All you need to know about travelling from UAE to Singapore
Planning a trip to Singapore? Deciding when to go, taking care of visas, tickets and accommodation and then managing all that within a budget can make you run yourself into the ground. Things become easier, though, if you have a step-by-step travel planning guide with you. We bring you all the information you’ll need to make your holiday truly special and memorable. From ‘must-not-be-missed’ activities to visa requirements, our guide has got you covered. So get ready to travel to Singapore from the UAE hassle-free!
MAJOR ATTRACTIONS
Singapore is a haven for travellers. The country has lush green gardens, parks, beaches, heritage sites, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall at Cloud Forest Dome and one of the world’s most popular rainforest zoos. If you’re going there for the first time, don’t miss out on the following:
- Chinatown: Home to Chinese Heritage Centre, Buddha Tooth Relic and Sri Mariamman Hindu temple.
- Pulau Ubin (Granite Island): Known for granite quarries.
- Sentosa Island: Home to Siloso Beach (free volleyball courts, skimboarding and kayaking) and numerous other entertainment destinations.
- Merlion Park: Houses a famous statue with a head of a lion and the body of a fish.
- Night Safari Singapore: A unique spin on the traditional zoo experience.
- Universal Studios Singapore: A world-class theme park with areas dedicated to movies and TV shows.
- Clarke Quay: Waterfront dining and entertainment.
- National Gallery Singapore: Houses the largest contemporary art collection in Southeast Asia.
- Fort Siloso: A military museum accessible through Fort Siloso Skywalk trail, a 181-metre-long steel bridge comprising 11 stories.
- Fort Canning Park: A bunker during World War II, the iconic venue has been repurposed for performing arts, concerts and picnics.
VISA INFORMATION
UAE citizens do not need a visa to travel to Singapore. However, expats of certain nationalities living in the UAE must apply for a tourist visa to travel to Singapore from their resident country. To apply for a visa, expats must:
- Visit any visa processing agency that’s liaised with the Singapore consulate.
- Submit the application to the agency with the documents required.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Attend scheduled appointments at the visa application centre.
- Track the application.
Note that Tourists can stay for a maximum of thirty days in Singapore. You can check out the ”Travel Documents by Countries and Places” section on the Singapore Government’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website to learn whether your country is on the list of visa-required countries.
CURRENCY AND COST
The island nation of Singapore uses the Singapore dollar (SGD) as its unit of exchange. S$ is the currency’s symbol.
The larger shopping malls also accept Yen, US and Australian Dollars, and British Pounds. Hotels, stores, and restaurants accept major credit cards.
If you want to save on costs, there’s always the option of booking vacation packages with dnata Travels, Musafir.com or other similar tourism companies in Dubai. They have deals all year round but often have some excellent offers during notable annual occasions, such as Eid, National Day and New Year’s Eve.
BOOKING THE FLIGHT
Direct flights from the UAE usually take between seven and eight hours to reach Singapore. Popular airlines such as Emirates and Etihad operate dedicated flights from UAE to Singapore:
- The cost of Emirates’ fares for an economy flight to Singapore starts at around AED 3,245.
- Etihad Airways flights start from AED 1,930.
The stated costs of flights from UAE to Singapore are subject to change and availability.
ACCOMMODATION
There are many excellent places to stay in Singapore, from luxurious boutique accommodations to budget-friendly hotels.
The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, Conrad Singapore Orchard, One Farrer Hotel, V Hotel Lavender and Marina Bay Sands are some of the popular hotels in Singapore.
GETTING AROUND
Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway system is the most effective means to navigate around the city-state. You can travel in this subterranean network around the entire city. However, the best thing to do once you’re in the ideal area is to start strolling. Bus services run by MRT can take you to almost any place on the island.
You can buy various travel passes available to visit all these places with ease. One of the options is purchasing an STP (Singapore Tourist Pass), a unique EZ-Link stored-value card that will give you unrestricted travel for one to three days. The TransitLink Ticket Office also sells the pass at certain MASS rapid transit (MRT) stations.
FAQS ABOUT HOW TO TRAVEL FROM THE UAE TO SINGAPORE
WHAT IS THE TIME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UAE AND SINGAPORE?
Singapore is four hours ahead of the UAE.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SINGAPORE FROM THE UAE?
You can travel to Singapore at any time of the year, but the best time to visit is widely regarded to be between December and June. That portion of the year is when the country experiences the lowest levels of humidity, the least amount of rain and the most amount of sunshine.
WHAT ARE THE POPULAR SINGAPOREAN DISHES?
If you travel to Singapore and don’t try the local food, you can’t say you’ve explored the country to its fullest!
As with most national cuisines, there are many different varieties of Singaporean food, but it’s the freshly-prepared, deliciously-cooked seafood that the country is most famous for.
Amidst the stunning array of seafood options, dishes such as chili crab, black pepper crab, Nyonya laksa (rice with coconut prawn broth) and Char Kuey Teow (stir-fried rice noodles with prawns) dominate the country’s culinary scene.
Besides Singaporean food, you’ll also find several cross-cultural cuisines, including Chinese, Malay and Indian food.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN SHOPPING CENTRES IN SINGAPORE?
Travellers will be forgiven if they come to Singapore and do nothing but shop! The country has an iconic retail scene, complete with a plethora of tempting malls for shopaholics. The Orchard Road area alone boasts 22 malls and six department stores. In addition to Orchard Road, there is Marina Bay Sands, where you can find big-name brands like Kering, Prada and LVMH.
CAN I CHECK MY DUBAI TOURIST VISA VALIDITY WITH MY PASSPORT NUMBER?
Yes, Dubai visit visa check by passport number only can be done via ICA Smart Services portal or calling the Amer Centres.
Bargain shoppers can head for Bugis Street, Far East Plaza or Yong Siak Street to grab some quirky souvenirs from Singapore.
That brings an end to our guide on how to travel to Singapore from the UAE. Try to plan your vacations during the UAE public holidays of 2023 so you can make the most of your time in this vibrant country.
Apart from Singapore, you can go on a trip to Azerbaijan from the UAE, or if you are travelling to Georgia from UAE, our guide will come in handy.
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Bon Voyage!
