Your Dubai trip and the documents you need

The fabled city of Dubai receives thousands of tourists every year. It seems like one’s travel bucket list is incomplete without a visit to the land of riches and contemporary trends in food, shopping and lifestyle. Dubai has everything to offer both the seasoned traveller and the newbie. Nobody ever comes away disappointed from a Dubai sojourn.

Just as pleasurable as taking a Dubai trip, is the prospect of applying for a Dubai visa. Where other countries have a lengthy visa procedure, Dubai simplifies the process manifold. In fact, with the correct visa application formalities, you can get your visa for Dubai in just five days!

Follow these steps to get your Dubai visa:

1 Know the type of visa you need. You can get a tourist visa for a period of 30 days, 90 days or 180 days. You can apply for two types of visas: tourist or transit. The visa duration is counted from the date of issuance.

2 Documents needed. You will need to scan and apply with the first and last pages of your passport (which clearly show your name, photograph, residential address and passport number), scanned copy of your air tickets and a recent passport picture of the specified size and format. Once you have these documents ready, you can fill out an online application form and attach the passport documents and photograph where indicated. If you have applied for a 90 days tourist visa, you will need a signed letter from your Dubai sponsor attesting to your visit.

3 Apply for the visa online. Once you have all the documents at the ready, you can apply for the visa online or entrust your tour operator to do this for you at an additional charge.

4 Make the visa fee payment. You can pay the Dubai visa fee via Internet banking or using your credit card. Do preserve the payment receipt number carefully.

5 Receive the visa electronically. Once the fee is received and the documents are verified, you should receive your visa for Dubai in about five working days. The visa is sent electronically in PDF or JPEG formats. Scan the visa in colour and keep it carefully for stamping when you embark on your trip.

10 must-try restaurants in Dubai

Visiting Dubai is always exciting, and the UAE makes it easy for tourists to drop by. After getting your Dubai visa (you can even get your Dubai visa online) you start packing for your trip and making an itinerary of places to visit. But apart from making a stop at all the touristy jaunts in Dubai, there is one vital factor about Dubai that will pull you in forever – the sheer variety of food!

Dubai visa

Dubai is every foodie’s dream destination, serving up cuisines from around the world in the most stunning locales. Besides, you can try eating different types of food at a variety of budgets. What’s more, the hospitality of the best restaurants in Dubai will leave you spellbound.

Here’s presenting, in no particular order, the 10 best restaurants in Dubai that every foodie must check out:

1. Zatar w Zeit: Located at Dubai Marina, this restaurant is a must-visit for the most authentic Arabic food experience. The ingredients are always fresh and the food is prepared keeping the health-conscious in mind (think wheat rotis and khaboos). Once you seat yourself, dive right into the restaurant’s wraps, shawarmas and their extremely popular manakish.

2. The Farm: Situated at Al Barari, this restaurant serves up wholesome meals that fill the belly and sate the palate. Their food is simplicity itself – try their coconut chicken soup (which will remind you of your mum’s cooking, it’s so homely and good) and rolls. If you like eggs, this restaurant is the best place to be in: you can get a variety of egg preparations here, and you can safely order any of them.

3. Asado: This restaurant attracts a lot of foodies looking for authentic Argentinian fare. Apart from serving up delectable empanadas and a succulent beef rib eye steak, you will be enchanted by the views from Asado: you get a look at the Burj Khalifa and musical fountains as you eat.

4. Wokyo Noodle Bar: This Japanese-inspired restaurant also serves up Chinese food, but it largely brings to mind the flavours of Tokyo. Its excellent food notwithstanding, it is known for quick delivery (you can order in if you’re too tired to go out, and the food is always hot on delivery) and very friendly service. Try their heavenly noodles with shrimp or Bangkok sauce.

5. Nayaab Handi: A piece of India and Pakistan in Dubai, you can try their curries if you have a yen for something a little spicy. While you get excellent Afghani pulav and the kebabs are to die for, patrons drop by regularly for their aloo naan and gulab jamun dessert. The restaurant is located at Satwa.

6. Atmosphere: A quirky name for a scenic restaurant aside, it offers wonderful views and a well-planned décor. It is popular amongst couples looking for some quiet time as they eat, and also those wanting to celebrate a special occasion. Located at Downtown Dubai, it offers a large selection of wines and plenty of eating options even for vegetarians, such as risotto, berrata and salads.

7. Texas de Brazil: Located at Mall of the Emirates, this restaurant serves up a large variety of grilled meats. Patrons often flock to this restaurant to eat grilled chicken, ribs, filet mignon and sausages. Apart from these best sellers, there are also tasty sides like mashed potatoes and fried bananas to go with your meal. Plus, it is situated next to cinema theatres, so you can eat here after you’ve watched a movie.

8. Nola Eatery & Social House: For those interested in the pure American food experience, head straight to this quaint restauranted located at Jumeirah Lake Towers. You can sample every kind of American staple here, but you will be particularly taken by their succulent crab and tuna ceviche, the famous Nola burger and jambalaya. Try Mississippi Mud Moelleux for dessert.

9. Pai Thai: No gastronomy trail is complete without a taste of Thai food. And Pai Thai more than lives up to the promise of tangy and spicy Thai food on a bed of tasty rice or noodles. Located at Madinat Jumeirah, you will be more than enamoured of the commute to the restaurant: you have to take a dreamy boat ride there! When you’re in, dive into their wide selection of mocktails and wines while you wait for your food. For mains, try their famous spicy green curry, tiger prawn red curry and jasmine rice.

