Planning a vacation in Dubai or making a stopover there? If you’re seeking general information about Dubai, like electricity, internet access, or making phone calls, you’ve come to the right place. Curious about what attire is appropriate during your stay? Our page offers comprehensive practical information about Dubai and traveling to the city. From visa details to water quality, and from electrical standards to local holidays, we’ve got you covered.
Do I need a visa for Dubai?
If you hold a Europe passport, it is not necessary to apply for a separate Dubai visa to enter Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other emirate in the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, you don’t need to arrange anything in advance. Both tourists and business travelers heading to Dubai must have a valid passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months upon arrival. Children must have their own passport.
Upon arrival at one of the two airports in Dubai, you will receive a free stamp (visa on arrival) in your passport at customs, which serves as an entry visa. This visa is the tourist visa and is valid for the entire United Arab Emirates. With this stamp, you can stay in the United Arab Emirates for 30 days. If necessary, the visa can be extended once for a period of 30 days. For more information on the conditions for this extension, it is best to contact the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in The Hague. Click here for the embassy’s website.
Electricity in Dubai and internet
The voltage used in Dubai is the same as in Europe, namely 220 volts. In Dubai, the sockets are not designed for two-pin plugs but for three-pin plugs, similar to the plugs used in England. Special adapters are required to use two-pin plugs in Dubai.
These special adapters are available for purchase in many shops in Dubai, such as supermarkets, souvenir shops, and at the airports. Additionally, many hotels offer adapters for loan or for a fee. If you have a universal or travel adapter, you won’t need a separate adapter, as these usually include the three-pin plug that fits into the sockets in Dubai.
Phone, internet and mail
To call from abroad to the United Arab Emirates you must use the country code 971. If you want to call a number in Dubai, the 971 country number must be followed by a 4. Calling in Dubai with your mobile phone is possible if your provider allows you to call abroad, if you have a smartphone, your device is always a tri-band device and that is what you need. Please note that mobile calls in Dubai to another country or the mobile call in Dubai can be quite pricey.
Those who want to call from Dubai to another country use the country code before the telephone number and omit the zero of the prefix or mobile number. For those who spend a longer time in Dubai, it may be useful to buy a local SIM card. This makes it possible to make cheap calls within Dubai and you can be reached abroad on a local number which also saves money. Prepaid SIM cards from Etisalat for example, are available at various locations, such as the telephone shops in the major shopping centers and at the airport.
Most hotels offer free or paid Wi-Fi in the lobby and depending on the hotel you can also use the internet in the room, via WiFi. Major tourist spots such as the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates also offer a free Wi-Fi connection. Please note that some sites are not accessible because they are seen as offensive.
Sending mail from Dubai
Sending mail from Dubai to Europe takes about 5 days, the rest of the world take a bit longer. In Dubai it is possible in most places to make normal mobile calls, but make sure that in the desert the connection will be a lot worse or not at all possible. For the costs of mobile calls and mobile internet, it is best to consult your provider.
Internet en Wi-Fi in Dubai
Most hotels offer complimentary or paid Wi-Fi in the lobby, and depending on the hotel, you may also have internet access with your laptop in the room, either via Wi-Fi or a cable connection. Additionally, major tourist attractions such as the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates provide free Wi-Fi connections. Please note that in Dubai, there is a “porn” filter implemented on the internet, which may restrict access to certain websites. Even websites that Europeans may not consider pornographic due to the absence of full nudity could be categorized as such by Dubai’s standards.
VPN in Dubai
During your vacation in Dubai, it can be wise to use a VPN. The biggest advantage of a VPN is, of course, the protection it offers against hackers while you’re surfing the internet. With a VPN, hackers cannot access your personal or banking data. Additionally, it’s possible to bypass certain restrictions in countries by surfing the internet with a different IP address, allowing you to use the internet anonymously.
However, keep in mind that strict rules apply in Dubai regarding the use of a VPN. It is prohibited to use a VPN to make calls via Snapchat, Skype, or WhatsApp from Dubai. Those caught doing so risk facing high fines or imprisonment. For more information about using a VPN in Dubai, visit the Gulfnews website.
One of the most widely used VPNs in Dubai and the rest of the world is ExpressVPN. This VPN service is known for its excellent privacy features, wide range of servers in various countries, and offers excellent speeds. ExpressVPN has been one of the best-selling VPNs for years and has its own app for iOS, Windows, and Android, among others. ExpressVPN is popular in Dubai because it is one of the few VPNs that works well with Etisalat, Dubai’s largest internet and telephone company. Other VPNs either do not work or have intermittent issues with Etisalat’s services. This can be particularly frustrating if the hotel or apartment you are staying in has internet provided by Etisalat.
Drinking water
The water that comes out of the tap in the United Arab Emirates is of good quality and can be drunk without danger to health. Yet most tourists opt for the certainty of bottles of mineral water. The advantage of bottles of mineral water is that you can put them cold, especially in the summer months the cold tap water can be on the hot side. The price of mineral water in the supermarkets is very low.
Travel insurance
When going on vacation to Dubai, it’s advisable to take out travel insurance. Of course, you hope to never find yourself in a situation where you actually need to use your travel insurance, but if something unexpected does happen, it’s reassuring to know that you’re covered. Accidents can happen unexpectedly, and in such cases, it’s comforting to know that, for example, medical expenses not covered by your health insurance will be reimbursed, or that the money in your wallet when you were pickpocketed is covered by your travel insurance.
When choosing a (annual) travel insurance policy, it’s wise to compare different providers beforehand. This not only helps prevent being underinsured or overinsured but also ensures you don’t overpay for your premium. If you’re looking to take out travel insurance and want to make sure you’re not paying too much, you can compare travel insurance policies through comparison sites. Using the tool on the website, you can easily compare different travel insurance providers, and by selecting various coverage options, you can see immediately what your travel insurance will cost. You can then easily purchase the desired insurance online.
Clothing rules
Although Dubai is very tolerant you have to take into account the general dress code. Anyone wanting to visit a mosque or public building should take into account the fact that the knees and shoulders are covered, otherwise there is a chance that you will be refused. This rule applies to both men and women. For women, there is also the fact that wearing short skirts or dresses, hot pants and short or translucent tops is not appreciated. Men may wear shorts, but preferably shorts that cover the knees. Visiting a restaurant in shorts is not appreciated particularly in the more luxurious restaurants, there is even a chance that you will be refused. Clothes regulations also apply in the shopping centers, although these are less strictly observed than in public buildings and mosques.
Wearing swimwear is only allowed on the beach, by the pool or in a water park. Topless sunbathing or translucent bikinis are out of the question in Dubai.
Holidays in Dubai
Dubai has a number of Islamic holidays which are celebrated on different dates every year because of the position of the moon. For the exact dates of the holidays and parties such as the Sugar Festival, Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice, we refer you to the World Festivals Almanac.
January 1 – New Year’s Day
August 6 -Throne ascension
December 2 – National Day (celebration of the 7 emirates in 1971)
December 25 – Christmas
Variable holidays (national
Ramadan (different each year)
Sugar festival (after Ramadan)
Eid al-Adha – pilgrimage to Mecca (variable)
Hejra – Islamic New Year’s Day (variable)
Please note that during the Islamic New Year there will be no entertaiment and no alcohol will be served in the locations where this is normally allowed. The dates of Hejra, or the Islamic New Year differ each year and are dependent on the state of the moon.
