15 Myths About Dubai Every Tourist Should Know

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. However, Dubai also has many misconceptions in the minds of tourists. Let`s clear up some common myths about Dubai that you shouldn`t believe.

Dubai is known for its high-speed cars, luxury hotels, shopping, and vibrant nightlife. It is also known for having strict rules and laws that can cause problems for tourists. However, these rules and laws are often exaggerated by Western media and far from the truth.

If you meet any native of Dubai or you are an ex-pat living in Dubai for a couple of years now, you will witness that all these myths are baseless. Here are some of the most common myths or misconceptions tourists have about Dubai, have a look and let us know which one you heard the most. 

Everyone in Dubai is rich

Everyone wants to become Richy rich but that does not happen in the real world. Dubai does have a lot of wealth, a lot of businessmen are rich, but ordinary citizens are just like everyone else. Yes, Dubai has tax-free income, but with high rents and high cost of living, there is not much room to make a fortune.

Poverty exists in Dubai, as elsewhere, and many ex-pats work just to send money to their families back home.

Alcohol is banned

There is no alcohol myth in Dubai. While it is illegal for Muslims to drink alcohol in Dubai, non-Muslim tourists and residents are free to drink alcohol in their homes, bars, clubs, restaurants, and hotels. Until recently, non-Muslim residents had to apply for a liquor license to drink alcohol, but this is no longer required.

Dubai has a huge bar and club scene, and most visitors enjoy the popular Friday brunch experience - you can eat and drink for up to four hours each weekend. 

Women should be cover-up all the time

While it might be easier to decide what to wear daily if we had to wear a burqa, in Dubai women are free to choose what to wear. Yes, this includes Muslim women. They choose to wear a burqa or a suit.

Bikinis are worn on the beach and don`t necessarily cover shoulders or knees when going out. Some malls have signs requiring shoulder coverings when entering, but this is not imposed on visitors. However, tourists should remain respectful and aware of the culture, especially when approaching the mosque.

You can`t buy pork

Having a Muslim majority in Dubai, there is slightly difficult to find pork here. However, you can find it in some supermarkets in non-Muslim pork areas such as Spinneys, Choithrams, Park n` Shop, and Waitrose. They will sell the obvious stuff like sausages and pork loin. You`ll also find that different confectionary products also contain gelatin as well as other related snacks, such as canned beans and sausages. Generally, there are only a few restaurants that sell breakfast ham (bacon sandwiches, etc.) and produce. Since pork is available but very limited, if you go to the food court in the mall and you can`t find pork on the menu, you will have to go to specific food court like McGettigans or Maison Mathis. 

All places are closed during Ramadan

While this may have been the case decades ago, Dubai is now opening its ubiquitous location to non-Muslim tourists and residents during Ramadan. During this time, most restaurants will have no outdoor seating, and doors and windows will be closed. However, in some tourist areas such as The Walk JBR, outdoor seating remains open during Ramadan.

Although it is not imposed on tourists, eating, drinking, and smoking in public places are not welcome during Ramadan. While Muslims have no problem eating and drinking in their presence, it is still important to be respectful when visiting Dubai during Ramadan and remember that people fast throughout the day. 

Women are not allowed to drive

Incorrect! Until June 2018, there was only one country in the world where women were not allowed to drive - Saudi Arabia - but now that has all changed. In Dubai, women drive buses, taxis, trains, and planes!

Too expensive to visit

Indeed, Dubai has a lot of luxury hotels and fine dining restaurants, and if you have the cash to spend, Dubai is the place for you. However, it is entirely possible to visit Dubai on a budget. There are plenty of free things to do in Dubai, taxis are cheap, and you can even find hotels with swimming pools overlooking the beach!

It never rains

Yes, it`s a desert, and yes, it rarely rains in the desert but that doesn`t mean it doesn`t rain in Dubai at all. Every year, the government conducts exercises on the cloud to bring rain. This typically results in a week or two of rain, thunderstorms, and lightning around the end of February or early March each year.

