation on a drive up basis on the main roads into town.
 * Blue Diamond Motor Inn is walking distance to the station, if you are arriving by train and want a nearby place to stay.
 * Blue Diamond Motor Inn is walking distance to the station, if you are arriving by train and want a nearby place to stay.
 * Blue Diamond Motor Inn is walking distance to the station, if you are arriving by train and want a nearby place to stay.
 * Blue Diamond Motor Inn is walking distance to the station, if you are arriving by train and want a nearby place to stay.

Go next
Only an hour and a half away (or 128 km ESE) from Dubbo, Mudgee offers a fantastic historical heritage and a host of great small wineries.

Wellington Caves and phosphate mines make a good day trip. Wellington is a pretty town, and well worth a visit itself.

If you're coming from Sydney, your halfway towards the outback, and you can keep travelling out towards Cobar and Broken Hill

title: Dubbo