How To Reach Dubai

Dubai is one of the most popular holiday hot-spots of the world. Located on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, it is the largest and the most populous city of the UAE. Tourists flock to Dubai from all over the world. The city has very good connectivity with several important global cities. The traffic is high almost all the year round, but the winter months are particularly busy. Here's how you can reach Dubai.

Dubai International Airport is the primary airport serving the city. It is the busiest airport of UAE, and famous for its duty-free shopping. The national airline of Dubai is Emirates, which connects the city to more than 100 destinations worldwide. The other airlines are FlyDubai, a low-cost carrier, and Etihad. You can also enter Dubai via the Sharjah International Airport or the Abu Dhabi International Airport. An e-gate card will help to speed up immigration formalities if you are a frequent visitor from a country that has been allowed automatic visa on entry.

Dubai city is linked with the capitals of the other six emirates of the UAE through a dense network of buses (run by the Dubai Government). This service is called Emirates Express and operates from a few bus terminals of Dubai. You can easily avail of the service between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Masafi and so forth. Dubai's only international road border is with Oman and if you want to drive into Dubai, the only way you can do so is through Oman. You will not require a permit for this.

Here’s a list of some Emirates Express routes:

To and from Abu Dhabi: It takes two hours to reach from Al Ghubaibah bus stop (Dubai) and Abu Dhabi's main bus station with buses running every 40 minutes from both stations.

To and from Sharjah: Buses run frequently between Dubai and Sharjah, departing from various bus stations in Dubai (Gold Souq, Al Ittihad Square, Baniyas Squar).

To and from Al Ain: Hourly buses for the two-hour journey.

To and from Fujairah: Dubai to Fujairah takes about three to four hours with buses departing from the Rashidiya Metro station.

Ever since the launch of the metro in 2010, Dubai's public transport system has become the best in the Middle East. However, the city is still very car-oriented. Before boarding a local bus or the metro, you must purchase a rechargeable Nol Card (meaning 'fare' in Arabic). You can take the elevated Palm Jumeirah Monorail, which connects the Palm Jumeirah with Dubai Marina. The Aquaventure Park at the Atlantis hotel and Gateway Towers are the only two stations en route. The distance is 5.5 km.

While traveling elsewhere in Dubai, do check out the Bastakiya district, one of the last remaining pockets of Old Dubai, Jumeirah Mosque, the largest in the city, Shindagha district, home to open museums, and the various traditional souks.