If you are a student and planning to visit Dubai, then today’s article is for you. The increasing number of visa rejections has upset Indian travelers planning to visit Dubai. Recently, the UAE has tightened the tourist visa rules for Dubai, which has increased the number of rejections of Indian tourists visiting Dubai. Earlier 99% of visa applications used to be approved, but now the rejection rate has increased significantly. This change has become a matter of concern for Indian travelers.
According to the new rules, while applying for a visa, you will have to upload your hotel booking and return ticket on the immigration department website. These documents, which were previously demanded only by airport officials, have now become mandatory.
New Visa Requirements for Dubai
Your hotel booking must be confirmed and have a QR code on it. You will also need to upload proof of your return ticket. If you are staying with family, you will need to provide proof of residence. Also, if you are applying for a two-month visa, you must have at least AED 5,000 (approximately Rs 1.14 lakh) in your bank account. These documents are now mandatory while applying for a visa.
Bank Balance Requirements for Dubai Visa
With Dubai’s visa application process getting stricter, Indian travellers will have to maintain a minimum balance in their bank accounts. To get a Dubai visa, you will have to show a certain amount of money depending on the duration of your visa. For a two-month visa, you need at least AED 5,000 (approximately Rs 1.14 lakh) in your account, while a three-month visa requires a minimum of AED 3,000 (approximately Rs 68,000).
Visa on Arrival for Indian Citizens
Indian nationals holding US, UK and EU visas and Green Cards can get a 14-day visa on arrival, extendable for another 14 days.
What languages are spoken in Dubai? (# things to know before traveling to dubai)
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Dubai is part of the Arab world, so obviously Arabic is the official language. However, the domestic Arab (Emirati) population in Dubai is relatively small. Out of a total population of 3.4 million, more than 270,000 are domestic residents (official figures in 2020). The rest are foreigners from more than 165 countries who live in Dubai.
85% of the total population of Dubai are immigrants. Most of them are Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Filipinos. Therefore, apart from the official language of Arabic, English is also widely spoken in Dubai. You can converse in English at almost every corner, even in the old markets.
Currency (# things to know before visiting dubai)
The official currency is the Dirham (AED). When arriving in Dubai, do not change money at the airport as the exchange rate is very high. You should change your money at currency exchange points in the city or before you even leave for Dubai.
Also, since the Covid pandemic, contactless transactions have become very popular, so you can pay with card, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. I only used cash once or tipped the delivery man a couple of times when I visited the old market in Dubai.
Weather (# what to know before going to dubai).
Dubai has two distinct seasons: a hot season (summer) and a cool season (“winter”).
In the hot season, with a tropical desert climate, Dubai experiences a hot and humid climate with an average temperature of 43-45 °C. The extremes can reach 50 °C. Summer usually lasts from April to the end of October.
The weather is cool and pleasant from November to the end of March. The daytime temperature is 22-26 degrees, which drops to 20-25 degrees at night. This is also the ideal time to visit Dubai. During this time most entertainment activities and tourist attractions operate at full capacity to welcome visitors. Of course, if you travel at this time, you will face crowds and higher prices than during the warmer season of the year.
Due to climate change, the summer season in Dubai is now much longer than before. My Malay friend who has lived in Dubai for four years told me that just three years ago, “winters” in Dubai were much longer and colder than now. People have to wear many layers of clothing to stay warm.
Dress Culture (What you need to know before visiting Dubai)
Domestic or religious people often wear traditional Arabic clothing.
Men wear a white long sleeve and long lap shirt – called a kandura. Women usually wear a long, loose black shirt called an abaya with a hijab. However, not everyone wears a black abaya, it’s just that black is more common than other colors. Wearing traditional clothing helps keep the body cool and is also a cultural pride of domestic or religious people.
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Apart from traditional attire, practically everyone in Dubai can dress comfortably.
Apart from traditional attire, practically everyone can dress comfortably in Dubai.
However, in public places such as government offices or religious mosques, there is a dress code for everyone. Women often have to wear modest clothing, long sleeves, ankle-length pants/skirts, and a head scarf when entering religious places such as mosques.
Cuisine Food
With a diversity of cultures, you can enjoy cuisines from most places in the world in Dubai: Asia, Europe, Africa, America, Mexico and Arabia. Also, the prices are very diverse too, from affordable sidewalk restaurants to luxurious five-star restaurants. Dubai can offer you everything you want.
