problems of tourism in dubai

Dubai Is Officially Over The Pandemic, Tourism Hits New Record

Josh Corder , Skift

February 7th, 2024 at 4:29 AM EST

With the help of Russians in the first half, Brits in the second half, and Indians all the way through, Dubai scrapes its best year for tourism.

Josh Corder

Dubai saw 17 million visitors in 2023, the emirate’s best-ever year for tourism and the first year ahead of pre-pandemic numbers. The news was shared in a brief tweet by the city’s crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

The prince wrote: “The city is at the forefront of the global tourism sector, with one of the world’s highest hotel occupancy rates.”

Before Covid-19 struck, the emirate had set out to reach 20 million travelers by 2020 , and it managed to hit 16.73 million for 2019. We don’t yet have a set goal for tourism in 2024.

In 2023, Dubai welcomed a record-breaking 17 million international visitors. This remarkable growth of 19.4% firmly established Dubai as a leading destination. The city is at the forefront of the global tourism sector, with one of the world's highest hotel occupancy rates of… pic.twitter.com/wm0dTfxJEV — Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) February 7, 2024

In 2023, occupancy levels averaged 77.4% for the year across Dubai’s 800-plus hotels and 150,000 rooms. Further information such as source markets, average rooms rates and revenues are yet to be released by Dubai Tourism.

The most up-to-date data we have on source markets goes up to October 2023 but the rest of the year is likely to have followed similar trends. India was the top source market with 1.9 million visitors at that time, followed by the UK with 954,000 and nearby Saudi Arabia with 930,000.

In the first half of this year, it was Russia boosting Dubai’s tourism sector.

2024 Goals for Dubai Tourism

Dubai Tourism CEO Issam Kazim said in December that the emirate would look to improve its marketing around affordability this year.

Speaking at the Skift Global Forum East 2023, Kazim said: “Affordability comes hand in hand with supply. The perception people have of Dubai is because of specific properties and specific districts. Those are the usual suspects. But you can find amazing affordable options in Dubai.”

He said their lack of recognition is a marketing issue.

“We need people to realize all the supply beyond the usual suspects. It’s a marketing issue, it’s a communication issue.”

Kazim added that Dubai as a destination has matured, moving away from building superlative mega-structures for the sake of image, and more towards becoming a place tourists would want to one day live.

He said: “We created landmark projects. Those got us attention. Once we had the spotlight, we began to showcase the beauty here. There are 200 nationalities here, that’s the true magic of the city.”

“People want to raise their kids here, they want to become global citizens. People don’t become “Dubians,” they retain their culture and they become global citizens. This is a multinational city.”

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Tags: asia monthly , Dubai Tourism , Tourism news , travel news

Photo credit: Dubai saw 17 million visitors in 2023. Unsplash / Unsplash

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Out from covid shadow: dubai tourism is back; records 6 mln visitors in 11 months of 2021, city has regained its vibrancy owing to implementation of highest standards of hygiene & safety measures across tourism touchpoints including expo 2020.

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Tourism in Dubai is back on track as the Emirate received more than 6 million visitors in the first 11 months of 2021, surpassing 2020’s for the entire year.

Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, (DCTCM) on Wednesday, said the strong recovery of tourism in the Emirate is the result of strategic measures taken by the government that enabled it to safely navigate and accelerate out of unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic challenge.

In 2020, Dubai had received 5.5 million overseas visitors as compared to 16.7 million in the previous year due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kazim revealed that 9.4 million room nights were sold out between January and October 2021 for domestic tourism alone, reflecting that the focus on staycations is paying off.

“The city has regained its vibrancy owing to the implementation of the highest standards of hygiene and safety across tourism touchpoints including Expo 2020 Dubai to ensure all visitors have a safe and memorable experience. Therefore, having already effectively enforced these citywide health and safety measures, Dubai is in a strong position to overcome any current or new challenges,” Kazim said while delivering the welcome speech at the second edition of the Dubai Accessible Tourism International Summit.

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More than 20 speakers and experts from government and private agencies, in addition to representatives of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), Airports Council International, the World Tourism Organisation and the World Health Organisation, participated in the summit.

He highlighted that Dubai is one of the most preferred destinations for global travellers, largely due to the Emirate’s position as one the safest destinations in the world and the ever-growing diversity of its offering.

