Dubai: A luxurious or budgetary travel during COVID-19

Dubai has forever been on everyone’s list, and with the pace that the city is growing it’s rather phenomenal. Dubai tourism has always flourished and been loved by all the people because of the ultra-modern infrastructure, the luxurious life, and very happening nightlife. The place has not only been ventured by luxury but also by budget travellers as the place has a lot to offer for everyone and the fact is rather amusing how much a place can offer.

DUBAI TOURISM IN COVID-19

After meticulously following all the pandemic safety measures, Dubai has managed to gradually decrease its incidence rate as compared to many other places. After being in lockdown, Dubai is slowly opening under a set of guidelines and regulations. Visitors visiting Dubai have also been issued protocols to follow. Not only will visitors wear a mask on their plane ride but also at every public place or they’ll have to face a fine of 3,000 dirhams. Dubai’s theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure has issued a mask and social distancing rule. Guests who will be staying at resorts will also get to experience something different. A lot of domestic guests are venturing into staycations at great deals at such resorts. To ensure safe and secured travel around Dubai, visitors will have to go through thermal body scanner checks on arrival at hotels, restaurants and malls. Some of the measures resort staffs have planned to undertake includes a walk through sanitizer tunnels. Around the poolside expect to be handed plastic-sealed towels by lifeguards. You will also no longer served menus at restaurants. Many restaurants have started sharing QR codes with guests so that they can access the online version of the menu. One of the famous resort of Dubai, The Palm is offering free Covid-19 PCR tests for international bookings of five nights or more until 18th December. Passengers returning from Dubai to the UK, Europe and other destinations are currently required to take a test no more than 96 hours before departure. They will have to present a printed pass certificate at check-in. Hoteliers are facing challenging times in recovering the losses they have faced this year. Hence a bunch of safe yet customized experiences are being adopted. The famous Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa reopened on 30th June with social distancing protocols for both employees and associates. Many have included sanitizing stations at entrances, front desks, elevator banks and restaurants. Other things include two-meter distancing signage, contactless payment, high-temperature chemicals for laundry, staff sterilization tunnels and frequent temperature checks. In-room hygiene kits are being handed out to visitors alongside rigorous deep-cleaning of all surfaces in rooms and public areas are also practised.

Guidelines to follow while travelling to Dubai:

• All passengers travelling to Dubai from any destination must have a printed negative OVID-19 PCR test Certificate in order to be accepted on the flight.
• The COVID-19 PCR test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure.
• The  COVID-19 test certificate must be for a polymerase chain reaction test. 
• Carry an official, printed certificate to check-in. Digital certificates are not accepted. Without a printed negative test certificate, you will not be allowed to board.
• Children below the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe disability are exempted from taking this test.
• Travellers flying from India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, must get their certificate from a lab that has been listed in the designated laboratories document.
• Travellers travelling to Dubai or with a connecting flight must submit the health declaration form to the staff at check-in. You can also download it and bring it to the airport.
• If Dubai is your final destination, you will need to fill the quarantine undertaking form given and submit it to the Dubai Health Authority staff on arrival.
• You might need to take another COVID-19 PCR test on arrival. After the test, you will have to remain in your hotel or residence until you receive the test result.
• If the test result is positive, you will be obliged to undergo isolation. You will further have to follow the Dubai Health Authority guidelines.
• The download of the COVID19 – DXB Smart App is mandatory.

BUDGET STAY IN DUBAI

Planning for a budgeted stay in Dubai. Don’t worry we have shortlisted the most ideal places that won’t hurt your pocket. 

Visit the Museum

Dubai Museum

One of the main museums of the city, the Dubai Museum was opened in 1971 to display the transformation of Dubai from the historic city to the modern city it is now. Inside the museum, you will get to witness a path of galleries, antiques, artefacts, dioramas( miniature model) and much more. 

Al Bastakiya museum

The Al Bastakiya museum in Dubai lets people in on how the lives of the people were before the UAE was formed and the skyscrapers were built. It dates back to the time of the seafaring trade in Dubai. Most of the trade business of the city had grown out of Khor Dubai, also known as the creek, or Old Dubai. 

Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

 

Coffee Museum

Love sipping some coffee at any time of the day? Then drop by the Coffee Museum located in the Al Fahidi heritage in Bur Dubai. A place which can easily be termed as the coffee paradise, the museum showcases the entire discovery and journey of the coffee beans from around the world. It takes you through insights of coffee in different cultures, different preparation procedures,  appliances used through time to make coffee and the different kinds of beans found around the world.

Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Dubai Fountain

Located at the centre of the Burj Lake in Dubai, the Dubai Fountain is one of the most captivating spots to witness. A great spectacle to witness and a length of 900 feet, the fountain has been regarded as the world’s tallest performing fountain. The unique design of the fountain comprises five circles, two arcs and powerful nozzles that lead the water to an impressive height. Over 6,500 WET Superlights, 1.5 million lumens, 75 colour projectors and gallons of water are used to create a bewitching sight for everyone to witness. 

