A Vist to UAE, Dubai | SIM Cards, Transport, Hotels & Food

Dubai, UAE, 18 November 2021: The Museum of the Future Dubai. The iconic building of Dubai.
Millions of individuals visit Dubai every year because it is such a beautiful city. This covers everything from excellent dining to attractions such as beaches, high-rise buildings, and desert safaris. It is essential that you plan the trip as carefully as you can before arriving here. This article provides ideas on how to make the most of your stay in Uae by talking about mobile SIM cards, hotel bookings, and restaurants.
Here are some basic things that you need to know before travelling to dubai. You should have good knowledge about the hotel rates and prices per night or per day, food prices, transport rates like how much a taxi driver charge per kilometor in dubai etc.
A Prepaid SIM Cards for communication
After entering in Dubai, you may require a SIM card to keep in contact with friends and family. Popular options are Du, Etisalat and Virgin Mobile which are available at airports and also to the retailers. Du is offering tourist plans including data usage as well as local minutes while Virgin Mobile’s tourist plan provides unlimited data usage including some international calls. Remember to bring along a passport copy for activation and buying a SIM card in Dubai.
When purchasing a tourist SIM card in Dubai, expect to spend between AED 50 to AED 100 (approximately USD 14-27). Popular providers in this range include Du, Etisalat and Virgin Mobile who each provide starter packs that combine data and local minutes. Du offers 20GB data usage with 200 local minutes in 14 day cycle for AED 55 while Etisalat offer 10GB data plus 50 local minutes at AED 100. In the last, the Virgin Mobile offer unlimited data plus international calls valid for 14 days each plan respectively.
Here are the prices and costs of prepaid tourist SIM cards in Dubai:
- Du Tourist Plan – 20GB data and 200 local minutes valid for 14 days for AED 55.
- Etisalat Tourist Plan – 10GB data and 50 local minutes, valid for 14 days at AED 100.
- Virgin Mobile Tourist Plan – Unlimited data and international calls valid for 14 days at AED 100.
Transport or Texi Cost in Dubai / UAE
Taxis, Metros, trams, and buses are all part of the extensive transport network in the United Arab Emirates. The metro is the quickest and most cost-effective mode of transport from early in the morning to midnight on weekdays and from 10:00 in the morning to midnight on weekends. A Nol card, which may be used on several means of transportation, can be purchased at any metro station. Taxis may be accessible but more expensive at rush hour. In addition, there are substitutes for taxi services like Uber and Careem as well as for renting a car.
Dubai has an extensive public transportation system consisting of buses, metro, trams and water buses. Here is an overview of transport costs in Dubai:
- Single bus rides cost AED 2 (roughly equivalent to USD 0.54).
- Metro rides vary between AED 2 to AED 7.5 depending on distance traveled).
- Nol Card costs AED 25 with AED 19 of E-purse value included and AED 6 card cost.
- Daily Pass costs AED 20 and allows unlimited transport travel within one 24-hour day period on all modes.
- Weekly Pass: For AED 50 you can enjoy unlimited travel on all modes of transport within one week with this pass.
Hotels
Dubai has an expansive variety of hotels spanning budget to luxury accommodations, making the region ideal for travel on all budgets and needs. Popular areas to stay include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Palm Jumeirah. Budget accommodation can be found in Deira or Bur Dubai hotels. World famous Burj Al Arab, Atlantis or Emirates Palace hotels provide luxury options. Make sure that location, amenities and reviews are taken into consideration before confirming reservations.
You can check an approximately cost of hotels in Dubai here:
- Budget Hotels (from AED 150 – AED 350/night (approximately USD 41-95/night)
- Mid-Range Hotels: Room rates of AED 400 to AED 800 per night (roughly equivalent to USD 109 to USD 218)
- Luxury Hotels can range anywhere between AED 1000 to AED 6000 per night or around $272 to USD 1634).
Note that during Dubai’s peak season (December to February), hotel rates tend to increase significantly. Some properties also impose tourism fees and taxes. Be sure to inquire as well about these additional charges prior to making a booking decision. It would also be prudent to compare hotel costs in order to find an accommodation suitable to both your budget and preferences.
Food
Dubai provides an assortment of cuisine, spanning both international and traditional Arabic offerings. Some popular items are: Shawarma, Falafel Hummus Biryani Kebabs. You will be sure to find street vendors, cafes and high-end restaurants serving these popular items throughout Dubai. Mosphere Pierchic or Nobu for fine dining experiences. Be sure to experience Dubai’s food culture and try local dishes if possible.
- Local Food: On average, budget restaurants range between AED 25 to AED 50 (approx. USD 6.80 to USD 13.60) per person for lunch
- Mid-range eateries serve AED 60 to AED 150 meals (USD 16.30 – 40.80)
- Finally fine dining establishments can cost anywhere between AED 250 & 500 per head – approximately (USD 68 – 136.6)
- Budget Restaurant: AED 30 to AED 60 per person (approximately USD 8.20 to USD 16.30)
- Mid-Range Restaurants (AED 80-AED 200; approximately USD 21.80-54.40 per person)
- Fine Dining establishments range between AED 300-AED 1000 (US $81.60- 272)
Note that prices may change and incur taxes and service charges in addition to being listed here. Some restaurants also may vary their lunch and dinner pricing as well as offer promotions or deals. It is always a wise idea to review both menu and prices prior to placing your order to prevent any unpleasant surprises.
Conclusion
Dubai is an exhilarating city offering endless entertainment, shopping and adventure opportunities. To maximize the most out of your experience in this vibrant metropolis, planning is essential before setting foot there – SIM cards, transport options, hotels and food are key components to enjoy an optimal trip experience.