Dubai Connect in July – hot or not?

[polardabar]

Hi, everyone.

Since Qantas changed my PER–DBX–LHR flights (due to a change on Emirats' side, I presume), I ended up with 17 hours in Dubai. Given that it was error on their side (they changed my flights so my leg out of Dubai was supposed to leave 12 hours before I even left Perth), they offered me the Dubai Connect option. Having never been that way before, I thought I'd use the opportunity.

I see a lot of forum members mention long immigration lines, slow transportation etc, but I've got plenty of time on my hands, so I was planning to go around the city a bit. I'd probably go and check out the Burj Khalifa, and maybe catch the sunset (you can apparently see the sunset on the ground floor, take the elevator, and see it again from the top), go to the beach and see a couple of places on the way...

What concerns me are the July temperatures. It's going to be mid July, when–as far as I can see–the average is 40–41. It doesn't differ much from Perth weather, I guess, but I'm still wondering if it's going to be too hot to do anything except chill out indoors and enjoy a drink or two...

Is it fairly easy to move around the city? I guess the Metro helps. Some people also mentioned hiring a taxi for a day (or several hours), which takes you to places, waits until you walk around, take a photo or whatever, and takes you to the next place. I won't be doing a lot of shopping or anything like that, but it would still be nice to see and do something while I'm there.

I guess there's not much I can do about the Dubai Connect vouchers – I can only hope I actually get them while checking in instead of having to deal with it once I land. And that the hotel is not somewhere far. I also found out that Croatian passport holders (i.e. myself) are eligible for a visa on arrival, which is one less thing to worry about...

I'll be Gold by then, so I'm looking forward to checking out the lounge as well. I hear that it gets pretty packed, but I'll have plenty of time (my flight out of Dubai is around 4 am), so I can hopefully sit down for a drink...

Any suggestions (sights, beaches, bars, museums etc) that I shouldn't miss, tips, to-dos, warnings etc, please share.

Cheers,
Polar

 

[spudwa]

Imagine the hottest day in Perth and then add 100% humidity. Sometimes its difficult to walk across the pavement to the air conditioned taxi!!

Hi, everyone.

Since Qantas changed my PER–DBX–LHR flights (due to a change on Emirats' side, I presume), I ended up with 17 hours in Dubai. Given that it was error on their side (they changed my flights so my leg out of Dubai was supposed to leave 12 hours before I even left Perth), they offered me the Dubai Connect option. Having never been that way before, I thought I'd use the opportunity.

I see a lot of forum members mention long immigration lines, slow transportation etc, but I've got plenty of time on my hands, so I was planning to go around the city a bit. I'd probably go and check out the Burj Khalifa, and maybe catch the sunset (you can apparently see the sunset on the ground floor, take the elevator, and see it again from the top), go to the beach and see a couple of places on the way...

What concerns me are the July temperatures. It's going to be mid July, when–as far as I can see–the average is 40–41. It doesn't differ much from Perth weather, I guess, but I'm still wondering if it's going to be too hot to do anything except chill out indoors and enjoy a drink or two...

Is it fairly easy to move around the city? I guess the Metro helps. Some people also mentioned hiring a taxi for a day (or several hours), which takes you to places, waits until you walk around, take a photo or whatever, and takes you to the next place. I won't be doing a lot of shopping or anything like that, but it would still be nice to see and do something while I'm there.

I guess there's not much I can do about the Dubai Connect vouchers – I can only hope I actually get them while checking in instead of having to deal with it once I land. And that the hotel is not somewhere far. I also found out that Croatian passport holders (i.e. myself) are eligible for a visa on arrival, which is one less thing to worry about...

I'll be Gold by then, so I'm looking forward to checking out the lounge as well. I hear that it gets pretty packed, but I'll have plenty of time (my flight out of Dubai is around 4 am), so I can hopefully sit down for a drink...

Any suggestions (sights, beaches, bars, museums etc) that I shouldn't miss, tips, to-dos, warnings etc, please share.

Cheers,
Polar

 

[polardabar]

Okay, that sums it up nicely. :mrgreen:

 

[JB83]

I was in Dubai in the first week of July last year, I remember arriving at midnight it was 32 and then got to about 38 in the middle of the day, so pretty much an Aussie summer. I was on the Burj Khalifa around 1 pm and when you are 430 m up, it doesn't feel that hot. Essentially the metro runs along Sheik Zayed Rd, so its the spine of the city, so any deviation from there, say to the beach etc, you would want a taxi.

What I can recommend is for the Burj Khalifa you should book your tickets online ($35 instead of $100 at the place). The Dubai mall has quite a lot of stuff in it, you will probably be there to get to the Burj Khalifa, but there is inside the mall the Dubai Aquarium (one of the largest in the world) and outside is the Dubai Fountain (they do a fountain show every half hour in the night). As I was in Dubai for only 27 hrs, I managed to cover those 3 in one day. Besides the mall, friends have told me that the tour buses like Big Bus are great if you are in Dubai for one day. They are hop on, hop off so you go at your own pace and see a good range of the sites. I think its around $50 US for an all day ticket.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Everything is air conditioned as you would expect, metro I hear is good and the taxis are cheap, mostly new and of course air conditioned.

 

[polardabar]

Thanks for the suggestions. Seems like it's pretty straightforward.

