Extended Stay: Dubai

[Kitchen]

My wife just got a verbal on what would be a 5 week project in Dubai, and we are now waiting for the PO.  I would be going with her if this happens (although I dont count anything until they sign on the line that is dotted!).  

Any advice on what it would be like living in Dubai for a month and half?  How should we dress?  

Any restrictions on photography?  

Thanks, Joe

[Cigarsmoker81]

Dubai is amazing with endless things to do, its still beach season now and warm so get your swimming shorts and a lot of sunscreen! 
 

resturant scene is amazing, in winter there are a lot of tour companies that take you to the desert for the day, I highly recommend doing it at least once 

Old Souq/ town is very nice to walk around , you can take alabra ( boat)  which is always a fun experience

Northern emirates/ Oman is very nice to visit during the winter, lots of mountains and nice hike trails

cigar wise prices are high but you will occasionally find age stock, but be mindful that they store it at a very high humidity 

our duty free on the way out has huge stock and very reasonable prices, don’t forget to visit them.

enjoy your stay here and if you need any advice don’t hesitate to dm me 

[NSXCIGAR]

You might want to consider a layover in Beirut to check out the Beirut Duty Free. They always have a great selection and very good prices. 

[LordAnubis]

I would approach it as if you are going to your grandmothers for a month. Try not to show tatoos if you have any. And both yourself and your wife should dress modestly at all times (pants, long sleeves, loose fitting etc, nothing revealing or with any political/provocative messages or images on them). Theres a big difference between a local walking around in shorts and an American walking around in shorts. Just know that (no matter where you go in that region or most of the devloping world) rules apply that are not really rules, your key is to fly under the radar.

Dubai is very safe and a big developed city, but like any developing world you can get done for anything, including kissing your wife in public. Be as overly discrete as possible if you are purchasing alcohol or pork. Be respectiful during calls to prayer that you will hear 5 times a day. Moral of the story, think of the most repsectful you coud ever be, and times that by 100 and thats how you should be there at all times.

Cigars wise, there are 2 LCDHs (i was last there about 5 years ago) but it is cheaper to buy cigars from the shop at airport on the way out. Next to the baggage carousels last i was there. If you're into fancy sort of life then pleeeeeeenty for you to do there, lots of nice hotels and restaurants etc. If you're into nature sort of stuff the desert tours are nice as already mentioned. 

I give you all this advice as a brown, australian muslim man with a beard and i follow everything i said above (and i have been to many middle eastern and developing developing countries). The middle east is not a region you want anyone to have a reason to take a second glance at you, it does not end well.

[Kitchen]

Thanks for the replies all, and I will follow up when/if the PO goes through. 

As a photographer, I would certainly be doing a far amount of portfolio building, along with video.  Insofar as receding into the background, as a blue eyed Anglo Saxon American, would wearing the traditional garb be offensive?  I would be thinking mainly walking around in linen pants and long sleeve

Also, I tend to wear an Akubra hat whenever I am working.  I assume this would draw attention in the Middle East?  

[LordAnubis]

1 minute ago, Kitchen said:

Thanks for the replies all, and I will follow up when/if the PO goes through. 

As a photographer, I would certainly be doing a far amount of portfolio building, along with video.  Insofar as receding into the background, as a blue eyed Anglo Saxon American, would wearing the traditional garb be offensive?  I would be thinking mainly walking around in linen pants and long sleeve

Also, I tend to wear an Akubra hat whenever I am working.  I assume this would draw attention in the Middle East?  

Linen pants and long sleeve is fine, thats normally my go to. I don't think it's offensive to wear a Jhubba as a white guy but to me it's just part of the "bringing attention to yourself". As for the hat, that wont be much of an issue i dont think, i normally wear wide brimmed hat myself.

[BrightonCorgi]

Been to the Emirates a couple of times.  People dress regular to US.   Have plenty of beach & hot weather attire.  Mall are like a hyper US mall with many of the same stores for clothes and food.

Most of the population in the Emirates are there for work, so no matter your look or background; there's plenty of others.  Very safe place.  Driving is pretty easy, lot of tight rotaries.  They use their own map app; not a Google one.  Work week is Sunday - Thursday.  Family oriented culture.  Emirates are not outwardly friendly but not cold either.  Is a Muslim country, so you need to respect their ways.  Nothing you'd need to change if you are well mannered.

[Edicion]

If you are a UFC fan you are in for a treat as they will have Fight Island up and running again soon, you can still get tickets.

Tons of good restaurants and places to smoke (including some LCDH lounges) , highly recommend to try some of the Iraqi. Incredible food.

While it's possible to walk around in some areas (wear sunscreen - it's very hot and sunny), UBER/Careem will become your best friends if you don't drive yourself. 

