Dubai Helicopter City Tour

Yes, if you have the Uber app installed on your phone, you can use it in the city. Unlike in some other global cities, Uber rides are typically a little more expensive than public taxi services, and cars are typically Lexus. Careem is another local alternative to Uber. Lyft is not available in Dubai.

There are several places to try authentic local food, but they don't dominate the culinary landscape, so you'll need to seek them out. For traditional Emirati cuisine in a "traditional" setting, head to Al Fahidi area near Dubai Museum in Bur Dubai, to the Arabian Tea You’ll be able to try specialities such as Arabic coffee, fish or lamb machboos (a rice dish resembling to biryani), Emirati stews, kebabs and desserts
including luqaimat - delicious fried balls, not dissimilar to doughnuts, usually covered in date dhibs (syrup). There's also a variety of camel milk ice creams in both familiar (vanilla, strawberry) and local (date, saffron) flavours. For a modern riff on Emirati cooking, check out Logma, which now has several branches across the city including at The Dubai Mall (800 56462). Here you'll be able to try chebab (pancakes) with cream cheese and date syrup, or regag (a kind of thin, crisp bread) with egg, cheese or zaatar, as well as fusion parathas, machboos and salads.

Dubai has some superb public transport facilities. The driverless Dubai Metro, which launched in 2009, is the crowning glory of these and runs the length of the city from Jebel Ali in the south up past Dubai International Airport to Al Qusais, a few kilometres from the Sharjah border. With a Red and Green Line, stops include major landmarks such as Dubai Marina, Mall of the Emirates and Burj Khalifa
⁃ though many station names are sponsored by brands so do not necessarily indicate the stop's geography. Dubai Taxis are readily available throughout the city, either by booking over the phone, or at taxi ranks outside hotels and malls, and can be flagged down in the street, while public bus services run on dozens of routes all over the city - a great, inexpensive way to travel, but typically more time-consuming. More novel public transport options include Water Taxis, Buses, Ferries and Abras and the Dubai Tram, which travels on a circuit around Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh. All of Dubai's public transport options are world-class, and in many cases more affordable than in other major global cities. All Dubai public transport systems are operated by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and are paid for using nol cards (a bit like London's Oyster card system).
⁃ For more information on all public transport services and journey-planning, visit rta.ae.

As a city, Dubai is fairly spread out, and you'll typically need to use public transport to get between most major destinations. Walking is not usually an option. The main shopping destinations are principally malls. The Dubai Mall, in Downtown Dubai, is the largest of the city's (and world's) malls, home to a huge number of high street and luxury brands, restaurants and attractions - including Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Other major malls include Mall of the Emirates, towards the southern end of the city (nearer Dubai Marina), which in addition to shops and restaurants is home to indoor ski slope and snow park, Ski Dubai. The city also boasts two major outlet malls for brand discounts - these are The Outlet Village in Jebel Ali (near Dubai Parks and Resorts theme park complex) and the enormous Dubai Outlet Mall, also fairly removed from the heart of the city, at around a 20-minute drive from most main areas.

Smoking is not allowed in public places such as malls, supermarkets, cinemas, government buildings and so on, and only in designated outdoor spaces nearby. Most bars in Dubai allow smoking indoors. Some restaurants permit smoking, but only within designated areas. Shisha cafés are a common sight in the city, but are not allowed to offer shisha outdoors if they are located within a residential area.

While the Gold Souk (in Deira, at the north of the city) is a must-see for visitors, and home to a mind-blowing range of gold products, you may find yourself paying slightly more. Yes, all gold here is bought and sold by weight at live market rates, but the additional charges based on the detail and intricacy of a product can be slightly higher than at Dubai's Gold & Diamond Park, which is located near Mall of the Emirates. With dozens of shops inside this small jewellery mall, it can be tricky to know where to start. Cara (04 347 8089) is a local favourite among shoppers, thanks to its excellent customer service and care.
When is the weekend? Good question. From January 3 onwards, the weekend in the UAE is now Saturday and Sunday (previously it was Friday and Saturday)

Swimwear is acceptable on the beach or by a pool. On public beaches, be sure to dress before walking to one of the many food or beverage vendors, or into a shop. At your hotel beach, be sure to dress before heading inside. Swimwear is only acceptable in a mall if you are a mannequin.