The Aquarium sound good - especially with all the water. What is it like re swimming: sharks, jellyfish etc? Somehow I have a feeling there's not a lot of shade...

JB83, did you go through Dubai Connect or did you plan it that way?

 

[JB83]

Dubai was a planned stopover. At the aquarium, I did the basic package going through the tunnel in the main tank, after that your ticket gets you into the underwater zoo which is up one or two floors in the mall from the main tank. I think they had some diving packages there too.

 

[polardabar]

Thanks, I'll definitely look into it.

 

[markis10]

Dubai was a planned stopover. At the aquarium, I did the basic package going through the tunnel in the main tank, after that your ticket gets you into the underwater zoo which is up one or two floors in the mall from the main tank. I think they had some diving packages there too.

See this post for packages etc that were on offer around this time last year:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....bit-moderation-dubai-48806-40.html#post796458

 

[polardabar]

See this post for packages etc that were on offer around this time last year:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....bit-moderation-dubai-48806-40.html#post796458

I'll do that. Thanks, Markis10.

 

[zainman]

Personally I wouldn't go to DXB in June/july (summers). Too hot and sticky. Also please keep in mind that the month of ramadan (fasting) will begin end of June and lasts 30 days.. So looking at your post (mid july?) it will be the middle of ramadan. As always local customs apply, you may not see a lot of restaurants etc open.

Enjoy Dubai

 

[polardabar]

Personally I wouldn't go to DXB in June/july (summers). Too hot and sticky. Also please keep in mind that the month of ramadan (fasting) will begin end of June and lasts 30 days.. So looking at your post (mid july?) it will be the middle of ramadan. As always local customs apply, you may not see a lot of restaurants etc open.

Enjoy Dubai

Thanks, zainman.

It did cross my mind at one point, but I wasn't sure when Ramadan was. Well, if I can there is transportation available and a shop here and there is open, I should be fine. Are the sights open for visitors during Ramadan, e.g. Burj Khalifa etc?

Even then, I'd probably try to go out and be a bit of a tourist, especially because I don't fly to Europe too often – usually just once a year to visit family and friends (but not for work).

 

[zainman]

Thanks, zainman.

It did cross my mind at one point, but I wasn't sure when Ramadan was. Well, if I can there is transportation available and a shop here and there is open, I should be fine. Are the sights open for visitors during Ramadan, e.g. Burj Khalifa etc?

Even then, I'd probably try to go out and be a bit of a tourist, especially because I don't fly to Europe too often – usually just once a year to visit family and friends (but not for work).

I have not personally been to UAE during Ramadan (the fasting would be too difficult in the heat ). You may want to check Tripadvisor and/or the websites for specific tourist attractions and their ramadan timings and offerings etc. Other countries in the GCC (Qatar, Oman etc) a lot of the stuff can be closed during fasting hours (between sunrise and sunset). There may also be restrictions on alcohol etc specific to Ramadan.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful and the Metro is good too (can be quite busy though)

 

[smithy]

June and July the temperature is at its hottest. Dubai is the only place where I have seen air conditioned bus shelters.

 

[robw0910]

June and July the temperature is at its hottest. Dubai is the only place where I have seen air conditioned bus shelters.

Doha also has some air conditioned bus shelters. I had a stop over in Dubai during Ramadan last year and alcohol was available whereas Qatar the bars close for the duration. Apart from the heat humidity will be high.

 

[polardabar]

June and July the temperature is at its hottest. Dubai is the only place where I have seen air conditioned bus shelters.

Haha, maybe I'll just stick around one then...

Doha also has some air conditioned bus shelters. I had a stop over in Dubai during Ramadan last year and alcohol was available whereas Qatar the bars close for the duration. Apart from the heat humidity will be high.

That's good to know. I'll do some more research on opening hours etc.

Cheers!

 

[markis10]

I have not personally been to UAE during Ramadan (the fasting would be too difficult in the heat ). You may want to check Tripadvisor and/or the websites for specific tourist attractions and their ramadan timings and offerings etc. Other countries in the GCC (Qatar, Oman etc) a lot of the stuff can be closed during fasting hours (between sunrise and sunset). There may also be restrictions on alcohol etc specific to Ramadan.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful and the Metro is good too (can be quite busy though)

Generally all the outdoor eating places are closed, the includes the food outlets in the mall, I asked our guide when we were at the mall exactly that question.

 

[polardabar]

Generally all the outdoor eating places are closed, the includes the food outlets in the mall, I asked our guide when we were at the mall exactly that question.

Ah well, I'll ask the flight attendant for some extra cookies.

 

[zainman]

Ah well, I'll ask the flight attendant for some extra cookies.

Or if you have some sort of lounge access? (EK F lounge would be great )

 

[polardabar]

Or if you have some sort of lounge access? (EK F lounge would be great )

I'll be Gold at that time, so I'll be able to get into the lounge (although I heard the one I can get into gets super busy). I'll also check if anyone's going, so I can tag along. I'll have to check in which ones I can even gets into as QF Gold.

But, given that I'll have 17 hours there, I'd still like to go out into the city, even if it's just for a drive around the place and a sight or two (preferably air-conditioned). Hopefully I'll be able to get some food at the hotel, take a shower and a bit of rest, and maybe go out when it's a bit cooler... I have early morning (7 an onwards) and the evening/night (until midnight or so). I'll just make sure I'm somewhere comfortable during the hot part of the day...