10. Pierchic: An explosion of flavour and texture greets the seafood lover at this restaurant situated in Madinat Jumeirah. Run by a three-star Michelin chef and serving up Mediterranean flavours in their preparations, you will be thrilled with the stunning views as you have your meal seated over pristine blue water. Tuck into their ever-popular toothfish roast, oysters and scallops in tapioca sauce. 

Visiting Dubai? Pick the most ideal months

Dubai is literally the land of sun and sea! There is so much to see, do and eat in Dubai that even a month of travelling to all the hotspots and eateries may not be enough. Plus, this international city is blessed with the best in transport and the most hospitable people this side of the Middle East. With all of these factors combining together, your stay in Dubai is guaranteed to be the most memorable one in your life.

But wait – despite the best of everything that Dubai offers, you might not be able to make your peace with one unavoidable aspect. We’re talking, of course, of the famous Dubai heat. The desert-city becomes a veritable oven in the summer months, with hot winds likely to scorch your skin and the blinding sunlight making you quite light-headed. Though air-conditioned malls, cinema theatres, hotels and restaurants can keep you cool and collected during the hot months, it is better to time your visit in the more weather-friendly months. After all, the actual charm of Dubai is on its streets, not inside air-conditioned edifices.

Dubai visa

We recommend that you book your Dubai visa to time your visit from the months of November to April. Every year, the temperature begins to dip in November and remains fairly steady from February to April. April onward, you will notice that the air becomes warmer and drier. Thus, it is better to book your trip after November.

In these four to five months, the temperature normally hovers between 25 to 35 Degrees Celsius in the mornings, which is pleasant for day-time intra-city travel. You can book yourself on a camel safari, or go window shopping with friends or take an off day for a picnic with family. However, night-time temperatures can drop as low as 12 Degrees Celsius, so if the cold weather makes you uncomfortable, it is best to stay indoors. You can relax at a spa, or have a leisurely dinner with a special someone or even watch a movie.

You can also catch up with the famous Camel Races, while shopaholics can delight in excellent bargains and steals during four weeks of the Dubai Shopping Festival during this time.

If you’re the outdoorsy kind, we recommend that you postpone your Dubai trip to another month, in case your visit coincides with the holy month of Ramadan. Though you will get excellent shopping deals during this time, you must respect the local culture and religious sentiments – you cannot eat or drink in public, you must be dressed modestly at all times and you must not disturb anyone’s prayer time. Working hours of most shops and restaurants are also changed to coincide with the Iftar hours.

Dubai starts getting really hot in the summer months beginning from May. The heat begins to taper after September, but it is still quite warm and the sunlight is very severe. Day time temperatures may rise up to an uncomfortable 40 Degrees Celsius, so staying indoors is the only alternative.

Your guide to a safe and fun trip to Dubai

If sun, sand and scenery are the three things that you want to see together and if you wanted adventure, luxury and mouth-watering food all in one place, you need to make a visit to Dubai!

Getting There: You could either reach Dubai, by the Dubai Cruise terminal in Port Rashid or fly into Abu Dhabi or Sharjah and enter Dubai by road. Being the hub of Gulf countries, Dubai has flights from all major cities around the globe.

You can get a 30-day free Dubai visa on arrival at the Dubai International Airport for most countries. For others, it can be arranged by hotels or tour operator.

Getting around Dubai: Metros are the best option for getting around Dubai on a budget. The cards can be brought and topped up at the station itself. But, for places where the metro doesn’t reach, you can take taxis. Remember, the navigation mostly works by landmarks in Dubai.

Health and safety: In case of an urgent situation, you can reach ambulance service at 999. There are many private and government hospitals. Rashid Hospital is run by the government and the treatment is free here in the emergency ward. A private clinic may cost you somewhere close to 100 Dhs.

Dubai visa

In case you are on a budget:

Flights:  Try booking your flights in advance so that you can get the best deals on it. The non-peak season for Dubai ranges between May to September, but it is quite hot at this time of the year.

Accommodation: In case of packaged trip, you need not worry. But, in case you have not taken the package the hotels are available from around Dhs 300 to Dhs 350. On the other hand, a luxurious stay at Burj-al –Arab may cost you Dhs 10000 per night.

Things to do: If you have made it here, let’s look at the things you could do as an adventure enthusiast or as a shopaholic, or as an art or architecture lover.

 Skydive: There is nothing like skydiving in Dubai. The view of the Palm islands from the top makes  the diving totally worth it.

    The fountain show: Equally comparable to the Bellagio, the fountain show is a must if you are  visiting with family.

·       Shopping: Paradise for shoppers. Dubai is home to almost all leading brands in the world. So, be it Gold or fashion, be it electronics or makeup you will find it in The Dubai shopping festival and various malls like The Ibn Batuta mall.

·       Desert Safari: The adventure and experience that you get at a desert safari cannot be explained, you have to experience it to feel the adrenaline rush.

·      Burj al Arab: The exotic hotel, which you must see once in your lifetime. The third tallest hotel in the world.

·        Burj Khalifa: The tallest structure in the world.

·       Beaches: Be it a swanky beach like the Sunset beach, JBR beach, or a surfing beach like Kite beach, Dubai will never fail to amaze you with what it has.