what to see & experience?

The UAE actually has a lot to offer. You can easily fill in your itinerary with experiences that will raise your heart rate, empty your wallet, and open your mind, at some instances all in 3:  La Perle by Dragone, SkyDive Dubai, Dancing Fountains, Camel Ricing, Balloon Adventure, The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Undertsanding cultural meals & talks.

typical costs?

UAE has reputation for being very expensive and it is mostly deserved. After all, this is a place where the police cars to keep up with the crims, were turned to Lamborghinis, Ferraris & Bentleys & Gold to go ATM  are like bread and butter. There s' even a computer inside the vending machine that changes the prices every 10 minutes in line with real-time fluctuations in the market. What are you expecting then?

when to go?

The best time to go to this scorching hot cuntry is during its cooler months i.e. between November and April, when the hot sun is a bit at rest. However, the cheapest season to visit UAE is definitely from June to September. Wondering why? Hello. Because nobody in his right mind & lack of an exceptional capacity to adopt to this hell of environment is there. Therefore, the summer season  is like one big Emirati hot deal: Come. Get roasted for free. 

ACCOMODATION - [in Dubai] United Arab Emirates is all about posh. If you are looking for a stunning luxury hotel, you will definitely find it here. Budget accommodation aka hostels is not really a popular option in Dubai and shall be avoided if possible. I stayed in Hotel Atana 4*  that is located 5 min drive from the Mall of Emirates and a few minutes drive from Dubai Marina. The free hotel shuttles and nearby metro station is a great advantage. 6 nights in Hotel Atana in November (for 2 people with breakfast included) = 448 EUR. The service is superb. Note that in summer season the prices of hotels in Emirates drop dramatically to dirt cheap.Kind of hot Emirati deals to attract those who are not afraid of the unbearable heat.

FOOD & DRINKS - You can spend either very little or very very much. Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant = approx. 35 AED (8,50 EUR). When visiting Dubai, trying out the local fast-food scene is a must but extravagant dining in Dubai offers a wide array of options including the award-winning restaurants of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah in Dubai (dozen of oysters approx. 100 EUR). UAE is under Sharia law, but that doesn't mean you are completely banned from drinking in the country. Drinking or being drunk in public is illegal though. You can still  buy alcohol in some resturants and in bars but this is fairly expensive. The penalties for any form of alcohol related offense tend to be quite severe. Bear it in mind. Getting sober in Emirati jail is not the experience you are seeking, am I right?

ACTIVITIES:  Skydive Dubai = 1999.00 AED = approx. 470 EUR; Tour 90 Minute: Palm Jumeirah Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina [The Yellow Boats] = 294 AED = approx. 69 EUR;   The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding Cultural Emirati Lunch = 100 AED = approx. 23,5 EUR; Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai = 51, 85 EUR; Balloon Adventures Emirates = 1195 AED = approx. 280 EUR; La Perle by Dragone at Al Habtoor City - Silver Section = 600 AED = approx. 140 EUR (recently available package offers and huge discounts); SkiDubai - Ultimate Penguin Experience Pass = 890 AED = approx. 208 EUR.

FLIGHTS:  Return ticket from Prague in Czech Republic to Dubai with FlyDubai  = approx. 340 EUR. But flights were booked at the very last moment. The airport shuttle taxi to hotel = 50 EUR. Dubai International Terminal 2 does not have a direct connection with metro. The cheaper alternative is to take a taxi or bus to the nearest metro station and then go all the way by metro, but bear in mind, that it hot in Emirates and you will probably carry some luggage.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:  Adequate travel insurance is highly recommended to be purchased when you travel to Emirates.

TRANSPORTATION: Check out Public Transportation in Dubai. Prices depend on the number of zones you transfer through but passes are also available. Taxis in Dubai are very cheap. The ride from Hotel Atana to Skydive Dubai Palm Drop Zone = approx. 20 AED = 4,7 EUR)

• Skydive Dubai - If you are over 18 and weigh less than 100 kg and have no neck, shoulder, back and heart problems, jump out of a plane over Palm Jumeirah  10,000 feet up in the sky, and feel wind gushing through your hair. Book your experience well in advance (at least 2 months) - suggested jump time - early morning.

• Camel Ricing at Al Marmoom Heritage Village. The racing season runs between October and April, and races tend to take place early on Friday and Saturday mornings. Robot jockeys controlled by operators who drive alongside the racing camels in SUVs were introduced in 2002.

