Overview
The UAE is one of the world's great transit hubs and, increasingly, a destination in its own right. Dubai is fast, polished and built for visitors; Abu Dhabi is calmer and culture-heavy. Heat and local laws are the two things that catch travellers out.
Entry requirements
Many nationalities receive a visa on arrival or visa-free entry; others must get a visa before travelling, sometimes via an airline or hotel sponsor.
- Visa on arrival / visa-free: many nationalities, including the UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia, get entry on arrival, usually for 30 or 90 days depending on passport. There's no fee.
- Visa in advance: everyone else applies before flying, through a UAE sponsor (hotel, licensed tourism company, airline or resident relative). Dubai's GDRFA lists 30-day and 60-day tourist visas at AED 200 and AED 300 respectively, plus VAT and sponsor charges. Nigerian applicants face extra conditions; see our Nigeria → UAE brief.
- Passport: GDRFA requires at least six months' validity.
Visa information
Visit visas can be arranged through official government channels and, for many travellers, through the UAE-based airline they're flying with. Be cautious with unofficial agents.
Best time to visit
November to March. Summer temperatures are extreme — outdoor sightseeing becomes an early-morning or after-dark activity.
Currency
The UAE dirham (AED). The dirham has long been pegged to the US dollar, so exchange rates are stable.
Typical daily budget
Per person per day, including a hotel room shared by two (2026, peak season November–March; summer is noticeably cheaper):
| Style | Per day | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | AED 400–650 (≈US$110–175) | 2–3★ hotel or hostel, metro, food courts and cafeterias, free sights (souks, beaches, Dubai Fountain) |
| Mid-range | AED 900–1,650 (≈US$245–450) | 4★ hotel, taxis, restaurant meals, one paid attraction a day |
| Comfort | AED 2,700+ (≈US$735+) | Beach resorts, fine dining, desert safaris and private tours |
Reference prices:
- Casual meal: AED 15–35.
- Mid-range restaurant: AED 80–150 per person.
- Beer or glass of wine in a licensed venue: AED 45–70.
- Taxi flag fall: about AED 12.
- Burj Khalifa "At the Top": from about AED 169 off-peak.
- Tourism Dirham fee: Dubai hotels add this per room per night. It rises with hotel class, from about AED 7 at the cheapest to AED 20 at 5★, so check whether your booking price includes it.
Cards vs cash
Cards and phone wallets are standard. Carry small amounts of cash for abra (water taxi) rides, tips and traditional souks.
ATMs
ATMs are everywhere in malls and metro stations. Decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in dirhams.
Mobile data & eSIMs
The two operators are du and e& (formerly Etisalat). Both sell tourist SIMs at the airport and in malls; bring your passport. Four-week tourist plans start at about AED 49 for 2 GB, and 10 GB costs roughly AED 125–139. du has handed free starter SIMs to visitors at staffed Dubai Airport immigration desks, so ask when you arrive.
Heads-up: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other internet voice and video calls are generally blocked on UAE mobile networks, though messaging works. Hotel Wi-Fi follows the same rules.
Transportation
- Dubai Metro is clean, cheap and air-conditioned — buy a Nol card.
- Taxis and ride-hailing apps are plentiful.
- Between Dubai and Abu Dhabi: intercity buses or car hire — roughly a 90-minute drive.
Accommodation
Huge range: beach resorts, city hotels, serviced apartments. Tourism fees are often added per room per night — check the final price.
Safety considerations
Street crime is low, but the laws are strict. Behaviour that's normal elsewhere — public intoxication, public displays of affection, some medications, drone use, or social media posts criticising people or institutions — can lead to fines or arrest.
Travel insurance
Healthcare is excellent and expensive. Get medical cover, and note that some UAE visas require insurance.
Things to do
- Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai
- Old Dubai: Al Fahidi, the creek and the souks by abra
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Desert experiences (choose operators with good safety records)
Airport information
Dubai International (DXB) is one of the world's busiest international airports and connected to the metro. Zayed International (AUH) serves Abu Dhabi; Al Maktoum (DWC) is further from central Dubai — check your arrival airport.
Useful apps
The RTA (Dubai transport) app, a ride-hailing app, an offline map, and a prayer-times or calendar app if you're visiting during Ramadan.
Local customs
- Dress: outside beaches and pools, cover your shoulders and knees in public places like malls and cultural sites.
- Ramadan: don't eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during daylight hours, including in your car. It causes offence and can have legal consequences.
- Alcohol: you must be 21 to buy or drink it, and only in licensed venues. It's illegal in Sharjah. Being drunk in public is an offence.
- Behaviour: swearing and rude gestures are illegal, including online. So are public displays of affection.
- Photography: don't photograph government or military sites, or people without their permission.
- Drugs: zero tolerance. Some CBD skincare products and e-cigarette refills are illegal.
- Relationships: same-sex relationships are illegal. Unmarried couples can face legal and insurance complications.
These rules come from UK government travel advice. Other governments give similar guidance.
Emergency information
Police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997.