– Dubai is one of the youngest cities in the world as you can see with its architecture & activities
– It is a place where the weather is sunny and warm (sometimes too warm) all year long
– Dubai is unique and you can feel it in different ways, a brand new city in a muslim country that is perfect for expatriates & tourists
The city
If you are planning to visit Dubai or if you’ve already been there, you all have in mind those pictures of
To give you an idea, expats living there refer to this city as the “sandpit”. It is a city that popped up in the middle of the desert. In the former times (only 50 years ago), Dubai used to be
Dubai offers a beautiful skyline, especially by night and, even after having lived 3 years and a half there, I was still stunned by the majestic Burj Khalifa. If you’re lucky, you can already admire some aspects of this city from the sky, like for example, the famous Palm or the World. If you don’t, don’t worry, the bravest can still book a skydive session with an incredible view!
Wide range of activities
You will never be bored in Dubai that’s for sure! From relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in your hand (yes you can drink alcohol in Dubai) to skydiving above the Palm, you will find plenty of activities to spend your time and for all budgets. You can walk around in the souks, do some shopping in one of the many malls, including the famous Dubai mall next to Burj Khalifa, enjoy a day on the beach at the Marina, etc. check it out here!
Sun is up !
There is maybe 2 days of rain per year and that’s most of the time because they try to create artificial rain ! So basically you get up and you put summer clothes everyday, this is amazing.
Of course during the Ramadan month, you will be asked to cover yourself in respect of the muslim population. Ramadan is at a different time every year so check it out before to plan your trip it will be easier if you are not muslim.
From November to March, you can eventually need a little cardigan by night but nothing more. From May to October, expect really high temperatures, up to 45 degrees. We wouldn’t advise you to come to Dubai during this period (if you have a choice) because it is not enjoyable, you will spend most of your time inside, even the water in the pools/sea is too warm to cool you down.
An open-minded muslim country
Even though Dubai is a muslim country, you will never be asked to act as a muslim.
Of course they ask you to show some respect by following some rules like for example not kissing in public or getting wasted on the streets. However, it is not mandatory for women to be covered, you can easily find restaurants serving alcohol and nightclubs.
Dubai is a very touristic place and around 90% of its population are expatriates, consequently, Emiratis understand that to attract this population they need to be considerate about other cultures.
Cosmopolitan cuisine
The Emirati cuisine is very influenced by the cuisine of other surrounding arabic countries like Oman or Lebanon.
You will find a lot of dishes based on rice, meat or fish like Kabsa for example, originally from Yemen; Machboos are also very famous. Dates play an important part in Emirati cuisine too and muslim people will always break their fast with a date and a glass of milk during Ramadan.
Dubai is a cosmopolitan city and you can see it looking at the range of restaurants with cuisines from all over the world, so don’t worry you will always find something that satisfy your appetite in Dubai!
That is a first glimpse of Dubai and they are more article to come. If you have any question or if you are planning a trip there do not hesitate to contact us and I’ll be happy to give you some tips. I hope you enjoy reading this article and your feedbacks are more than welcome to help us improve !
