Dubai What to Pack

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Most Recent What to Pack in Dubai

Leave space in your suitcase for all your shopping
helen2001 profile photo

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helen2001 4 reviews

Luggage and bags: You can buy everything you need and will probably want in Dubai. So if you know that you cannot resist the shopping leave some space in your case or buy another in Dubai.

Miscellaneous: If you are staying at one of the beach resort hotels you will not need to bring your own beach towels. Always supplied for you

The voltage in Dubai is 220v and in most hotels you will find the same 3pin sockets that we have in the uk. So you can bring your own hairdryer etc without need for the convertor sockets.

Updated Jan 12, 2005

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Summer and Winter Packing List
Rinjani profile photo

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Rinjani 592 reviews
Credit Card will be useful for shopping

Luggage and bags: Summer and Winter

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.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 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)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen
Moisturizer
After sun lotion
Panadol

Photo Equipment: 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 :)

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: 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.

Miscellaneous: CREDIT CARD, CREDIT CARD, CREDIT CARD!!!

It's always usefull, especially when you come around Dubai Summer Surprise or Dubai Shopping festival.

Updated Dec 6, 2004

Related to:
 Budget Travel
 Family Travel

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It gets cold at night in the desert
Quero profile photo

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Quero 285 reviews
An hour till sunset

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: If you are travelling to Dubai in winter, take a light jacket or sweater for evenings, especially if you may eat outdoors (e.g. at the Yacht Club or the Aviation Club).

Also, once the sun sets in the desert, it can get downright teeth-chattering nippy.

Written Nov 15, 2004

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Packing List for Dubai
najamrulz profile photo

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najamrulz 150 reviews
Cotton T-shirts

Luggage and bags: Trolley bags and backpacks are recommened.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Suggested items are cotton clothes, shorts, jumpers, good walking shoes, sandals, sneakers and umbrellas. Formal clothes and black shoes are recommended for business meetings. Formal dress is also required for entry at many night clubs.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring sunscreen, deodorants and medicines with you or otherwise you may directly buy them in Dubai.

Photo Equipment: Digital cameras, still cameras, camera films and movie cameras are a must.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Shorts, t-shirts and sandals are suggested for beach activities.

Miscellaneous: Good quality sun glasses are a must.

Updated Apr 11, 2004

Related to:
 Study Abroad
 Business Travel
 Budget Travel

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It's all here
wacked profile photo

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wacked 6 reviews
travelling Arabic style

Luggage and bags: Cool clothes and please check out the temperature before you pack, it can get rediculously hot over here so beware.

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.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Trainers and sandles are groovy. Pack one pair of black shoes as the restaurants wont allow trainers.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: There are pharmacies every where. Buy it here and save yourself the hassel of packing it and some money.

Photo Equipment: 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.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: 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.

Updated Apr 6, 2004

Website: www.godubai.com

Related to:
 Backpacking

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Sunscreen A Must
Cynthia_marie profile photo

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Cynthia_marie 84 reviews
Dubai Beach

Luggage and bags: I brought one large suitcase which was a mistake. I flew Swiss Air and the weight restriction was 20 kgs; mine weighed in at 36 kgs. I paid 100 Euros to get the suitcase on as Excess Baggage. Bring 2 smaller ones; especially if you plan on buying souvenirs.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 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.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Shorts; short sleeve shirts; everyone there wears anything and everything.

Written Feb 21, 2004

Related to:
 Beaches
 Spa and Resort

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Sweat shirt or something warm
Erkmen profile photo

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Erkmen 632 reviews

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 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

Written May 5, 2003

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Beware of the sun
bzh profile photo

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bzh 309 reviews
Photo overexposed because of strong light

Luggage and bags: A small light bag in which you can carry a bottle of water. You will need it even if you don't go to the desert.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 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.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sun block is necessary.
Standard medicine in case you catch a cold thanks to the air-conditioning.

Photo Equipment: UV filters for all lenses. The light can be extremely strong and your pictures can suffer from it.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: 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.

Written Feb 25, 2003

Related to:
 Adventure Travel

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Sun block, sunglasses and jumper
bzh profile photo

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bzh 309 reviews

Luggage and bags: You usual suitcase.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: 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.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Have the usual stuff in case you catch a cold, thanks to the air-conditioning.
Some strong sun block.

Written Feb 25, 2003

Related to:
 Business Travel

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Clothing & Electricity Considerations
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DesertRat 561 reviews

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: If you’re coming at any time between mid-March and mid-October, pack the lightest, coolest items you have in your wardrobe. Bring cottons, linens, or tropical weight wools. Rid your bag of all synthetics because they are simply too hot, and they don’t breathe. Colors are important, too: the lighter the better.

As I mentioned in my dress advisory in the Warnings category, shorts are not the kind of thing one should wear. However, I have a partial answer to this problem: I often wear “convertible” trousers, which allow me to zip the lower legs on and off. This allows me to drive in shorts while appearing properly clothed when I get out of the car. These are highly recommended.

If you’re in the region on business, jackets and ties are often required. Again, let the climate be your guide, and opt for linen, which not only looks good, but is suitably cool.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Virtually anything imaginable is availabe in Dubai, though it would be advisable to bring your supply of prescription drugs along.

Photo Equipment: Make sure you have some small packets of silica gel strewn around inside your gadget bag to counteract the horrific humidity that occurs during the summer.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Women would be best served by packing a one-piece swim suit. Bikinis are out except on private beaches.

Miscellaneous: Electricity considerations
If you’re coming from Continental Europe, Australia/New Zealand, or North America, remember that the voltage here is 240 and that they use the large, three-pole UK-style plugs. Most large hotels will have at least one outlet that permits the use of the smaller European or N. American plugs, but 120 volt power supply is still somewhat unusual. If your hair-dryer, shaver, or whatever uses the lower voltage, don’t plug it in without a transformer! If you do, it fries. That said, Dubai is one of the best places around to buy replacements…

Updated Jan 20, 2003

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