However, one thing to note is that Dubai is a Muslim state, so restaurants do not serve pork without being licensed by the authority. If you want to consume alcoholic beverages, you have to go to licensed shops to buy them. These shops are called off-licenses and you must be 21 years of age or older.
Transport In Dubai (UAE)
Dubai has a modern and clean public transportation system, which includes:
- Metro (2 lines Green and Red)
- Tram (only in Jumeirah and Marina area)
- Buses
- There are also taxis, which you can easily book on Careem and Uber.
However, Uber in Dubai is very expensive compared to other places. I recommend everyone to download the Careem app and book Hala Taxi. It is the best option according to your budget.
In addition, cars are widely used in Dubai and are the most accessible form of transport. So be prepared that you will have to spend a lot of money on taxis.
The metro runs only along the main street Sheikh Zayed Road (red line) and part of old Dubai – Deira, Burjuman (green line). If you want to visit all corners and streets, you can easily get there by car. Buses in Dubai run very rarely and you often have to wait a long time.
Another thing to note is that the metro in Dubai only operates until midnight. Meanwhile, the trams run until 1 am. Compared to other big cities, the operating hours are quite short.
For tourists, you can rent a car using an international driving license. Rental cars must be registered with the RTA.
Hotel
Dubai establishes its brand as a tourist paradise, so there are dozens of hotels for you to choose from, from affordable to super fancy. During the peak tourist season (from November to April annually), you should plan in advance and book your accommodation well in advance to get the best price.
One small thing is that when you are a tourist staying in Dubai, you will have to pay a 7% – 10% municipality fee. Let’s call it city fee. This fee will be charged by almost any hospitality service. In addition, hotels and Airbnb may charge you for the following:
- 10% property service fee
- 6% – 10% city tax
- 6% tourist fee, about 7-20 AED/night/room
Security
According to data compiled by the Global Peace Index in 2021, the entire UAE is ranked 52nd out of 163 countries in terms of security. One thing I found quite interesting is that Vietnam is ranked 50th, higher than the UAE.
In my opinion, Dubai is very safe, you can comfortably walk around alone at night. Pickpocketing or robbery is rarely seen. You will not see homeless people anywhere in Dubai because their government strictly manages these issues so that Dubai’s image remains as an attractive destination for tourists.
But keeping yourself safe is never a waste of time. A low crime rate doesn’t mean crime isn’t there, so always be cautious about your belongings and personal effects wherever you go.
According to my experience since I first came to Dubai, women and children are very respected and given priority in Dubai.
The Dubai metro and tram have separate cabins for women and children. Also, these cabins are at the closest distance from the escalator, so that women and children can move easily. So when traveling to Dubai and using the metro, you should take care of this. This cabin has a pink line and a sign that clearly says “For women and children”, so it is easy to identify.
Also, when you are doing administrative procedures and you are a woman, there is a line for you. When I went to get my residency papers, I also went to the general line, but people told me to go straight in because women have their own separate service lines. The process was much faster than I expected.
Many of my other female friends who have been living in Dubai for almost a decade also agree that Dubai is safe for women. So even if you are traveling alone, don’t worry!
I hope this post has helped you understand Dubai better. If you are visiting Dubai as a tourist or are curious to know about life here, check out my next post.
Some of the best day tours, excursions, activities and transfer services in Dubai, from Dubai and to Dubai, tickets you can refer.
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck with Dubai Aquarium & More
Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park
Bollywood, Motiongate And Legoland Tickets At Dubai Parks And Resorts
[Sale] Ski Dubai Admission Ticket
[Sale] Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo And Penguin Encounter At Dubai Mall
- Evening Desert Safari Tour with BBQ Dinner
- Shared Transfers between Dubai Hotel and Dubai Attractions
- Private Dubai International Airport (DXB) Transfers for UAE Emirates
- Global Village Ticket in Dubai
- Ain Dubai: World’s Largest Observation Wheel
- VR Park Dubai Ticket
- Dubai Frame Ticket
- Go Dubai Explorer Pass (3, 4, 5, or 7 Attractions)
- Dubai City Sightseeing Bus Pass
- Dubai Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours (Open-Top)
- Half Day Dubai City Tour
- Half Day City Tour in Dubai with Dubai Frame
- 4G WiFi (DXB Airport Pick Up) for Dubai
- 4G SIM Card (DXB Airport Pick Up) for Dubai
Are you looking for more great things to do in Dubai: tours, activities, attractions and more? Let’s take a look here.
