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Need to Know First Time in Dubai• Visa: IndiantravellersneedavalidvisatoentertheUAE.Applywellinadvance.
• Passport: Makesurethatyourpassportisvalidforatleastsixmonthsafteryourdateofentry.Whiletravellingkeepitinthehotelsafeandcarryaphotocopywithyou.
• NOL Cards: GetyourselfaNOLCard(smartcard)whichallowsyoutopayforallformsofpublictransport,includingmetro,busesandwatertaxis.
ADVANCE PLANNING• Three to one month before departure: Startshoppingforairlinefares,bookingaccommodation,ensurepropervalidityofyourpassportandapplyforvisa.
• Three weeks before departure: Bookyourdesertsafaritripandanyculturalshowsavailableonline.
• One day before departure: Checkyourticketprintoutandvisadocuments.Checkairlinepolicyforbaggageallowance.
WHAT TO PACKTheweatherofDubai,aswithanycityinthemiddleofadesert,varieshugelyfromseasontoseason.Whilesummerscanbeoppressivelyhotandhumid,winterscanbesurprisinglychilly.Itiswisetolookataweatherforecastsitebeforeyougoandpackaccordingly.However,werecommendyoucarrythese:
• Lightwash-and-wearclothes.
• Slip-onshoes,slippers,sandals.
• Sunscreen,hat,shades,wateranddust-proofmoney/passportbag.
• Ascarfforwomentocovertheirheadsinareligiousplace,say,JumeirahMosque.
• IfyouareinDubaiduringwinters,lightsweatersandjackets.
• Prescriptiondrugs(retainpurchaseslip).
Arriving in DubaiTRANSPORT FROM DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTDubaihasthreeinternationalterminals(allwithincitylimits)withexcellenttransportfacilitiesconnectingtravellerstovariouspartsofthecity.
• Metro: DubaiMetrooperatesbetween6amto12am(exceptonFriday1pm–12am).Terminals1and3havedirectaccesstothemetro(MaxticketcostDh14).Travelabovethemaxlimitisfree.
For detailed information, see Travellers' Helpdesk on p204
When to Go• November to March: Theweatherispleasantandtherearelotsofeventshappeningaroundtown.SincemosttouriststoDubaiarriveatthistime,hotelratestendtoshootup.
• April to October: Dubaiturnsintoasaunainthesummermonths.InJulyandAugustaveragedaytimetemperaturesarearound430Cwith85%humiditywhichcaneasilyshootupto480Cwith95%humidity.Justsoyougetafairidea,it’slikecombiningtheheatofDelhiwiththehumidityofKolkataorMumbai.Itiseasytogetbargainsnotonlyonhotelroomsbutalsoonshopping.TheDubaiShoppingFestivalusuallyhappensduringthesummerstopromoteoff-seasontourism.Allhotelsandmostmajorshoppingmallsareair-conditioned.
Important Numbers•Emergency %999
•Hospital %998
•Civil defence %997
•RTA %8009090/2844444
•Taxi %2080808
•Telephone directory %181
•Airport inquiry %2245777
•Indian consulate %3971222/3971333(www.cgidubai.com)
•Dubai Country Code +971(forinternationalcallers);04prefixedtothenumberforlocaldialling.(LocalcallswithintheEmiratearefree).
•Al Ameen %8004888(Toreportcrimeorharassment).
Quick FactsLANGUAGES
Arabic,English,Malayalam,Hindi
TIME
1½hoursbehindIST
CURRENCY
UnitedArabEmirates(UAE)Dirhams(Dh)We have used Dh in this book.
MOBILE PHONES
GSMnetworksthroughpre-paidEtisalatandDUSIMcards.
INTERNET ACCESS
Wi-fiiswidespreadandsometimesfreeincafes,restaurantsandmalls.
TOURIST INFORMATION
TheDepartmentofTourism&CommerceMarketing(DTCM)%2230000;www.dubaitourism.ae;24-hourinformationboothsinTerminal1andTerminal3arrivalsatDubaiInternationalAirport.
Traditional wind towers can still be seen above the souqs
FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER
Sample chapter © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher.
43
Eating in Dubai
The Street PlatterShawarmas, falafels and pani-puri jostle for attention, while a walk through Satwa, Bur Dubai or Deira is proof enough that masala chai is not going out of business despite the Starbucks at every corner. Shawarma is possibly the most widely available and arguably one of the tastiest street food items in Dubai. It makes great sense since it can be had on the go, and also because most of the better restaurants are out of range for the budget traveller.
Friday BrunchDubai loves its Friday brunch. Every weekend (which is Friday and Saturday all across the UAE) the city's population flocks to the numerous hotels serving a buffet on outdoor
terraces or beachside cafes, featuring multi-cultural fare, from steaks to sushi.
Vegetarian Options In Dubai, vegetarian food has a sizeable number of fans, mostly comprising people from the Indian subcontinent. Apart from your usual Indian cuisine, Lebanese food, which is widely available, has amazing vegetarian options. Many Indian vegetarian restaurant chains, like Rajdhani (p84), Govinda's (p84) and Saravana Bhawan (p84) operate in the UAE.
