Flights from Karachi to Dubai

Dubai - a city of contrasts

Dubai has something for all ages, from waterparks to fantastic beaches, golf courses to indoor ski slopes, family dining to lively cabaret evenings. Visitors can shop in designer malls or haggle in souks that have been trading for centuries, visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world or take a sunset camel ride into the desert.

The best time to go to Dubai

Dubai's subtropical climate makes it a popular year-round destination, the summer months, however, can reach temperatures of up to 45° C. The months from October to April are slightly cooler with temperatures ranging from 25°- 35° C. Dubai is a Muslim country where Islamic holidays are celebrated. Eid is the most important festival, marking the end of Ramadan and falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, with the actual date varying from year to year. National Day, on the 2nd December, is an important festival celebrated with fireworks, car rallies and dance shows.

Important things to know and do before you travel

British citizens need to apply in advance for a 30 day holiday visa. Overstaying visas is taken very seriously with fines imposed. No specific vaccinations are required, but routine vaccines and boosters should be up-to-date. The UAE has very strict laws on drinking alcohol which visitors need to be aware of and during Ramadan eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in public during daylight hours. Most things in Dubai, including electronics, are cheaper than in London, with restaurants being around 45% cheaper. European imported goods, however, will be more expensive. Visitors can have fun haggling for souvenirs in the souks. Dubai is on Gulf Standard Time, or GST (UTC/GMT +4), making it three hours ahead of London.

Useful local information

Dubai has an efficient metro system running between the hours of 6 am and 11 pm from Saturday to Thursday and from 1 pm to midnight on Fridays. Dubai Airport terminals 1 and 3 are on the red line of the metro, with trains leaving every 10 minutes or so. The green line stops at the Airport Free Zone near Terminal 2. The metro is divided into price zones, with 1 zone costing around 4 AED, 2 zones about 6 AED and three zones roughly 8.50 AED. The most economical tourist travel is with a red ticket. These are valid for up to 10 journeys and last for 90 days. Bus numbers 4, 11, 15, 33 and 44 all stop at the airport terminals between 6 am and 10 pm. Getting around Dubai is quick and easy by bus or metro, with a single ticket costing about 4 AED. Buying a red ticket makes this around 50% cheaper. Taxis are more expensive than public transport, but still cheaper than in the UK as petrol is not expensive in Dubai.

Budget hostel accommodation in shared dormitories can be found in Dubai from around 100 AED a night. Single hotel rooms cost approximately 800 AED a night. Visitors are advised to book early during the peak season of September to May.