Q: I have looked at a number of tourist sites for information on tourist activities and it looks amazing. We will probably: * Have afternoon tea at the Burj al Arab * Go on a desert safari * Ski - or at least watch the skiing * Visit the Gold souk * Visit the Mall of the Emirates * Go to a spa * Go to the Dubai Heritage and Diving Village * What else should we do? We welcome recommendations of course Neither of us have ever traveled to a Muslim country, so what additional information do we need to know so we can be polite tourists and obey local customs? I haven't really seen a website that outlines local customs dos and don'ts for Dubai. Also, what about tipping there? Thank you.
A: I actually just got back from Dubai last week. I travelled there with just a female friend of mine. Not once did I ever feel threatened or uncomfortable. You've got some amazing things on your list to do! I would suggest stopping by one of the beaches. They have the finest sand and most wonderful waters. There is also a souk right near the Mall of the Emirates that is awesome. A great place to get henna tattoos and cool local stuff. As far as customs, just be polite. I don't know if it was really necessary, but my friend and I never wore anything revealing (except swimsuits at the beach) just out of respect for the culture. Just a pair of pants and t-shirts (we stayed away from tank tops and spaghetti straps). As far as tips, just do what you would normally tip. The exchange rate is about 3.60 Dhs to the US dollar. I think we tipped about 10 Dhs for decent length cab rides and about 15% of our bills at restaurants. You're going to have an awesome time!