Introduction & Vibe
Dubai is one of those places you have to see to believe. It's a city that shot up from the desert sands and seems to constantly one-up itself. The scale of everything is immense, from the skyscrapers to the shopping malls. The vibe is a fascinating mix of ultra-modern luxury and deep-rooted Islamic tradition, creating a unique energy that's both exhilarating and, at times, a little surreal.
Why Visit?
The real reason to visit Dubai is to witness its sheer ambition. It's a city built on a vision of being the biggest and the best, and you feel that everywhere. The architectural marvels, like the Burj Khalifa, are genuinely breathtaking. Beyond the glitz, there's a surprisingly diverse culinary scene that goes way beyond fancy restaurants – you can get incredible, authentic food if you know where to look. The blend of cultures is also remarkable; you'll hear dozens of languages just walking through a mall. It's a place of superlatives, for sure, but it’s also a surprisingly easy and safe place to explore, making it a unique destination.
Guide Content Truncated
You are viewing a preview of the Dubai guide. The comprehensive detailed sections are exclusive to premium members.
Best Neighborhoods To Stay In
People
Top Highlights
Food Scene Highlights
Infrastructure
Accommodations
Getting There
Getting Around
Safety
Dealbreakers
When to Visit
Sample Itinerary
Packing List
FAQs
How-To Guides
Trusted Travel Tools
Planning your trip to Dubai? Using the links below helps support this site at no extra cost to you. I've only placed products here that I actually use and trust myself. Thank you for your support 🫶!
Trusted Swiss VPN I use every single day as a nomad. It lets me appear in other countries to access region‑locked services (often financial), works in censored regions, and hides your IP from websites, advertisers, and governments — because what you do online is your business.
One of the only 3rd party booking tools that I actually trust. Great for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals. Often times I use this specifically to get the extra info it has about accommodations like square feet/meters.
My go-to e-sim when I am traveling. It's always got a competitive price and it has some nice extra features like a built-in VPN, ad-blocker, and web protection.
Travel medical insurance designed for digital nomads and long-term travelers. Simple and flexible. I myself haven't had to file and claims through them yet though I know others who have and the process has been straight forward for them and they got properly covered.
Resources & Further Reading
Provide Feedback
I've made this guide with every attempt to be as accurate as possible; however, the world is a dynamic place, so there is a chance that something here needs updating. If you've spotted something in this guide that could use an update, please let me know! Your feedback helps tremendously. Alternatively, if you found something super helpful or you have a great tip to add, I'd love to hear that too!