Expert:
Reid Date: 8/16/2000 Subject: Travel, possible permanent move
Question I will be traveling to Abu Dhabi and to Dubai next month and will spend a little over two weeks, interviewing for a position. I am a physician in the Air Force currently (and a pediatric expert with AllExperts.com). I have gone to the web to pull off what I could of pictures and information about UAE. What can you tell me about life there? We will probably be living in Dubai or possibly Shirjah. Do you know of some good books or literature that will give us a good idea about family life there? Any particularly good places my wife and I should visit or eat at while we are visiting over there next month?
Thank you very much for your time.
Larry & Diane Hooper
Answer Larry the life on an American ex-pat in the Emirates is good. Locals are friendly, there is no crime, no beggars, very few hassles and the sun always shines. Climate is nice except in the summer when it's hot as Hell (and humid) ....think Phoenix and you have a good idea what the weather in Dubai is like. It's totally acceptable for a man or woman to dress in Dubai just as you might here but a woman should not wear anything too revealing. Bikinis at the pool or on the beach are fine.
There are loads of ethnic restaurants all over the city that are excellent and affordable....usually 2 people for dinner, desert and coffee comes to less than $20.00 with tip. Fancy restaurants in hotels are expensive...same meal will usually cost at least $50.00 to $75.00 I can't recommend any one in particular but all the ones I've tried have been good. Beware that hotels will generally only recommend restaurants in their hotels or other hotels and will claim not to know of any "local" restaurants...but just walk down the street and you will find plenty. Lots of low cost restaurants and outdoor cafes where local men sit in groups sipping tea, smoking hookahs and talking....seems to be a favourite pass time. It's a very laid back and comfortable atmosphere. All bars are in hotels but some restaurants seem to have beer.
Sharjah and Dubai are only a 20 minute drive apart and close enough that you can see one from the other. Sharjah is smaller and cheaper...best prices on carpets are at the Sharjah souk. As far as a place to live goes it's the difference between Manhattan and Queens. Dubai is better, more convenient and more expensive. Sharjah is a like a poor relation:-) but it's also fine and you should explore it while there.
2 weeks is plenty of time to explore. I suggest you rent a car (easily arranged on the spot for about $30.00 a day) and drive around. Watch out for camels wandering across the highway (not in town but when you're driving through the desert one could pop up anywhere. They have no fear and will not budge if you blast your horn) Everything in Dubai (including street signs and restaurant menus) is in English and most people you meet will speak at least some English so it's very easy to get around without speaking a word of Arabic.
A couple of things you have to do there. The desert safari to a Bedouin village....great fun and easily arranged on the spot, about $75.00 per person. Spend a day or an afternoon lounging around the pool at the Royal Mirage www.royalmiragedubai.com it is an awesome beachfront luxury resort! especially the sunset. Visit the gold souk in Dubai. Try and get your hosts to arrange for you to stay at either the Inter-Continental or Hyatt in Dubai (best locations and nice hotels) or one of the resorts on Jumeirah Beach.
I can't recommend any books on Dubai (I've long since given up on travel guide books and always do my travel homework on the web) There is much to see and do so I suggest you look at the following web sites to get the full flavor of Dubai and all that is available there.
http://www.dubaitourism.co.ae - official web site for Dubai tourism....excellent! they also put out a tour manual that their Philidelphia office might send to you.
