| Tips on what to pack for a trip to Dubai, posted by real travelers and Dubai locals. Dubai Map |
 | Dubai Packing Lists | Tips 1 - 10 of 24 |  |
An insulated "freezer-bag" for keeping your food & drinks cool is always useful when going into the desert or to a public beach. (these bags can be purchased at most supermarkets in the freezer section)
Dubai is very liberal, but it's still a Muslim city: Keep this 1 Golden Rule in mind:
WHAT TO WEAR DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
M E N should not wear shorts unless they are at the beach. Long, light trousers and t-shirts/shirts with collar are appropriate for malls, museums, souks, etc.
W O M E N, it's obviously more complicated:
When dining/partying at clubs & Western restaurants: Pretty much anything goes.
In malls & "Western" areas: knee-length skirts & tops that cover the shoulders (and stomach) & are not too deep-cut are fine.
When visiting souks, mosques or the museum: it's best to wear long skirts or trousers & loose tops to cover down to the elbows as not to offend anyone & not to attract any unwanted attention.
Golden Rule No. 2: Ladies, if you show too much skin, everyone will think you're a prostitute.
B.Y.O. Sun Lotion! Sun lotion is only used by tourists and Western expatriates in the UAE (Arabs & Asians generally bleach their skin to become whiter, whilst we spend hours trying to tan... crazy world) Therefore, sun lotion is relatively expensive in Dubai and I suggest bringing your own from home.
Also, it can be quite windy at Dubai beaches, which dries-out the skin; dry skin is the main reason we get sunburn. For that reason, sun tanning OILS actually prevent sunburn better than high-factor white, sticky lotions. (I recommend Hawaiian Tropic tanning oils)
Don't take your brand-new, expensive, digital camera-gear to the beach or desert with you unless you have a seal-tight carrying case/bag for it... the sand gets everywhere and can really mess-up your equipment ;-)
photo equipment, that is!!!
A good pair of sunglasses is a must (also for children!) as well as a wide-rimmed hat. Sunglasses can also help to keep the sand out of your eyes... it get's quite windy.
TIP for Women: Instead of going back to the hotel & changing every few hours, to be on the safe side: wear long skirts or light trousers & tops that cover the shoulders. I *always* carry a light cardigan or shawl / pashmina with me to cover my shoulders if I should decide to visit a more "conservative" area... it's also useful to keep warm, as the airconditioning in malls & restaurants can be freezing cold!
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz .
Plugs/Socket: 3 rectangular pins (exactly the same as in the UK)
JULY 2008: PUBLIC DECENCY LAWS in the UAE: http://www.gulfnews.com/gngalleries/galleries/10227399.html<br />
--> UPDATE August 2009: Dubai's shopping malls have now introduced flyers & posters requesting shoppers to dress appropriately. FULL STORY: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Society/10338386.html Leave a Comment
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Whether you're planning a day-trip or overnight stay in the desert, there are certain things you need to take with you. Here's what we take with us every time. Many of these things are available in supermarkets, at petrol stations or at Dubai's DIY store ACE Hardware: http://www.aceuae.com/
Desert for a DAY-TRIP:
> Water! Plenty of H2O for you & also for your car in case it overheats.
> First Aid Kit: bandages, disinfectant spray, burn cream, etc.
> BBQ with coals & lighter fluid.
> Sports/Electrolyte Drinks: by sweating your body doesn't only loose water but also vital salts & minerals. Gatorade, Isostar or similar will help combat any nausea or sun stroke.
> Multiple fully-charged mobile phones with good coverage.
> Cooler box: for drinks & to keep BBQ foods (meat, etc.) cool & fresh.
> Sun lotion (you won't need repellent as there aren't many mosquitoes)
> Toilet roll/wet wipes: dig a small hole, do your business and cover it up with sand to avoid certain "odours" wafting through your campsite.
> Any kind of hat (baseball cap, etc.) & sunglasses.
> Tow ropes: Make sure at least 2 persons have a set each.
> Balloon-air-jack for the sand (punctures are common & any normal jack will, of course, sink!)
OVERNIGHT Camping Trip:
If you're staying for the night, take additionally:
> Mats/Blankets for sitting on.
> Fire wood! there is no wood in the desert, so if you want a camp fire...
> Lights! Torches, storm candles, anything that will help you find your way in the dark.
> A change of clothes (in case of spillage, stinkeage, etc… haha!)
> A pair of good walking shoes (you may not get far in flip-flops)
> Sleeping bags & a sturdy tent: it can get very windy in the desert & in the winter months night-time temperatures drop down to 5-10 degrees Celsius.
> Batteries & a radio: we all know what happens if you leave your car-radio on all night...
> A canister of petrol (just in case...)
And finally...
> Rubbish Bags: PLEASE take your rubbish home with you so you don't affect local wildlife & so the next person can also enjoy the beauty of the desert. Also, hundreds of camels & gazelles starve to death every year after nibbling on plastic bags left in the desert, that then solidify in their stomachs and cause a slow, miserable death.
FULL STORY HERE: http://www3.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10184326.html
> If you are planning a serious off-roading trip, then you might want to consider investing in a GPS sytem for your car. Over the past few years most major roads and even well-known desert tracks & common meeting points have been mapped for GPS. Leave a Comment
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 Credit Card will be useful for
shopping by Rinjani
It depends, if you come to Dubai for shopping, bring extra suitcase. Or you can also buy it here in Dubai. If you don't fancy shopping, light luggage is allright.
