Holidays in the UAE - 2021: our review. Prices and reviews of tourists

“Eastern economic miracle” is the name of the Emirates, and for good reason. Everyone has heard that skyscrapers are crashing into the sky in Dubai and artificial islands are being built in the sea. Holidays in the UAE, we certainly managed to be remembered. We have been here 3 times, two of which in Dubai and one in Ras Al Khaimah.

And although the Emirates is a "biting" country in terms of costs, you can go here inexpensively. How much does a vacation in the UAE cost in 2021? :)

The UAE is now open to Russians. You can enter the country as follows: Independently - from Moscow, Kazan, Grozny and Yekaterinburg (see flights on Aviasales and hotels on RoomGuru) Tour - although they have risen in price (see tours on Travelata)

Prices for tours in the UAE in 2021: where to buy cheaper?

Emirates is a "package" country, i.e. it's cheaper to go here on a tour. The last trip in December 18th cost us only 33,000 rubles for two - a ticket to Sharjah in a 3 * hotel with breakfast for 5 nights.

You can view tours to Dubai or any other emirate on online aggregators. They search all the leading tour operators and find great deals:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

✓ In 2021, prices for tours to the UAE for 7 days per season - from 60,000 rubles for two; a ticket with a flight for 10 days - from 70,000 rubles

✓ Budget tours, as a rule, to one or two-star hotels in Dubai or to more or less hotels in Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah

✓ Last minute can be snatched for 35-40 thousand rubles for two

✓ The "fortune" system is not to say that it is widespread in the Emirates, but sometimes it drops out. In Dubai, they settle in hotels in Deira, which are not the most popular, of course

About entering the UAE in 2021.
You must have a certificate in English about a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours (the time is counted from the moment of the test!), An application for your phone “covid-19 dxb” and insurance covering covid - such policies are available on Cherehapa.

During the flight, you fill out a health declaration, and at the airport you take the free test again and wait for the results at the hotel. If the retest is negative - you are free, if positive - continue the isolation in the room.

What is the situation now?
In Dubai (and so far only this emirate is fully open to tourists) with pandemic restrictions, everything is much stricter than in Russia. Yes, all shopping centers, restaurants, museums and amusement parks are open, hotels are open - but everywhere they have reduced attendance and occupancy, and masks are required even on the street. Sometimes they ask you to put on a mask on the beach at the hotel, until you reach the sun lounger.

Air tickets and charters in the UAE (Dubai)

We receive luggage at the airport (Ural Airlines flew)

If you plan an independent vacation in Dubai, then you should expect that the cheapest air tickets from Moscow to the Emirates are from 35,000 rubles round trip per person.

Top flight search engines (why?):

• Skyscanner
• Aviasales

Russian citizens do not need a visa to the UAE for up to 30 days. Upon arrival at the airport, a stamp is put.

Where is the best place to relax in the UAE? Resorts

Sharjah Beach / Dubai Kite Beach

We lay out the pros and cons - where to go on a beach vacation in the United Arab Emirates?

Sharjah - the neighboring emirate of Dubai, the border between them is about 100 meters.

+ Vouchers here can be taken at a low price

+ Wide sandy beaches (public)

+ Many Sharjah hotels offer free shuttle service to Dubai

+ Fairly inexpensive cafes (for example, Diwan Al Mandi near the beach)

- The strictest "dry law" is here, and it is forbidden to drink / sell alcohol. Therefore, if necessary, the strategic "reserve" of the Russian tourist is formed from home or from Duty Free

- There is no normal transport to Dubai, except for an expensive taxi (to the center for 70 dirhams) or a transfer from the hotel

- Sharjah Beach, where vacationers from hotels on 3+ lines are taken to the sea - the most common, without dressing rooms and toilets

View of Burj Al Arab next to Souk Madinat Jumeirah / View of Dubai at night from the Level 43 Observation Bar

Dubai is a city, an excursion to which is not even discussed 🙂 And, of course, the most popular choice of tourists in terms of places to stay.

