Dubai: A Quick Travel Guide

Dubai has been a haven for job seekers from the Philippines. Numerous agencies in the Philippines cater job applications to Dubai. Almost 21.3% (2016 data) of the population in Dubai are Filipinos. You will never get lonely in Dubai when traveling alone.  If you are planning to take a trip for leisure or visit your friends, here is your quick guide.

Visa Requirements:

Philippine passport holders are required to secure visa prior to travel. Don’t know what the requirements are or on how to apply for a visa? Read about Dubai visa Application for Philippine Passport Holders

Flights from the  Philippines:

There are regular flights from the Philippines to Dubai, so all you need to do is look for cheap flights from these airlines traveling direct to Dubai.

I booked with Etihad Airlines from Hongkong since I made a Hong Kong and then Dubai trip. I got a ticket for 18,000.00 PHP Hongkong to Abu Dhabi.  A shuttle service was provided from Abu Dhabi to Dubai Travel Mall Bus Station and then  took a taxi going to the hotel. Taxi fare is quite inexpensive since petrol in Dubai is cheap.

Transportation:  

Traveling around the city is convenient. Train stations, buses and taxis are accessible. Trains operate from 5:30 am – 11:00 pm daily. GroupOn voucher is available online or you can download the Uber App. Uber sounds fancy, but I wouldn’t suggest it, it’s more pricey. Take the regular bus or the metro. Take a taxi when you really need to.

Accommodation:

Book accommodation online through your preferred website. It’s a lot cheaper than getting a hotel when you get there. Not unless you will be staying with a family or friend, then you should be alright.

Best time to Visit:

Dubai has 2 seasons. If you heard that Dubai is hot on a specific month, the other season is hotter. Best months to go is during the months of November to March, however, expect a lot of tourists on peak months. During summer, April to October, less crowd, but of course, the sun is scorching hot.

Food:

As a Muslim country, I was expecting that no pork is allowed countrywide, but I was surprised when some groceries have it for sale discreetly. Pork products are separated from regular groceries. In malls and restaurants, Indian, Arabian, Western and Turkish food are more common. Regular fast food restaurants like KFC, McDonalds and Subway are also available.

Free Tourist Attractions in Dubai

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Palm Jumeira –  the largest man-made island worth visiting. This island is home of the richest people of Dubai. Luxury villas and apartments are around the residential area. It is also renowned to be a leisure destination, but ridiculously expensive.

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Jumeira Public Beach – a fine white sand beach with a beautiful view of Burj Al Arab. Since this is a public beach, it gets crowded with tourists and locals especially during peak season. An afternoon sunset in Jumeira Beach is a must to experience.

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Dubai Mall – One of the luxurious malls in Dubai. The mall is huge and provides a great shopping experience. From the trendiest  fashion, latest gadgets and excellent restaurants, you will find almost everything in this mall.

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Burj Khalifa – The 160-storey building, holds the world record of the tallest skyscraper in the world. The magnificent view from the top of the tallest building in the world is quite expensive, but if you have a budget to spare, why not. For Burj Khalifa tickets and schedules, please refer below.

Schedule : 124th Floor
Ticket Price:
Adult 12+ – AED 125.00
Child 4 – 12 – AED 90.00
Infant – Below: FREE
Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Schedule : 125th  – 128th Floor
Ticket Price:
Adult 12+ – AED 350.00
Child 4 – 12 – AED 350.00
Infant – Below: FREE
Time: 10:30 am – 6:00 pm

Dancing Fountain – is the most exciting  show to look forward to when visiting UAE. A visit to Dubai is not complete without witnessing an amazing fountain show in the middle of a desert city. Set at Burj lake within the Dubai mall and next to Burj Khalifa, you can enjoy 3 of the iconic places in Dubai all together. The Dubai Fountain operates daily for free.

The Dubai Fountain Schedule
Afternoon Shows :
Daily except Friday: 1:00 pm  – 1:30 pm
Friday: 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Evening Shows:
Daily: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
(Every 30 Minutes)

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The City – the city itself is a beauty. Skyscrapers and tall buildings comprised the city center, which are mostly hotels and offices. Dubai’s architecture is incredibly worth seeing. The best way to see and appreciate the city is to use your feet and discover the city around.

One Comment Add yours

  1. Shahbaz Ali Khan says:

    Nice Nice

    Liked by 1 person

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