Dubai’s tourism sector has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the reopening of the economy and the hosting of Expo 2020.

Momentum continuing in 2022

The DCTCM chief remains optimistic about the future of tourism in Dubai and globally on the back of the rollout of the vaccinations and booster programmes.

“As confidence continues to grow within the industry and among travellers, especially with the rollout of vaccinations and booster programmes around the world, we will continue to build on the gains of 2021 and expect to see momentum accelerating in 2022 and beyond,” he said, adding that Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan will further reinforce Dubai’s position as a tourist destination over the next two decades.

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DCTCM chief noted that globally people are now travelling more consciously, and visitors are doing more research on their travel, hence, their holidays have become more special and seeking more local experience.

“As one of the first destinations to successfully open to international tourists, we are continuously striving to achieve the goal of becoming one of the most preferred destinations for all tourists including people of determination. Dubai is progressing at a steady pace to achieve its vision of becoming the friendliest destination for people of determination. The government is working towards achieving the goal by implementing relevant legislation and adopting smart solutions to provide the best services for this segment of tourists,” he concluded.

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Dubai at the forefront of global tourism recovery, a year after reopening to international travellers

06 Jul, 2021

Dubai at the forefront of global tourism recovery, a year after reopening to international travellers   • City welcomes 3.7 million international overnight visitors in July 2020 – May 2021 period • Overall hotel occupancy of 58 per cent recorded in July 2020 - May 2021 period • 106 per cent rise in domestic hotel arrivals provides major impetus to tourism rebound • World-leading health & safety standards have made Dubai one of the globe’s safest destinations As Dubai marks a year since reopening its borders to international tourists on 7 July 2020, the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) shows the city welcomed 3.7 million overnight visitors during the 11-month period from July 2020 to May 2021. The positive performance reinforces the leading role Dubai is playing in global tourism recovery, underscoring the city’s enduring appeal as a must-visit destination and reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all residents and visitors.   HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said: “The new data reveals that Dubai’s tourism rebound is gathering pace despite the current challenges faced by international markets. The growing momentum of recovery not only reflects the fundamental strengths of Dubai’s tourism sector and the diversity of its source markets but also the emirate’s economic resilience and agility in the face of a rapidly fluctuating global environment. We have seen inspiring commitment and proactivity from all stakeholders in the public and private sector to work together to adopt innovative approaches that can consolidate the sustainable recovery of the sector. Furthermore, Dubai’s ability to implement a rigorous precautionary protocol regime has made the city one of the world’s safest destinations for travelers. As we gear up to host Expo 2020, these exceptional standards will enable us ensure the event provides the highest global benchmarks of safety and security for all visitors.”   According to the data published by Dubai Tourism, the emirate received more than 1.7 million visitors between July and December 2020 from markets that were open, and an additional two million visitors in the first five months of 2021. The evolving travel landscape has brought forth some noteworthy performances from feeder and emerging markets, especially CIS countries like Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and East African markets Ethiopia and Sudan, that have all exhibited strong growth potential to be among the top 15 source markets for Dubai since it reopened its doors to global travellers. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Tourism, commented: “The series of swift strategic measures taken by Dubai’s leadership enabled the city to demonstrate a high level of resilience, foresight and agility in managing the pandemic and eventually take the lead in the restart of international tourism. The resurgence in international arrivals demonstrates our commitment to a diversified market strategy, the ability of our tourism sector to adapt and respond with agility across all our markets, the enduring appeal of our world-class diverse offerings and the trust that visitors place in Dubai as a safe destination. The positive performance also validates the effectiveness of Dubai’s public-private partnership model and our robust international marketing campaigns designed to sustain Dubai’s appeal as the destination of choice for global travellers. The critical role played by our strategic partners such as Emirates, flydubai, Dubai Airports and other industry stakeholders, as they consistently conveyed the message that Dubai is open and safe for all travellers, contributed immensely towards industry stabilisation.” Dubai’s robust tourism rebound is testament to the success of its multi-pronged strategy to combat COVID-19. Inspired by its visionary leadership, Dubai rapidly initiated a comprehensive citywide management of the pandemic, which saw it implementing decisive and effective measures to limit the spread of the virus. The provision of a relief package worth over AED7.1 billion combined with a phased reopening of key sectors and Dubai Tourism’s strong collaboration with local stakeholders and over 3,000 partners worldwide, helped the industry chart a steady course for recovery. Hospitality sector rebounds as domestic market kick-starts tourism recovery Dubai’s recovery strategy, implemented in close coordination with stakeholders, proved crucial in reinvigorating the domestic hospitality market in May 2020, preparing the ground for the return of international visitors to the city in July 2020. Pent-up demand for staycations among UAE residents, both Emiratis and expatriates from over 200 nationalities, drove tourism growth with hotel occupancy rising significantly from 35 per cent in July 2020 to 58 per cent in May 2021. Hotel occupancy in Dubai peaked in December 2020 (69 per cent) and in January 2021 (66 per cent) with the city ranking second globally in terms of occupancy after Singapore and ahead of Paris and London, according to data from hotel management analytics firm STR. Notably, the average daily rate (ADR) recovered from AED238 in July 2020 to AED383 in May 2021. Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19 across sectors, Dubai continues to represent a major opportunity for hotel developers. A total of 591 hotel establishments with 100,000 rooms were operating in July 2020 in full compliance with health and safety protocols.  This has now increased to 715 hotel establishments offering 128,000 rooms in May 2021. The concerted efforts of Dubai Tourism and partners to drive demand for domestic travel saw city hotels welcoming 5.5 million domestic visitors for the period between July 2020 and May 2021, compared to 2.66 million domestic hotel arrivals during the period July 2019 to May 2020, an astounding year-on year growth of 106 per cent. The hotels also enjoyed an average 56 per cent occupancy during the Eid Al Fitr holiday week in May 2021, which though less than the average occupancy of 62 per cent during the Eid week in 2019, highlighted the crucial role played by the domestic market in Dubai’s tourism recovery. Furthermore, domestic hotel arrivals during the Eid week in May 2021 accounted for 62 per cent of all hotel guest arrivals compared to 47 per cent in 2019. Safety Assured As tourists returned to Dubai to enjoy its iconic attractions, experiences and world class infrastructure including beaches, shopping malls, restaurants, theme parks and golf courses, Dubai Tourism remained firmly focused on delivering an exceptional tourism experience whilst prioritising the safety of tourists at every stage and touchpoint of their travel journey, from arrival to departure. A variety of safety initiatives were launched, based on the guidelines of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, including a wide range of precautionary measures, in addition to effective testing and vaccination programmes. The vaccination campaign also covered employees across hotels, considered the frontline of the tourism industry, starting with a pilot programme that saw more than 10,000 employees of leading hotels on The Palm Jumeirah receiving the vaccines. The UAE is currently ranked among the top five nations globally in terms of vaccine rollout. The stringent measures are underpinned by the DUBAI ASSURED stamp, a compliance protocol that certifies establishments within the tourism ecosystem that adhere to health and safety protocols. Inspectors of Dubai Tourism, Department of Economic Development and Dubai Municipality are also taking a zero-tolerance approach towards non-compliance. In 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak, the joint teams conducted more than 140,000 inspections on establishments across the tourism ecosystem. Dubai’s extensive and sustained efforts at containing the pandemic won international recognition with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) awarding the city a ‘Safe Travels’ stamp. The WTTC stamp is also an endorsement of Dubai’s strong global cooperation in combating the pandemic with comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety. Keeping Dubai top-of-mind among global travellers Dubai Tourism’s approach to create a unique positioning and raise Dubai’s consideration among global travellers has been effectively promoted and managed amid the pandemic through global marketing campaigns which have contributed to keeping Dubai top of mind amongst international travellers. A series of digital activations including #TillWeMeetAgain, #Ready WhenYouAre and #LiveYourStory have succeeded in showcasing the diversity of Dubai's destination. Joining this list is the recently launched innovative summer campaign, #Dubai Presents: Summer 2021 to encourage global travellers to select the city for their summer vacation. Leveraging the events ecosystem During the July 2020 – June 2021 period, Dubai held several international leisure events, as well as all major annual festivals and events including the much-awaited Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) and the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) with precautionary measures across the board.  The recently launched 24th edition of DSS will further amplify the city’s position as the summer destination of choice for families and a year-round international events hub. In addition to restarting leisure events, Dubai also developed a successful model for the recovery of the business events sector, which paved the way for the resumption of international events in October and subsequently the hosting of mega events such as GITEX in December 2020 and Gulfood, Arabian Travel Market and Arab Health in February, May and June respectively this year. Since September 2020 to mid-May, Dubai hosted a total of 3,136 business events that were attended by 813,832 delegates. Building on these homegrown events, Dubai also resumed the hosting of conferences and congresses from around the around, in many cases providing organisations and association the opportunity to resume their face-to-face meeting activities and presenting a viable alternative to their original plans. Alternative pathways to boost tourism growth The city leveraged innovative alternative pathways to capture significant new visitor segments. In 2020, Dubai Tourism launched the Retire in Dubai programme offering resident expatriates and foreigners aged 55 years and above the opportunity to retire and enjoy a distinct lifestyle in the emirate, as well as a Virtual Working programme that enabled overseas professionals to work remotely based in Dubai.  Two new initiatives that followed the 2019 implementation of the long-term Golden Visa programme allowed individuals to apply for 10 and 5-year residency. This was targeted at investors, entrepreneurs, specialised talent in art, medical and scientific fields, as well as students and property owners. Dubai also launched other pioneering projects and programmes that will support tourism growth including the new Al Quoz Creative Zone, a dynamic hub for artists and designers.  A host of new developments are set to expand the diversity of Dubai’s offering and add to the momentum of recovery including Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest observation wheel, and the Museum of the Future. These will further build on Dubai’s position as a world-leading business hub, which has been reinforced by the increasing number of multinationals and start-ups choosing the city as their base of operations.

