List of Maps.
Acknowledgments.
About the Author.
Introduction.
Hello, Dubai!
About This Guide.
Why 'Unofficial'?
About Unofficial Guides.
Special Features.
What You Won't Get.
How This Guide Was Researched and Written.
Letters, Comments and Questions from Readers.
How Information Is Organised.
PART ONE Understanding Dubai.
Eat My Dust: A Brief History of Dubai.
The Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Arab Emirates.
The Language: Arabic.
Building Castles in the Sand.
Religion in Dubai.
Customs, Courtesies, Norms and No-Nos.
National Dress.
Personal Health and Security.
P A R T T W O Planning Your Visit.
When to Go.
Hot, Hot, Hot!
Ramadan Restrictions: Read Me!
Gathering Information.
Entry Requirements.
Whom to Go With.
What to Pack.
Drugs and Medication.
Finding Airfare Deals and Making Reservations.
Package Deals.
Dubai Calendar of Events.
PART THREE Hotels.
Types of Lodging.
Dubai Icons.
The Beach Hotel.
The Nouveau Five-Star.
The Business Hotel.
Three- and Four-Star.
Boutique Hotels and Bed-and-Breakfasts.
The (Very) Budget Hotel.
The Anatomy of a Dubai Hotel.
The Rooms.
Amenities.
Food and Drink.
Service.
Club Class.
Rates, Rules and Recommendations.
Hotel Profiles.
HOW THE HOTELS COMPARE IN DUBAI.
PART FOUR Arriving, Departing and Things Locals Already Know.
Arriving: Day One.
Beating Jet Lag.
Departing.
Telephones, E-mail and Postal Services.
Understanding the U.A.E. Currency.
Things the Locals Already Know.
Tipping.
Radio and TV Stations.
Toilets.
Rip-offs and Scams.
Slow Service.
Smoking.
Business Hours.
Public Holidays and Mourning Days.
Water.
Travelling with Children.
Medical and Dental Problems.
Disabled Travellers.
PART FIVE Getting Around.
Visualising the City.
Driving in Dubai.
Drive Like a Local.
Taxis.
Public Transport.
Boats.
Buses.
Metro.
Palm Jumeirah Monorail.
Walking.
PART SIX Sightseeing, Tours and Attractions.
Planning for Dubai Touring.
Exploring: Useful Tips Summarised.
Top Attractions: Visitors' Checklist.
Abra Ride.
Atlantis.
Bastakiya.
Creek Dinner Cruise.
Desert Safaris.
Dhow Building Yard.
Dubai Creek.
Dubai Fountain.
Madinat Jumeirah.
Souks.
The Wonder Bus.
Activities and Tours.
Top Tour Companies.
Boat and Yacht Charters.
Cruises.
Desert Activities.
Aerial Tours.
Walking Tours.
Organised Tours.
Art Galleries and Events.
Touring Neighbourhoods.
Meydan Racecourse.
Dubailand.
Attraction Profiles.
DUBAI ATTRACTIONS BY TYPE.
PART SEVEN Dining and Restaurants.
Eat the Emirate.
Eco Cred.
Five Stars on a Budget.
Understanding Emirati Food.
The Restaurants.
Cheap Eats.
All-You-Can-Eat (And Drink) Brunches.
The Luxury Brunch.
The Budget Brunch.
The Non-alcoholic Brunch.
Our Top Restaurant Picks.
More Recommendations.
Restaurant Profiles.
DUBAI RESTAURANTS BY CUISINE.
PART EIGHT Spas and Salons.
Pampering and Paper Pants.
How to Spot a Subpar Spa.
Unisex or Just Sex.
Dubai's Signature Treatments.
Dubai's Spas: Rated and Ranked.
PART NINE Shopping.
A Browser's Paradise.
The Revenge of the Mega-Malls.
The Dubai Mall.
Mall of the Emirates.
Dubai Outlet Mall.
Ibn Battuta Mall.
Mirdif City Centre.
Dubai Marina Mall.
BurJuman Centre.
Festival Centre.
Deira City Centre.
Wafi Mall.
Gold & Diamond Park.
Dragon Mart.
Shopping Areas and Favourite Streets.
The Walk, Dubai Marina.
Gate Village, Dubai International Financial Centre.
The Boulevard, Emirates Towers.
Bur Dubai.
Jumeirah Beach Road.
Karama Shopping Complex.
Satwa.
Shopping in the Souks.
Fish Market, Deira.
Fruit and Vegetable Market, Deira.
Gold Souk, Deira.
Gold Souk, Dubai Mall.
Spice Souk, Deira.
Textile Souk, Bur Dubai.
Covered Souk, Bur Dubai.
Souk Al Khabeer, or Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai.
Old Souk, Deira.
Perfume Souk, Deira.
Global Village.
Khan Murjan, Wafi Mall.
Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown.
A Selection of Special Shops.
Open-air Markets.
Shopping Festivals.
Great Dubai Gifts and Where to Find Them.
PART TEN Exercise and Recreation.
Staying Fit in a Driving City.
Some Fairly Singular Sports Attire.
SPF and the City.
UV or Not UV - That Is the Question.
Beaches.
Parks.
Dubai for Divers.
Yoga, Pilates and Dance.
In or On the Water.
Four-legged Fun.
Wildlife Watching (and Catching).
Winter Sports.
Other Recreational Sports.
Spectator Sports.
Dubai Golf.
PART ELEVEN Nightlife.
Drinking and Dancing.
Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink.
An Evening at a Shisha Cafe.
Covers Bands.
Bar Profiles.
Nightclub Profiles.
Music, Theatre and Comedy in Dubai.
Indexes and Reader Survey.
Accommodations Index.
Restaurants Index.
Subject Index.
Unofficial Guide Reader Survey.
