Dubai travel tips: what to know before your first visit

What should you know before a first trip to Dubai?

Six things shape a first visit: the heat, the paperwork, the money, what to wear, getting around and the religious calendar. Dubai is easy on all of them, but each has a local detail worth knowing before you land. This page gives the short version and points you to the guide that covers it in depth. Travelling with children? Things to do in Dubai with kids goes age by age, with strollers on the metro and car seats in taxis.

When is the best time to go?

November to March is the comfortable window. Long-term averages from the UAE’s National Center of Meteorology put the average high at 24°C in January and 40.6°C in July, with almost no rain from May to October. Winter is also high season: Visit Dubai says most tourists come then, and that many hotels, restaurants and attractions are cheaper in summer. The best time to visit Dubai guide has the month-by-month figures and the 2026–27 events.

Do you need a visa?

It depends on your passport, so check the UAE government’s visa checker on u.ae before you book. GCC citizens don’t need a visa, citizens of several other countries can get one on arrival, and the government notes that the list of eligible countries changes from time to time. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you enter.

If you can’t get a visa on arrival, u.ae explains how to apply for a tourist visa: online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai, or through an airline, hotel or licensed travel agent. UAE embassies don’t issue tourist visas.

How do money and tipping work?

The dirham (AED) is pegged at AED 3.67 to the US dollar, and Visit Dubai says international cards are widely accepted, though it’s sensible to carry a little cash. Taxis take cards or dirhams, not dollars. Hotels add a Tourism Dirham fee per room per night, which Visit Dubai says can reach around AED 20.

Tipping is appreciated, not required. Visit Dubai’s tipping guide suggests 10 to 15% in restaurants, AED 5 to 10 for taxi drivers and porters, and AED 5 to 10 a night for housekeeping. Check the bill first: a service charge is often already added, and it doesn’t always reach the staff.

What should you wear, and how should you behave?

There is no legal dress code for visitors, but swimwear belongs at beaches, pools and waterparks, and covering shoulders and knees is appreciated in malls, museums and heritage areas. Mosques ask for more, including a headscarf for women. The dress code guide goes place by place.

Holding hands is fine; excessive public displays of affection are not. Alcohol is served only in licensed venues to people aged 21 and over, and Visit Dubai says there is zero tolerance for drunken behaviour and drink-driving.

How do you get around?

The metro is quick, air-conditioned and runs from 5am most days (8am on Sundays), and one nol card covers the metro, tram and buses. Taxis are metered and easy to find, and Careem and Uber are widely used. Getting around Dubai has the 2026 fares, the hours and the airport options.

What changes during Ramadan?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, subject to the moon sighting. Visit Dubai says restaurants operate as normal and that there are no restrictions on eating and drinking in public for people who aren’t fasting, though you may prefer not to in front of those who are. Evenings get livelier, with iftar tents and night markets. Read Ramadan in Dubai for tourists before you book a trip in February or March.

Is Dubai safe, and who do you call?

Dubai has a low crime rate, and Visit Dubai cites Numbeo’s 2025 index ranking it among the world’s safest cities. In an emergency dial 999 for police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for fire; the Tourism Police line is 901. Before you fly, read Visit Dubai’s travel updates page (last updated 30 October 2026 when we checked) alongside your airline’s notices.

When is the weekend?

Saturday and Sunday. The UAE federal government moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend on 1 January 2022, and u.ae lists Dubai’s government among those that followed. For visitors it mostly affects opening hours: the metro opens at 8am on Sundays, according to the RTA timetable.

Which tours suit a first visit?

A good first trip mixes the modern city, Old Dubai and the desert. The things to do in Dubai hub covers the sights and the desert safari guide explains safaris. If you’d like a driver for a day, a half-day city tour takes in Old Dubai, the spice and gold souks and an abra ride, and a morning desert safari has you back at your hotel by late morning, before the heat.