As expected, the most comfortable time to visit Dubai is winter, specifically November through March. Nights then can be cool, dropping into the 50s.
This is not a walkable city. Sign up for tours.
Tourism now accounts for 20 percent of Dubai’s income. Visitors went from 3.6 million in 2001 to more than 10 million in 2012. There are 82,000 hotel rooms, some 20,000 more than just three years ago.
The Dubai World Cup horse races are held the last Saturday of March.
A word on dress: Visiting women do not have to wear a veil but they should dress with sense. There are plenty of women on the streets in jeans and sleeveless blouses, but halter tops with bare stomachs are not a good idea.
On money: U.S. dollars are acceptable, as are U.S. credit cards. But you need local money, the Dirham, in the souks (old markets). At press time, the exchange rate was about 3.6 AED to $1.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
NOT MISS
The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
A desert safari
The traditional souks in Old Dubai
The Dubai Museum with life-size dioramas of the pre-oil era.
A trip to the top of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
At least half a day in the Dubai Mall. At the mall, do not miss the dinosaur skeleton, the three-story waterfall or, especially, the aquarium.
Ski Dubai in the Mall of the Emirates, even if it’s just to take a peek.
A dhow dinner, specifically the romantic and very gourmet Bateaux Dubai.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For Dubai: definitelydubai.com
For tours: gulfventures. com
For Dubai World Cup: www.dubaiworldcup. com
For Jumeirah Carlton Tower: jumeirah. com/en/hotels-resorts/london/jumeirah-carlton-tower