+ All major attractions are concentrated here

+ Loud nightlife, best shopping (albeit not cheap), skyscrapers

+ Great public beach La Mer

- We did not like the rest in the UAE in Dubai, first of all, because of the inability to just walk. The city is not at all for pedestrians, except for the coastline

- Wildly expensive cafes and restaurants

Our first trip to the UAE was in Ras al Khaimah (beach at the hotel and streets in the city)

Ras al-Khaimah is a resort preferred by tourists who value a good hotel at an adequate cost and the sea.

+ It is quiet, green, different architecture (oriental style instead of modern) and high mountains go straight to the Persian Gulf

+ Tour for two to the DoubleTree Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah ≈ 65,000 rubles, in Dubai ≈ 90,000

- The emirate is remote from others, so getting on excursions is a little more difficult. Suitable for those who travel to the UAE not for the first time and want to see the “other side”. Although we discovered the country with PAX, and the choice fell due to the cheap tour.

Fujairah - the northern emirate. It is always 3 degrees cooler here than others. It is picturesque and peaceful, the coast is dotted with expensive hotels with their own beaches. On vacation in the UAE with children - here, or in Ajman.

• Here is a detailed analysis of how all the resorts of the UAE differ, and where it is better for whom to rest.

Season in the UAE - when is the best time to relax?

It is warm in the UAE all year round, but in summer (from May to September) it is too hot, the heat is + 45 ° С, from which air conditioners will not be saved either. Still, the "season" here begins in the dankest and most incomprehensible, in our opinion, months - the end of September-December; March, April. In winter, it is warm in the Emirates, but swimming is not very pleasant - the water is about + 21 ° С.

Temperature by month:

New Year in the UAE

Brand new La Mer beach, opened in October 2018

New Year in the UAE is something enchanting (fireworks and crowds) and expensive (prices for any activities associated with the celebration). At the same time, a tour for the New Year holidays will cost less than, for example, Thailand or Goa. For details and specific names of places where you can walk on the 31st in the Emirates, read here >>

Food: prices in the UAE in 2021

The local currency is the dirham (AED), equal to 20.5 rubles (as of January 2021).

Emirates is an expensive country, and it does not matter where to rest, in Dubai or Ras Al Khaimah. The cheapest food is, of course, in local cafes or soups / salads in tourist establishments.

We have visited all these places personally, the reviews about them are good.

There are restaurants that on Fridays (day off in the UAE) work on a buffet basis. For example, in Dubai - Thai establishment Thiptara, 240 AED for unlimited food and soft drinks. Or American cuisine at Original Wings & Rings, where entrance costs 149 AED.

Lunch at the restaurant and our breakfasts at the 3 * Centro Sharjah by Rotana

If you eat on your own, here are the prices for food in the UAE stores:

• Bottle of water, 1.5 L - 1 AED
• Yogurt, 450 gr - 17-20 AED
• Sandwich - 15-20 AED
• Bread - 5-7 AED
• Eggs, 6 pcs - 4-10 AED
• Whole chicken, 900 gr - 14-18 AED
• Parmesan, kg - 100-150 AED
• Avocado, kg - 15 AED
• Mango, kg - 20 AED

All inclusive - is it worth taking?

All-inclusive holidays in the UAE have a place to be outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Firstly, in the emirates, less all inclusive will be cheaper. Secondly, at the very beach resorts - Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah - the buffet makes life much easier. For example, take a vacation in the UAE in Sharjah in 2021: prices for all inclusive start at 85,000 rubles for 2 people for 7 nights from Moscow. In Dubai, a similar ticket - from 130 thousand.

Best hotels in UAE - where to stay?

Heated pool and lobby in our hotel

We use RoomGuru to book hotels on our own.He compares prices for dozens of systems, including Booking.