Some apps are restricted, like WhatsApp (maybe Skype) where you can't use to them to make calls, worth keeping in mind to check what apps you can use, I used a VPN to get around it, but it didn't always work.

Just to echo what others have said, it's good to be respectful of the culture and traditions. If it's your first time in a ME country, I would probably google up a do's and don'ts. Here's one guide https://wikitravel.org/en/Dubai and I would read the "Stay safe / Other safety" sections carefully.

[NSXCIGAR]

Don't engage in any hanky panky on the beach. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/16/beach-sex-dubai

[NSXCIGAR]

3 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

People dress regular to US.  

[Devo]

I will refer you to @GVan as he lived in Abu Dhabi for ~5 years. 

[Kitchen]

How about Visas?  

Would the 90 day Visit Visa cover professional photography work?  Would we need a sponsor?  The client is based in Riyadh, but has locations in Dubai.  How would this effect sponsorship?  

[Mikepd]

A visa is not required for US tourists to the UAE as long as your passport is valid for a minimum of six months after arrival, though a work visa on behalf of your wife would not be a bad thing.

Covid is still a pandemic there, you will have strict entry and exit plans to the nation, and will likely have to stay in an "airport hotel" for quarantine until you pass their restrictions.  The apps and papers may not all line up for negative test results and vaccination records, if that happens, call the health numbers for assistance.

Shorts will likely get you "dress-coded" from almost any public location that you were not personally invited to come to. Slacks and a button-down shirt is welcomed. If a local tells you that you're not dressed enough, don't argue, just leave, or the police will be called.  You will have to cover from your shoulders to below your knees.  If you cover everything (you don't need to cover your face), then you are setting a better precedent for yourself.   

Most places there will accept USD/CAD/Euro/GBP but you wont get good "personal exchange rates" and would be saving money by exchanging to the dirham (AED) at a bank or other official money exchange.  Currently 1 USD ~ 3.5 AED.

Photos of people and government/military property without permission there is a huge issue and red flag, and can get you arrested, you don't want to be in trouble in the Middle East.  If you want to do photography, do it in the mountains alone, or in places with permission and an accompanying guide.  Their Customs may want to review any digital media before departing if you either claim large amounts or they search and find large amounts of SD cards, flash drives, hard drives, etc; or if you declare yourself as a photographer.

Pork and Alcohol is highly controlled, and will not be in markets, it is a Muslim country.  You will have to find a "friend" for those, but the UAE sees even possession of alcohol similar to drugs, it comes with a risk.  If you can go without drinking alcohol for the time there, that would be best.

Cigars are available, there are multiple LCDH in the UAE and other stores too.  Airport Duty Frees will likely have the best prices in Dubai, along with UK Duty Free locations which you may pass through as a layover.

Driving is a must but don't drive yourself, get an "Uber" or hire a driver.  You will get sun burns if you walk through the cities for long periods of time outdoors.

Sharjah and Ajman are run under Sharia law, if you decide to go there, it should be accompanied, and be prepared for strict observations.

[BrightonCorgi]

Nikki Beach Club is fun.  Very hip and fun beach while at it.

https://dubai.nikkibeach.com/

[Mikepd]

On 10/3/2021 at 7:52 PM, LordAnubis said:

Moral of the story, think of the most repsectful you coud ever be, and times that by 100 and thats how you should be there at all times.

...

The middle east is not a region you want anyone to have a reason to take a second glance at you, it does not end well.

I forgot to mention above that this is truly the key takeaways from these posts.  You can be as respectful as Queen Elizabeth and wear as many clothes as your grandmother would, but if you make a mistake and cause a problem, even if it's not directly your fault, it WILL NOT end well for you as an outsider in an Arab country.

I would expect your wife's business to have security and legal representatives in the region you'd be residing in.  Keep their numbers and addresses in your phone and on a paper on you at all times, you don't want to have to reach them and have to depend on your phone 100%.  Additionally if you are going out alone, give someone who is separate of you your destination, and expected return, so if you don't show up by then, they can at least reach out to you to make sure you're okay and not lost/stranded/in trouble.  

 

[BrightonCorgi]

One time I had a crappy rental car in Abu Dhabi (battery did not have enough water in it) and we couldn't start the car at a mall.  It was getting late and the concern & help provided to my wife and I was really great.  They broke out all the stops to get us up and running and were very polite. 

A friend of mine in Dubai told me a story of her friend that left 200K AED in an envelope at a Starbucks.  Came back two hours later and it was all there, sitting at the register.  If you get caught even stealing 2 cents, you'll be deported.  Everyone is there for work, so not something you want to happen.

FerrariWorld is fun to check out.  Saadiyat Island has a great beaches.  Easy to see dolphins playing in the water.  Russian super models all over the place.