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Economic momentum sets up Dubai’s tourism sector for robust growth

Launch of mega projects in the uae is supporting sector's rapid expansion, keeping it on track to achieve long-term growth targets.

Tourism remains at the heart of the emirate’s growth ambitions and it set to be a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. Reem Mohammed / The National

The economic momentum carried forward from last year and the launch of mega projects in Dubai have set the emirate up for robust growth in the tourism sector this year, putting it on track to achieve its long-term growth objectives.

The tourism industry remains at the front and centre of the emirate’s growth ambitions and is set to be a major contributor to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Dubai Media Office said on Friday.

“Dubai’s ability to simultaneously leverage new opportunities and industry trends whilst navigating the impact of global challenges has made it one of the world’s most attractive and fastest-growing tourism and economic cities,” Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said.

“With a unique and diverse tourism proposition, diversified market strategy, world-leading urban infrastructure, inclusive and cohesive public-private partnership ecosystem and high safety and security, Dubai continues to be the preferred choice for global travellers.”

The tourism industry in Dubai, the commercial and leisure hub of the Middle East, started the year on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels that gives the emirate a head start in achieving its targets over the next decade.

The tourism sector, an important pillar of the emirate's economy, has strongly rebounded from the coronavirus-induced slowdown . Dubai International Airport remained the world's busiest international hub for passengers last year for the ninth year in a row, as long-haul travel demand surged , rankings by the Airports Council International showed in April.

The emirate recorded 14.36 million international visitors in 2022, inching closer to the 16.73 million tourists in 2019, according to DET statistics.

It now aims to exceed the pre-pandemic annual number of international visitors this year, after the emirate recorded a 17 per cent increase in the tourist numbers in the first quarter of 2023, Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), told The National during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on Monday.

Dubai hosted 4.67 million overnight visitors in the three months to the end of March, compared to 3.97 million tourists during the same period in 2022, the DET data showed.

Growth of the tourism industry is also supported by the robust economic momentum in the emirate.

Business activity in Dubai's non-oil private sector economy hit a five-month high in March as output expanded on stronger increases in both jobs and inventories, with growth rates reaching multiyear records.

A raft of measures to support the hospitality sector were set out at Dubai's Arabian Travel Market 2021, including a one-month trial to ease Covid-19 rules for bars, restaurants and live venues. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai's economy expanded by 4.6 per cent on an annual basis in the first nine months of 2022, according to data from the emirate's statistics centre.

Emirates NBD estimates Dubai's full-year 2022 growth at 5 per cent and expects the emirate’s GDP to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2023.

With public and private sector players rolling out a series of mega projects and major global hospitality brands making a beeline to invest in the emirate, the tourism sector is expected to grow at a rapid pace.

