Dubai

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the country. The city of Dubai is located on the emirate's northern coastline and heads up the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area.

Dubai has emerged as a global city and business hub of the Middle East. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. The city has become iconic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, in particular the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

It is the 22nd most expensive city in the world and the most expensive city in the Middle East. Dubai's hotel rooms were rated as the second most expensive in the world, after Geneva. Dubai was rated as one of the best places to live in the Middle East by American global consulting firm Mercer.

Culture

The UAE culture mainly revolves around the religion of Islam and traditional Arab culture. The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle are very prominent as well.

The women wear black clothes that just show their eyes. They have to cover their bodies to show respect for the religion and the God Allah. Men only use turbans. In Dubai the religion is Islam and is considered a lifestyle that is part of every day events, from marriages to what to eat and drink.

Alcohol is not forbidden in Dubai, as long as it is confined within an area like a hotel, bar or nightclub. Residents are free to drink in their own homes as long as they have an alcohol licence issued by the municipality. It is illegal to drink in the street or in public places. Pork is also available for the consumption of visitors and expatriates.

Pork is also available for the consumption of visitors and expatriates.

It is advised that visitors and expatriates do not flaunt their Western culture habits in the streets, where they can be viewed by nationals who may find it offensive. Having said this, it does not mean the locals are against foreigners visiting Dubai, it is just common courtesy to respect your hosts. Emiratis are traditionally known for their warm hospitality and they are very generous when offering refreshments to guests.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is a sacred time for Muslims throughout the world. Indeed, it is the Fourth Pillar of The Muslim Faith: most Muslims believe that the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed during Ramadan. Thus, this holy month marks the beginning of revelations from God.

Ramadan is always the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, but it varies from year to year on the (Western) Gregorian calendar. This is because the Islamic calendar is lunar (in tune with the moon), while the western calendar is solar (with the sun).

Ramadan is a holy month, and practicing Muslims are must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, or having sex between dawn and dusk of each day. Many believers take this time as an opportunity to give up bad habits. Some people try to deepen their faith by praying more or reading the Qur'an. The general mood is one of abstinence, penance, and clarity.

As a visitor, you do not need to fast or to show any religious fervor. It is enough to respect and appreciate the culture.

Gastronomy

Some dances are: Khaleege, Dabke and Tahtib. All closely resemble the typical belly dancing.

Dubai, like any metropolis, has typical restaurants of different countries of the world. There, you can easily find an Italian canteen, an American fast food, Japanese and other restaurant. For now, there is still an establishment that offers the typical Brazilian food there. But it is a discount, it is difficult to find the very traditional local food. Generally, dubaiense family leaves very little for dinner and this should be one of the reasons why there are few restaurants with typical meals of the United Arab Emirates.

The Arabic food easier to be found in Dubai is of Lebanese cuisine, which is highlighted by esfiha, the beirut and tabbouleh, well known and widespread in Dubai - and also in Brazil. The emirate has good Iranian and Indian restaurants, which always attract a large audience.

If the typical local food at traditional meal format is hard to find, the option may be to the souks and buy the ingredients for local dishes and prepare it. The vendors themselves can tell you how they are made the delights of the place. However, dubaienses snacks are easier to find. The cafes in the area have snack menus made with produce and meats, such as lamb, typical of Arab cuisine.

Dance and Music

The Arab Folkloric dances are typical from different regions of the Arab world. Usually they originated from ancient everyday situations, and were born within the social and cultural events. Generally they had close connection with nature.

They have music, costumes and own rhythms.

Places to visit

Burj Khalifa

At 828m-high (2,717ft), the Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building. It features the highest public observation deck on the planet, offering unparalleled city views from the 124th floor. It’s also home to the first-ever Armani Hotel. The skyscraper, which opened in 2010, still remains one of the city’s must-see attractions.
Opening Times: Sat-Thu 12h00-21h30, Fri 09h00-21h30.
Website: www.burjkhalifa.ae

Dubai Creek

The 14km (8.7 mile) Dubai Creek is a natural seawater inlet that divides central Dubai into two parts: Deira and Bur Dubai. Despite numerable high-rises, the creek retains an old-world charm. At the inland end, a wildlife sanctuary is home to over 27,000 birds, though boutique hotels and yachting clubs line the banks too.
Opening Times: Daily 24 hours.
Address: Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Museum

Housed within one of the city’s oldest buildings, the Al-Fahidi Fort, Dubai Museum opened in 1970 and remains one of Dubai’s top tourist attractions. The exhibits range from old weapons and pearl-diving outfits to an impressive range of military artefacts and pieces taken from the 4,000-year-old graves at Al-Ghusais.
Opening Times: Sat-Thu 0830-1430, Sun 0830-1430.
Website: www.dubaiculture.gov.ae

Dubai Fountain

Occupying the 12-hectare (30-acre) Burj Khalifa Lake, and shooting jets of water 150m (492ft) into the air, the Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed water feature. Its jets are synchronised to a light show every half an hour to spectacular effect. Entry is free, but the best views are from the tables at one of the many waterside bars.
Opening Times: Daily 24 hours.
Address: Burj Khalifa Lake, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Aquaventure

