Dubai

By air

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

DXB to your hotel: one taxi or ride-hail car, 20–45 minutes at any hour; the Red Line metro is a cheaper day option, but it is not the plan with bags or after midnight.

Passes

A Nol card pays back after two or three metro rides in a day; a taxi is faster for door-to-door between Downtown and the Marina.

Late at night

The metro runs from about 05:00 to midnight, later on Thursday and Friday nights, and starts later on Friday morning (verify on the RTA site); taxis and ride-hailing run all night.

Arabian Tea House

Breakfast or lunch in an Al Fahidi courtyard: Emirati dishes and tea, no alcohol; go before 10:30 or after 14:00, and book for weekends.

Bur Dubai

Old-town base, lower prices and the abra at the door: choose a hotel with a 24-hour desk and a car-accessible entrance, and expect a 25-minute ride to Downtown.

Downtown Dubai

Shortest trip for first-timers: a tower hotel with a 24-hour desk and a taxi door, a covered walk from Burj Khalifa and the mall; pricier and far from the old Creek.

Etiquette

• Greeting: Right hand, a smile, 'as-salamu alaykum'; let a woman offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or kissing in greeting in public
• Dress in public: Shoulders and knees covered in malls, souks and government buildings; avoid: Swimwear or very short clothing away from the beach or pool
• Mosques: Covered arms and legs, headscarf for women, shoes off; visit outside prayer times; avoid: Loud talk and photos of people praying
• Photography: Ask before photographing people and their children; avoid: Photos of women, police, government and military sites, or accident scenes; posting others' photos without consent is a crime
• Public behaviour: Stay calm and polite in disputes; hold hands at most; avoid: Kissing, swearing, rude gestures and shouting — all can lead to fines or arrest
• Online: Keep posts neutral about the country, its rulers and religion; avoid: Insulting posts, reviews that defame named people, or sharing others' images; cybercrime laws are strict
• Ramadan: Eat and drink out of public view in daylight; greet with 'Ramadan kareem'; avoid: Loud music, eating on the street, revealing clothing
• Emirati hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; sit with feet on the floor; avoid: Showing the soles of your feet; refusing everything

Red lines

• Alcohol only in licensed venues; never carry an open drink outside them.
• No kissing or close contact in public; keep language and gestures polite.
• Ask before photographing people; no photos of government buildings.

Scams (United Arab Emirates page)

• Fake visa and 'express entry' sites: Arrange visas through your airline, hotel or the ICP/GDRFA portals; ignore sites charging extra for a free visa-free stamp.
• Cheap desert safari upsells: Book licensed operators; confirm what is included (quad bikes, photos and drinks are often extra) and the dune-driving safety record.
• Job and visa-sponsorship offers: Legitimate employers never ask for money for a visa; working on a visit stamp is illegal.
• Rental car 'damage' at return: Video the car at pick-up; check the fine and Salik statement before your deposit is released.
• Souk 'wholesale' and fake gold: Buy gold only with a stamped invoice from registered shops; watches and bags on 'upstairs' visits are counterfeit and illegal to import at home.
• Phone and SMS fraud (fake fines, parcels, bank calls): Police and banks never ask for card details by phone; pay fines only in official apps.