Dubai - Abu Dhabi
The picturesque fishing villages of the past which with the extraction of oil created an empire in the middle east. Dubai & Abu dhabi are 2 of the 7 emirates that united and created the United Arab Emirates with Abu dhabi as its capital.
A few words to begin with...
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A trip to the Disneyland΄΄΄& for adults in Dubai begins...
Our trip to Dubai was also combined with Abu Dhabi. We spent 5 days on the first destination and 2 on the next so we could see as much as we had planned. Our flights were from Athens to Abu Dhabi (lowest cost) and our transfer to Dubai was by airport taxi (cost $50). The trip took place in August, which is low season in the Emirates and gave us the opportunity to stay in a good area with cheaper prices for hotels and services...
Basic information about your trip...
Visa Information
To enter the country, Greek citizens will not need a visa, but a visa of entry in their passport which should be valid for 6 months from the day of entry
For more information on entering the country click here
Season - climate
The climate in the UAE is characterized as a tropical dessert with plenty of heat and humidity in the summer, temperatures exceed 40 degrees, while the coldest month is January with temperatures of 26 degrees. The best high season is between October and April.
Currency
here the currency is 1€ for 15,36 dirham corresponds
You will find exchange offices in the airports of both emirates as well as in tourist places and malls. The use of a credit card is widespread and you can pay for every transaction, even in taxis. (The word dirham has a Greek origin from the word drachma)
Movements
The main mode of transportation is taxi in both destinations. In Dubai you will also find the metro where you will find stops at some of the tourist attractions. The cost of taxis is cheaper than in Greece and if you choose to go in summer you will avoid the heat of walking to the metro (metro map clickhere)
The Careem & Uber services also work to call a taxi from an application on your mobile phone.
From the Abu Dhabi airport, there is an airport bus operated by Etihad airline that takes people to Dubai.
Car rental is quite economical and you can travel within the emirates and even to neighboring Oman, but it is not recommended for routes within the city due to traffic and lack of parking.
Internet - communication
If you want to have data on your mobile phone and are interested in a tourist sim card, click here here. You can get it from the airport for free with 1GB of internet and add as many GB as you want...
Accommodation
Both emirates have some of the largest hotel units in the world. The criteria to choose a room are the budget and the quality of service you want to receive. We recommend the area Marina Dubai the area around itcorniche street in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai is famous for Burj al arab & Atlantis palm with underwater suites and ultra luxurious facilities.
Most of the time you will need to travel by taxi, so if you don't want to spend a lot on accommodation, you can choose a less central area. In the off season (summer) the cost of hotels drops significantly.
Restrictions
The UAE is a Muslim country and you won't find alcoholic beverages sold in super markets but also in local shops. You can drink alcohol in hotels as well as in bars and restaurants belonging to hotels.
When it comes to women's clothing, things are very relaxed in Dubai and maybe a little less so in Abu Dhabi. We suggest you dress up a bit more when visiting the old Dubai Deira area and when entering mosques such as the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Grand Mosque.
Dubai
What to see - what we recommend...
No matter how many times you go, Dubai will have something new to show you...
It is a place that some years ago was the absolute desert - a fishing village and is constantly being rebuilt on the vast desert that surrounds it. You will also see several artificial islands such as The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali
Below we suggest what to visit during your stay in Dubai:
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Burj Khalifa
The tallest building in the world with an observation deck on the 124th floor makes the view unique and all the other buildings around tiny. The cost to go up starts at $40 and goes up depending on the services or if you want to go up even higher to the 148th floor. For information and tickets click here here
Also here are the famous fountains where between 20:00 - 23:00 every half hour they perform a show dancing to the music. The cost to see it is free, just get a good seat!!!
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Burj al Arab
The hotel that hascharacterized as sail-shaped 7star from traditional boats of the Arab world dominates aartificial island on Dubai beach. This is a hotel with suites starting at $1000 and upthey arrive several thousand. If you don't stay and You want to visit it you can book breakfast orsomething meal - drink in one of his restaurants. To the right of the hotel there is a public beach where you can swim and admire it.
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Dubai mall - Emirates mall
These are the largest commercials in the world. Inside them, in addition to all kinds of products - shops - restaurants, you will even find aquariums and a ski center... In themselves, they are a tourist attraction, a walk in each one. The Dubai mall is located in the Burj Khalifa and you can combine it with the Emirates mall near Madinat Jumeirah, the little Venice of Dubai. Also, most hotels offer free transportation to the malls. Ask them.
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Madinat Jumeirah
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The Frame Dubai
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The Palm Jumeirah
They are some more of the grand projects in Dubai. We suggest visiting Madinat Jumeirah in the afternoon to walk the streets of little Venice and admire the illuminated Burj ala Arab. Also here you will find a Souk ''market'' with traditional neat products.
the Frame is one of the newest decorations and is a huge picture frame that you can visit by going up to the observatory (fill. click here)
Other activities in Dubai...
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Go on a safari in the Dubai desert
Perhaps the most popular activity in Dubai is to go on a safari. You will drive to the sand dunes, you will see the sunset from the desert and if you want you will ride camels. At the end, in a dance they have created, the groups gather and enjoy a dinner under the stars accompanied by Arabic music and belly dancing. Details about the tours click here here
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Spend a day at the most beautiful water park
If you like water slides and spend a day in one of the most beautiful water parks in the world, then you should not miss the opportunity for Aquaventure Waterpark in the hotel facilities Atlantis the Palm. It was one of the favorite activities on our trip and we really enjoyed it and it felt like a summer vacation. Ticket details click here.
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Visit old Dubai (Deira)
The Deira area is the old and most authentic Dubai. You will find traditional shops in all the closed souks with jewelry, spices and all kinds of products. Also in the area we visited Dubai Museum with the history of the emirate and interactive representations. We suggest you cross the river by traditional Abra boat from Deira Old Souk Abra Station.
Abu Dhabi
Between its natural islands and luxury resorts, sand dunes and cool oases, the emirate has something for every traveller. Additionally, the city of Abu Dhabi, located just an hour and 20 minutes drive from Dubai, was recently named the safest city in the world
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world largest mosques and a massive architectural work of art that deliberately combines different schools of Islamic architecture. It features 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers and the world largest hand-knotted carpet.
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Ferrari World
This is the Ferrari theme park in Abu Dhabi. It is located in the Yas island area near the Formula 1 track. If you visit you will have the opportunity to drive cars of your favorite brand and get on trains that approach the speeds of Formula 1. To see the cost and entry packages touchhere
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Heritage Village
The Heritage Village is home to a number of attractions all managed by the Emirates Heritage Group.
Walk around and you can explore the history of the UAE like a little time capsule that hasn't been modernized with the rest of the city.
You will find a traditional bazaar, a mosque a historical camp and much more.
In addition, you can also shop for gifts and goods from local artisans who demonstrate traditional skills such as pottery, glass blowing, weaving and more.
There is also a small spice shop selling a range of dried herbs, soaps and souvenirs. It is located next to the Marina mall and entry is free.
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Other activities and attractions in Abu Dhabi...
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Louvre museum (admission $17)
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See the view from the Observation Deck at 300 at the Etihad towers
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You can also go on a desert safari from here if you don't go to Dubai.
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Go swimming at Saadiyat Beach