Not So Far From HomeGiven that Indians are a vast majority in the Emirates, Indian food has a special place in Dubai’s culinary scene. Dishes from Indian regional cuisines find a place of prominence in many multi-cuisine restaurants.
Despite the arrival of celebrated chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, Sanjeev Kapoor and Vineet Bhatia, you are never really far from a mock Bedouin tent, serving a cup of ghawa (Arabic coffee), or a falafel stand.
Quick FactsPRICE RANGE
The following price codes represent the all-inclusive price of a single dish or a main course.
$ under Dh50
$$ Dh50–200
$$$ over Dh200
Restaurants operating out of hotels add 10% to your bill, while some uber-luxury establishments are known to charge a bit more.
OPENING HOURS
•Smaller cafe-restaurants: 4am–midnight.
•Restaurants: Noon– 3pm, 7pm–midnight.
•Shawarma stalls: Late afternoon to well past midnight.
TIPPING
A tip of 10–15% would besufficient.
•Asha’s (%3244100; Pyramids, SheikhRashidRd,WafiMall;mainsfrom Dh70; 12.30pm–3pm & 7.30pm–midnight) Asha’s menu focuses on contemporary northwest frontier cuisine and secrets from the kitchen of Asha Bhonsle!
•Calicut Paragon (%3358700; Opposite Lulu Centre, Karama; mains Dh15–30; 11.30am–1.30am Sat–Thu & 1pm–1.30am Fri) Expect the best from Kerala: biryani, spicy chicken and crab pepper fry.
•Ashiana (%2071733; Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Baniyas Rd; mains Dh80–120; 7.30pm–11.30pm) Go to Ashiana for the superlative Awadhi-style dum biryani. An added incentive is the succulent kakori kebab.
•Amal (%8883444; Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa; mains Dh200+;7pm–11pm) Probably the most expensive Indian restaurant in Dubai. Come here not only for the food, but also the excellent ambience.
Expert Recommendation A Taste of IndiaShiromi D Anklesaria, Executive Chef of Fiesta Bistros, picks the best Indian eateries in Dubai.
A chef prepares a shawarma roll at a street kiosk in Dubai
An Emirati woman prepares a local bread
FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER
Sample chapter © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher.
6 66666666 6666666
JUMEIRAH PP116–135Blue seas, white sand beaches, watersports, coupled with luxury hotels and fine-dining restaurants.
BUR DUBAI PP68-93Wind towers, cobbled streets, crowded markets, great street-food and a lively nightlife.NEW DUBAI PP138–155
Out-of-the world, to say the least. Expect comfort like you have never experienced.
SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD PP94–115Skyscrapers, glitzy malls, dancing fountains and some more skyscrapers.
DEIRA PP46-67The Creek, narrow lanes, old world souqs and a peek into the 'real' Dubai.
FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER
The different neighbourhoods of Dubai provide distinct experiences in themselves. We have pulled out the top highlights for you to explore.
Dubai at a Glance
Jumeirah
Bur Dubai
Deira
New Dubai
Sheikh Zayed Road
5 6
Sample chapter © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher.
Sample chapter © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher.
7 8
The towering Burj Khalifa dwarfs everything in its vicinity
Sheikh Zayed Road
Why Go?Spend an entire day taking in the sights of this brand-new area, which has positioned itself as the vibrant urban centrepiece of Dubai. The road is flanked by a phalanx of skyscrapers, most famously the 828m-high Burj Khalifa. This is the focal point of Downtown Dubai, which also includes the Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Souk Al-Bahar and several five-star hotels.
Getting There & AwaySheikh Zayed Road, the arterial thoroughfare of Dubai, is connected by the Metro, RTA-operated buses and taxis.
Metro: The Red Line runs through the length of Sheikh Zayed Road up to Jebel Ali towards Abu Dhabi.
Bus: All buses going towards Al-Quoz Industrial Area, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi via the Trade Centre (from Bur Dubai station) pass through Sheikh Zayed Road. Feeder buses link metro stations along Sheikh Zayed Road to Satwa.
Top 4 Highlights• Burj Khalifa (p98) Watch the world being dwarfed from never-before-
scaled heights.
• Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo (p99) Come face to face with sharks in the world’s largest aquarium.
• Ras Al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (p101) Thousands of pink flamingos descend here every winter making it a visual treat.
• Dubai Fountain (p102) This extraordinary choreographed dancing fountain is sure to leave you gasping.
FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER
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Sample chapter © Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without the written permission of the publisher.
FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 109
There are skyscrapers today where once there was only sand. It is difficult to explain the otherworldliness of Sheikh Zayed Road. Within this neighbourhood you’ll find the tallest building in the world, one of the largest malls, a marine aquarium full of more than 30000 species of fish, and a sanctuary teeming with exotic birds.
Sheikh Zayed Road
Walking Tour1 day1 Burj Khalifa 2 Dubai Mall 3 Dubai Aquarium &
Underwater Zoo 4 SEGA Republic 5 Souk Al-Bahar6 Dubai Fountain
Diving with the sharks at Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo
Sheikh Zayed Road has been described as a 'vertical city'
