This is the last of my three part series on tips for Dubai tourism. So

far I’ve covered everything from what you can bring with you to how to

get there to what you can do once you’ve arrived…not to mention how

easy it is to get around. In this article, we’ll touch on a few final

things that I am sure you are going to want to know.

On thing we didn’t touch on in the first two articles is how to pay

for stuff. Yes, you need money here. Good news on this front. There

are many local and international banks in Dubai that offer the

standard commercial banking services. Banking hours are a little odd

though if you’re used to US banking. Banks are open from 8 AM to 1 PM

Saturday to Wednesday. On Thursdays, they’re open from 8 until noon

and that’s it. Hope you’re an early riser.

As for credit cards (who doesn’t have one?) most of the common ones

are accepted including American Express, Diners Club, Visa and

Mastercard. These cards are taken by most of the larger shops in the

area, though you may have a problem using them in the smaller

establishments. So it’s good to have some cash on you. The monetary

unit in Dubai is the dirham. The exchange rate, at this point in

time is one US dollar for Dh3.67.

Tipping in Dubai is pretty standard and actually less than the going

rate in the US which, in many places is up to 20%. In Dubai, a 10%

tip is considered acceptable. If you want to be a big spender, you

can up it to 15% but it’s not required or expected. Here’s a tip.

When treated to excellent service, tip accordingly. You’ll feel a

lot better about yourself.

Business hours in Dubai are nothing like in the US. So if you’re

planning on doing any business there at all, you need to know this.

The Dubai weekend, traditionally, is Thursday afternoon and Friday.

However, some places now close on Friday and Saturday. Office hours

in the private sector are all over the map. Some places are open

from 8 to noon, reopen at 1 until 3 or 4 and others are straight 9

to 5. Some shops stay open until 10 PM at night, so if you’re a

late night shopper, these will do just fine.

Naturally, these three articles just scratch the surface. For a

complete tourist guide that will give you everything you could

possibly want, check out the resource in my signature.

Related posts:

1. Dubai Tourism – Get Some Great Tips For Tourists
2. Dubai Tourism ? Some More Great Tips For Tourists
3. Dubai Travel : A Great Tourist Destination For a Truly Memorable Experience
4. Culture Tips for Dubai Travel
5. Dubai Travel Tour Package Tips