Dubai may be in dire straits right now, thanks to an admittance of its massive debt and need of total financial restructuring. Yet in every economic downfall comes an opportunity for others to take advantage of a country’s need for economic stimulus.
Should you be planning on taking a trip to Dubai in the near future, your iPhone can become an invaluable resource for finding deals and reaping the benefits of a struggling marketplace.
iPhone apps that are currency converters and translators
One of the first things you will need to do is figure out how to say basic phrases, such as “How much does this cost?” The Arabic Language Buddy turns your iPhone into a speaking translator. This app records your speech and communicates the translated phrase in Arabic. For $9.99, it may be worth it to ensure you are getting fair prices.
A more basic, but entertaining, translator is iLingual Lite. A free app, the iPhone app takes a photo of your mouth and animates it when speaking one of 400 phrases. Use the Emirates version to choose your necessary phrase and be better prepared for any bargaining situation.
Currency Converter Pro is an iPhone app that provides access to real time money exchange rates, allowing you to make sure you are getting the correct return on your U.S. dollar value. For 99 cents, this may be one of the most important iPhone apps to download while shopping in Dubai.
Given Dubai’s large market for custom clothing, another necessary shopping app for your iPhone is Clothes Size. Compare your size to the sizing charts of multiple nations, which is displayed in an easy-to-read table. Women’s, men’s, kid’s, baby’s, jewelry and undergarment sizes are available. Save all your family’s size settings with this $1.99 app.
iPhone apps for financial resources
While in Dubai, you may want to keep an eye on the money market. The DailyFinance app for the iPhone aggregates stock tickers, financial news, watchlists and information on global markets. Stay in the loop with this free app, even when you are halfway across the world.
Another trusted financial news resource is Bloomberg. Lucky for you, there is a free iPhone app bringing analysis and information about the world markets directly to your mobile device. Create a custom list of stocks to follow and view company details along with market trends, leaders, losers and price charts.
iPhone apps for local resources
Cyclopedia has a fun, augmented reality app that provides information about your current location. Based on Wikipedia entries, the information is overlaid directly in he viewfinder. For $1.99, you can have an enhanced and authentic Dubai experience.
For an indirect haggling tool, try the Hotel Negotiator from Priceline. This free app allows you to take advantage of any dropping hotel prices in Dubai by naming your own price. Find and book a hotel on the fly, even for last-minute travel.
From culture to food, beaches to attractions, Lonely Planet is an established travel resource. Its Dubai City Guide edition is available as an iPhone app, though it costs $15.99. Lonely Planet’s city guide, however, will lead you to shopping and other local areas of interest; with search, GPS, money-saving tips and custom tours.