There are three ways through which you can witness the Dubai fountain, that include the Dubai Fountain Boardwalk, the Dubai Fountain Lake Ride and the traditional Abra. Popular soundtracks of Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman can be heard playing in the background.

Timings: 5:45 pm to 11:30 pm

Jumeirah Beach

Located at the beautiful coastline of Dubai is the famous Jumeirah beach. From the plethora of beaches that Dubai offers, the Jumeriah is among the most pristine. The beach stretches to the south side of the city with the Palm Jumeirah (Largest man-made island). The Jumeirah beach is surrounded by an exotic line of hotels, restaurants and clubs. While laying down on the beach or surfing the waters you will seamlessly be entertained by some of the architectural marvels of Dubai such as- the Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marine Beach Resort, and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.  Alongside the beach are parks and gardens where you can choose to either layout a picnic for yourself or host an outdoor game with your buddies.

Timings: 7:30 am to 10:00 pm

Shopping in Dubai

Big malls of the city such as the Dubai mall or Deira City Center may be too expensive for your pocket. But, do keep an eye if there are any ongoing sales. European brands are specially rated at a lower price in the city so keep your eyes open you may spot a big brand selling stuff at a great discount. There are many outlet malls in the city, where you can shop bags, shoes, clothing and accessories at a reasonable price. However, you can choose to shop some exotic spices at the Dubai creek, household stuff at the Bur Dubai bank and some perfumes at the Deira markets.

Enjoy the races!

Entertainment sometimes comes at a cost. But not always. Following are some of the exciting activities that you can easily watch in Dubai without having to pay a penny.

• One of the most fun things to watch in Dubai is the local wrestling. Every Friday near the Deirs fish market hundreds of labourers ( mostly of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi origins) gather at the wrestling ring to fight. 
• Camel racing is an extremely popular sport in Dubai and many other parts of the world. Just like horse racing, camel racing attracts a lot of crowds that can either choose to witness the race or bet on them. Dubai’s biggest camel race track is located next to Al Marmoom Heritage Village and the Al Lisaili.  Held at the Dubai Camel Racing Club, the race starts at 7 am till 9 am. 
• Horse racing is the national sport of Dubai and considered as one of the most favourites, and cherished things to witness when in Dubai. Every year, starting from November to March the horse race is held for people to experience free of cost. 

Jumeirah Mosque

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and iconic mosques of Dubai, the Jumeriah Mosque welcomes people of religions and faiths to come and learn a little about Islam and the Emirati way of life and religion. The mosque is made entirely of white stone that consists of towering twin minarets that frame a large central dome. 

Tours inside the mosque are conducted by the local representatives of the mosque that lasts for around 75 minutes. Visitors are encouraged to click pictures and are also offered coffee, dates and snacks.

Budget-friendly accommodation in Dubai

Though Dubai is full of many luxurious hotels you can still try getting a budget-friendly accommodation facility in the older side of Dubai that offers many low priced hotel apartments to rent.

LUXURIOUS STAY IN DUBAI

A luxurious stay in Dubai is what everyone always dreams of accomplishing one day. If you have been successful in making that dream true then read the places you can visit to make your trip a memorable one.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Travelling with kids? Then the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo is where you should spend a day at. The area has been divided into three sections- the Aquarium Tank, Aquarium Tunnel and the Underwater Zoo. The arena allows you and your kids to enjoy and grab a plethora of fun experiences. The most exciting being the shark feeding encounter where you can watch divers attract the sharks with buckets of fishes to eat. The best part about the aquarium is the different kinds of dives you can choose to try. A dive into the water with the sand tiger sharks, diving but from the safety of a cage or if you want to go all out and learn scuba diving then the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo offers courses for you to learn that too. They also offer these programs for kids from the age of 5 to 15-year-olds.  

Timings: Monday to Friday ( 10:00 am to 10:00  pm) | Saturday to Sunday (10:00 am to Midnight)

Entry Fee: Adults:70AED | Children: 55AED

Etihad Museum

The Etihad Museum is one of the newest and fascinating museums of Dubai as it has been built at the same spot wherein 1971 the seven rulers of the seven Emirates had come together to declare the formation of the United Arab Emirates. On 2 December 2016, the Etihad Museum was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed, former Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Frequent exhibitions, a library, a theatre and a recreational space for the visitors can be seen inside the museum. Nearby the museum you’ll be able to spot the second largest flag of the United Arab Emirates which has been hosted on a 110metre tall pole and boating rides.

Timings: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Entry Fee: Adult: 25 AED |Group: 20 AED per person |Student: 10 AED

Dubai Mall

Located right next to the tallest Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall has been regarded as the second-largest mall in the world with over 1200 shopping outlets. The mall consists of two major department stores and hundreds of food and beverage outlets. Spread on an area of approximately 1 million sqm (equivalent to 200 football pitches) the mall is perfect to roam and shop your heart out. Shopping addicts or aficionado have over seventy signature outlets to shop, that range from high fashion to haute couture and everything exquisite! The Dubai fall is considered perfect in terms of family entertainment as it houses the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Olympic-sized Dubai Ice Rink, Kidzania, a massive indoor cinema complex and The Village’.

