* '''Jumeirah Beach Hotel''', PO Box 11416, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3480000 (''email: [mailto:JBHinfo@jumeirah.com JBHinfo@jumeirah.com], fax: +971-4-3482273'') [http://www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com/]. Next to Burj al-Arab[http://www.burj-al-arab.com/ Burj al-Arab] and run by the same company. Rooms from $700.
*
* '''Rydges Plaza Dubai''', Al Diyafah Street Satwa Roundabout ph 97143982222 - Centrally positioned between the commercial and popular leisure districts of Dubai, with the Jumeira beach front just 10 minutes away. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.
* '''Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai''', Sheikh Zayed Road, PO Box 75880, Dubai, ph: +971-4-3438888 (''email: [mailto:sldb@shangri-la.com sldb@shangri-la.com], fax:+971-4-343 8886'') [http://www.shangri-la.com/dubai/shangri-la/en/index.aspx]
* '''Sheraton Dubai Creek'''
* '''Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Hotel''', Al Sufouh Road, P.O. Box 53567, Dubai, tel: +971-4-3995533 (''email: [mailto:sherjum@emirates.net.ae sherjum@emirates.net.ae], fax: +971-4-3995577'') Rooms from $350. Cheapest beach front 5-star hotel but the hotel, rooms and service is not what you would expect in this category/price.
*
==Contact==
The international code for UAE is +971, for Dubai, add a 4 afterwards for land lines.
Local mobile phone numbers will start +971 50 xxx yyyy or +971 56 xxx yyyy (newly introduced as of second half of 2008) for the GSM provider etisalat [http://www.etisalat.ae] and +971 55 xxx yyyy for the GSM provider du [http://www.du.ae].
'''GSM'''— Those with GSM phones can expect auto roaming from their home countries. As roaming fees are quite high (easily 3 USD per minute and often more for a call to Europe) and incoming calls are also charged, consider to buy a local prepaid GSM SIM card, designed especially for tourists, from one of the two cellular providers of the U.A.E.:
* etisalat - product Ahlan [http://www.etisalat.ae/index.jsp?lang=en&type=service&contentid=8b0da665f221b010VgnVCM1000000c24a8c0RCRD¤tid=a648c15f5006b010VgnVCM1000000c24a8c0____] - 90 Dirhams - available at the Duty Free Shop (arrival hall) of Dubai Airport
* du - product Visitor Mobile Line [http://www.du.ae/en/category/mobile/visitor-mobile-line/] - 70 Dirhams - available at the ''Telefonika'' kiosk in the arrival hall of Dubai Airport.
Using these products, calls to Europe will be charged at maximum of about 0.55 USD per minute. Incoming calls are free of charge.
'''Phone Booths'''— Phone booths are located on most streets. Phone cards can be purchased from hotels and tourist shops.
'''Internet'''— Internet cafes are hard to find. There is one at Computer Plaza next to Ramada Hotel in Bur Dubai. Also, the French Connection, Al Wafa Tower on Sheikh Zayed road (opposite side of road from the Dusit Hotel) has wifi access and nice cakes/pastries. Surprisingly the malls do not have internet cafes. Most hotel business centres are equipped with internet cafes, but are expensive.
There is an internet cafe a 5-minute walk south from the Dubai Youth Hostel. Turn right out of the gates and walk to LuLu's Hypermarket. The cafe is located inside the food court and currently charges AED 4.00 per hour. Note that the Skype website is currently blocked however.
Etisalat [http://www.eim.ae], UAE's telecom operator, offers a roaming, post paid WiFi internet connection known as iZone [http://ecompany.ae/eco/isp/english/services/izone/index.html]. Most coffee shops and malls across Dubai provide this service. Prices are available on their website.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has free WiFi in the terminal. Bring your laptop with you for using free wifi at some hotels.
'''Newspapers & Radio''': Thanks to the large influx of expatriates, Dubai boasts a wide selection of English Language Newspapers and Radio Channels.
* The Gulf News [http://www.gulfnews.com].
* The Khaleej Times [http://www.khaleejtimes.com].
* The Gulf Today [http://www.godubai.com/Gulftoday/].
* The National [http://www.thenational.ae].
* 7 Days [http://www.7days.ae].