One of Dubai’s biggest waterparks, Aquaventure makes up part of the Atlantis hotel complex and contains a series of pools, shoots and flumes – among them the hair-raising Tower of Neptune and the equally scary Tower of Poseidon. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a zip-line and a dolphin pool.
Opening Times: Mon-Sun 10h00-18h00.
Website: www.atlantisthepalm.com

Palm Islands and the World

Said to be visible from space, the three Palm Islands are the largest man-made islands on the planet. Palm Jumeirah boasts hotels and a marina, but construction has only recently resumed on Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira following the recession. Work has continued too on The World, an ambitious attempt to recreate the global map using 300 offshore islands.

Opening Times: Daily 24/7.

Address: Palm Islands, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai tours

Overnight Safari and Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Ride

Combine Dubai's best desert safari with an authentic evening in the desert, waking to view the sunrise over the golden sands of the Dubai desert from the comfort of a Hot-Air Balloon. No need to pay for an expensive Hotel room when you can combine a safari, overnight camping experience and a morning Balloon ride.

From $490.00

Private Tour: Night Desert Luxury Safari with Transport from Dubai

Enjoy an exciting night safari and astronomy with dinner in the Dubai desert on this 5-hour private tour! As evening falls, travel from Dubai and head for Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve . Here, your private guide greets you in a private Range Rover or or iconic 1950s Land Rover for your safari. With your guide at the wheel, drive into the desert to spot nocturnal animals as they emerge from their hideouts to frolic and forage under cover of darkness. Afterward, return to the camp for dinner and to relax under a canopy of stars listening to your expert astronomy guide.

From $122.28

Dubai Dolphinarium Dolphin and Seal Show

Watch a fun-filled dolphin and seal show at the Dubai Dolphinarium. Settle in around the indoor pool, and see bottlenose dolphins and fur seals jump, twist, juggle and perform feats in a high-energy, family-friendly show.

From $27.23

Shopping in Dubai

Key areas:
The souks, or traditional markets, are one of Dubai's greatest attractions. They are located on both sides of the Dubai Creek, with the most impressive on the Deira side.
Markets:
Dubai’s souks offer an atmospheric shopping experience with sights, sounds and aromas that hint of yesteryear. The Spice Souk, Al-Sabkha Road, is more of a tourist attraction, while the buzzing Gold Souk, Sikkat al-Khali Street, offers some great deals on gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches, with gold prices among the lowest in the world. The gold souks are strictly regulated, so there is little chance of customers being ripped off in terms of quality, although prices do vary greatly and bargaining is essential.
Shopping centres:
The gargantuan Mall of the Emirates has been usurped in size by the largest mall in the world, Dubai Mall, which opened at the end of 2008 in a space equivalent to over 50 soccer fields.
After an initially cautious start, Dubai Mall is now buzzing with 1,200 retail outlets, a 22-screen Cineplex, 160 food options, 220 gold and jewellery outlets, an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink and a Hamley’s toy store.
If you’re looking for a shopping experience beyond the malls, Global Village, located off the Emirates Road highway that skirts around the city, offers more than 30 pavilions which blend retail, art and entertainment. In 2011, this included a dancing fountain show, water screen and global cultural theatre.

Dubai for kids

Kidzania

Kids enter this magical, pint-size city full of opportunities to try at any career you can imagine – pilots, doctors, chefs, painters, fire-fighters, beauticians and loads more.
Location: The Dubai Mall.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

You haven’t been to an Aquarium like this one since it houses the world’s largest acrylic sheet showing off sharks, fish and sting rays. Stroll through the pedestrian tube to get up close to all the sea life. Above the aquarium is located the Underwater Zoo where you can find trained painting otters, interesting insects and playful penguins.
Location: Dubai Mall.

Sega Republic

A giant indoor playground that is fully supervised so the adults can drop off the kids and compete in a round of head-to-head car simulator racing.
Location: The Dubai Mall.

Dubai Ice Rink

Within the hot desert location of Dubai you can find a small oasis. This Olympicsized ice skating rink is the perfect way to cool off. With the expert help of trainers, and even little Penguin Pals to help your little ones balance, everyone will be zipping around the ice in no time.
Location: The Dubai Mall.

