Travel essentials checklist for your Dubai holiday

Your trip to Dubai is all booked and maybe you’ve even started planning what you’ll be doing on your holiday. No matter how far away your trip is, it’s never too early to think about what to do before travelling, and what to pack.

As soon as you’ve booked

Check your passport. Make sure there’s at least six months' validity from the day you’ll arrive in Dubai. As an example: if you are set to arrive on 1 December 2023, your passport should have an expiry date of no earlier than 1 June 2024. If you don’t have six months or more, then renew your passport as soon as possible.

Do you need a visa? You may already have verified if you need a visa to travel to Dubai but, if not, do that immediately. Many nationalities can receive a visa on arrival, but others may need to apply in advance – check here to see what you need.

Buy travel and medical insurance. Unless you have an annual policy or something similar through work, you should buy your travel and medical insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip. That way, you’ll be covered if something happens.

A few weeks before travel

Think about money. In Dubai, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, but other credit and debit cards may not be. Every bank has different rules and fees about using cards abroad, which can sometimes be very expensive. If you have time, consider getting a card with low or no foreign transaction fees. If you’re planning on using cash, it can be worth shopping around for the best exchange rates in advance.

Think about clothes. Depending on when you’re travelling to Dubai and what you’ll be doing, your wardrobe requirements will be quite varied. If you’re missing anything, now’s a good time to get it (or plan to go shopping in Dubai). If you’re visiting in the winter, a light waterproof coat is worth having in case of rain. In summer, sunglasses, hats and even a reusable water bottle will come in handy.

Think about luggage. Will you travel with checked baggage or will you just take a cabin bag? Check the size requirements of your airline and that you’ll have enough room for everything you need – and everything you plan to bring back, if you’re going on a shopping holiday.

Think about gadgets and how to charge them. Will you bring your fancy camera? How about your tablet? No matter what gadgets you want or need, chargers are a must. Dubai uses 220v 50Hz electricity, and has UK-style Type G plugs. Getting plug adaptors is easy and, if you’re travelling from the Americas or Japan, check if your chargers can take Dubai’s voltage.

Check your phone. Assuming you want to use your mobile phone in Dubai, make sure you’ll be able to use it here. If your phone uses a SIM card it will almost certainly work in Dubai – but unless your phone provider has a good roaming deal, it may be expensive. The alternative is to get a visitor’s SIM at the airport in Dubai, but for this your phone must not be locked to a single provider's SIM card.

Check your prescriptions. If you need to travel with medication, follow the rules. Visitors are allowed to bring a maximum of three months’ supply to the UAE, but some medications cannot be brought into the country.

The week before travel

Print out your documents. It’s worth having paper copies of important information like your travel insurance details, your flights and maybe even your hotel booking. For your travel insurance, keep a copy of the details in your wallet or purse. 

Shop for essentials. While you can get almost everything in Dubai, don't forget your sunscreen, preferred toiletries and medication for convenience. If you’re travelling only with hand baggage, make sure any liquids, aerosols and gels are 100ml or less, and that all fit into a small transparent plastic bag.

Finalise your holiday wardrobe. Pick out what you want to take, and make sure it’s clean and ready to go. Don’t forget some smarter clothes if you’re planning to go to fine dining restaurants or lounges – and definitely don’t forget some warmer layers to wear indoors (the air conditioning can sometimes be very cold).

Charge your devices. Check everything’s working too – there’s nothing more annoying than bringing a dead device on your trip.

Right before you travel

Pack your bags. Some people pack days in advance, others are more towards the 'cram everything in an hour before leaving for the airport' end of the spectrum. However you do it, think about making a list of everything you need – that way you won’t forget anything important, even if you’re rushing.

Got your passport? Make sure you know where your passport and all your documents are. Put them somewhere you can see them to avoid a panicked search just before you leave.

Take some cash out. Unless you already have UAE dirhams in hand, having some of your own cash is useful in case you need to change some money on arrival in Dubai. Cash is commonly used, especially for smaller purchases and in traditional souks.

Feel like you’re forgetting something? Don’t fret. We all get that feeling we’ve forgotten to pack something from time to time – but if that happens, don’t worry too much. Even if you do forget something, you can get hold of most things you’d ever need in Dubai.

After you’ve arrived

Take water with you when you go out. If you’re coming from somewhere that’s not as warm as Dubai, you may not realise how much water you’ll want each day. Make sure you bring a small bottle in your bag.

Planning a shopping spree? Carry your passport to get VAT back. Most products in Dubai have five per cent value added tax included in the price – but If you’re planning to buy things to take home from certain retailers, you can claim the tax back. You’ll need to request this when you make your purchases, and you’ll need your passport to show to the retailer.

Relax and have fun! You're here, you made it – that's the hard bit over. Enjoy your Dubai holiday!

Want more useful information before heading to Dubai? Get our top tips on travelling with kids or be in the know about renting a car in the city.