The world's tallest building, huge artificial islands with exclusive hotels built in the shape of palm trees, a covered ski slope, a giant shopping mall with an amusement park and an oceanarium, an impressive fusion of modernity and Arabic traditions - these are just some of the reasons luring tourists from all over the world to the metropolis in the United Arab Emirates. During Ramadan, Dubai is especially worth visiting because it is filled with cultural events, and most attractions extend their opening hours.
In just a few hours, you can fly from Europe to Dubai, an extraordinary luxury city in the Persian Gulf, where the temperature never drops below 20 degrees Celsius. In summer, July, or August, the heat is unbearable.
A better time to visit the land of the fabulously wealthy sheikhs would be late March or early April, when it is already a full summer by European standards, but not one that forces you to seek shelter in air-conditioned interiors at all costs.
What is the official currency in Dubai?
The dirham (international abbreviation AED), the official currency of the United Arab Emirates, has a significantly lower exchange rate to the euro. For 1 AED, you will pay approximately 0.26 EUR. In the currency world, the dirham, divided into 100 fils, is among the newcomers. It entered circulation in 1973, replacing the riyal.
"The AED banknotes, renowned for their advanced anti-counterfeiting protection, feature symbolic buildings, plants and animals. However, compared to exchanging cash, e.g. at an airport exchange office, it seems much more convenient and beneficial to use a multi-currency card," notes Robert Blaszczyk, Head of Strategic Clients Department at Conotoxia.
What are the prices in the UAE?
A night in a budget hostel in Dubai can be found for under 100 AED (according to Conotoxia.com exchange rates just over 23 EUR). In the hotels, the prices increase with the number of stars, but they are not out of reach. For two people in a room at a five-star hotel, you can expect to pay around 92 EUR per night. However, you can rent a 170-square-metre apartment for a staggering 3,700 EUR if you want something exclusive.
The cost of living in Dubai is slightly higher than, for example, in Paris or Berlin. There are, of course, exceptions: you have to pay much more for alcohol or access to fitness clubs. Some examples of prices converted into EUR: a meal in a restaurant for one person - 23-35 EUR; a fast food snack - from 7 EUR; a small loaf of bread - 1.3 EUR; a litre of milk - 1.6 EUR; 1 kg of yellow cheese - from 9.2 EUR; 10 eggs - about 3 EUR, and a 1km taxi ride - about 0.8 EUR.
"The UAE has built its wealth on oil, and fuel prices at petrol stations seem unnaturally low from the perspective of a European tourist. A litre of petrol costs only about 0.6 EUR," says Robert Blaszczyk of fintech Conotoxia.
Ramadan in Dubai
Ramadan began on March 10. The tenth and holy month of the Muslim calendar will last until April 9. Although it is a period of fasting, spirituality and abstinence during which Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset, Dubai does not cease its fast-paced life and attractions. On the contrary, shopping malls and eating establishments operate even longer. Additional shows and cultural events take place. Tourists from Europe can visit, for example, the Jumeirah Mosque, enjoy the insane digital shows at Aya Universe or experience an unforgettable walk through underwater tunnels at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Etiquette dictates that during Ramadan, food and drink should be avoided near those fasting.
A trip to Dubai - what kind of paperwork is needed and what budget?
"Before flying to the UAE, we need to have our passport ready, and we will get a free 90-day visa on the spot that is valid for 6 months. This is important for both tourist and business visitors. Dubai is becoming an increasingly popular destination for trade fairs, conferences and other events, bringing together business people from diverse industries worldwide," points out the fintech Conotoxia expert.
Two people will pay around 1,300 EUR for round-trip airfares on the Berlin-Dubai route, for instance. Similar prices should be expected when flying to the UAE from Paris. However, if you plan your trip several months in advance, you can manage to keep costs under 900 EUR.
"A four-night stay costs around 230 EUR. Renting a car - from 23 EUR per day but the whim of renting a Ferrari, for example, would be 10 times more expensive, meaning around 115 EUR. Food, here you can save a lot by dining in bars, which Indian and Pakistani workers mostly use, and tickets to museums, mosques and specialities in traditional markets will cost about 350 EUR. Some attractions are free of charge, but, for example, to enter the Burj Khalifa, the world's highest building (828 m), you have to pay about 40 EUR when converted from the local currency. Shopping malls, local markets and amusement parks are full of temptations that can quickly drain the budget for a day out. However, it seems that a sum of around 2,300 EUR will allow two people to experience four days of incredible excitement", concludes Robert Blaszczyk of Conotoxia.