The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupies an area of 83,600 sq km along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Four-fifths of the UAE is desert, yet it is a country of contrasting landscapes, from awe-inspiring dunes to rich oases, precipitous rocky mountains to fertile plains.
The United Arab Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations, has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, sun, sand, sea, sports, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment.
Capital Abu Dhabi
Area 83,600 square kilometers
Time UAE Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4)
Daylight Saving Time UAE Time does not operate Daylight-Saving Time
Currency Emirati Dirham (Dh or AED), divided into 100 Fils
Exchange Rate US$ 1 = AED 3.6725
The UAE Dirham has been officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002
Language The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce
Religion Islam. Practice of all religious beliefs is allowed
Weekend Friday and Saturday for government institutions. Many private companies operate a six-day week (with Friday as an off day)
Climate
The UAE lies in the arid tropical zone extending across Asia and North Africa. Climatic conditions in the area are strongly influenced by the Indian Ocean, since the country borders both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. This explains why high temperatures in summer are always accompanied by high humidity along the coast. There are noticeable variations in climate between the coastal regions, the deserts of the interior, and mountainous areas.
From November to March daytime temperatures average a very pleasant 24° C (75° F). Night-time temperatures are slightly cooler, averaging 13° C (56° F) and less than 5° C (40° F) in the depths of the desert or high in the mountains. Summer temperatures are high, and can be as high as 48° C (118° F) inland, but it is lower by few degrees in coastal. Humidity in coastal areas averages between 50 and 60 per cent, touching over 90 per cent in summer and autumn. Inland it is far less humid.
Local north-westerly winds (shamal) frequently develop during the winter, bringing cooler windy conditions. Prevailing winds, which are influenced by the monsoons, vary between south or south-east, to west or north to north-west, depending upon the season and location.
Average rainfall is low at less than 6.5 centimeters annually, more than half of which falls in December and January.
Water temperatures in the Gulf exceed 33°C in summer, falling in winter to 16°C in the north and 22–24°C in the south.
Visa Regulations
General Information
There are several types of visas for visitors to UAE
Nationals of “Israel” may not enter the UAE
A penalty charge of AED 100 per day is imposed on visitors who overstay
For nationalities that require a sponsor, airlines may seek confirmation that the sponsor is holding a valid visa for the incoming visitor
Travelling with Children
The UAE is a family-oriented environment and small children are welcome and appreciated everywhere. The larger hotels have a good selection of kids’ meals, especially in room service. Very small children do not normally eat out at night, but are often welcome. Phone ahead to check. In any case baby-sitting services are available in the main hotels.
There are lots of activities for children, both in and around the five-star hotels, special amusement parks and the many green areas. Children under 12 usually qualify for discounts on admission fees to most museums, amusement parks, swimming pools and entertainment centres.
Women Travellers
The UAE is extremely safe for women travellers, nevertheless women travelling alone are a novelty and you may find yourself the focus of unwanted attention. You will probably have a more relaxed visit if you stay in one of the four or five star hotels, especially if you can use the hotel’s private beach facilities.
Women in the UAE have a much more liberal lifestyle than many of their Gulf counterparts (i.e. women are permitted to drive, work etc) however, women travellers should be aware that they are visiting a society which has strong traditional roots.
If you wish to avoid hassle or risk causing offence, do not wear tight or revealing clothes away from the beach clubs and resorts. You will also find that clothing suitable for the more cosmopolitan cities may not be comfortable or convenient for independent travel in rural areas. Loose trousers and a long sleeved cotton shirt will satisfy a wide range of situations.
When socializing in local company wait until a hand is offered to you for a handshake, some devout Muslims prefer not to shake hands with a woman. Ignore unwelcome comments and above all maintain a sense of humour! Remember that one advantage of being a woman in the UAE is that women are normally served first and banks and post offices, police stations and other government offices frequently have separate queues for women.
Disabled Travellers
Several five-star hotels have specially-adapted rooms and other facilities for handicapped people.
Airport facilities
In June 2001 Emirates airline designated a special handling area at departures and arrivals for passengers with special needs. As a result, wheelchair passengers will receive a more personalized service.
HEALTH
Remarkably, the UAE was one of only two countries with no reported cases of holiday illnesses recorded in a survey by the leading British consumer magazine, Holiday Which? This is a tribute to the success of government immunization programmes, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness in hotels and restaurants.
Vaccinations
No special immunizations are required, however it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area. Tetanus inoculations are usually recommended if you are considering a long trip. Polio has been virtually eradicated in the UAE and hepatitis is very rare and can be avoided by taking precautions. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food and water, Hepatitis B, C, D through sexual contact, the use of unsterilized needles and blood transfusions.
Malaria
There are very few mosquitoes in the towns and cities and, since it is not considered to be a risk, malaria tablets are rarely prescribed for travel in the UAE. However, mosquitoes will find you if you are camping near the mountains or exploring wadis or date groves in the evening, so cover up and use a suitable insect repellent as it is always safer to avoid being bitten. If you are in any doubt consult your doctor or your nearest tropical medical centre before your trip.
