Dubai, UAE
The breathtaking scale of development in sun-baked Dubai
Its breakneck speed has taken the world by storm. Today, the ever-evolving Emirate boasts one third of all the world’s cranes in a space the size of a small British city. Dubai has audacity, modernity and quality in equal measure... and although the building work won’t be finished for decades, it’s a spectacular global crossroads.
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Destination overview
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| Language: | Arabic | |
| Currency: | UAE Dirham | |
| Time zone: | GMT +4 hours | |
| Flight Time: | 7 hours 50 | |
| Holiday type: | Beach | |
| Weather: | Average maximum temperature: 33.4°C Rainfall: 886mm a year |
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Must see:
Hire some skis and head not for the nearest sand dunes but for the world’s largest indoor ski slope, where the temperature difference between inside and outside, at times, can reach 50°C.
Must eat at:
A touch of slightly surreal Modern British cuisine in the desert? Then head for Gary Rhodes Mezzanine at the Grosvenor House or Verre by Gordon Ramsay in Deira.
Must be there for:
The Dubai Shopping Festival is a three month extravaganza that runs annually from December to February – expect all manner of treats to get you to spend, spend, spend.
Well-travelled tips:
If you’re a regular traveller to the UAE, you can now participate in the Emirates’ E-gate scheme, which enables you to bypass the immigration queues with the help of a smart card and fingerprint ID.
The best view of the exterior of the Burj Dubai, Dubai’s most iconic hotel, is from Jumeirah beach. If you want an interior view, you’ll need to book in advance.
Visa:
British citizens travelling to the UAE for business trips or holidays of less than 30 days do not normally need a Visa. As conditions apply, more information
