Tourism in Dubai

Tourism in Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates, is an important part of the Dubai government's strategy to maintain the flow of foreign cash into the emirate. Dubai's lure for tourists is based mainly on shopping, but also on its possession of other ancient and modern attractions.

The United Arab Emirates have signed a tourism cooperation agreement with Lebanon on February 10 2009 [1]

Cultural ethics and dress code

Homosexuality is illegal and can invite a jail term and deportation if convicted for being involved in homosexual acts. Kissing in public is illegal, and expats in Dubai have been deported for kissing and having sex in public.[2]

Tourists are required to obey some Muslim religious restrictions in public even if they are not Muslim themselves, such as refraining from eating or drinking in public places in the daytime during Ramadan fasting. In 2008 one Russian woman was put on trial for drinking juice in public during the month of Ramadan.[3]

Dubai has a modest dress code as part of its criminal law.[4] Sleeveless tops and short dresses may not be allowed at Dubai Mall,[5][6] nonetheless they are tolerated and women would not be asked to change their clothing. Clothes are advised to be in appropriate lengths.[4]

Expats and tourists are not allowed to consume alcohol in public, besides licensed venues (such as bars and hotel restaurants) or private homes.

Apostasy is a crime punishable by death in the UAE. UAE incorporates hudud crimes of Sharia law into its Penal Code - apostasy being one of them.[7] Article 1 and Article 66 of UAE's Penal Code requires hudud crimes to be punished with the death penalty,[7][8] therefore apostasy is punishable by death in the UAE.

Accommodation

Tourist accommodation in Dubai is ubiquitous and relatively expensive, and all of the world's major chains are present in the city. In early August 2013, plans for Dubai's first underwater hotel, the Water Discus Hotel, were publicly revealed. Developed by Polish company Deep Ocean Technology, the Water Discus will be the world's largest hotel of its kind and will be in addition to two underwater suites in existence at Dubai's The Palm: Atlantis accommodation venue.[9]

Transportation connections

Most capitals and other major cities have direct flights to Dubai. More than 120 airlines operate to and from Dubai International Airport to more than 260 destinations, making it one of the world's busiest. Dubai is also the home base of Emirates Airline, the international airline of the UAE, which operates scheduled services to more than 100 destinations.

In June 2009 Emirates airline designated a special handling area at departures and arrivals for passengers with special needs, allowing wheelchair passengers to receive a more personalized service.[10]

DTCM has been promoting the Cruise Business since the start of the 21st century. The establishment of the first cruise terminal in Dubai in 2001 and the opening of the enhanced New Dubai Cruise Terminal in February 2010 with higher handling capacity has drawn the attention of cruise line operators around the world. Cruises to Dubai sail from: Singapore, Sydney, Athens, Dover, Venice, Cape Town, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Alexandria, Istanbul, New York, Southampton, Barcelona, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Monte Carlo, Mombasa, Victoria, and Cairns among others.[11]

The United Arab Emirates boasts an impressive network of first-class roads that connect major towns and villages, including a multi-lane highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with access to and from the bordering countries of Saudi Arabia and Oman. Highways and main roads in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are designated by an Emirate Route Number. Speed limits are clearly displayed on road signs and are usually 60-80kph (37-50 mph) around town and 100-120kph (62-74 mph) elsewhere.[12]

Dubai ranked third in the best taxi services behind Tokyo and Singapore.[13]

Tourist attractions

Entry regulations

Most travelers must obtain a Visit Visa prior to entering Dubai. However, citizens (and some residents) of Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC) and citizens of a number of states in Europe and elsewhere (including Canada, Australia and New Zealand) can get a free entry permit stamped in their passport upon arrival, valid for up to 90 days. Visitors from other nationalities require the sponsorship of any UAE resident or any company or hotel licensed to operate within the UAE and are limited to a 30-day stay. Citizens of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, USA, Canada, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong may stay for up to 30 days without a visa.[14] Citizens of Ireland may stay for 60 days with a 30-day stamped entry permit, with the option to extend to 90 days for a fixed charge.[15]

As of 2 January 2011, Canadian citizens had to acquire a visa prior to travelling to the United Arab Emirates, but this was later changed and Canadians may now acquire a visa on entry.[16]

Since 2010, the countries that must apply for visa in advance will have to apply the normal ways they do, and business travelers and tourists must stay out of the country for 30 days if they leave the UAE, and then apply for a new visa again.

