1. Travel guide
  2. United Arab Emirates
  3. Dubai

Dubai refers to both one of the United Arab Emirates and its trendy capital with its delirious skyscrapers, luxury hotels and designer boutiques. On the menu: caviar, champagne, marble, crystal and 24-carat gold! At night, fortunes are displayed, VIPs show up and DJs electrify the track. The spectacle is permanent in this city where all nationalities, luxury cars and giant boats live together. A concentration of excesses and records with the 830 m high Burj Khalifa, the widest 7-voice highway in the world, a marina with 200 skyscrapers, the Burj Al Arab, a self-proclaimed only 7-star hotel in the world with a gold-plated elevator. Dubai is undoubtedly the trendiest place in the Middle East, the one that attracts the jet-set of Arab countries, VIPs from all over the world and tourists of varying degrees of wealth. Spectacular, the immense Palm, an artificial island in the shape of a palm tree with 8,000 luxury villas, and this World, an archipelago of 300 artificial islands that make up the world map. Incredible, this covered ski resort. In addition to its bling bling bling city, which has emerged from the sand in 30 years, Dubai offers a magnificent desert, but also its mountains with the Hajar chain bordering the Sultanate of Oman. And tourists have a great time: seaside resorts and amusement parks, 4x4 race through the dunes, night in tents in the desert, horse races or Formula 1 world championships.... Dubai is the madness of grandeur with no limits.

The must-see places in Dubai

What to do in Dubai ?

guide de voyage, - © Burj Al Arab - Shutterstock.com

Top 10 must-see visits in Dubai

Dubai is a city like no other in the world. It borders the sea and was also built in the middle of the desert. An atypical location that allows its visitors to marvel at the breathtaking views from the tops of its emblematic skyscrapers, including the highest tower in the world to date. With good weather all year round, mythical places for shopping and culture, old quarters and unusual activities, it has the perfect cocktail for a relaxing, ...

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When to go to Dubai?

In the heart of summer, the heat melts the prices and you can afford a stay in a luxury hotel for the price of a small 4-star hotel. The same applies during the Ramadan period, when the country is running at a slightly slower pace and is experiencing a significant reduction in the services usually offered (fewer means of transport, restaurants and bars in the centre closed during the day, amusement parks open for less time...). However, due to the high average hotel occupancy rate, it is difficult to really speak of low season because Dubai is a popular destination during the hot months for people in the Gulf countries. The high tourist season in Dubai begins with the real drop in temperatures at the beginning of November and ends at the end of April, but the best times to go to Dubai are in the off-seasons: autumn and spring. In winter, many commercial, sporting and cultural events take place and the days are beautiful. On the other hand, the full summer is hot, so we take refuge in the malls, swim in the refrigerated swimming pools and the country plays the night owl, living between 8pm and 3am. The best season to discover Dubai is four months: October to the end of November and March-April. The average temperature is 30°C during the day and does not fall below 20-24°C at night. The temperature of sea water and swimming pools is ideal, around 28 °C. From the end of November to March, it is winter. Temperatures are mild, around 24°C from December to February. The evenings may then seem a little chilly. And if you have decided to spend the night in the desert, be aware that mercury can drop to 10°C. You should also know that the sea is 20°C in the middle of winter and the beaches are deserted.

  • Weather forecast
  • Budget
  • Procedures
  • Health
  • Discovery
Weather at the moment
Weather all year round

Dubai's climate is subtropical and arid. Winter is mild and sunny (10/30°C) with occasional sandstorms and cold nights. The coldest months are December, January and February. Possibility of scattered and irregular rains. Evenings can be cool, especially in the desert and mountains of Dubai, where mercury can drop to 10°C. Summer is hot and humid, and the temperature is hot: up to 48°C. The most favourable weather for this destination is in winter.

Budget

The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), divided into 100 threads. The cost of living in Dubai is about 20% higher than in a major European city, with the exception of car rentals, which are more economical. Hotel prices vary according to the season and promotions. In low season, luxury hotels with an excellent price-quality ratio can be found. We eat well and cheaply in Chinese, Indian and Pakistani restaurants. Very good and expensive in large hotels

Procedures

For Dubai, passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of return. Visiting visa: European nationals receive a stamp free of charge on arrival at Dubai airport indicating an authorised stay of up to 90 days, which can be done in one or more stages over a period of 180 days. The visa concerns the 7 emirates where free movement is allowed.

Health

No real hygiene problems in the United Arab Emirates, where tap water is even drinkable. But since it doesn't taste good, people are used to drinking mineral water. There is no risk of stings or bites from poisonous animals in the city. No vaccinations or health certificates are required. Only a vaccination against yellow fever is required for Europeans who have recently lived or travelled in a country in Africa or Latin America where the disease exists. And even if you have come a long way to look for it, the worst enemy of your health will be the sun

How to go to Dubai? Our advice & tips

  • Organised trips
  • Going alone
  • Moving around

This formula can be interesting for proposals for unusual discoveries accompanied by a guide. We will show you a super-luxurious apartment, a large hotel, the kitchens of a large restaurant, excursions in the desert, a festive evening, original seaside resorts or some VIP services, just to make the most of the ambient luxury. Also classic stays, flight, hotel, beach.

Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destination

No difficulty to organize your stay yourself. There are many air-only flights to Dubai. The choice of hotels is very wide. You can rent a car to reach Doha, for example, and discover another Emirate. Public transport and taxis make it easy for you to discover Dubai. Call on an excursionist on site to discover the desert.

There are four main means of transport available to tourists: metro, taxi, bus and boat (water taxi or abra). Two-wheeled transport is practically non-existent and walking, even if all districts offer ever larger spaces for pedestrians, is not yet a common practice either, and one cannot really move from one district to another on foot....even less in the middle of summer

Prepare for your trip Dubai

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  • Tailor-made trip
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Dubai travel inspiration

2 days
Large budget
  • When to go?
    Printemps, Automne, Hiver
  • With whom?
    Couple, Famille, Amis
  • Themes :
    Culture / Patrimoine , Aventure / Sports et loisirs

Dubai, for a weekend
Quotatrip
All tours
4 days
Large budget
  • When to go?
    Printemps, Automne, Hiver
  • With whom?
    Couple, Famille, Amis
  • Themes :
    Culture / Patrimoine , Aventure / Sports et loisirs

Detouring stay in Dubai

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Discover Dubai

Practical information
When to travel?

In the heart of summer, the heat melts the prices and you can afford a stay in a luxury hotel for the price of a smal...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

Dubai's climate is subtropical and arid. Winter is mild and sunny (10/30°C) with occasional sandstorms and cold nig...
Read more about it

Budget

The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), divided into 100 threads. The cost of living in Dubai is about...
Read more about it

Formalities

For Dubai, passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of return. Visiting visa: European nationals receive...
Read more about it

Health

No real hygiene problems in the United Arab Emirates, where tap water is even drinkable. But since it doesn't taste g...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

No difficulty to organize your stay yourself. There are many air-only flights to Dubai. The choice of hotels is very...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

This formula can be interesting for proposals for unusual discoveries accompanied by a guide. We will show you a supe...
Read more about it

Getting around

There are four main means of transport available to tourists: metro, taxi, bus and boat (water taxi or abra). Two-whe...
Read more about it

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