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Dubai is much bigger than it looks on a map — Deira to the Marina is about 35 km. The single most useful thing to understand before you book anything is that the metro's Red Line runs the length of the city, from the airport through Downtown to the Marina, and if you stay near it you will barely need a taxi.

Entry rules, by passport

GCC citizens — Saudi, Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini and Omani nationals need no visa, no permit and no sponsor. Note the trap: this covers citizens, not GCC residents. If you hold a residence permit rather than a passport from those countries, you need a UAE visa arranged before you fly.

Free 90-day visa on arrival covers the UK, all EU and Schengen states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore and Russia, among others. The stay is 90 days within any 180-day period and the visa itself is valid six months from issue. Ireland is an oddity at 30 days rather than 90; Mexico gets 180.

India — no general visa on arrival. Indian passport holders qualify for a 14-day visa on arrival only if they also hold a valid US visa, US green card, or UK or EU residence visa with at least six months left on it.

Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan — not on the visa-on-arrival lists. You need an entry permit arranged in advance, normally sponsored by a hotel, airline or tour operator.

One honest caveat: the US State Department page still says Americans get 30 days, while Emirates lists the USA in the 90-day group. The State Department page has not been updated since 2023. If you hold a US passport and the difference matters to your plans, confirm with your airline before flying.

Getting from the airport

Metro — AED 3 to 7.50

DXB has metro stations at Terminal 3 and Terminal 1. Fares are zone-based and paid with a nol card bought from a machine in arrivals: AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two, AED 7.50 for longer trips. So the airport to Downtown or the Marina costs under AED 8.

Taxi — from AED 20

Airport taxis start at a AED 20 flag-down (AED 25 for a van), against AED 5 on the street. That is official, not a scam — people compare the two and assume they have been overcharged. On top of the meter you pay any Salik toll gates the driver passes through, at AED 4–6 each.

Careem and Uber both operate legally. Regulated e-hail booking fees start at AED 9 off-peak, AED 13 at peak and AED 10 overnight, with the fare on top. Careem generally has better local coverage; Uber owns it.

Where to stay

Rates below are typical mid-range per night. For context, Dubai's official citywide average daily rate was AED 579 in 2025. Prices drop 40–60% in June, July and August — the heat is the reason, but if you plan to move between air-conditioned spaces it is the cheapest time to visit by a wide margin.

Agoda is often cheaper for the same properties in this region, so it is worth checking both before you book.

What things cost

Cost-of-living figures dated 15 August 2026; attraction prices from official ticketing. Note: the Museum of the Future is scheduled to close temporarily from 1 September 2026 — check before planning around it.

Should you rent a car?

For a city-only trip, no. The metro covers the tourist spine, taxis are cheap and metered, and you avoid tolls, parking zones and a very unforgiving fine regime. Rent only if you are driving to Abu Dhabi, Hatta, Al Ain or the east coast — where it genuinely opens the country up.

Licences. GCC nationals drive on their home licence. Nationals of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa and most EU states are recognised for tourist driving. Everyone else needs an International Driving Permit alongside their home licence — and it must be issued in your own country before you arrive, because you cannot get one in the UAE. Confirm your specific nationality with the rental company; the UAE does not publish a clean public list.

Salik tolls are AED 6 per gate at peak (06:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00, Monday to Saturday), AED 4 off-peak, and free between 01:00 and 06:00. Sheikh Zayed Road has several gates, so one cross-city trip can quietly cost AED 12–24, which the rental company bills back to you with a fee on top.

Staying connected

Three networks — e& (formerly Etisalat), du and Virgin Mobile. Coverage is excellent everywhere, including in the metro tunnels. Tourist SIMs are sold in every terminal and mall; bring your passport.

Weather, and why summer is brutal

The number that matters is the July and August low: it stays above 31°C overnight. There is no cool part of the day, and at 32.5°C the sea gives no relief either. The record high is 49°C. December to February is the comfortable window; March and November are the best compromise if you want to swim.

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting. Visiting during Ramadan is much easier than it used to be — restaurants stay open in daylight, alcohol service continues, and malls run long night hours. Do not eat or drink while walking around in public, dress more conservatively, and avoid driving in the hour before sunset.

Laws that catch visitors out

• Drinking in public is illegal, as is being drunk in public. Legal age is 21. Neighbouring Sharjah — where some cheaper hotels are — is completely dry.
• Drugs carry a minimum three-month prison term for even trace amounts, and that includes substances detectable in your bloodstream on arrival. Some CBD products, vape refills and skincare items contain banned ingredients. Carry prescriptions and documentation.
• Swearing and rude gestures are criminal offences — including in text messages and online. So are public displays of affection.
• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered in public; swimwear only at pools and beaches.