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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Dubai 2025 Day 3: Bye Dubai Hello Morocco
Dubai 2025 Day 3: 15th April (Tuesday)
Avani Ibn Batuta Hotel>Dubai International Airport (Dubai)>Emirates>Casablanca International Airport (Morocco).
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Route recommendations, here are some tips on travelling in and around Dubai (UAE):
1. Traffic Directions!
Driving in Dubai is left-hand drive, and driving is on the right-hand side. Speed limits are between 25-40km/h (15-25mph) on residential roads and 100km/h (62mph) for major highways, which may have up to six to seven lanes on each side. Do look to the correct side when crossing roads.
2. Immigration & Customs Requirements
For UAE, citizens of Malaysia do not need a visa to enter for travel purposes and can stay in the country for 90 days without a visa. Click here for visa requirements for other countries.
3. Getting to and around Dubai.
Dubai is easily accessible by air as most major airlines serve Dubai. We were mostly on a van-guided tour, about 1,300 UAE dirhams for 10 hours (700 dirhams for the driver and van, 600 dirhams for the guide). Self-travel was via the Uber ride-hailing app, do check the fare before getting down, as drivers have a tendency to add a self-tip.
4. Places & Things of Interest
Enroute were several places of interest, some of which we visited and others we did not for lack of time (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
a. Dubai International Airport (GPS: 25.25669, 55.36431).
b. Casablanca International Airport (GPS: 33.37027, -7.58290).
a. Dubai International Airport (GPS: 25.25669, 55.36431).
b. Casablanca International Airport (GPS: 33.37027, -7.58290).
5. Food
a. Breakfast:
Pre-packed Avani Ibn Batuta Hotel breakfast .
b. Lunch:
Mandi style with chicken and Hamour fish, at Zam Zam Mandi Restaurant, Al Karama (GPS: 25.23838, 55.29907).
c. Afternoon Tea:
Coffee at Caffè Nero, Dubai Mall (GPS: 25.19662, 55.28011).
d. Dinner #1:
c. Afternoon Tea:
Coffee at Caffè Nero, Dubai Mall (GPS: 25.19662, 55.28011).
d. Dinner #1:
"Blah" Michelin Starred Wantan Noodles at Hawker Chan (GPS: 25.04666, 55.11807), Ibn Battuta Mall Metro Link Food Court.
e. Dinner #2:
6. Accommodations
In Morocco, see Morocco Day 1.
7. Tour Costs & Arrangements
Air tickets bought at MYR 4430 for a return flight from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai to Casablanca, and Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur with transit in Dubai.
The ground arrangements for a 10-hour guided tour package for six on the second day was at 1,300 dirham (700 dirham for a 10-passenger van with a driver, and 600 dirhams for the tour guide). Airport transfer from the airport to the hotel was at 350 dirhams, and from the hotel to the airport at 300 dirhams.
The guided tour included an Abra boat ride from the Bur Dubai Marine Transport Station (GPS: 25.26464, 55.29309) to the Deira Old Souq Marine Transport Station (GPS: 25.26709, 55.29782).
The guided tour included an Abra boat ride from the Bur Dubai Marine Transport Station (GPS: 25.26464, 55.29309) to the Deira Old Souq Marine Transport Station (GPS: 25.26709, 55.29782).
For out-of-pocket spending, we exchanged some AED dirhams while in Malaysia and brought along some USD and Euros too. As a contingency, we brought along our Wise debit cards.
8. Communicating with Each Other
When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.
Upon arrival, one can get a free 1G sim card upon request from the immigration counter. This free sim is valid for twenty-four hours, and can be recharged online or at any of the respective telco stores.
Those who use Maxis as their telco can pre-purchase the Maxis Roaming Pass. Seven-Days APAC Data Pass with unlimited data covers the UAE cost RM69. The Pass can be bought before the trip with a designated starting time/date, BUT DO TURN OFF your data roaming just before the Roaming Pass expires OTHERWISE any subsequent usage will automatically trigger off the 1-Day Roaming Pass costing between RM29 to RM38 per day!
Upon arrival, one can get a free 1G sim card upon request from the immigration counter. This free sim is valid for twenty-four hours, and can be recharged online or at any of the respective telco stores.
Those who use Maxis as their telco can pre-purchase the Maxis Roaming Pass. Seven-Days APAC Data Pass with unlimited data covers the UAE cost RM69. The Pass can be bought before the trip with a designated starting time/date, BUT DO TURN OFF your data roaming just before the Roaming Pass expires OTHERWISE any subsequent usage will automatically trigger off the 1-Day Roaming Pass costing between RM29 to RM38 per day!
9. Communicating with Locals
At favourite tourist destinations, most locals speak fairly good English. At the smaller towns, locals speak some rudimentary English, and our local guide was most helpful in translating for us.
10. Weather
Useful weather forecast sites for Dubai is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
11. Navigation
I used MapMyRide to track our routes and stops. Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
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PRELUDE
A day earlier was a full day tour of Dubai City; we visited the old and new parts of the city. New ones with swanky modern high-rise buildings, and old ones with traditional souks that are centuries old!
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DAY 3: DUBAI TO CASABLANCA
Guided Small Group (Non-cycling) Tour of Dubai:
Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook posts during the trip and embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)
4:00am - Zooming along Gardens Boulevard, and then onto Sheikh Zayed Road, heading for Dubai International Airport to fly to Casablanca. We're on a 7:30am; fortunately, the roads are wide and not busy, we should be able to reach the airport and check in within the required 3 hours before flight.
Checking in for Flight EK751 Dubai to Casablanca.
One can use the self service check-in & baggage drop OR opt for normal check-in. As we were unfamiliar with this airport system, we opted for normal check-in. Also, we were uncertain of how Dubai Airport Security would assess my Ta-Da Walking Stick-Chair.
My Ta-Da Walking Stick-Chair was a passport for a Priority Service and an indicator that assistance is required. Usually it is a wheelchair with personnel to push. Here, it's even better; they provided a buggy ride and allowed my friends to hop on too.
Eating pre-packed Avani Ibn Batuta Hotel breakfast at one of the boarding lounges of Dubai International Airport.
Concerned that either we would be short of time to OR that not many food outlets would be opened at this wee hour of the morning, we had requested the hotel to prepare take away pre-packed breakfast. These were ready for us upon checking out.
Dubai is one of the major transit points for those going to Mecca to perform their pilgrimage, and many were returning to Casablanca after performing the Umrah. Many of these pilgrims were older people, not familiar with taking a plane.
There was some confusion among people trying to find their seats, causing the aisle to be blocked. Fortunately, one man helped to direct many of them.
7:50am - After some slight delay, we are finally taking off!
Goodbye Dubai!
Casablanca, here we come!
Wadaea Dibi!
(That's "Goodbye Dubai" in Arabic)
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