Dubai is the most visited city in the Middle East, and it earns the traffic: a coastline of artificial islands, the world's tallest tower, desert on one side and the Gulf on the other, and a dining scene drawn from every culture that has settled here. It is also an unusually easy city to visit — English is spoken everywhere, and the infrastructure is built for arrivals.
When to come
November to March is the sweet spot: warm, sunny and comfortable outdoors. Summer (June to September) is intensely hot and humid — perfectly workable if you plan around air-conditioned malls, hotels and an air-conditioned car, but not the season for long walks.
Entry and paperwork
Citizens of many countries receive a visa on arrival; others need to arrange one in advance. Requirements change, so check the official UAE government channels for your nationality before you book flights.
Getting around
The Metro is clean, cheap and covers the main spine of the city along Sheikh Zayed Road. But Dubai is a driving city: distances are long, taxis add up quickly, and many of the best spots — the desert edges, the far end of the Palm, Ras Al Khaimah day trips — are easiest with your own wheels. Renting a car is inexpensive by global standards, fuel is cheap, and roads are excellent. If you would rather not drive, chauffeur transfers are widely available.
What to see first
Start with Downtown Dubai for the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Fountain; then Dubai Marina and JBR for the waterfront; Palm Jumeirah for the beach resorts; and the Deira and Bur Dubai creek-side districts for the older, souk-and-abra side of the city most visitors skip. Add a desert safari and you have covered the essentials — everything else is a reason to come back.
