FIVE THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING DUBAI
A Desert Trading Post Becomes Tomorrow's Prototype
All images by the author
Dubai feels impossible until you're there, standing beneath the Burj Khalifa, gliding through lagoons in an abra at Madinat Jumeirah, or at one of the vibiest beach clubs on the planet. This is a city that built itself from imagination, where the skyline changes faster than most cities change their restaurant menus. But beneath all that glitter and ambition lies a destination with its own rhythm, its own rules, and a few surprises that catch even seasoned travelers off guard.
Whether you're planning a stopover or settling in for a longer stay, these five insights will help you navigate Dubai like someone who gets it.
ONE: Summer Isn't What You Think It Is
You might picture Dubai as dry desert heat, the kind you can handle if you've survived Phoenix in July. That's true for most of the year, but from May through October, Dubai can be a steam bath. Temperatures regularly exceed 38°C (100°F) during this period, but it's the humidity that'll get you. Due to the city's close proximity to the sea, the temperatures in Dubai are slightly milder in summer in comparison to other Gulf cities such as Kuwait City and Riyadh. However, this means the city has high humidity, which can make the weather extremely unpleasant in summer.
We're talking about high humidity of around 90% that makes the air feel thick enough to drink. The humidity and temps really crank up in the latter half of summer, August to September. Don't be fooled by the official temperature reading when "real feel" temperatures can easily exceed 120/130 degrees. The city adjusts its entire schedule around the heat. Night markets flourish, brunches start at sunrise, and everyone migrates indoors during the blazing middle hours.
TWO: Keep Your Camera to Yourself
Good travel etiquette anywhere you go, but in the UAE, photographing people without permission can land you in serious legal trouble. The casual street photography that works in other destinations becomes a risky proposition here. The rule extends beyond strangers on the street to anyone you encounter, and the consequences go far beyond an awkward confrontation.
This respect for privacy is woven into the cultural fabric. In a place where tradition meets hypermodernity, where local Emiratis share space with 200 nationalities, maintaining dignity and respect in public spaces matters enormously. When in doubt, ask first, or better yet, focus that lens on the architectural marvels that seem to multiply every time you visit.
Views of Burj Al Arab from Marsa Al Arab
One & Only Royal Mirage
THREE: You're in a City Built by the World
Walk through Dubai Mall or ride the metro, and you'll hear a dozen languages before you reach your destination. 204 nationalities. 10% local and 50% Indian. Lots more from West Asia and Southeast Asia. This is the foundation of how Dubai functions. The barista serving your coffee might be from Lebanon, your taxi driver from Pakistan, and the architect who designed your hotel from Britain.
This global community shapes everything from the food scene to the way business gets done. You'll find authentic roti served next to perfectly executed French pastries, all within walking distance of each other. It's a place where cultural authenticity doesn't mean staying in your lane; it means bringing your best to a shared table. Dubai didn't just welcome the world; it was built by it….and I love that.
FOUR: Safety Redefined
Dubai operates on a level of safety that can feel almost surreal if you're used to keeping your guard up while traveling. Very little crime. Most are expats and if you do something wrong, you'll get caught and go to prison…then get removed from the country. In a country with no income tax and where local residents are treated so well, that's a big risk.
Imagine leaving your phone on a restaurant table while you use the restroom and return to find it untouched. Or forgetting your wallet full of cash in a cab then having it returned with everything in it. Women traveling solo describe feeling safer walking Dubai's streets at midnight than they do in many city centers at noon. The combination of strict law enforcement, security cameras everywhere, economic opportunity, and cultural respect creates an environment where petty crime doesn't make sense. For travelers, especially those venturing out alone, this level of security becomes part of the experience itself.
Museum of the Future by Killa Design
That's me on the yachtiest of yacht cruises
FIVE: Building the Impossible from Nothing
As my friend Giovanni, a hotel GM in Sardinia who's utterly captivated by Dubai, puts it: "The rest of the world has so many resources and we've hardly done anything...Dubai had nothing and made something extraordinary." This captures something essential about Dubai that goes deeper than its Instagram-famous skyline.
Until 2000, there was virtually no skyline to speak of. Dubai discovered oil in the 1960s, but unlike its neighbors, the leaders recognized it wouldn't last forever. Rather than simply extract wealth, they made a radical decision: transform a desert trading post into a global destination. What you see today—from the world's tallest building to artificial islands shaped like palm trees—represents one of the most ambitious urban transformations in human history, achieved in barely two decades.
I'll be honest: this place raises questions for me about sustainability, labor practices, and the complexities of a development model fueled by massive international investment. There's undoubtedly more beneath the surface worth examining critically. But what's fascinating is how necessity drove innovation here in ways that traditional resource-rich regions haven't had to consider. The technologies being pioneered—from solar-powered desalination plants that will be the largest in the world to urban planning designed around extreme climate conditions—represent potential solutions for resource-scarce regions globally. When you start with nothing, creating becomes more essential than extracting, and Dubai's massive investments in renewable energy-powered water production demonstrate what's possible when survival depends on invention rather than depletion.
A desert experience at Al Maja
Packing It Up
Dubai reveals itself in layers. Yes, it's a showcase of human ambition where impossible architecture pierces the sky and artificial islands reshape coastlines. But it's also a place where ancient trading routes meet modern logistics, where desert survival wisdom informs contemporary urban planning, and where genuine hospitality cuts through all the glamour.
The key to enjoying Dubai lies in understanding that it operates by its own rules—from the intensity of its summer climate to the unexpected safety of its streets. Once you adjust your expectations and respect its unique cultural mix, you'll discover a destination that's simultaneously ancient trading post and science fiction cityscape, where the impossible becomes everyday reality.
Plan for the heat if you're visiting in summer, respect the photography customs, embrace the global community you'll encounter, enjoy the remarkable safety, and lean into the exceptional hospitality. Dubai doesn't just want to impress you, it wants to make sure you leave planning your return.
Katy HOogerwerf
Katy Hoogerwerf is a US-born travel designer based in Europe with expertise in design, wellness, and culturally immersive experiences. A hotel enthusiast at heart, she specializes in discovering unique properties with compelling stories and curating journeys that prioritize meaningful connections.
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