Hotels in the Emirates are either very famous and expensive, or ordinary, quite standard, but also expensive. For example, in the 5 * Burj Al Arab hotel, in the form of a sail on the 1st line, Angelina Jolie likes to stay ☺. And the Emirates Palace is a hotel in Abu Dhabi, which, according to some sources, was awarded all 7 stars. They even take excursions there to give a glimpse of the life of the elite through the fence.

Luxury luxury, but still more relevant acceptable cost and slightly less impressive conditions. So which hotel to choose for your vacation?

Important: hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras al-Khaimah take an additional tourist tax, which is not included either in the tour price or in the cost of self-armor. Formed based on the star rating of the object and charged for every day in the room: 1/2 * - 7/10 dirham; 3 * - 10 dirhams; 4 * - 15 dirhams; 5 * - 20 dirhams.

What to see in the UAE? Attractions and excursions

This view of Burj Khalifa - without people - from Bin Rashid Boulevard / Aquarium in Dubai Mall

Dubai.
If you do not choose this emirate for rest, then at least visit it for 2-3 hours is a must. You can climb Burj Khalifa (the tallest structure in the world at 828 meters). Get tickets on the official seller's website - GetYourGuide (₽2700 per person). It is even more profitable to buy a combo ticket (₽4,000), which gives access directly to the tower, aquarium and zoo, here too >>

Musical fountain - the largest in the world, illuminated by 6000 sources. It is capable of throwing jets of water 150 meters high and creating more than 1000 figured compositions from water pillars. The spectacle is very memorable, and most importantly free - from 18:00 every evening.

Briefly but essentially Dubai can be viewed and on a sightseeing tour... For which the hotel guides fight at exorbitant prices, but in reality:

We advise you to go to Abu Dhabi (Sheikh Zayed Mosque) and on a safari (sand boarding was also included)

Abu Dhabi.
The main attraction is Sheikh Zayed Mosque... Snow-white, dazzling, huge with a unique atmosphere. Like from the cartoon "Aladdin". From Dubai and Sharjah to Abu Dhabi, people travel, as a rule, in an organized way:

Ferrari World Park (Ferrari Park) is located near Abu Dhabi. From above, the building looks like the logo of a famous brand. There is a lot of entertainment inside: car models, installations, the latest technologies and attractions.

Yas Waterworld Waterpark - too cool to miss. For both adults and children! In 2018, by the way, he was recognized as the most-most in the world. A separate entrance costs 250 dirhams per person (tickets can be taken online >>), but there are also:

Desert Safari.
Or jeep driving in the desert. This entertainment is very popular in the Emirates, excursions are sold everywhere. The average price is $ 65 for an adult and $ 40 for a child. Held in the evening, and the package usually includes camel riding, dinner in a Bedouin tent, hookah, henna tattoo. I'll tell you more about it here.

The best beaches

La Mer beach is, in our opinion, the best free beach in town
(in the off-season, there are still few people)

The UAE has sandy beaches, most of which are public.

Palm Jumeirah - famous artificial islands in the form of palm trees in Dubai. Another wonder of the world ☺. Long sandy beach with comfortable infrastructure and views of the skyscrapers of Dubai.

Cornish - the public beach of Abu Dhabi, divided into 3 zones: for young people, for families with children, for quiet rest and relaxation. Unesco blue flag.

Jumeirah Beach Park - a city beach in Dubai with golden sand, which is specially brought from the desert.

Al Khan Beach - the beach in Sharjah, stands out for the mass of entertainment: parachutes, riding a banana and scooter, surfing. There is a children's water park.

But the best beach holiday in the UAE is on the beach La Mer In Dubai. Firstly, we were surprised by the sea on La Mer! The coastal strip is turquoise and clean. Secondly, the surrounding area is incredibly stylish and modern + everything that should be on the beach.

