Tag Archives: Travel Dubai

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Travel Dubai

Travel Dubai

 

 

 

 Dubai is one great master planned city. From a fishing village it rose into an economic powerhouse that it is today. It is emerging as a destination in its own right.

 

Being an open city, it enjoys an unofficial claim as the shopping capital of the Arab countries and the centre of astonishing wealth.                                                              

 

It is one of the seven emirates of the U.A.E. while Abu Dhabi is the federal capital. The other emirates are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Kaimah and Fujairah.

 

 
 

 

 

Guide for Filipino (First Time) Traveler in Dubai

 

Travel Essentials

 

Obviously 99% first time Filipino travelers in Dubai are haunting for the thing we call “greener pasture”. 1% accounts to visiting families and relatives. When we are new to a foreign place, we are left stunned with what to do next, where to go, how to get to a place, where to buy. Whenever we want to move around, we are hesitant. Our tendencies are to wait when our friends or family members are free from work to guide us around. Well, we can be a lot smarter if we dive in the World Wide Web and search for helpful tips. So here I go:

 

  1. Google Earth. It can map our travel. I did that when I was called for an interview and I want to see first how things would look like. What I mean, I am expecting how many blocks of streets would I take and just what landmarks I am expecting to see.

 

  1. Map. In Cebu, I bought a travelers guide. A pull out map of Dubai was a great help in my adventure. The internet has a lot of Dubai maps to offer. One detailed map I still have is the detailed map I grabbed free from one of Al Ghurair’s (a mall near fish round about) information booths. It gave me an eagle’s view of the entire city.

 

  1. Visit Visa. Visa can be obtained direct from Dubai through travel agencies and hotel reservations and sent to the Philippines via courier. Almost all Filipino expatriates on visit visa were issued visas through travel agencies. The process? The ones we knew in Dubai processed it for us. Most often, money are being sent money through western union. But this is practically a very expensive processing. Business comes first plus all the add-on rockets! And take note, this is only valid for 60 days. So before it expires, remember to find exit—the Kish Island in Iran is the usual exit place which is less than an hour travel by plane. Recently, the U.A.E. implemented tougher laws on this. Visa processing takes longer than usual and exit destination after multiple visit visa renewals is now the country of origin. Employment visa (the “pataka”) is the ultimate goal. Always bring a copy of your passport and your “pataka” if you are issued one, while outside.

 

Visas are required by all nationalities except GCC members. U.K., U.S.A., Canada, Australia and most Western European countries and Far Eastern countries are on a free visit visa on entry. All other nationalities must obtain visa—business, tourist or transit through the U.A.E embassies abroad or in the U.A.E hotel they have booked with.

 

  1. Exit places. The Kish Island and Oman are popular exit places. It costs around 1,200-1,300 inclusive of airfare, visa, hotel, food and taxi. Bring extra in case visa renewal comes very late or has been delayed. The usual average number of exit days is 3-4. Kish has hotels which accommodate exiting expats—mostly kabayans, the “patans” (Pakistani), the “pana” (Indians), and the Africans (Kenyans, Sudanese, etc.). The good ones are Farabi I and II and Venus). From Kish, one can call Dubai through the hotel’s landline at a minimal cost. Ladies must wear shellahs (head cover) and long sleeves blouses which can cover arms and almost a knee length blouse to cover the butt in respect to Iran’s cultural traditions. 

 

Click this link (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/143466/Dont-use-Kish-Island-as-exit-point-from-UAE) it has new travel advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding exit matters which states not to use Kish Island as exit point from U.A.E.

 

  1. Telecommunication. Etisalat and Du are telecommunication providers. One can buy an Etisalat wasel recharge card at AED 20 and AED 40 in shops and grocery stores. To buy a sim, any expat need a photocopy of his passport.

 

  1. Accommodation. It is real expensive. In Dubai, shared flats (like condo or studio type) are a common scenario. Do not expect to live in a solemn place. Expect to see that you are sweet salmon packed in a sardine can. In my case, there were more than 20 of us—boys and girls; single and married, gays, lesbians and straight in one hell-like-flat. I say hell-like because, everything is messy—the kitchen, the shared “comfort rooms” as well as the smoky air plus the sounds from one room to the other in intolerable volumes. If one is looking for privacy and can afford a partition (living areas turned into partitions), better have one. Deira accommodation is usually AED 500-600 inclusive of DEWA (water and electricity). Shared cable tv—orbit for GMA and TFC for ABS-CBN, will cost around AED 20-30. Shared internet at AED 20 and shared LPG (cooking) at AED 10. Quite expensive for a start. Remember not to convert every time you buy and pay something because it hurts (this could have been this much in peso?!). Al Satwa, is jam-packed mostly by Filipinos (kabayans) and costs much cheaper than staying in Deira. Accommodation here is mostly in villas. Some prefer to live at nearby Sharjah (the nearest emirate) because it really costs less at AED 250-400. It is a lot of savings too.