Summer
Comfortable clothes and shoes.
A good quality of sun glasses
Bottle water (always carry in your bag to avoid dehydration)
Sunscreen above 30 SPF is recommended
Beach kits (sarongs, swimwear, sandals,etc)
Smart casual dress if you plan to go for fine dining.
Winter
Sunscreen
A good quality of sun Glasses
Jacket or sweater
Comfortable clothes and shoes
Pashmina
Smart casual clothes (if you plan to fine dining)
Beach kits (sarongs, swimwear, etc)
Sunscreen
Moisturizer
After sun lotion
Panadol
Digital camera
Film is easy to find here, and once you develop the film here, usually the shop will give you another film roll for free. Good bargain, isn't it :)
Winter
It's recommended to bring hiking shoes or any outdoor equipment. Winter is the best time for doing outdoor activity in Dubai.
Summer
Well....beach equipment and comfortable shoes are good enough. Summer is not really good time for any outdoor activities beside going to the beach.
CREDIT CARD, CREDIT CARD, CREDIT CARD!!!
It's always usefull, especially when you come around Dubai Summer Surprise or Dubai Shopping festival. Leave a Comment
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Carrying a decent tote is always worthwhile when visiting souks or malls, to avoid having so many bags. The Carrefours shopping bag for 2DH is a cheap souvenir and useful, too. Pack an extra, collapsible suitcase for purchases!
We were there in summer: needed more sandals, more capris (as a woman I was just uncomfortable wearing shorts, tho' others did) and more packable coverups for malls with AC on full blast! I had only taken 1/1 pair of each. Covering up is not required except for mosque, but even short sleeves and capris got some stares...
Keep some toilet paper in your tote if you are going to "heritage" sites or shops off the beaten track, as it may not be provided.
Batteries were plentiful tho' expensive.
Must wear sandals on beach or risk burning bottoms of feet (summer!) Portable battery-powered fans (Walgreens, Brookstone, Sharper Image, etc.) were invaluable for desert dining and day to day, as were cheap folding Chinese fans. Max SPF sunscreen a must. Hang-gliding and boating available.
Floppy hat was useful. Wet washcloth in small plastic bag was comforting. As a Western woman with light hair, I immediately realized I would not fit in! Stares but no comments, and it seemed most who worked in shops, hotels, restaurants, etc., were not from Dubai. Can ski at Ski Dubai (gear for rent) Lots of spas. Zoo a major disappointment. Some history/museums. No art museums, no theatre. Other Contact: osbo@sisna.com
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 An hour till sunset by Quero
Also, once the sun sets in the desert, it can get downright teeth-chattering nippy. Leave a Comment
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Visiting Dubai?
Read reviews about Dubai Hotels
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 travelling Arabic style by wacked
You can buy anything you forget here no worries, but ALWAYS wear suncream. Don't be stupid, I see far too many tourists walking around glowing like a red light bulbs and it just looks stupid and niaeve, we are in a hot country!
No mini skirts, no revealing tops.
Check religiouse festival times.
Trainers and sandles are groovy. Pack one pair of black shoes as the restaurants wont allow trainers.
There are pharmacies every where. Buy it here and save yourself the hassel of packing it and some money.
Camera's are a must, take it nearly every where with you, you will always see the most random things that you will want to shoot.
Shorts t-***rs, the norm. But ladies pls no g-string bikini's unless you want a night in a cell and deffinatly no topless stuff. We are in the Middle East. But feel free to wear normal shorts t-shirts etc, on the beach. Everywhere else try and cover yourself unless you want to be stared at. You'll get the feel after you've been out a few times and you'll know what you feel comfortable wearing and what you don't. Leave a Comment
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 Dubai Beach by Cynthia_marie
Good walking shoes are a must especially in the malls. City Centre Mall has over 300 stores. A light sweater for the evenings is perfect.
Sunscreen
Shorts; short sleeve shirts; everyone there wears anything and everything. Leave a Comment
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Dubai is hot all the year round.. In summer time temperature reaches more than 40 degrees.. However you spent many times inside covered areas and the air conditons are so cold that you will need a sweat shirt while you are in a shopping center.. Dont forget to put one or two in your luggage Leave a Comment
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You usual suitcase.
Comfortable, light shoes.
Light trousers and long sleeved shirts.
A light suit, light colour.
A jumper to put inside: coming from the 50 celsius outside into an air-conditioned building is a very good way to catch a cold.
Sunglasses are essential.
Have the usual stuff in case you catch a cold, thanks to the air-conditioning.
Some strong sun block. Leave a Comment
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 Photo overexposed because
of strong light by bzh
Light clothes. Prefer long sleeved shirts and long light trousers to avoid painful sunburns and to respect the local Muslim customs.
Have a jumper to put inside, in air-conditioned buildings.
Sun block is necessary.
Standard medicine in case you catch a cold thanks to the air-conditioning.
UV filters for all lenses. The light can be extremely strong and your pictures can suffer from it.
The usual beach gear if you are going in winter. If going in summer, don't bother, it will be too hot to even think of lying on the beach or on the poolside. Leave a Comment
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