•  La Perle by Dragone at Al Habtor City - The man behind the show is Franco Dragone, an Italian-Belgian theatre director. The whole stage and surrounding area is interactive, moving and changing with the cast. Performers fly through the air. This is a job-droping show that cannot be missed when you are in Dubai. Buy the tickets online and well in advance and enjoy even up to 76% discount.

• Visit Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi - third largest mosque in the world, an Islamic monument of Abu Dhabi and an iconic Islamic architecture. This is an absolute must when you are in UAE. Remember to dress appropriately. There is a cheap bus option to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi but this is too much hassle and heat so do recommended joining one of local group or private tours.

• Balloon Adventures Dubai - Hot Air Adventure with falcon presentation – Gourmet Breakfast with hand-cut smoked salmon, caviar, cold meats, eggs benedict, fresh fruit included in the price plus a ride in a Vintage 1950’s Land Rover to a Luxury Desert Bedouin Camp. Do not get me wrong - the balloon adventure part is cool but the luxury bedouin camp part is lacking authenticity.

• The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding – Authentic Emirati Food [Take away included in the price for gluttons or simply lovers of Emirati cuisine. The centre is located in old historic area of Dubai. They do walks and talks. Funny and down to earth. This is one of my personal favourites.

• Dubai Dancing Fountains - The world's biggest dancing fountains are located right outside the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world which is right next to the Dubai Mall - the biggest mall in the world. This is a quintessence of Dubai. Simply breathtaking and free of charge.

• Dubai’s Old Town is home to traditional markets, authentic meals and cultural experiences. Cross the creek on a traditional abra boat for as little as just 1 AED (if you are requested to pay more, it means you are not at the right station). Delve into gold souk, spice souk, perfume souk, old souk/textile souk. They have your favourite colour and all you need. This is rather intimidating but authentic experience. Bargain a lot and do not get ripped off.

• Try Flyboarding and fly above the sea in Dubai.

POPULATION: The estimated 2018 population of the UAE is 9.54 million. Out of this, the number of UAE citizens is around 11.5% and the remaining 88.5% made up of Expatriate workers.

TIME: GMT + 4

VISA: Non-renewable 30-day visas are available free on arrival at Dubai International Airport for visitors from 39 countries.

CURRENCY: The currency in UAE is the UAE dirham.The best places to exchange foreign currency into dirhams, are the numerous exchange offices  found in malls and souks. The main chains are Al Ansari Exchange, Al Fardan Exchange, and Thomas Cook Al Rostamani. Anyway, In most places you can pay by credit or debit card. 1 EUR = approx. 4, 26 AED.

HOW TO GET AROUND? Almost all public transport in Dubai – metro, buses and waterbuses is covered by the Nol integrated ticket system. You will need to get a pre-paid Nol card before you can use any of these. Cards can be bought (or topped up) at any metro station, at numerous bus stops, or at branches of Carrefour, Spinneys etc. Taxis are also very cheap in Emirates and can be used to get to places where the metro has not reached yet. Believe me in this scorching heat even 5 min walk to the nearest metro station is excruciating but metro still remains the cheapest form to get around.

ELECTRICTY: In the United Arab Emirates the power sockets are of type C, D and G. The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. It means you might  need a plug adaptor to use your electrical equipment.

WHERE TO EAT?  The huge influx of expatriates means that UAE has a wide food offer. In UAE you can find  literally cuisine   from every part of the globe - Indian curries, Iranian kebabs, Italian pastas, just think of any and you will certainly find it in Dubai. I ate mostly syrian kebabs in the shopping malls but you should check out the traditional Emirati restuarnts like Al Fanar Restaurant and Cafe. The absolute must-try when you are in Emirates is Luqaimat. This is probably the most popular traditional Emirati dessert. It consists of small deep-fried dumplings, that are then soaked in a sweet, sticky date syrup. Do not forget to join traditional Emirati cultural meal at The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding .

WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU?  You can find anything in the UAE but if I need to recommend anything specific, this is a head cover, sun glasses and some more conservative clothes for women. After all this is an Arab country. You are not seeking unwanted attraction.

OTHER TIPS: If you are a solo female traveler and to makes matters worse rather young and attractive chick, avoid standing alone in front of any hotel for too long especially in slinky clothes. You might be taken as a prostitute. For couples, public displays of affection, such as holding hands and kissing, are socially unacceptable. There have been arrests for public displays of affection. If you travel as unmarried couple, for the purposes of  your relaxing stay in the UAE, you better get married, at least unofficially.