What You Should Know Before Visiting the UAE for the First Time

It’s your first time traveling to the UAE, great! It’s a place that looks futuristic, and has a lot of oil money. First, two words to keep in mind: respect and preparation.

You are going to be experiencing the mix of Wealth and Culture, and you are going to have the time of your life if you understand both sides.

Preparing for Your First Trip to the UAE

First, it is essential to consider recommendations for choosing travel insurance for UAE. You want to make sure the plan covers:

• Medical emergencies (Hospitals are efficient but pricey).
• Heat emergencies (This is a real issue).
• Lost or delayed baggage.
• Trip cancellations.
• If possible, 24 hour support.

You should check to make sure that the insurance covers:

• Activities that have a lot of risk like desert safaris and dune bashing.
• Choose an insurance company that has travel in the UAE as a focus, not one that has vague small print that states they cover travel in the UAE.

Let’s now see what are the other things to be taken into account!

Culture, Behavior, and Respect

So, you are in a very special place that is, Muslim Culture, Modern, Multi-country, and Very diverse. Picture high speed trains and skyscrapers. But, you will also hear prayer calls and see a lot of people in traditional clothing. Religion is deeply rooted in the Culture, and because of that, being respectful is very important.

• Dress modestly: When visiting public places, please dress modestly. You do not have to cover everything apart from visiting a mosque, but just being respectful goes a long way. A good rule to follow is covering knees and shoulders. Swimwear is only appropriate at hotel pools and beaches but not at the Dubai Mall.
• Public behavior: Public displays of affection should remain minimal! Do not engage in arguments as they can become problematic.
• Alcohol: You can drink alcohol at licensed venues like bars, hotels, and restaurants. Alcohol is not allowed in public places. You can face fines for being publicly intoxicated, for drinking in places you shouldn’t, or for being discredited.

Authorities do not engage with you, but people rule out any possibilities. Respect where you are and have fun at the same time. You will be treated with a lot of warmth and politeness.

Visa Entry

The entry and visa requirements are dependent on your passport. There are some nationalities that do not require a visa, some can obtain a visa on arrival, and others will have to do an online application before flying. There should be no doubts and official UAE immigration or embassy websites should be checked.

• Check that your passport is valid with a minimum of six months from your arrival date.
• Applying for eVisa for UAE: You should submit your visa applications early if your itinerary requires a pre-approved visa. You will mostly obtain an eVisa for the UAE, which means you should download the visa before your flight and store it in your phone. Then, you should print a copy for your airport check-in. Different visa documents will be required if your travel purpose is to work, do business, or stay for a longer duration.

Weather and Dates to Travel

UAE is hot and dry and sunny all year round.

• Summer (June to September): The country experiences extreme weather with over 40 degrees celsius, and very high humidity. Because of this, residents and tourists do their best to stay indoors. If you travel in the hotter months, it is best to stay hydrated and do all your outdoor activities in the early morning and late evening.
• Best Time to Travel (November to March): Choose travel dates between November and March for the best weather. This is the winter and it will be mild and very comfortable to do sightseeing, enjoy the desert and the beaches.
• Safety: Bring sunscreen with you, it is very important during summer to avoid sunburn and the country has a high heat exhaustion risk for tourists. Always travel with medical insurance.

Transportation and Getting Around

The nation has very modern and organized transportation systems, specifically for Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

• Public transport (in Dubai, the metro is convenient, inexpensive, and clean. You need a Nol card (also used for buses). In Abu Dhabi, public buses use Hafilat cards).
• Taxis/ride-sharing: You can get taxis in both cities which are safe and use meters. You can even use Uber and Careem, they are very popular and work just fine.
• Driving: Renting a car is an option for going out of the cities. The roads are great to drive but other drivers can be quite aggressive. Do not drink and drive – the UAE has a zero tolerance policy.
• Long-distance: People travel long distances in cars (private or not). The emirates do not have many trains that go between each other.

Unique Experiences and Attractions

If it is your first time, you should do the popular experiences.

In Dubai:

• Burj Khalifa – You can go to the very top, look over the entire city and then… rethink your life choices.
• Dubai Mall – Not a shopping mall, a whole experience.
• Traditional Souks – For Deira’s spice market, gold market, and textile market.

In Abu Dhabi:

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – The white marble architecture is stunning. Make sure to dress modestly as you will need to wear an Abaya and a kandura which are given to you for free as they are provided to all visitors.
• Louvre Abu Dhabi – And travel time.

All around:

• Deserts: Dune bashing and climbing, camel riding, and sand boarding. Do it and take sporty photos. Do it, and watch photos for sporty activities, make sure insurance will cover adventure activities.
• Al Ain Oasis – larger and quieter, still historical and lush.
• Fujairah beaches – less crowded, perfect for diving and relaxation.

Enjoying The UAE With Trust

The UAE, future, safe and filled with the new. But the real value is how the blend beauty with culture, innovation, and modern values. The key is culture: respect it, the trip, timing the visa, not peak heat and transport.

Most importantly the travel insurance. It secures emergency, protection adventure, lost and delayed baggage, disrupts travel cover. The UAE is safe but travel is unpredictable. Don’t skip this.

By doing those things you will be able to enjoy the country to the fullest. Enjoy watching the fountains dance from underneath the tallest building in the world and from there, walk through ancient oases and enjoy the contrast while sipping coffee. This is what the UAE is all about. Be smart while traveling and, finally, let the country surprise you!