Burj Khalifa

The great Burj Khalifa, the name itself is enough, isn’t it? Earlier called the Burj Dubai, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world since 2009. The 2,716.5 feet showstopper Burj Khalifa offers one of the most incredible views from its 124th, 125th floor and the 148th floor(At the Top Observation decks). If you want to have an incredible and memorable dining experience in Dubai then you should surely lounge at the restaurants such as the Amal, Ristorante, Hashi and many more for an unbelievable ambience. Many tourists choose to flock at the Burj Khalifa during the sunset time, as it makes for the most perfect view to experience. Also, don’t forget to book your tickets in advance well to avoid last moment hassles.

Timings: 8:30 am-1:00 am  

Observation Deck Entry: Adults 125 AED | Children: 95AED

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

The fourth tallest hotel in the world and one of the most expensive 7-star hotels in the world, the Burj AL Arab is regarded as one of the most admired architectural models in the world. Located 280m off the shores of Dubai, Burj Al Arab was built on a man-made island that took a span of five years to be formed. It includes world-renowned facilities and interiors that are bound to leave you mind-boggled and fascinated. 

Despite its massive structure, the Burj al-Arab has only twenty-eight double-storey floors that have a total of 202 bedroom suites.

Apart from gold interiors and Swarovski ceilings, the Burj Al Arab also features the first man-made luxury beach facility that spreads up to a 10,000 sqm platform with two pools, cabanas and a 1,120sqm beach area.

Cayan Tower

The Cayan Tower also is known as the Infinity Tower is a 1,004-metre tall unique structure building in Dubai that is known for having every floor set at 1.2 degrees clockwise. This high rise building was named as the tallest ‘twisted building’ in the world but was replaced by the Shanghai Tower in 2015. It has been designed by the same architectural group (Skidmore, Owings and Merrill) who designed the concept for the Burj Khalifa (Dubai) and the Trump Tower (Chicago). The Infinity tower is technically a residential building but, it has only a few of its facilities open to the public. One of the most incredible 75-floored buildings in Dubai, the Cayan Tower is surrounded by the perfect views of the beautiful sea, marina and the desert.

Desert Safari

The desert safari in Dubai is one of the most incredible joy rides to try in Dubai that is great especially for thrill-seekers and lovers. The deserts of Dubai have been termed as the Pearl of the Gulf that offers mesmerizing landscapes and vast lands of sand that beam under the reflection of the day and night lights. Away from all the tall skyscrapers of Dubai, you get to relive a moment into the sand that stretches up to miles of goldenness. There are many different kinds of safaris that you can choose to try for yourself, depending on the kind of comfort you are willing to look for while experiencing the safari. Some of them include the camel safari, sandboarding, sand-skiing, stargazing, a hot air balloon ride and quad biking.

Luxurious accommodation in Dubai

Dubai is known for its luxurious hotel stays all around the world. One of the most famous stays for tourists is the Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, that offers the views of the incredible dunes and wildlife. It showcases a great amalgamation of heritage and architecture of the Bedouins. The resort has luxurious suites for you to enjoy a great stay with private pools. Other luxurious hotels in Dubai include the Bulgari Resort Dubai, Burj Al Arab, Armani Hotel Dubai, the One&Only The Palm and many more.

TRAVEL TIPS FOR DUBAI

1. The best time to visit Dubai is from the onset of the winter month, November to March as the weather is comfortable for sightseeing throughout the day. Summer months should strictly be avoided as the temperatures are unbearable and all of Dubai goes into hibernation.
2. Don’t forget to carry your travel insurance along with the passport and other important documents. In case you decide to rent a car and plan to drive it by yourself, you must carry your international driving license.
3. Purchase an NOL travel smart card at the airport for payment in any three modes, as cash payment is not accepted.
4. You can carry your international Debit or Credit cards with you and withdraw AED (the currency of Dubai) from the ATMs in Dubai.
5. Dubai Metro is considered as one of the most convenient and affordable ways to travel around Dubai. Do keep in mind that only 2 pieces of luggage per passenger are allowed on the metro. 
6. Hiring a taxi is another great way to travel within the city. Since all Dubai drivers are not well versed with the city you must carry a map with you to avoid any hassles.
7. If you are shopping for gold at the dazzling Dubai Gold Souk don’t forget to compare prices at other stores. Also, if you pay through credit cards they incur an extra cost.
8. Looking to buy some electronic gadgets? The annual Gulf Information Technology Exhibition is the best place to buy electronic products at greatly discounted prices.
9. All nightclubs close at 3:00 AM so plan your day accordingly.
10. Dubai is a country with traditional values, therefore it is important to dress as per the local sensibilities.

Also Read:- TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS AMIDST COVID-19