* Emirates Business 24/7 [http://www.business24-7.ae].
* The Sunday Times [http://www.thetimesme.com].
International Newspapers are also availible in most hotels and airport terminals. Todaily [http://www.todaily.com], a local printing house can furnish newspapers and periodicals from around the world on a daily basis.
A list of the local radio stations in a variety of languages can be found online here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_and_television_channels_of_Dubai].
==Stay safe==
Like all major metros experiencing rapid growth, Dubai has its share of problems which can be easily avoided should you follow common sense.
While petty crime is hardly reported and mentioned in the news, keep an eye on your wallet or purse when in crowded areas like Naser Square or Deira. Also, don't leave your engine running and vehicle unattended when picking up takeaways or a quick supermarket run as criminal gangs have been known to drive your vehicle away and have it stripped in no time.
Con-men are ever present in Dubai, especially the "Nigeria 419" scammers. Do not arrange meetings or entertain their requests, nor give any personal details. Should they not comply, the police will be happy to listen to them and their propositions.
Eating or drinking publicly during daylight hours is an offence during Ramadan.
Drivers are not always as fond of the road rules in Dubai as in other cities or countries. Particularly during the morning and afternoon rush-hours, taking a taxi, bus or abra is often a better bet than crossing busy roads, as even pedestrian crossings are not always observed.
Gay and lesbian travelers should be particularly careful, the maximum penalty for homosexual acts in the United Arab Emirates is death but it is unknown how enforced this is. You should be safe as long as you avoid public displays of affection.
For women; check when going to the old town on Fridays. This can be an unpleasant experience because it is a holiday, the streets are packed with men.
Public display of affection and Kissing is an offense which could lead to up to 6 months in jail.
Tourists are encouraged to wear modest clothes.
Bringing drugs into the country, even ones you have a prescription for or bought over the counter in your country can lead to jail time. Check with your embassy before departing if you plan to bring with you any type of drug.
All this being said, Dubai is considered to be one of the safest cities in the world.
==Cope==
'''Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding''' [http://www.cultures.ae/], is a non-profit community service organization that has been set up to bring down barriers between people of different nationalities, and to help understand the traditions, customs and religion of the UAE. The SMCCU, under the banner, Open Doors Open Minds organizes educational and social events, that allows its clients to exchange ideas, pursue learning and share ways to reach understanding for their companies, their families, their countries and the world.
Some of the activities that are offered at the center include:
* Cultural Courses.
* Arabic Language Courses.
* Guided tours to Jumeirah Mosque.
* Creating and managing cultural events.
* Coffee Mornings.
* Walking Tours (Bastakiya).
If you are walking through the streets, you will most probably come across people wanting to sell you pirated movies or anything else that can be replicated or faked. They will tend to lead you off the streets into a alley and into a building. This can seem to be very dangerous but you will find that 90 percent of the time it will be what they actually claim it to be. This is done because they have to hide from the police. Also, don't take very much money with you, otherwise they will ask for all the money you have. A typical pirated DVD should cost about 3-5 dirhams.
==Get out==
* Dubai has an arrangement with [[Oman]] to allow visitors who qualify for an Omani visa on arrival, visiting permission by road through [[Hatta]]. Details of the arrangements can be viewed on the official Omani web site [http://www.rop.gov.om/services_passport3.asp#four].
* While Dubai itself offers ample entertainment and shopping opportunities, tourists may also visit the nearby Emirate of [[Sharjah]] for its many museums, beaches and parks. However tourists should be aware that Sharjah is more conservative than nearby Dubai - alcohol is banned in this Emirate and there are heavy penalties if you are caught transporting alcohol. However, if you are transporting alcohol from an emirate where the sale is permitted with a license to another licensed emirate (eg. Fujairah to Dubai), then you are legally allowed to transport alcohol, provided you have the license for your destination emirate. However, this is not common knowledge, even amongst the Sharjah police. Additionally, women are not allowed to wear swimwear on public beaches in Sharjah.
* The capital of the United Arab Emirates, [[Abu Dhabi]], is an entirely different city and it is worth the one and a half hour ride to see the contrast.
* The Iranian island of [[Kish Island|Kish]] is close by, and most visitors do not require a visa.
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