Sunburn
The sun can be fierce throughout the year so heatstroke and heat exhaustion are always a risk. Adequate sunglasses, hats and high factor sun creams are essential, especially for children.
Health insurance
Public hospitals, where the medical facilities are very good, will deal with emergencies free of charge, however it would be wise to take out medical insurance to cover all eventualities, especially if you need to attend a private hospital or clinic where treatment can be quite expensive. In all instances, medical procedures, including the use of sterilized needles and the provision of blood transfusions are very reliable.
Doctors
If you need a doctor, ask at your hotel, or ring your embassy for recommendations. If you need emergency treatment and are unable to contact a doctor, try one of the major hospitals listed below.
Pharmacies
Most medicines are readily available at pharmacies. Each emirate has at least one pharmacy open 24 hours a day. Check in local newspapers for information. In some emirates a 24-hour municipality emergency number (Abu Dhabi 02 777 929; Dubai 04 2232323) lists the locations of open chemists.
Dentists
Good dentists are readily available, including orthodontists.
Alternative medicine
Chinese medicine is readily available. There is also a homeopathic hospital.
Ambulance service 998 or 999
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA
Telephone and fax
The telephone network operated by the national telecommunication organization ETISALAT is superb: local calls are free and direct dialing is available to 150 countries.
The international dial code for UAE is +971. Cheap rates for international direct calls apply from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day on Fridays and public holidays. There is a complete list of rates at the back of each telephone directory. You do not need to use the emirate access code when dialling an internal number in that emirate. In other words to ring a number in Dubai from Abu Dhabi you must use the 04 prefix. If you are dialing a number in Abu Dhabi from another location in that emirate you will not need to use a prefix.
Yellow page directories are available for each emirate (see also http://www.emirates.net.ae/). These can be purchased at ETISALAT offices. Pay phones, both card and coin operated, are located throughout the UAE. Phone cards for local use (Dh30 or Dh45) are usually available from ETISALAT offices, supermarkets, pharmacies etc. Coin operated phones take Dh1 and 50 fils.
Local and international area codes
- Abu Dhabi 02 + 9712
- Ajman 06 + 9716
- Al Ain 03 + 9713
- Dubai 04 + 9714
- Fujairah 09 + 9719
- Jebel Ali 04 + 9714
- Khor Fakkan 09 + 9719
- Ra’s al-Khaimah 07 + 9717
- Sharjah 06 + 9716
- Umm al-Qaiwain 06 + 9716
* Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain share the access code 06 and Fujairah and Khor Fakkan the access code 09
All hotels offer fax facilities. Faxes can also be sent from ETISALAT (http://www.etisalat.co.ae/) offices throughout the Emirates. The offices are recognizable by the distinctive ‘golf ball’ structures on top of each building. The main ETISALAT office in Abu Dhabi is on the corner of Zayed the Second and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum St. It is open 24 hours a day. ETISALAT’s main office in Dubai is on the corner of Beniyas and Omar ibn Al Khatab roads. It is also open around the clock. In Sharjah the main office is located in Al Manakh, close to the dhow roundabout. Opening hours are Saturday to Wednesday 7 a.m.- 3 p.m., however you can send and receive fax and telex messages 24 hours a day. Shops advertising typing and photocopying services often have fax facilities.
Mobile phones
GSM services are available and the mobile phone code within the UAE is 050.‘Speak Easy’ is a GSM mobile service for those visitors and tourists who cannot use their own mobile phones in the UAE. You can either buy a new mobile phone and purchase a temporary SIM card or use your own handset with a temporary card. Contact ETISALAT for details.
Internet
Most five-star hotels offer guests internet access. Email cheap rates are from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. At the time of writing public internet access kiosks were being established in the UAE,
initially at the major airports. The minimum charge for public access is Dh2 and 60 fils per minute. Payment can be made by credit card.
If you have brought your laptop with you, along with a modem and browsing software, you can dial 500 5333 to get connected to the internet. A charge of 15 fils per minute is billed to the telephone to which you are connected. For more details call 800 5244. The British Council Library in Dubai (04 3371540)
Post
The General Postal Authority runs an efficient postal system with red post collection boxes dotted throughout the cities and towns. Mail is usually collected morning and evening. Stamps can be purchased and post mailed from your hotel. Express postal facilities are also available at post offices.
In general, post office opening hours are from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday. Closed Thursdays and Fridays. 8 a.m. - 12 noon on Public Holidays, but closed on the first day of Eid holidays. Note that there are no telephone or fax facilities at post offices in the UAE and poste restante facilities are not available.
The main post office in Abu Dhabi is on East Road between Al Falah and Zayed the Second St. Open Saturday to Wednesday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Friday. In Al Ain the main post office is near the clock tower roundabout. Opening hours 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday, 8a.m. - 11 a.m. Thursday, closed Friday.