Hotels

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

The Burj Al Arab is considered one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in the world, the standard of only 7 star, with its recognizable shape of a billowing sail, dominates the shoreline of Dubai, one of the great symbols of this city.
Hotel Night:
US$ 3,409 to US$ 4,635

Vida Downtown Dubai

The Qamardeen Hotel in Dubai is a four star and is located near Souk al Bahar, Burj Khalifa, the Mall of Dubai, the Exhibition Centre and Dubai International Convention and Jumeira Beach and Park.
Hotel Night:
US$ 590 to US$ 1,137

Crowne Plaza Dubai

The Crowne Plaza Dubai Hotel is located near several attractions such as the replica dhow off Dubai Museum, Big Bus Tour, the World Trade Centre and the cruise dhow in Dubai.
Hotel Night:
US$ 323 to US$ 679

Dubai Nightlife

Buddha Bar

Huge and seriously hip, the Buddha Bar is one of the many places in Dubai to see and be seen – all the while sipping on one of the bar’s excellent cocktails.
Website: www.buddhabar-dubai.com

Boudoir

This swanky, wannabe Parisian club, which mainly attracts a Lebanese crowd and a few expats, has long been one of Dubai’s most glamorous. Despite being dimly lit, clubbers are expected to dress to impress or they won’t get past the door staff. Different nights play host to various music genres.
Website: www.boudoirdubai.com

360

Set at the end of a pier outside the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, 360 boasts (you got it) a 360-degree view and is easily one of the nicest sundowner venues in Dubai. It also does an excellent line in DJs, including some international names. The only downside is that it’s closes during the summer, as it gets too hot.
Website: www.jumeirah.com

Irish Village

The traditional wooden pub is steeped in its own character and has its own story to tell. Whether you decide to sit inside the traditional wooden pub or out on the terrace overlooking gardens and lake, let the traditional Irish music entertain you while sampling authentic meals served with a warm and friendly Irish smile – what better way of experiencing Ireland in Dubai.

QD’s

With its fancy atmosphere, QD's is the ultimate place to chill out with a shisha or pizza and snacks, whilst enjoying spectacular creek views!
QD’s is an excellent pub fresco, waterside spot, offering a weekend late-night refuge for a mix of crowds and nationalities.

Barasti Bar

The place gets packed on any given night with a cool and casual crowd. By day, sunseekers line its beach (get down early on Fridays to nab one of the oversized beds) while party-lovers flock to the bar at night. And while it may not have the glitz and glamour of, say, Blue Marlin Ibiza, access is certainly easier. Barasti welcomes its customers with open arms (you just need ID at the door) and entrance is free all year round. For both young and old, its appeal is obvious – a great location, laidback vibes and an ‘anything goes’ dress code.

Restaurants

La Petite Maison

Stepping inside La Petite Maison from the boardwalk of DIFC is like stepping into another country. That country is France, thankfully.
The dining room is clean and mostly white. Artwork lines the walls. Impeccably polite and knowledgeable staff (and we seriously mean it here) wear crisp shirts and waist aprons.
Everything about the restaurant screams class.

Armani Ristorant
There’s always a great sense of occasion when visiting the Armani Hotel, and that’s heightened when visiting its signature restaurant – Armani/Ristorante. The interiors are what you’d expect from an Armani venue: clean, crisp and minimal. The real show-stopper, though, is the view if you can grab a seat on the terrace. Could this be the best view of the Dubai Fountain from a restaurant? Quite possibly. As you would expect from a multiple award winning restaurant, the food is excellent. Every course is crafted to perfection, and service is suitably slick and professional for such a restaurant.

At.mosphere Lounge

As soon as you call up to make a reservation at At.mosphere, you get a sense of how expensive the experience will be. But all of this adds to the sense of occasion that you’ll be dining in the highest restaurant in the world. And the view when you step out of the lift on the 123rd floor is spectacular. A minimum spend is required to reserve a window seat, and it’s worth it to experience what this restaurant is all about. If you stick to At.mosphere’s special – a juicy steak cooked in the Josper grill – then you’ll be impressed, and if you follow up with one of the high-quality desserts, you might just be able to tear your eyes away from the view. But the location is what you’re really paying for here, as the hefty bill will prove.

Trip Options

Option 1 ($)

Dream Palace Hotel R$150/day

Flight R$2130

Off Road Tour R$55

TOTAL = R$2335

Option 2 ($$)

Raffles Dubai Hotel R$1650/day

Flight R$2130

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo R$377

TOTAL = R$4157

Option 3 ($$$)

One&Only The Palm Dubai R$5450/day

Flight R$2130

Dolphin Bay R$700

TOTAL = R$8280

Dubai Events

Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF): Providing stunning discounts to shoppers, the DSF attracts tourists seeking extraordinary deals from all over the world.

GITEX Technology Week: Is one of the largest IT exhibitions in the world and is held annually in Dubai to showcase the very latest Technologies.

Dubai International Film Festival: The 12th Dubai International Film Festival showcased 134 feature films, shorts and documentaries from 60 countries.

Dubai Desert Classic: is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai

Dubai World Cup: is a horse race held annually since 1996 and contested at the Meydan Racecourse.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: is a professional tennis tournament owned and organized by Dubai Duty Free and held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on outdoor hardcourts.

Dubai Rugby Sevens: is an annual rugby union sevens tournament held in Dubai

Dubai International Jazz Festival: is an annual music festival which is held in February and takes place in Dubai

W6 Part 2 - Teacher Thais
Students:
Eloísa Caxias
Gabrielly Ribeiro
Giovanna Fernanda
João Carlos
Karolyn Pacheco
Paulo Pereira

Wizard Guarujá

Dubai