Holidays in the UAE with children

The same beach - there are showers, toilets, changing rooms. Everything is like people 🙂

Traveling to the UAE with a child is a great idea! There is a good climate, clean, sandy beaches, easy access to the sea and a lot of entertainment for children (for example, the Wild Wadi or Kidzania water park in Dubai). Local residents treat children with trepidation, so they try to create comfortable conditions for them. Many hotels in the UAE are suitable for families with children - and definitely the ones we have listed above.

We talked in detail about the rest in the UAE with children separately, here in this article >>

Transport in the Emirates

Public transport in the UAE is ... high-tech. In Dubai, the metro runs without a driver (cost 5-8 AED), and a taxi will find a tourist by itself (2 AED for each km). Between cities and in smaller emirates, you will have to travel by bus (for example, you can get from Ras al-Khaimah to Dubai for 25 AED).

Rent a Car

It only makes sense if you intend to drive around the emirates. The easiest way is to rent a car at the airport, but having booked the desired option in advance. We often use the RentalCars service, and it has never let us down.

Car rental prices start from $ 25 per day. For rental, you must have international law... Traffic rules are similar to European ones.

• There are toll roads, about $ 1.5 dollars for a toll
• Gasoline 1.5-2 AED per liter, you can refuel yourself or with the help of workers (for money)

Reviews of tourists about the rest in the Emirates

Beaches: Sharjah Beach (with such waves, almost no one swam) and La Mer

Tourists leave mostly positive reviews about their holidays in the UAE. A picturesque country with an unusual culture, oriental subtleties that are interesting to learn. Of the advantages, tourists note: modern infrastructure, good service, clean sea, beautiful views, shopping. Cons: a lot of newcomers, quite expensive, strict laws on alcohol.

The amount of money with you depends on the plans for shopping, entertainment and excursions. For example, we can say that we were on vacation in Sharjah and visited Dubai by taxi every day: a total of $ 70 for two people a day came with us. Can you be more specific? >>

We give tips in our video about Dubai

Here's a recent review from our friends on what is worth visiting:

“From what I liked:

- Burj Khalifa amazed us (rise), though a lot of people

- Global Village, entrance - 15 dirham. You need to get there either by taxi (which is convenient) or by bus (which is cheap). Be sure to go - at 18:00 there is a stunt show 🙂

- Abu Dhabi, it makes sense to go there for entertainment such as a water park and the rest. There are simply fewer people, it is quieter, I liked it more.In addition to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, we were in the Emirates Palace - power! Especially for fans of Sex and the City (some of the filming was carried out in this hotel) - sometimes you can sneak out of the tourist area and get into the hotel, but we had little time for that. And so you should definitely visit the Water Park - it is the best in the Emirates, they say. And take a walk along the Corniche. An excursion to Abu Dhabi can be taken online, they will pick you up, take you, take you - conveniently. And the second time if you want to go by yourself

- And yes, a very, very must try this is a desert safari - the prices are different everywhere, different services are included, but apart from riding on the car itself, in fact, nothing else is interesting. It is worth taking online too. " (we indicated all attendance-passwords-sites in the section "What to see?")

Dina.

We went up to the observation deck in the morning, the ticket cost $ 42

What have we brought from the UAE? Shopping and sales

The most delicious in the Emirates is dates, especially, they say, in chocolate. We did not find any similar, but as a souvenir we brought cookies with a date filling from Carrefour (Maamout firm, about 20 dirhams per pack). In the UAE, many interesting jewelry is sold (in particular, gold), carpets, natural fabrics, oriental sweets, oil perfumes.

They also make high-quality Arabic coffee - a real paradise for coffee lovers ☺. It is also profitable to buy certain equipment. At one time, we bought Airpods headphones in Dubai for 3 thousand rubles cheaper than in Russia.

Shopping in Dubai is notable, but in general, it cannot be said that it is cheap. Unless we are talking about sales that begin after the New Year! Two famous shopping malls: Dubai Mall, Deira City Center Mall and Mall of the Emirates.