Welcome to Dubai!
For many of the students, this will be their first time living in Dubai. This section
contains useful information about relocating to Dubai.
Arriving in Dubai
Hult will provide you with a “meet and greet” airport service - Marhaba. A Marhaba representative, appointed by Hult, will meet you at your arrival gate and will facilitate your passage through immigration and customs. Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall to take you to your residence in Dubai.
Getting Around
As with every vibrant city, getting around is an adventure and Dubai is no exception.
Public transportation is quite affordable and easily accessible. Taxis are the easiest
way to get around the city, and all the taxis operate on meters. Public buses are
much cheaper, but more time consuming.
Family Resources
Dubai is a family-friendly and safe city. There are plenty of soft play areas for babies and toddlers, as well as attractive public parks and beaches - great places for families to spend time in. For helpful parent resources
check http://dubaiparent.com/
and
www.expatriates.com.
ExpatWoman (www.expatwoman.com)
is a free and friendly website for women of all nationalities, sharing experiences
and swapping advice, with a monthly updated on-line magazine. ExpatWoman is written
by women for women, both for expats relocating and Dubai residents, with sections
covering jobs, schools, housing, hotels, shopping, and a lot more.
You will find additional information on family resources in the Connector magazine
and Dubai guidebook, which will be provided at Orientation.
Schools
In Dubai there are many nurseries as well as plenty of schools with excellent education
standards. It is important that you get your child/children enrolled as soon as
possible since there tends to be waiting lists at many schools. On the Dubai parent
website
http://dubaiparent.com/ you will find a comprehensive list of schools sorted
by location. Most expatriate children attend private schools, which are categorized
based on the type of curriculum they offer (e.g. British, American, French, Indian,
Australian, etc.). Tuition fees vary. Some useful links are provided below:
Weathering the Middle Eastern Climate
The basic climate of the Middle East can be characterized as hot. However, winters
are quite mild with some rainfall. The most rain Dubai will see is about five inches
between January and March. The winter season is considered to be between November
and March, where the weather is warm and sunny without being unbearably hot. In
the summer, however, temperatures can soar very high, and reach over 40 degrees
Celsius. In the summer months, most people stay indoors and turn up the air conditioning,
so it is a good idea to keep a light sweater around.
Dining Out
Dubai has a wide variety of restaurants - most of which are located in
hotels since these are the only establishments that are licensed to serve alcohol.
Since alcohol is considered a forbidden drink to Muslims, the cost of beer and alcohol
is higher than what you might find in a non-Muslim country. Many restaurants will
include a 10 per cent service charge which is usually pooled with all the staff. You do
not have to tip more, but if the service was exceptional, a few extra dirhams will
be appreciated. If there is no service charge added, it is customary to leave a
10 per cent tip.
A note of caution: the UAE is an Islamic country which prides itself on the fervent
pursuit of Islamic tenets. Alcohol consumption, even though allowed, should not
be done in public. Moderation is strongly advised as acts of alcohol intoxication
in public will likely result in legal consequences.