 

  1. Transportation. “My friend.” Is the first line I learned when calling taxi and bus drivers and all other who are not kabayans. It’s like kuya or manong. If you are in a hurry for interview and you have “pesoses” in your wallet for safety, take that mustard colored taxi, It helps when you get a good poise not sweating at all especially during summer. The buses are mainly used by low income workers. But, it is a money saving alternative for all of us kabayans. Remember to press the button before the bus station you intend to stop or else you will find yourself on the next station as drivers do not stop. One great customs of Dubai is that ladies enjoy the privilege of getting in the bus first than the gentlemen. Ladies have reserved seats in front where gentlemen are not allowed. Eating is prohibited while inside the bus. When one has a work, and buses are really in shortage, an arranged car lift will be of great help. The metro train is underway, so it will be a hassle free for commuters.

 

  1. Office Hours/ Working Days. Saturday to Thursday is generally the working days. Some businesses open on Saturdays until Thursday. Thursday is usually half day, Friday is day off. Some businesses usually start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m., lunch break is at 2:00 p.m.

 

Government offices work from 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday. On Thursday, offices close for the weekend at noon.

 

Religious holidays follow the Islamic calendar and do not fall on fixed dates.

 

  1. Internet and Telephone/Fax Services. Public internet cost AED 2-3 in the morning and AED 4 in the afternoon. Telephone is not expensive as one can have a cheap call from landline to mobile and mobile to landline. When expecting for a job interview, one is more confident that the calling party is a legal company if it is a call from a landline number (it is a valid call for me than a call taken from a mobile).

 

The international dialing code is 971 and Dubai’s city code is 04.

 

  1. Clothing. Since the emirate is an open city, there are no strict rules for attire. Due respect to the Islamic culture must be taken with great consideration. The locals are reasonably tolerant of those from other cultures.

 

  1. Media. The Gulf News— has helped me a lot. There is section on appointments where one can find job opportunities. Other newspapers are Khaleej Times and The Gulf Today. Some magazines are up for grab free at any office lobby, that if you are an early catcher. I do have some. 

   

  1. Job Portals. There are many job portals in Dubai and the GCC region for work opportunities searchable from any search engine, one is www.google.com . The www.jobsindubai.com cost a minimal fee for a member jobseeker. All other portals offer free membership. 

 

  1. Medical Services. Healthcare is very expensive! I swear! (because I experienced it). There are good government hospitals like Rashid Hospital (tel. 337 4000).

 

  1. Emergencies. The emergency number to call for the police is 999, ambulance is 998 and fire service is 997.

 

  1. Religion. Islam is the official religion and U.A.E. nationals are Sunni muslims. Other religions are tolerated. St. Mary’s near Rashid Hospital offer church services. I visited twice in the many months I was there—poor me. It is like a compound where there are many worship services for expats and St. Mary’s is one in there.

 

  1. Attractions and Leisure. For mall goers there is the people’s choice City Center at Deira. For great finds visit Al Ghurair City, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Mercato Mall, and the newly opened Dubai Mall.

 

Dubai has great skyscrapers such as the Burj Al Arab, and The Burj Dubai among others. Other attraction includes The Palm Jumeirah—the home of Atlantis Hotel, the Wild Wadi is great for swimming adventure, and the Ski Dubai for that snow feel skiing exploration.

 

Safa Park at Al Wasl is great for joggers. While public beaches for kabayans on good Fridays are the Jumeirah Beach and Al Mamzar Beach parks which offer unwinding escapades.

 

Jebel Jafeet (I may have misspelled this) is a road trekking adventure in Al Ain such a nice tour in all its round abouts.

 

  1. Grocery. Great buys (cheaper buys) can be made at the Carrefour of City Centre, Reef Mall, Spinney’s, Hypermarket, and other shops.

 

  1. Bookshops. I had a good shopping at Magrudy’s at the City Centre. There is Book Corner and Book Plus too but I haven’t seen this yet.

 

  1. Weather. Summer—May to September, is generally very hot and humid. The temperature is rarely below 40 degree Celsius with humidity rocketing up to 90 per cent. Usually the months from October to April temperature hovers below 40 degree Celsius while January and February can be a little chilly.

 

  1. Currency. The UAE dirham, abbreviated to AED or Dhs.

 

Kabayan’s just one lesson learned. Do not give your full trust to your fellow kabayans—if you can bolt in you cash, you need to. Sometimes it is not always good to be kind for you will find yourself on the losing track. Empty handed makes one crazy in a foreign land.

 

I hope this Travel Essentials may help. Bon Voyage.