The best time to book a Dubai tour package is between October to March because of the ideal weather for city tour, visit to theme parks, shopping in the markets of Old Dubai and other attractions. The annual Dubai Shopping Festival is held from December to January which lures tourists from across the globe. These months are also the peak tourist season in Dubai which means it could be expensive to travel but with the right tour package you can live your Dubai dream within your preferred budget.

The cheapest way to travel in Dubai is the Dubai metro – one of the most advanced metro systems in the world. There are other public transport options such as taxis, buses, monorail or water taxis. Call Dubai taxi to book a ride or if you prefer app-based cab rides then go for Uber or Careem. You could also rent a car if you feel like driving around. Opt for hop-on hop-off bus if you want a city tour or go for regular buses. Buy a NoL Smart card for both bus and metro rides.

Indian nationals need a visa for Dubai. It takes around 4-6 days to process a tourist visa. The cost for Dubai Visa ranges from Rs 6,500 to 7,500. According to the new Dubai Visa policy, Indian citizens can get visa on-arrival valid for 14 days if they hold a residence visa for UK or EU countries. All you need to do is to fill a form on arrival and pay an approximate sum of Rs 2,250.

The distance between Burj Khalifa from Dubai Mall is about 1 km and can be reached in 5 minutes. You don’t even need to step out of the mall to get to Burj. There is an access from the lower ground floor of the mall to reach Burj Khalifa.

Tourists can buy SIM cards at Dubai Airport; the major ones being the Du and Etisalat. Both the service providers offer similar prepaid plans at about same rates. Choose the data package according to your requirement but for tourist usage the best option is a combo pack with a good deal on both calling and data limit.

The Dubai Shopping Festival or DSF is an annual retail extravaganza held between December to February upping the glam quotient of the city through pop-up shows, celebrity performances and fireworks. The month-long celebration organised by the Dubai tourism is among the best shopping festivals in the world. Enjoy heavy sale and discounts on some of the biggest global and local brands across 3,200 outlets in the city.

The legal age for drinking in Dubai is 21 and tourists are served alcohol in hotels. Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited and could lead to hefty fine or imprisonment. Likewise passengers under the influence of alcohol in transit through the UAE can also be arrested. Tourists are allowed to buy alcohol from licensed venues such as hotels, restaurants and lounges.

There are 3 million Indians in the UAE which constitute as the largest non-indigenous community in the country. And Dubai being a favourite haunt of Indian tourists is dotted with several Indian restaurants serving cuisines from almost all regions of India. Some of the best Indian restaurants in Dubai are Rang Mahal, Jodhpur, Ashiana, Indego by Vineet, Calicut Paragon, Bombay Brasserie, Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor and Little Miss India.

All the major malls in Dubai including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira are open till midnight but the timings are extended till 2 am during Ramadan. A few food courts in selected malls remain open till 3 am during the holy month.

Banks, government and private offices are shut on Friday with a few exceptions as it is a weekly off. The malls, restaurants, shopping centres and other tourist hubs remain open on all days barring a few shops which close for an hour for the Friday prayer.