Prima Dubai Living - Lifestyle - Leisure
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Contents September 2013
General Information Discovering Dubai Dubai’s Do’s and Don’ts
Attractions Dubai Fountain Show Desert Safari Big Bus Tours
Lifestyle Jumeirah Beach Hotel Emirates Airline Burj Khalifa
Entertainment Horse Racing Ice Skating Rink Sky Diving
Time Out Blue Jade Restaurant Rainforest Cafe
Business Opportunities Investment Opportunities
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Prima Dubai Publishers:
Farouk Kamber Lavinia Ambrosie
Editor in Chief: Lavinia Ambrosie
Marketing and Business Development Manager: Khurram Humayun Sultan
Marketing and Advertising Manager: Hosam Al Haj
Sales Manager: Talal Alfahal
Web Developer:
Habiba Alhassan Burra
Designers:
Muhammad Usman Abigail Rodrigues Habiba Alhassan Burra
Writers:
Darya Tajallipour Fatima Anwar
Contributors:
Nadiya Karplyuk Sharmeen Khan Sachi Kumar Karishma Sawlani
Published By:
Iceberg Media & Advertising MFZ LLC P.O. Box 32429, RAK, UAE
Sales Office:
1202, City Tower 1, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971-4-3329507 Fax: +971-4-3327728
Printed By:
Masar Printing & Publishing
Distributed By: Germany
Buch-Und Presse-GroBvertrieb Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG
U.A.E. Jashanmal
Editor’s Letter When you think of any tourist place, the first thing that comes to mind is what to do, where to go and what to see. Imagine Dubai, the top of your “to-do list”, is to visit and experience the lifestyle that Dubai is offering, with its magnificent blend of traditional and modern culture … It will take your breath away! You will be inspired by Dubai’s culture, the kindness of its people and the warm hospitality that you can find wherever you travel within the emirate. Here in Dubai, you will find that the word “impossible” does not exist at all. Consisting of a 7-star hotel in the sea, a restaurant made completely of ice, man-made islands, a miracle garden, the tallest building in the world, the list goes on… With year-round sunshine, mesmerizing deserts, beautiful white-sand beaches, deluxe hotels and shopping malls, intriguing heritage attractions, Dubai is the destination of the century and welcomes millions of visitors each year from all around the world. There’s something about Dubai that will never change – and that is its glamour! Through Prima Dubai, we wish to bring you a glimpse of what the Dubai lifestyle is all about. Come and experience the city of the future!
Lavinia Ambrosie
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His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti, in the year 1833 migrated the tribal Bani Yas family to Dubai. This led to Sheikh Maktoum becoming the founder of the ruling Maktoum family, which currently are the royal and ruling family of the emirate.
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Currently, the ruler of Dubai is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Vice President and the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. H.H Sheikh Mohammed wishes to fulfill his father’s vision of Dubai, which is to make Dubai one of the leading cities in the world, which so far has been successful, as Dubai is internationally recognized for its tourism, trade and logistics between the East and the West.
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Dubai’s Do’s and Don’ts Let’s take this opportunity to learn more about Dubai and remove some of the common misconceptions among the tourists before visiting Dubai. Beginning with the simplest question: is it necessary to wear an Emirati dress during your stay in Dubai? No, Dubai doesn’t have a particular dress code but it is always advisable to wear clothes covering your knees and shoulders. You might be asked to leave a mall or public park if you wear transparent clothes or shirts with offensive slogans. Men must cover their chest, knees and any inappropriate tattoos. It is considered as disrespect to Islam; hence it may offend the Emiratis. Beachwear can be worn at the beach, swimming pool or the water park; outside that vicinity, make sure you dress modestly and decently in public. Is drinking alcohol a crime in Dubai? There are many hotels with licensed restaurants bars and clubs. You are most welcome to visit those hotels and enjoy your time but if you’re caught carrying alcohol outside the hotel without the required permit, you might be arrested. To avoid car accidents and unpleasant incidents, alcohol is strictly forbidden in malls, on the streets and all other public places. Along with following the named conditions, you need to be at least 21 years old to consume alcohol legally in UAE. Can we carry sleep depressants or drugs? No, any medication carried without the medical prescription and the carrying of drugs is strictly prohibited in Dubai and can result in a minimum of three years imprisonment.
Is it necessary to learn Arabic to commute in Dubai? It is always preferable to learn the commonly used words; however, it is not necessary. Around 150 nationalities live in Dubai. Except Arabic, many other languages are commonly used such as English, Hindi and Persian. Can we visit the mosques in Dubai? The mosque is a very pure place for Muslims. You need to perform certain tasks before entering the mosque; therefore, it is always advisable for nonMuslims to seek permission before visiting the Holy place. Is holding hands in public allowed? Holding hands might be tolerated at some places, but kissing and touching unsuitably is not allowed. Abstain from any physical interactions in public or it might result in imprisonment or even deportation. Are there restrictions on photography in Dubai? Dubai is a place with wonderful landmarks and marvellous entertainment facilities, you are always welcome to take pictures, but just make sure that you don’t photograph women without their permission.
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Religion
Climate
In the UAE, the official religion is Islam. You will definitely notice some of the breathtaking mosques around the city, and will hear the call to prayer 5 times a day (known as the Azaan). Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosques except at Jumeirah Mosque. However, Dubai is pretty tolerant with other religions and is home to large expat communities of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and others. Dubai also houses places of worship of other religions.
One would describe Dubai’s climate as a tropical desert climate, as summer temperatures do reach up to the mid and high 40’s during the day and remain in the 30’s overnight. The winter months are much milder and cooler, with the average temperature being around 20C at daytime, and going down to even 12C-14C at night, a more comfortable climate. From December to March the cool weather in the winter occasionally witnesses some rainfall, so travel prepared!