In 2022, the emirate’s tourism sector contributed $29.4 billion to its economy, the media office said, citing the World Travel and Tourism Council data.

Dubai’s plans for tourism growth also support the national strategy launched in November last year by to attract Dh100 billion in additional tourism investments and receive 40 million hotel guests in 2031.

Recent investments have also led to the growth of Dubai’s hotel stock to 148,877 rooms in 814 hotels compared to 118,039 rooms in 717 hotels in 2019, a rise of 26 per cent and 14 per cent respectively, the media office said.

Another 8,000 rooms are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023, it said, citing KPMG data.

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Dubai's tourism sector: A testament to resilience and innovation

Dubai’s tourism sector: a testament to resilience and innovation.

Dubai stood out as a brilliant example of perseverance and ingenuity in the face of a global epidemic that brought the tourism sector to a standstill. The emirate has effectively restored its tourism in the last two years, drawing millions of worldwide tourists. It is worth noting that Dubai was one of the first places to reopen its doors to visitors following the global lockdowns. How did the city manage it?

Dubai’s tourist business has been built on a solid foundation and is capable of remarkable comebacks like this thanks to modern technology infrastructure, world-class attractions, and imaginative leadership. The city’s fast expansion continues, promising a bright future for the emirate.

Record-breaking visitor numbers

The phenomenal revival of Dubai is evident in record-breaking tourist numbers. The city received a remarkable total of 3.10 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2023 alone, showing a healthy rebound. The biggest number of tourists from India, with over 401,000 guests pouring into Dubai during this period, is a significant achievement. The month of January 2023 saw a whopping 1.47 million visitors, cementing Dubai’s position as a major worldwide tourist destination.

Impressive growth trajectory

Dubai’s tourist sector is seeing phenomenal growth. The emirate had a remarkable rise of 7.08 million tourists in 2022, representing a 97% increase over the previous year. This exponential rise propelled Dubai’s visitor arrivals to 14.36 million in 2022, bringing the city closer to pre-pandemic levels of 16.73 million in 2019. This exceptional achievement not only exceeded global and regional recovery levels but also earned Dubai’s place as the world’s top destination for the second year in a row, according to the coveted Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

A plethora of accommodation options

Dubai has an incredible choice of lodging options to accommodate the expanding number of guests. The city had 804 hotels with a total of 146,496 rooms as of the end of 2022. The average daily price for a hotel room in Dubai was AED 536, ensuring that tourists have a variety of options to suit their interests and budgets.

A promising future

Dubai’s success in rebuilding its tourist sector opens up new opportunities for growth and development. The capacity of the emirate to recover and draw millions of tourists demonstrates its steadfast commitment to offering excellent experiences and preserving its position as a top global destination. The tourist industry’s sustained rise will contribute to Dubai’s and the UAE’s economic success by supporting job creation, attracting investments, and fueling overall growth.

In a nutshell, Dubai’s outstanding tourist sector rebound during the last two years demonstrates the emirate’s endurance, inventiveness, and dedication to quality. Dubai has clearly established itself as a preferred destination for tourists, with record-breaking visitor numbers, various source markets, and a plethora of world-class attractions.

As the emirate continues to excel in the global tourism landscape, it paves the way for further growth and economic development. With visionary leadership and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Dubai’s tourism sector promises a bright and prosperous future for the emirate and the entire UAE.

Also read: Dubai’s lifestyle and tourism: What makes the emirate a tourist and resident haven

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Home Ward Bound North

Negative impacts of tourism in dubai.

Tourism has over time become an important leisure activity and Dubai, knowing this, has sought to become the leading tourist destination in the world. It boasts of excellent leisure facilities such as shopping malls, water parks, theme parks and hotels. The introduction of even newer projects such as the Dubai World Central and new airports for passenger traffic is bound to increase further these visitors. It is truly an enviable environment.

And yet, as the old adage goes, every coin has two sides and this coin is not any different. Tourism in Dubai has come with its set of problems including:-

Environmental problems

When seated at a beach in Dubai, you are probably enjoying the most sparkling skyline in the whole of the Middle East. It is truly the stuff portraits are made of. But down on the ground, environmental problems have made the city start to be less alluring.

