Over 76,000 places across seven emirates, from Deira's gold souk lanes to the Abu Dhabi Corniche, for travelers who want the real city behind the skyline.
The UAE is seven emirates strung along the Gulf, and most visits move between three of them: Dubai, where Num holds 42,038 places across Deira, Downtown, the Marina, Karama and Al Barsha; Abu Dhabi, with 14,770 along the Corniche, Yas Island and Al Maryah; and Sharjah, with 11,887 and the country's densest run of museums. Al Ain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah round it out for anyone heading for the oases, the mountains or the east coast.
Ask Num here for the kind of thing the malls will not tell you: a Karama cafeteria doing karak and parathas at 2am, a Deira dhow-wharf restaurant with the creek at your feet, a pharmacy open now near your hotel, a shisha terrace that is actually licensed, or a beauty salon in Al Barsha with a slot this afternoon. It maps the answer and tells you whether it is open.
Every destination Num covers here, with how many places it holds in each. Open one for the full picture.
| Currency | UAE dirham (AED) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Arabic; English used almost everywhere in cities, shops and transport |
| Plugs | Type G · 230 V |
| Emergency | 999 police · 998 ambulance · 997 fire |
| Tipping | Not expected; around 10% in restaurants is common, and taxi fares are usually rounded up |
Only licensed venues serve it, which in practice means hotels and the restaurants and bars attached to them. Drinking or being visibly drunk in the street is an offense, so finish your evening indoors.
Shoulders and knees covered for everyone at mosques, and women cover their hair; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi lends abayas at the door. Beachwear stays on the beach.
From June to September daytime temperatures pass 40°C and the whole country moves indoors between late morning and dusk. October to April is when the corniches, souks and desert come alive.
Dubai Metro runs on a Nol card bought at any station, and it stops around midnight. Taxis everywhere are metered and take cards. Sharjah and Ajman are a taxi ride from Dubai, not a metro ride.
Hours shift. Rules on eating in public have relaxed in Dubai, but being discreet before sunset is still the courteous choice.
Message Num the way you would message a friend who lives here, in any language. It answers with one real place that fits, open now, and how to get there. It is free for travelers. Businesses list free and pay only when Num completes a booking for them, so nothing here is ranked by who paid.
Ask Num about United Arab Emirates
Yes, and unusually so; street crime is rare and women traveling alone report feeling comfortable. The things that catch visitors out are rules rather than danger: public affection, rude gestures and photographing strangers or government buildings can all lead to trouble.
Yes. Message it in any language and it answers in yours, with a real place that is open now.
Rarely. Cards and phone payments work in taxis, souks and cafeterias alike. Keep a few dirhams for small tips and the odd market stall.