For citizens of visa-on-arrival countries, the first visa is free but if those who want a second visa for another 30 days must pay a fee of 600 AED (around US$170–190) at the local immigration department in Dubai, or exit to another country by travelling to Oman by road (a 4-hour return trip). In this case, the renewal will only cost 50 AED (around US$13), and is valid for 40 days. This option is available for citizens of countries which may obtain a visa on arrival.

Citizens of Israel are not permitted to enter Dubai.[17]

Legal dangers and drug traffic

Travelers entering Dubai may be jailed for 4 years or more if found in possession (including in the bloodstream and the bottom of the shoes[18]) of illegal drugs in quantities as small as 0.001g, including medicines such as codeine, in part due to the use of security scanners at the Dubai airport which are able to detect drug residue in the blood, although these are not routinely used.[19][20]

A senior Dubai judge was quoted on February 11, 2008, by the Dubai City News saying, "These laws help discourage anyone from carrying or using drugs. Even if the quantity of illegal drugs found on someone is 0.05 grams, they will be found guilty. The penalty is a minimum of four years. The message is clear — drugs will not be tolerated."[19]

A number of travelers have been held pending charge while Dubai authorities test their possessions, blood and urine for any trace of contraband.[21]

A young Norwegian woman, Marte Dalelv, was sentenced to 16 months in jail for "illicit sex outside marriage" after she reported being raped in Dubai.[22] It later emerged that the reason she was sentenced was because she admitted lying about the rape and stated that the sex was consensual after receiving inappropriate advice from her employer. She was pardoned before serving her sentence.[23] See also Prosecution of Marte Dalelv.

Health

No special immunizations are required, but tourists are encouraged to purchase appropriate medical insurance before travelling. Government immunization programs have led to recognition by a travel magazine.[10] As a latest addition to the established modern health care system, Dubai offers online health care contacts of virtually all medical doctors in Dubai.[24]

Shopping tourism

Dubai has been nicknamed the "shopping capital of the Middle East."[25][26] The city draws large numbers of shopping tourists from countries within the region and from as far as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. Dubai is known for its souk districts. Souk is the Arabic word for market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East, China, Sri Lanka, and India would discharge their cargo and the goods would be bargained over in the souks adjacent to the docks.[27] Dubai's most atmospheric shopping is to be found in the souks, located on either side of the creek, where bargaining is part of the buzz.

Modern shopping malls and boutiques are also found in the city. Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport offers merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport.

While boutiques, some electronics shops, department stores and supermarkets may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets consider friendly negotiation as a way of life.

Dubai's numerous shopping centres cater for every consumer’s need. Cars, clothing, jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment and any other goods will all be likely to be under the same roof.[28]

The Dubai Shopping Festival is a month-long festival held during the month of January each year. During the festival the entire emirate becomes one massive shopping mall. Additionally, the festival brings together music shows, art exhibitions, and folk dances.[29]

Cultural tourism

Aspects of Dubai's old culture, while occasionally overshadowed by the boom in economic development, can be found by visiting places around the creek, which splits Dubai into two halves, Bur Dubai and Deira. The buildings lining the Bur Dubai side of the Creek provide the main flavor of the old city. Heritage Village is one of the few remaining parts of historical Dubai, containing preserved buildings. The adjoining Diving Village offers exhibits on pearl diving and fishing. The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire "Shindagha" area into a cultural city, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by.

Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai

Other attractions include the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House; the Dubai Museum in the restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was erected around 1799; and the Heritage Village of Hatta, situated 115 kilometers southeast of Dubai City in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains. The history of the village can be traced back 2000 – 3000 years. It consists of 30 buildings, each differing in size, interior layout and building materials used. Great care was taken to use the same materials as those used when originally built during the renovation such as mud, hay, sandalwood and palm fronds. The Sharia Mosque is an old mosque built in the early 19th century using the same building materials and consists of a large prayer hall, a court and courtyard, minaret and other utility rooms.[30] Other museums include the Al Ahmadiya School.

Business tourism

In 2002 DTCM formed the Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) to conduct all international bids on behalf of the emirate for attracting major events to Dubai.The DCB also carries out comprehensive promotional activities that relate to Dubai as a meetings and conventions destination and organizes and participates in trade shows, workshops and road shows and prepares all collateral to promote Dubai as a leading business tourism destination.

Sports tourism

Dubai hosts the following international championships:

Medical Tourism

Dubai Health Authority has established a program to promote, develop and sustain medical tourism in Dubai. There of the 24 registered medical tourism facilities, 15 are from hospitals, two are from day-care surgery centers and seven belong to multi-specialty clinics.

Statistics

Dubai attracted 13.2 millions visitors in 2014,[31] majority of which come from neighboring Arab countries. Visitors from all parts of the world are also common.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/uae-and-lebanon-sign-tourism-cooperation-agreement-1.50916
  2. ↑ "Women get jail and deportation for kissing on Dubai public beach". gulfnews. 25 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "Russian woman put on jail in Dubai for drinking juice in public", Pravda, 2008-09-23
  4. 1 2 "Criminal Law of Dubai".
  5. ↑ "Dubai Mall dress code".
  6. ↑ "UAE: Dress Code Campaign Urges Extra Inches of Clothing".
  7. 1 2 Butti Sultan Butti Ali Al-Muhairi (1996), The Islamisation of Laws in the UAE: The Case of the Penal Code, Arab Law Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 4 (1996), pp. 350-371
  8. ↑ Al-Muhairi (1997), Conclusion to the Series of Articles on the UAE Penal Law. Arab Law Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 4
  9. ↑ Financialist Staff (7 August 2013). "Hotter Under the Water: A Look at the World’s Most Interesting Underwater Hotels". The Financialist. Credit Suisse. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Dubai Travel Tips".
  11. ↑ "Cruise Hub of the Region". Dubai Tourism.
  12. ↑ "Routes to Dubai". Definitely Dubai.
  13. ↑ "Tourists rate Dubai taxis, shopping to top list". Khaleej Times. 20 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Embassy: Consulate Services". Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC USA.
  15. ↑ "UAE Embassy Dublin - Visa Section".
  16. ↑ "Dubai Visa Requirements".
  17. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/01/dubai-bans-israelis-even-_n_480718.html
  18. ↑ Daily Mail: Briton jailed for four years in Dubai after customs find cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar under his shoe
  19. 1 2 Paul McLennan and Ali Al-Shouk (2008-02-11). "Tourists get drug warning". Dubai City News. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  20. ↑ "Tourists face jail". Dubai City Magazine. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  21. ↑ "Charity issues urgent warning to all travellers to UAE after Briton is imprisoned for 4 years". Fair Trials International. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  22. ↑ Malm, Sara (18 July 2013). "Norwegian woman who reported being raped in Dubai is jailed for 16 months". Daily Nail.
  23. ↑ "Facts behind the headlines of the Marte Deborah Dalelv Dubai sex case". 23 July 2013.
  24. ↑ Gulf News
  25. ↑ Shopping in dubai
  26. ↑ "Shopping Guide in Dubai". Shopping Galore in Dubai. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  27. ↑ Souq - DataDubai
  28. ↑ Dubai shopping centres
  29. ↑ MyDSF
  30. ↑ Destinations Dubai
  31. ↑ http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-attracts-13-2m-visitors-in-2014-up-8-2--591427.html
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dubai.
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