Dubai is the first country that I set foot in when got my first passport. I belong to those thousands of Filipino expats who visit Dubai and search for a job in UAE. Luckily, I found the job I love. Honestly, working abroad is not my dream coz of the two reasons, first is that I’m very picky in foods and the other one is that I’m afraid of riding on an airplane hahaha! Then I met this guy who is now my husband. Maybe God destined me to work and travel at the same time here in UAE.

Dubai is a city and one of the emirate in the United Arab Emirates. It is known for luxury shopping, modern structure, skyscrapers and nightlife scene. It is also the most popular destination among tourists. The other six are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.

Time Zone: UTC+4 (UAE Standard Time). Dubai is 4 hours behind the Philippines.

Language: Arabic is the national and the official language of the UAE. But English is the second language and is widely spoken.

Currency: UAE dirham (AED, Dhs). AED 1 is roughly equivalent to PHP14, USD 0.27, SGD 0.38

When to Visit

Most visitors arrive Oct-Apr when the weather is warm and dry. Summer starts from May to September where the weather is extremely hot, windy and dry. The winter months starts from October to April considered as most comfortable conditions throughout the year and most seasonal attractions are open.

Visit Visa is sponsored by family members, relatives, and friends. It can be obtained by a resident sponsor living in the UAE. The Visa is valid for 30 days or until 90 days.

Arrivals

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the main airport and is one of the world’s busiest in terms of international travelers. It has a total of three terminals which is very accessible to the metro stations.  

Getting around Dubai

Dubai has two metro lines, red and green which cover most of the tourist spots in and around the city. You can buy an NOL card from the metro station which allows travel on metro and bus. The minimum balance is AED 7.

Like in Singapore, chewing gum, eating, drinking, and sleeping are prohibited onboard the metro.

Taxis are a convenient way to explore the city however it is much expensive compared to the train. Buses are common across Dubai but there are many stopovers before you can reach your desired destination.

TIP: You can download Wojhati App to know the timings and stop overs of the buses.

The Dubai Mall

The largest shopping mall in the world by area. Covering an area of more than 1 million square metres, boasting over 1,200 retail shops, hundreds of food and drink options, an aquarium, an Olympic size ice rink and a Kidzania, the Dubai Mall really does cater to all needs!

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world stands at 829.8 meters in downtown Dubai. The building is mixed usage, with apartments, restaurants, offices, and viewing areas. Each night there is a water fountain display which is located outside of the Dubai Mall.

Dubai Fountain

The Dubai Fountain, located at the base of the iconic Burj Khalifa and just outside the doors of the famous Dubai Mall, features the world’s largest choreographed fountain system.

The Burj Al Arab

It is one of the most luxurious hotels of the world. Built on a man-made island, this hotel is 280 meters away from offshore. This hotel is popular among the tourists because of its manifestation and astonishing appearance.

Dubai Frame

Dubai Frame is one of the newest additions to the city’s skyline and represents a remarkable engineering feat. One of its most amazing features is the state-of-the-art clear glass bridge connecting parallel vertical towers to create the shape of a picture frame.

Dubai Creek

This creek divides Dubai into two areas, Deira and Bur Dubai. You can take boats also known as “ABRA” across the creek to visit souks and Old Dubai, it costs for as low as AED 1.

Global Village

Global Village is an international cultural theme park that combines tourism, entertainment and shopping.

Miracle Garden

Miracle Garden is the biggest natural flower garden in the world. The park features flowering plants that are creatively sculpted to mimic landmarks, animals, and other beautiful shapes.

Desert Safari

Desert Safari will take you on a 4×4 ride on the red dunes of the Arabian desert. Lots of adventures and activities such as sand boarding, camel ride, quad biking and a lot more.

Dubai Garden Glow

Dubai Garden Glow is a uniquely themed edutainment park featuring environment-friendly exhibits with various structures created with recyclable products and it is made of millions of energy-saving bulbs.

I list down some of the reasons why I Love Dubai.

Girl Power – There are exclusive “ladies only” compartments in the metro and bus. There are also separate lines for women at the ministry offices, ticket booth and even in Salon woman is separated aha!  

Tax-Free Salary – Expats are enjoying this privilege coz this enables us to save while we live and work here 🙂

The Structure – Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world while the Dubai Frame as the biggest frame on the planet.  

The Cool Winter – It is the time to actually go out and enjoy outdoors such as Miracle Garden, Global Village and Garden Glow.

Natural Beauty – Dubai is a modern city, but it also has an abundance of natural beauty. Breathtaking scenery is the norm when travelling around Dubai. One of this is the Desert Safari.

Safe and Secure – Dubai is one of the safest places in the world. Crime is rare and theft is extremely low due to their Law.  

Birds are awesome – I love seeing birds in the sidewalks, parks and even in hi-ways.

Shopping Spree – Many expats love shopping but in Dubai, you can shop in Day to Day, Gifts for less, and Gift Village because of their lowest price ranging from 1-10.   

Groceries – There are lots of grocery stores around Dubai with cheaper price and mostly on sale and promotions. Some of them are Westzone, Carrefour, Shopworth, Ansar Gallery, Viva and Almaya.

Baqer Mohebi – A grocery store in Bur Dubai where plenty of Filipinos buy chocolates at cheap prices.