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Home / Features / Preparing for an Extended Stay in Dubai

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Preparing for an Extended Stay in Dubai

There are many reasons why you may need to stay for an extended period in Dubai. The city is quickly becoming a hub for startups and new businesses, giving you plenty of reasons to set up your own company or office. Staying in Dubai also means easy access to the rest of the region, so it is perfect for long holidays too.

Regardless of your reason, staying in Dubai for an extended period of time can be a lot of fun. As you will notice from exploring DubaiCityGuide.com, the city has a lot to offer. To make your long stay even more enjoyable, here are some of the things you need to prepare.

Check for Papers
Depending on your country of origin, you may not need a visa to enter – and work in – Dubai. Those traveling to Dubai from the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) can enter and work in the country without a visa.
If you are traveling from other parts of the world, getting the correct visa is important. For most business trips, you can use the regular Visa on Arrival (VOA) procedure to enter the country. With this type of visa, you can stay in Dubai for up to 90 days.
Working for a Dubai-based company, however, means you need a work visa to enter the country legally. It is also worth noting that citizens of certain countries can only get a 30-day, non-extendable VOA. Check the visa regulations before departing to be extra certain.

Stay Connected
Staying connected is important whether you are on a business trip or a vacation. Fortunately, remaining connected isn’t a difficult thing in Dubai. You can pick up a local SIM card and sign up for a Tourist Plan. This gives you 500 MB of data for 7 days.
Other options are available too, including renting a mini Wi-Fi access point or MiFi. You pay for a day of use rather for the amount of data you use. If you communicate a lot using the internet, you will find MiFi rental to be highly cost-effective.
Keep in mind that some sites and internet services aren’t available in Dubai. If you want to watch the TV series you follow on US Netflix, for example, you will need to use one of the best VPN services available to get around some content blocks.

Mind Your Budget
Dubai is an incredible city nonetheless, but it is not always the most affordable one, especially if you are traveling like a tourist. For an extended stay in the city, dining out every day and taking the taxi everywhere are not the ways to go.
For traveling around, there are pay-as-you-go rental services. More importantly, you can access them on your phone. Popular services like UDrive have their own native apps that you can use while you are in Dubai. If you are on a tight budget, Dubai also has a very good public transportation network to rely on.
The same can be said for meals and other expenses. To stay in budget, find great restaurants in places like Al Satwa. Many of them serve Asian and Western cuisines, and they are very affordable. The places are not as fancy as high-end restaurants in the city, but you will find the food to be incredible and the ambience just as enjoyable.
It is important to do the relevant research before any extended stay abroad, so make sure you keep the above advice in mind.