Dubai is famous for its Burj Khalifa which is the tallest structure and building in Dubai and the world since its opening in 2009. With the height totaling to 829.8 meters, the design is done by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and is derived from Islamic architecture. Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), being the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, which is among the seven emirates in UAE. Dubai is considered as a global city, business hub of the Middle East and major global transport hub for passengers and cargo. Like any other cities around the region, Dubai would start as a fishing village in the early 18th century and found its growth accelerated after the discovery of oil in the year 1966 which propels it to undergo massive modernization. The oil revenues collected has allowed Dubai City to build world-class infrastructures and become a well-known city as it is today. While not involved in the Gulf War of the 1990s, the country did get affected since the trade would be lessened and investor withdrawing money. Nonetheless, they have managed to get past this and diversifying in free trade and tourism to avoid getting too dependent on the oil resources.

Airports in Dubai

1. Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport is the main international airport in Dubai City that would serve the city and the United Arab Emirates in general. The airport is located in Al Garhoud which is about 4.6 kilometers east of Dubai. It is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic and Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, as well as the sixth busiest cargo airport in the world. Dubai International Airport has three active terminals, which are the Terminal 1 that has one Concourse D and is connected to Terminal 3 that is divided into Concourse A, B and C, while Terminal 2 being separate from the other two with its own duty-free shopping center. It is the main hub for Emirates and flyDubai and also catering to a variety of other international airlines, including Philippine Airlines for passenger flights to and from Manila.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Dubai?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Dubai. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Dubai.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Dubai?

The best time to visit Dubai is usually around November to April which is the winter and early summer periods. Around this time, temperatures are much lower and it is much more comfortable to go around for sightseeing. As such, this period could also see a jump in the number of visitors. Summers in Dubai are generally not preferable due to the climate which would allow the temperature to fetch pretty high figures with higher humidity levels. Typically, the months of November and January would see a higher influx of tourists. Therefore, flight and hotel prices tend to be higher around these months. If you are into visiting Dubai, do plan accordingly so that you can get the best deal to Dubai.

Dubai is said to have a hot desert climate in which the summer period is extremely hot, windy and humid, while winters are much cooler. Throughout the year, most days would be sunny. Rainfall has increased from the previous decade, typically averaging around 110 millimeters per year. During summer, the temperature could reach an average high around 41 degree Celsius and at night, the average low is about 30 degree Celsius in the hottest month. As for the winter, the temperature would go 24 degree Celsius for the average high and 14 degree Celsius for the night time. The summer period also has high humidity levels which can be uncomfortable for many people.

In Dubai, the celebrations are focused on the many international festivals as well as Muslim's religious activities, which is a given considering its majority population is of the Islamic faith. Among the well-known festivals include the Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February, as well as the Dubai Marathon which is held on the same month. The biggest golfing event in UAE, Dubai Desert Classic is typically held around February to March, which is also closely coinciding with Dubai International Jazz Festival. Dubai will also observe Ramadhan, Eid el-Fitr, Eid el-Adha and the Islamic New Year, which are the significant events in the Islamic calendar.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Dubai?

Besides being a shopping destination, Dubai has a fair share of attractions of its own. It is no wonder that Dubai is the fourth most-visited city in the world as well as the fastest growing destination.

1. Burj Khalifa – Burj Khalifa needs no further introduction, being the tallest building of its kind in the world. It is also the centerpiece of a mixed development that includes 30,000 homes, nine hotels, parkland, 19 residential skyscrapers, a mall and an artificial Burj Khalifa Lake. It gets its name from the Abu Dhabi ruler, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

2. Dubai Mall – Part of the Dubai Downtown project, the Dubai Mall is the second largest mall in the world by gross leasable area. It is open to the public in 2008 with about 1000 retailers after two times delay. Attracting over 54 million visitors annually, Dubai Mall is the most visited building on Earth.

3. Palm Jumeirah – An artificial archipelago built by land reclamation extending to the Persian Gulf, the Palm Jumeirah has a handful of well-off hotels, resorts and hotel residences. It is the world’s largest artificial island, being part of the Palm Islands development comprising of Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira connected to the mainland via 5.4 kilometers long monorail.