There have been in some places raw sewage disposals in Dubai’s portion of the Persian Gulf. This was as a result of the purification of seawater and the rise in levels of salinity.

As if this is not enough, there have been reports that the city is running out of energy to sustain its busy life which of course is an environmental concern. Providing fresh water that runs all those industrial projects has been a challenge; that and the fact that electricity is also a huge investment.

Of course, all is not the city’s fault, sometimes it is the tourist who fails to behave responsibly and he disposes garbage where he should not.

Commercialization of culture

Dubai has a very rich culture. Its wealth is bestowed on it by its abnormality when it comes to composition. There are over 200 nationalities living in that area which in itself is a huge number. It becomes bigger when contrasted with the small population.  This means that it is possible to be in a region and not find a service provider who speaks your language.

This is generally a good thing when it comes to giving residents a global worldview. One can argue that they learn to be accommodating pretty early. And yet, this culture and the nation’s tendency to take pride in it has led to problems such as depression in young adults and male infertility in residents due to their sedentary lifestyles.

Find a site that advertises Dubai and placed somewhere at the top ten reasons why you should visit is to enjoy the local culture. Unfortunately, this also means that the population of the country changes every 6 to 7 years.

Seasonal jobs

One of the major benefits of tourism is its ability to create jobs. Yet, a side effect that is nearly unavoidable is the fact that those jobs are sometimes seasonal; even if not, the profits garnered will hinge on peak seasons and off-peak seasons giving businesses a kind of imbalance. Some areas in the country have been known to be deserted for long time periods.

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• Research and insights

Tourism Performance Report January - September 2023

Performance reports

Fri, October 20, 2023

Dubai welcomes 12.40M overnight visitors in Jan- Sep 2023, with the highest number of international guests from India at 1.8M.

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Total international visitors

• 12.40 M in 2023
• 10.12 M in 2022
• 12.08 M in 2019

January 16, 2022 6 min to read

7 problems you encounter in dubai, their solutions and dubai expo 2022, category : guides , travel tips , travel and more.

Dubai, Dubai, Dubai!! Our past few blogs have constantly been talking about this miraculous place. 

But, is Dubai worth visiting? Is it not one of those hyped tourism places that put the visitors down?

Well, we haven’t explored this other side of the coin.  Being one of the wealthiest countries, Dubai does have some fantastic resorts and architectural structures. 

But amidst this concrete jungle, do you feel lost in your maze? A maze in search of a naturally beautiful place. 

A maze that isolates you from the chaotic world and lets you peep inside of yourself.  Some of our readers might connect with us at this point. 

So, to present to the readers both sides of the coin, the blog discusses the 7 problems you encounter in Dubai!

We honestly believe that the reader and the visitor should know the pros and cons, the good things, and the bad things about any place before planning their trip. 

But don’t feel disappointed here. This blog won’t ruin your Dubai plans. Instead, it will help you plan your trip in the best way possible. 

So, here we are, the 7 worst things you don’t know about Dubai!!

1) It’s Warm Outside but Freezing Inside

If you plan your Dubai Trip in the winter season, you should highly consider this.  Being a desert country, Dubai has extreme climatic conditions throughout the year. 

Winters are freezing, whereas summers are scorching. The climatic conditions are so fluctuating that, within a day, the temperature might drop from 40 degrees celsius in the daytime to 12 degrees celsius at night.

Apart from this, the sea temperature also rises relatively high to about 37 degrees Celsius during summers. 

Nights usually are cold in Dubai. If you particularly come from a hotter place, you should highly consider taking layers of blankets to shield you in Dubai!!

Golden Tip: We suggest you plan your trip according to the weather conditions you are familiar with. For instance, if you come from a western country like America, you should visit Dubai in the winter!

2) No Natural Vegetation

Dubai’s soil doesn’t support vegetation. 

Apart from this significant problem of soil, other difficulties like water scarcity, extreme climatic conditions, arable land etc., pose a massive challenge for farming. 

The only greenery you will encounter is the roadside gardens planted by the government of Dubai. 

There are very few birds and plants in Dubai. Finding any other living creature apart from Human beings is quite rare in Dubai. 

But, all these points shouldn’t let you down. 

We have shortlisted some places in Dubai that will surprise you with a plethora of flora and fauna. 

Some of them include The Green Planet, Dubai Miracle Garden. 

Golden Tip: Check out our Blog, 15 Not-to-miss Tourism Places, when you visit Dubai to know more about such green places and plan your visit!

3) Things are Not Cheaper in Dubai

A gallon of milk in Dubai costs around 500 Rs. 

Almost everything is expensive in Dubai. Even a bottle of water will cost you a lot more than what it does in your hometown. 

Dubai has been almost constructed on a barren desert. The place was never meant for human inhabitation until people started occupying it. 

Hotels, malls and resorts also cost a lot, and the prices can be frightening to tourists. 

Some luxurious hotels can cost over 15,000 Rs per night. 

Golden Tip: Check out our page to know about the best hotel deals in Dubai. Also, plan your visit with a properly structured budget so that it will help you enjoy the mesmerizing place to the fullest!

4) Malls are designed like mazes in Dubai

Dubai is popularly known for its mind-boggling design and monumental architecture. 

Many malls can give you the vibes of a maze. 

Stretched over hundreds of kilometers, visitors often get lost once they enter the Malls.

Whether you are in the Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates or Madinat Jumeirah, the constant feeling of a labyrinth will follow your shadow!

Golden Tip: Use Mall Store Locator Apps to locate different shops and restaurants in the mall. Also, keep note of the helpline numbers in case you get lost in them!

5) There are Traffic Cameras Everywhere

Dubai Roads are overwhelmed with traffic cameras and speed detector sensors. 

You come down a hill, move around an abandoned path, race your vehicle, BAM; you are fined straightaway!

The visitors are often surprised when they encounter tons of fine receipts without realizing their mistake!!

Every traffic camera records your vehicle’s speed, and if that exceeds the limit set by the traffic rules, you are subject to fine. 

If you fail to pay the charged fine, your car gets impounded.

Golden Tip: Ensure that you know all the necessary traffic rules and speed limits before planning your trip. Don’t forget or ignore the fines charged to you. Failing to pay the fine can just worsen your situation. 

6) You cannot Consume Alcohol without a License

A person must own a Liquor license to consume it in the privacy of their home. 

Alcohol is only sold in hotels and a handful of privacy clubs. 

Also, crossing the Emirates with alcohol is illegal, particularly in the dry emirate of Sharjah, which just happens to lie between Dubai and Ajman. 

You can consume liquor in Ajman, where it’s free for all, but cannot load your vehicle with the bottles.

Also, alcohol can be consumed in licensed public places and only if you are 21 and over. 

Golden Tip: Consume Liquor only inside your hotels and resorts. You must not try to smuggle the bottles from one place to another as you might encounter severe punishments! 

7) Dubai is far from Environmentally Friendly

The artificial islands pose a considerable problem to the ecosystem of Dubai. 

Once part of the protected marine lands, coral reefs, seagrasses, and oyster beds lie choked under a barrage of sea sand. 

The extensive air-conditioning used in Dubai’s residential and commercial hubs considerably pollute Dubai air. 

Apart from these, the constant building of new malls, architectural monuments, tourism places, etc., increase the environmental threat. 

Dubai Lacks an efficient recycling program as environmental awareness is not prioritized.  Loads of waste generated every year lack proper disposing and management. 

Golden Tip: Try to contribute in whichever way possible to preserve the ecosystem of Dubai. An unbalanced ecosystem won’t stand long, given a lack of concern amongst the people!

Dubai is a truly fascinating and mesmerizing place that has compelled visitors across the globe. But, keeping in mind the problems tourists encounter, one should plan their trip considering the solution to the issues. 

Who can better understand the concerns and issues faced by the tourists than Via?

Via has been one of the leading tours and travel agencies that offers a superior travel experience, considering all the loopholes of a place. 

Our travel experts have specially designed the trips to ensure that the visitors don’t face any issues mentioned in the blog. 

Also, this new year, Via brings you a fantastic package that might just fulfill your dream to attend Expo 2022. 

Yea, you read that right!! Expo 2022 is a 6-month long event in Dubai with thousands of performances and workshops, cherishing that crazy part of your soul!

So, what’s the wait for when you have such a perfect partner in planning your Dubai Trip. 

Check out our page to know more about travel packages and offers!

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