While there is no heavy rain in Dubai, that doesn`t mean the weather is always perfect. During the late summer months, especially August and September, temperatures can reach 50°C and the lowest of 2°C and the humidity can make it nearly impossible to do anything outside. For tourists, this is not the best time to get a tan. Therefore, the best time to visit Dubai is the cooler months from October to May.

Arabic is a must for communication

On the contrary, the opposite is true! The United Arab Emirates has about 91% of expatriate residents, while only 9% are Emiratis. For this reason, even locals speak English unless they speak directly to another Arab. Of course, tourists may hear some Arabic words when visiting Dubai like Habibi, Shukran, Marhaba and many more.

Not safe for women

On the contrary, women feel safer here than in any other country. In actual fact, women are appreciated, respected in Dubai, and have the exact constitutional rights as men. It`s perfectly safe to come home from a bar at 2 am alone. You`ll find lots of other people outside, and you`ll never be afraid to walk alone at night.

When it comes to safety, there are very few petty thefts here. While tourists should always be vigilant when traveling, it`s not uncommon in Dubai to leave a handbag on the beach, go for a swim, and then put it back in place.

No bikinis allowed

You can wear beachwear, yes. Otherwise, it will be very hot. It is also important to know about beachwear. You`re fine when you`re in beachwear at the beach, but when you`re at the beach, you need to put on a shirt when you walk from the beach to your car. This rule applies to all genders when moving from a public beach (Kite beach, JBR, La Mer, etc.) to a public place.

You can’t follow other religions

Although the UAE is a predominantly Muslim country with more than 80% of the population being Muslim, they are very tolerant and accept all religions. There are many places of worship, dating back to the early 1960s, located in Dubai and the neighboring emirates for Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists.

Non-Muslims are also welcome to join their Muslim friends in celebrations such as sharing iftar after a day of fasting during Ramadan.

Dubai doesn`t celebrate Christmas

Christmas may not be a national holiday in Dubai, but if you visit Dubai during the Christmas season, you`ll find fully decorated malls, Christmas music, and Christmas parties all over the city. Of course, the big guy Santa is always visiting Dubai at this time.

On Christmas Day, tourists can book festive packages at any hotel in Dubai. At Mina`s Peace Lunch, Santa sails on a sailboat, stop to take pictures, and hand out candy.

Dubai is not sustainable

Dubai has been working a little longer than other cities on its carbon footprint, but Dubai now aims to achieve the smallest environmental footprint by 2050. With electric subways and streetcars and being one of Tesla`s largest EV markets, it`s slowly improving its sustainability.

A new residential development, Sustainable Cities, sees increasing recycling of water and waste, producing more energy than it consumes. Dubai is currently building a huge solar power plant in the desert that will produce the cheapest and cleanest electricity in the world.

Gold vending machines

Well, that might be true, but it`s not everywhere in Dubai, and not every day does go to cash machines. Like ATMs for cash, Gold vending machines are for quick gold purchases. It is installed in the luxury Emirates Palace Hotel, so Gold Go To anytime, without wandering around the gold shop and finding the reliable one. 

Final thoughts

But with all these myths debunked, what are the rules that work that can get you into trouble as a tourist?

Openly show affection: Of course, you can hold hands, you can also have a quick kiss with your other half, and hug your friends. However, anything other than a small kiss should be considered excessively emotional, so you may be asked to stop, or if an accident requires it, you may be asked to stop.

Gestures and insults: Rude gestures are not allowed in Dubai and can result in fines or jail time if caught. The same goes for swearing at someone and using profanity.

Nudity: There are no nude beaches in Dubai! You`ve certainly seen swimwear with little imagination, but nudity is forbidden here.

We hope the common myths above have cleared up any doubts you may have had about visiting Dubai in the past, and now you can start planning your desert adventure.