Dubai Here we come: Part 2
June 28th 2008 01:05
Dubai has several airports to consider. Frequent visitors from countries granted automatic visa on entry may wish to purchase an e-gate card to speed up immigration formalities and save passport pages. The e-gate card office is situated in the upstairs foodcourt area of the departures concourse. The card will cost AED 150. Note: If you intend to buy an e-gate card in Dubai, you must have entered UAE via Dubai airport.
Dubai International Airport (DXB)] is the largest hub in the Middle East and the home base of the Dubai's flag carrier EmiratesEmirates. In fact, it's grown at such a furious pace that the present terminals are bursting at the seams, especially during the peak hours around midnight — immigration lines can be long and it can be difficult to find a place to sit. The opening of Emirates' dedicated Terminal 3, planned for May 2008, should ease things considerably.
The airport is famous for its duty free shopping duty-free shopping. Alcohol is also available at an inbound duty free store situated in the baggage reclaim area. The allowance is 4 bottles (or four 6 packs) per person.
Most visitors will opt for public taxis from the airport, readily available just outside arrivals, which use the meter and start at Dhs 20. If you already know your way around the city or are continuing elsewhere, you may also want to opt for buses 401 and 402 (Dhs 3), which go to the Al Sabkha and Al Ghubaiba bus terminals respectively. The Dubai Metro, planned to open in 2009, will have a station at the airport.
Dubai's only international road border is with Oman at Al Wajajah. Expatriate residents of Oman will require an official permit to exit Oman by road. Visitors do not require the permit. There is an OMR 3.000 charge per vehicle to exit Oman and, if returning, retain the charge receipt as it will be required to reenter. Ensure that insurance is valid for the UAE (preferably before commencing the journey). Temporary UAE insurance can be purchased at the border for a premium price.
There are also road borders between the neighboring Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Oman at the Al Burami Oasis which divides the sister cites of Al Ain and Al Burami, Oman.
Dubai is a trading hub for dhows from around the Indian Ocean. Travellers wanting to arrive in the city this way will probably need to make their own arrangements with the captain of the vessel.
From Iran: a boat service by Valfajr Shipping Company [3] leaves Bandar-e-Lengeh (and also bandar abbas) supposedly every second day and docks in Port Rashid in Dubai. It returns to Bandar-e-Lengeh (and also bandar abbas) the following day. Crossing the Persian Gulf takes roughly 6 hours, and a two way ticket costs as of February 2008 USD 88 (IR 950,000). The ticket includes lunch (Iranian style). Using this service requires a 3 month visa which costs IR 1,550,000.
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