Population Dubai’s population is estimated to be approximately 2.1 million people out of which approximately 85% comprise of expat population. Expat population chiefly comprise of Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Nepalese and Filipinos. British expats is the largest group of Western expats in Dubai. It also has sizeable community of Iranians.
Language Arabic is the official language spoken in the UAE, although everywhere around the city just about everybody speaks English, especially in places of tourism and commerce. Other commonly used languages include Hindi, Farsi and Urdu. Tourists and non-Arabic speakers should have no problem communicating in Dubai.
Local Time The local time in the UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT (4+ GMT) in the winter months, and 3 hours ahead of GMT (+3 GMT) hours in the summer months.
Currency The Arab Emirati Dirham is the local currency used in Dubai, which is often referred to as either AED or AED, and will appear likewise on menus, price tags etc. The UAE dirham ranks from 100 fils to 1,000 Dirham bills. The coins come in 5 fils, 10 fils, 25 fils, 50 fils and 1 Dirham. Notes are issued in denominations of AED 5, AED 10, AED 20, AED 50, AED 100, AED 200, AED 500 and lastly AED 1,000. It’s a good idea to always keep with you smaller bills to pay for cheaper items, metro or taxi, since it may be hard to get change for AED 500 or AED 1,000 bill.
Money exchange and banking Exchanging money or traveler’s cheque is very convenient in Dubai. There are Exchange Centers located in most of the shopping malls and other convenient location around the city. The banks in Dubai are also open and working Saturday to Thursday (closed on Friday) while the city is dotted with ATM machines for quick cash withdrawal.
Weekend The weekends in Dubai are Friday and Saturday. Unlike Europe or other western countries, stores, tourist attractions and events are not closed on the weekends, and are in fact busier and more thrilling.
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Big Bus Tours
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Jumeirah Beach Hotel Amidst the iconic landmarks of Dubai you will find a distinctive wave-shaped five star resort, Jumeirah Beach Hotel. View the stunning Arabian Gulf or experience the most thrilling activities, you will definitely relish your stay at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. You can always count on the hotel for their excellent services, superb restaurants and genuine courtesy.
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Luxuriate in the Royal Ocean Suite. The two bedrooms are furnished with a touch of sea shades finished with royal gold and white furniture. The bedrooms are linked to the spacious living room with coordinating furniture and sumptuous detailing. Through the huge balcony you can view the mesmeric Burj al Arab across the sea. For your comfort, each bathroom has its private Jacuzzi that overlooks the beautiful marina.
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Set in a secure environment, The Talise Climbing Wall allows you to test your stamina by climbing a 6 meter high wall under the supervision of qualified professionals. For experienced climbers, Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers top roped and lead climbing routes.
With access to 900 metres of private beach, Jumeirah Beach offers numerous water sports, including water skiing and sailing. You can even take advantage of the complimentary water sports activities daily. The renowned PBI Tennis Programme at Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers an exciting range of instructional sessions and social activities for both adults and juniors. Join the team of 3 million tennis enthusiasts from around the globe and enhance your skills.
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Your stay is incomplete if you haven’t experienced the Talise Ottoman Spa. Talise Ottoman Spa was crowned UAE’s Leading Spa Resort in 2011 due to its modern features, expert therapists and treatments and numerous rooms including Turkish Hammam and VIP couples room. Drift into the world of relaxation and comfort and experience true luxury at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.
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Investment Opportunities The city that specializes in luxury hotels, iconic landmarks and huge malls, Dubai is the 6th most visited country in the world with 9.89 million international visitors in 2013. By 2020, Dubai aims to attract more than 20 million tourists through hosting the Global Expo 2020. Dubai is a tax free country; hence, a paradise for shopping and investment opportunities. No income tax is paid here and currency is not restricted as it is in other countries. There are no duties on imports or exports as well, making Dubai an ideal location for long-term investments that offers high appreciation and good returns on your investments.
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Driven by far-sighted leadership, Dubai thrives to work on high capital and record-breaking projects. Dubai is an attractive location for its citizens, international businesses, and expatriates working in Dubai. The free trade zones in Dubai allow 100% ownership to expatriates and the liberty to induct labour from their own countries. Dubai is a second home to around 200 nationalities providing them with numerous business, investment and job opportunities. Due to its tax-free policy and high-class ambiance, Dubai is emerging as the most popular tourist and business destination as renowned celebrities, property buyers and business leaders have or are planning to move their business or family to Dubai.
WHY DUBAI
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Dubai Mall Ice Rink
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Horse Racing
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nly Tourism (L.L.C) i r a af
S t r e s De / 0 5 1 D E A
DHOW CRUISE AED 125/-
Free Transfer welcome Drinks 2 Hours cruising Arabic and Continental Buffet Music (Arabic/English)
Pick up and drop off included we provide wide range of adventure tours
Amazing Magic Show Arabic Tea and Coffee Soft Drinks and water Stunning View of Creek Henna Painting and Tattoos
DUBAI CITY TOUR AED 150/-
Visit of Dubai Museum Dubai Creek Jumeirah Mosque Jumeirah Beach
Pick up and drop off included we provide wide range of adventure tours
Burj Al Arab Madinat Jumeirah The Palm - Atlantis Hotel Dubai Marina Burj Khalifa
BBQ Buffet Dinner Belly Dancing Show Tanure Show Dune Bashing Camel Riding Henna Painting Arabic Tea/Coffee Shisha (hubbly-bubbly) Sunset Photographs
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