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Features information that is relevant to travellers who are thinking about and actively planning a visit Dubai or any part of the Arab World.
Dubai is a city well known for its gold thanks to its Gold Souks or some might call it Gold Markets. These Gold souks are actually traditional markets formed way back in the days when shipping vessels came from the Far East, China, Ceylon and India drop off their cargoes brought from the places on to the docks. These cargoes would actually be bargained over in the “souks” which are usually located near the docks.
The trade in the gold souk was said to have risen during the 1940s thanks to Dubai’s free trade policies which actually encouraged entrepreneurs from India and Iran to set up stores here. A lot of people say that the ‘gold souk’ are a must see.
The Gold souk actually located in the bustling commercial business district in Deira. The Dubai Gold Souk is situated in the locality of Deira. And it has been said that an estimated amount of at least 10 tons of gold is present at any given time in the souk itself.The souk is encircled to the north by the Dubai Fish and Vegetable Market and the Deira Corniche. The Gold Souk can be spotted with all the sparkling gold at the front of the shop and usually you can spot hawkers nearby these souks trying to sell their counterfeit handbags and clothing at knock off prices.
The Gold Souk actually consists of over an unbelievable 300 retailers that deal with all sorts of exclusive and fashionable jewellery. There are even well established stores such as Damas, ARY Jewellery and Joy Allukas Jewellery. And of course there are smaller stores that carry out their business in the gold souk.
The markets or shops in the souks offer a variety of jewellery that range from earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants. There are many different shades of gold that will be available to you. I mean come on seriously, at least 10 tons of gold at any given time means you are going to be spoiled for choice with all gold here. And plus you can choose to have a more traditional item if you are more into the customary jewellery or you could go for the modern items if you feel like keeping up with the modern times of the fashion world. And if this still does not satisfy you, you can actually have your own item or piece designed for you by the skilled craftsmen that you will find in this souk.
An interesting fact is that India is Dubai’s largest buyer of gold, accounting for approximately 23% of the emirate’s total gold trade in the year 2005, similarly India accounted for approximately 68% of all diamond-related trade in Dubai.
A useful shopping tip for you would be to look out for the clasp of the necklace or bracelet that you are buying to see if it is strong enough to support the chain itself. You could do this by running your hand over the chain and looking for any rough edges. If you are patient enough to check your piece or item carefully before purchasing you are guaranteed to have one that will last you a lifetime and of course that guarantee is only a 100% if you take good care of it too.
Dubai is renowned as the “shopping capital of the Middle East”. Being an open port with low import duties and no taxation, Dubai offers unbeatable value. Dubai offers a good place to buy the latest high-tech gadgetry, such as digital cameras, iPods, and the like. Most major brand name products are readily available, and are often less expensive in Dubai than in their country of origin. . . Shop in Dubai.
Dubai is a great country to have your holiday in and many holidaymakers regard this cosmopolitan city as a must visit. Dubai is a peaceful state and you do not have to worry about any political unrest or crimes. This multicultural city has a number of languages that are spoken and despite its cosmopolitan nature the city has conserved its rich culture and heritage even through its modernization. The main language spoken here is Arabic but most of the people of Dubai can understand English.
Dubai is usually really hot for most of the year so the best time to travel here would be during the cooler months which are between November and April. If you are a non-Muslim it is advised that you avoid visiting Dubai during the month of Ramadan. The people of Dubai, being Muslims, they will fast during the month of Ramadan and this poses strict rules against eating or drinking and even smoking during the day till sundown.
Make sure that you have money or a currency that is exchangeable to UAE Dirham. Currencies that are highly recommended would be US dollars or Euros. And in case you are short in cash you do not have to fret as there are many international banks in Dubai such as Citibank and HSBC. You can also use major credit cards such as American Express, Mastercard and Visa in most shops, restaurants and hotels.
Dubai has stringent visa regulations that may change often and it is always a good idea to check before your trip the current visa requirements and regulations. Do check with your travel agent if you are planning to book your holiday with the help of a travel agency.
If you are a citizen of Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman you do not need a visa to enter Dubai and countries that are eligible for visa on arrival are Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Brunei, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Swiss, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Paraguay, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Canada, United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.
Other nationalities have to apply for visa before arriving in Dubai you can actually do this by flying with Emirates Airline and asking them to provide visa, from the UAE embassy in your country if there is any, get the hotel you are planning to stay in to get the visa for you or request a relative or a friend to apply a sponsored visit visa.
And if you are traveling to Dubai some custom regulations you should follow is that you may bring duty-free cigarettes, loose tobacco and only four bottles of alcohol at most. And items that cannot be brought into Dubai like most countries include firearms, illegal drugs, and pornographic materials.
Other than that you should really just respect the local customs and practices, as the country is Muslim you should really watch your behavior as this country practices Islamic law with a no-tolerance policy on behavior considered immoral. And since Dubai is a Muslim country, the sale of alcohol is controlled, but not to worry you can buy them from licensed sellers and also can get them in hotels and nightclubs. And last but not least it would be a good idea to pack a jacket in your luggage as though Dubai can be blistering hot, the hotels and shopping malls are air-conditioned and this can be really cold at times.
Culture in Dubai is rooted in Islamic traditions that form UAE National’s lifestyles. However, the UAE is tolerant and welcoming to foreigners who do not practice the religion of Islam. Expatriates are free to practice their own religion, alcohol is served in hotels and the dress code is liberal. Women don’t face discrimination. Courtesy and hospitality are one of the many virtues of Dubai.
Rulers are keen to maintain their culture and do so through a number of practices. One is promoting sporting events that are representative of their past. Falconry, camel racing and dhow sailing are still popular in Dubai.
The official language of the country is Arabic, however most people in and out of the workplace communicate in English. There are so many different nationalities in Dubai, English finds common ground with most people.
Oil contributes just 20 per cent of economic production. Trading, manufacturing and services — including tourism — now dominate the economy.
In matters unrelated to diplomacy and defense, each emirate enjoys considerable autonomy in managing its own affairs. In business, the government of Dubai is committed to liberal, free market policies and to the creation of a business environment conducive to commercial activity. This approach is well illustrated by the incentives available to investors in the Jebel Ali and Airport Free Zones and by the continuing high level of public sector investment in the infrastructure.
The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) was established in March 2000 as a secondary market for trading securities and bonds, both local and foreign.