Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

Society Travel & Tourism
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Hey guys, so I am going to Dubai and Abu Dhabi next month. I haven’t been to middle east before so I am not sure what to pack. I got my international drivers license from AAA today. Is there anything else I should keep in mind? Do I get my credit card working there or just take cash? Any good places to eat/visit? Any thing that I should not miss?

I am only going there for 6 days so its a pretty short trip.

Thnx for any replies

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

Double check with the major car rental companies (Hertz, Budget etc) if they will accept international driver’s license. But since you’re only coming for 6 days why would you need to rent a car? You can bring your credit card with you, but be aware that your CC company will be billing you based on the exchange rate. Take some cash with you too, as taxi drivers, small grocery stores etc don’t take CC. You could always get your currency exchanged however once you get into the country, from any mall.

You’re coming in a really bad weather. Are you coming in sometime July? If so be aware that the entire country will be shut down from like 1 pm to an hour before iftar, since it’s like smack dab in the middle of Ramadan. Here is a thread with links to what to do here

http://www.paklinks.com/gs/travel-and-tourism/640692-trip-to-dubai.html

Bring your most summer clothes ever. You’ll need all of them. Oh and be mindful of the voltage difference. 240 V here. If you’re going to bring your laptop’s charger it shouldn’t be a problem. Other electronic stuff, if you need a charger buy from home

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

Umm, without a car how will I travel? No family or relative lives there so I thought it would save headache of using public transport. I am coming in the end of July so Ramadan would be over hopefully. And thanks for 240V heads up lol, I would be a mullah without my electric shaver and same goes for my laptop. I would find a voltage converter here from home depot or somewhere. Thnx

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

If you’re driving, then make sure you have a GPS…either google maps or a GPS with ME maps. If you’re going to be using Google maps then I would recommend getting a sim from here for the data. Though maybe someone else can give you a better idea. And I hope you’re ready for the driving here :hehe: I mean it’s not crazy reckless like it’s in Pakistan, but it’s still something.

Oh and added to the converter, get a socket adapter too. Sockets here are the UK ones, and you don’t wanna be scrambling at Carrefour looking for an adapter.

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

Rental company said they provide gps systems in english so I think will be fine. And yea driving would be fun, they drive on the opposite side .. hope i remember that lol. Good call about the sockets .. i will hit Radio Shack soon. Thanks for the help, you seem like a frequent traveler lol

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

I went a few years back and only took clothes with me lol. Stayed at a hotel a few minutes from jumeirah beach and it was pretty good. I went in august aswell and it was so hot, even at 2am it was crazy mad hot outside. To be honest it was so hot I didn't get the chance to do many outside activities. Did go on a helicopter ride around dubai, went to palm island, went to jumeirah beach and the burj. Loads of things I didn't get a chance to do but hopefully next time.

I miss the shawarma wraps for 1 dirham. So cheap and best wraps i've ever eaten.

KFC was halal and they deliver, so I finally got to eat KFC for the first time in my life lol.

I didn't rent a car either, used taxis for everything. So many were around it was easy to hail one and pretty cheap to. Goodluck.

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

:smack: they don’t drive on the other side of the road. It’s the same as US/Canada.

Enjoy all the halal meat while you’re here :smiley:

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Re: Dubai/Abu Dhabi?

Like Essie said…I hope you’re ready for the crazy driving in Dubai!!! Hang on to your knickers lol!!! And yea, my sister just arrived back here in the US for her yearly visit (she leaves dxb every summer!) and said it’s already hitting 115 F :eek: On top of that the humidity :eek: :eek:

Oh and please be sure to go to The Meat Co at Madinat Jumeirah and enjoy a steak on my behalf…killer view of the Burj al Arab if you eat on their terrace :blush: