Geographically located on the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, Dubai has been a popular trade route since ancient times. Soon after the discovery of oil reservoir in 1966, the Emirate has transformed itself into business, trade and tourism hub in the region. Collective efforts have helped Dubai to earn the status of world’s most luxurious city. Furthermore, developers also constructed several huge projects to offer ultra modern entertainment and leisure facilities and sightseeing places to entertain visitors and local residents. The glittering city is also executing the role of an ultimate stopover destination as it is connecting three major continents Africa Asia and Australia. Luxury accommodation facilities, tax-free shopping and other world-class entertainment and sightseeing places have compelled, airlines and travel companies to include a short stay at Dubai in long distant flights to Far East Asia and Indian Ocean countries. Passengers become tempted and book such flight packages, when they come to know they will get the chance to stay in world’s most luxurious city without spending much money. If you are going to travel via transit flight, which include a short stay in Dubai for first time, you may need a stopover travel guide to enjoy your short stay in the city.
Good to know
Once you have decided to book your transit flight with a stopover in Dubai, you need to know few important things like passport validity (valid minimum for 6 months), visa processing to enter in the city, restricted luggage, dress code, carrying medicines, and foreign currency. If you have only 5 to 6 hours stay, it will be good to stay at airport and get yourself entertain in cafes, restaurants and duty free shopping center with in the premises of airport. This will save you from losing your next route flight. Women should wear clothes that properly cover their body whereas men also don’t allow to over expose in public places. Swimsuits only allowed at beaches. You can only carry medicines along with registered doctor’s prescription.
Where to Stay
City offers numerous short-term rental accommodation options at variable rent rates. These options include luxury hotels, resorts, villas and hotel apartments located on the prime position in the city. Many suitable airport hotels have been built within the premises of airport. Stopover passengers who have overnight stay or more than 24 hours stay can book a room in any one of them. Dubai International Hotel, Millennium Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Premiers Inn and Le Meridien are the famous airport hotels offering comfortable stay for transit passengers. These hotels also offer complete business center services like banks, conferencing and meeting facilities.
Shopping and Sightseeing
City offers unlimited opportunities for shopping and sightseeing places. You can even enjoy good shopping at airport’s duty free shop even without stepping out from airport. If you are on a layover of more than 24 hours, you can go to Dubai Festival Center, Mall of Emirates and Dubai Mall to enjoy luxury shopping. You can also enjoy shopping at traditional Arab souks located in Deira. You can purchase everything from gold, spices and household items to dresses, Arab perfumes and other souvenirs. Similarly city has plenty of sightseeing places like Dubai fountain, aquarium, Dubai Marina, world tallest tower Burj Khalifa and several other breathtaking architectural wonders like Palm Jumeirah and World Island. Jumeirah Mosque and Al Fahidi Fort (housing Dubai Museum) are the two historical monuments of this city. Sevral tour operators are offering short trips for transit passengers. These trips include big bus tour and helicopter tour. Taking help form tour operators enable you to save time and you can visit maximum spots in minimum duration of time.
Things to do
If you are less interested in shopping and visiting sightseeing places of this city and willing to experience thrill of adventure activities, Dubai is the right place to enjoy adventure in a luxury style. Hot air balloon ride, seaplane flight, camel ride, desert safari, sand skiing and ice skating at ski Dubai are the few famous adventure activities you can avail. Moreover, there are number of theme parks that offer various water and sporting activities for people of all age groups. Depending on the length of your stay you can choose visiting any park like Aquaventure, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Dolphin Bay or Wonderland Theme Park. Sports lovers can entertain themselves from vast collection of sports from parasailing, scuba diving and playing golf on world’s best courses.
Dining
Due to huge percentage of foreigners living in Dubai, city has become a cosmopolitan city that offers unbelievable range of cuisines. If you are a food lover you can enjoy vast variety of food in UAE from American, Indian, Japanese, Mediterranean and Chinese dishes. Whereas, Shawarma and Fala-Fil are two most famous fast foods of Arabic origin. There are numerous fine dining like restaurants, cafes and shopping mall’s food courts where you can enjoy food of your choice in good atmosphere.
If you follow these simple tips and collect necessary information about your stopover destination, you will be able to spend this layover in pleasant manner. As stopovers can make your journey pleasant and reduce jetlag condition associated with long distant flights.
Author: David Marsha is an enthusiast blogger and guest author for different real estate and travel related blogs, he has been blogging for leading real estate companies in UAE which offers commercial and residential Dubai property project services in Arabian Ranches Dubai and others.