The main post office in Dubai is on Za’abeel Road, Bur Dubai (8 a.m. - 11.30 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday and closed Fridays). There is also a smaller post office in Deira on Al Sabkha Road. Other post offices are located in Satwa, Karama and Jumeirah.
The main office in Sharjah is located by the Municipality roundabout in the centre of town. Opening hours are Saturday to Wednesday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thursday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Opening Hours and Holidays
Opening Hours
Shops Normal shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4.00 - 9.00 p.m. however many shops, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi stay open all day. Most shopping centres open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m - frequently later. Some supermarkets are open for 24 hours. Although shops and shopping centres are fully air conditioned, the cool of the evening is a favourite time for shopping. Shopping centres and most shops are open on Friday, the Islamic day of rest, but they all close for Juma (Friday) prayers from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. All shops are required to close at prayer times in Ra’s al-Khaimah.
Offices
Government offices open at 7.30 a.m. and close at 3.00 p.m. but you would be wise to visit in the morning. Private offices tend to keep longer hours, coming back to work in the evening after an extended mid-day break. Some private businesses open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All government offices close for the weekend at mid-day on Thursday and do not open again until Saturday morning. Some offices outside the public sector are open on Thursday and close on Friday and Saturday.
Public Holidays
Since Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of phases of the moon, the dates outlined below for Islamic religious holidays are approximate. The precise dates are not announced until a day or so before they occur. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday is usually taken at the beginning of the next working week.
A three-day mourning period is usually announced when a member of the ruling families or a government minister or the head of a neighbouring state dies. Government offices and some private companies will close for the period.
- 1 Jan - New Year's Day
- 12/03/03 - Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca (the haj)
- 5/03/03 - Ras al-Sana (Islamic New Year)
- 12/05/03 - Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday)
- 6 Aug - Accession of HH Sheikh Zayed as Ruler of Abu Dhabi
- 24/9/03 - Lailat al-Mi’raj (Ascension of the Prophet Mohammed)
- 2 Dec - National Day
- 24/11/03 - Eid al-Fitr (3 days at end of Ramadan)
Security Personal safety
The UAE is one of the safest places in the world to visit. In fact, it has been designated the world’s safest holiday destination by the international travel industry on two occasions. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to take out travel insurance and to take the normal precaution to safeguard yourself and your valuables.
- Police Headquarters Abu Dhabi 02 4461461
- Dubai 04 2292222
- Sharjah 06 5631111
- Ajman 06 7436000
- Umm al-Qaiwain 06 5656662
- Ra’s al-Khaimah 07 2333888
- Fujairah 09 2370000
- Dubai Police hotline (Al Ameen service) 8004888
Emergency Numbers
- Ambulance 998 or 999
- Fire 997
- Police 999
- Coastguard 04 3450520
- East Coast Coastguard 09 2380380
Helicopter Service
If you dial 999 or 04 2821111, Dubai Police guarantee that in an emergency a police helicopter will be with you within 8 minutes
TIPPING
Tipping is not expected, but is common practice. Gratuities to staff at hotels are at your discretion. Most restaurants add service charges to the bill (Abu Dhabi 16 per cent; Sharjah 15 per cent; Dubai 10 per cent). If this charge is not included, add 10 per cent of the total to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped. Supermarket baggers, bag carriers and windscreen washers at petrol stations are generally given Dh2.
Photography
Film is readily available, so too are processing facilities and colour prints are produced in record time. Ask permission before photographing people in general. Avoid photographing Muslim women and do not photograph airports, docks, telecommunications equipment, government buildings, military and industrial installations.
Time
The UAE is four hours ahead of GMT. The time does not change during the summer. This means that there is a three hour difference between UK and UAE local times in summer and a four hour difference in winter.
Electricity
Domestic supply is 220 volts. Sockets suitable for three-pin 13 amp plugs of British standard design are the norm, however it is a good idea to bring an adaptor with you just in case. Adaptors can be purchased in local supermarkets. Appliances purchased in the UAE will generally have two-pin plugs attached.
Weights and Measures
The UAE uses the metric system, although British and US standard weights and measures are understood.
Clothing
Lightweight summer clothing is ideal with a wrap, sweater or jacket for cooler winter nights and air-conditioned premises. Although the dress code in the UAE is generally casual, guests in the larger hotels do tend to dress more formally in the evening. Since you are visiting a Muslim country, bikinis, swimsuits, shorts and revealing tops should be confined to beach resorts.
Women are usually advised not to wear short skirts and to keep their shoulders covered. Note that in Sharjah women are prohibited from wearing swimsuits on public beaches.
Toilets
Most shopping centres, public gardens, museums etc have clean, well-maintained public toilets. Public toilets in souqs and bus stations are usually just for men. Outside of the cities, you can find public toilets at restaurants and petrol stations, however they may not be in good condition and will generally lack toilet paper.
Food and Water
The standard of food hygiene and water quality is extremely high, especially in all of the larger centres, as is evidenced by the Which survey. You should take the time to investigate conditions in smaller caf้s in remote areas, although again standards are usually good. Raw salads and shawarmas (meat cooked on a spit and served in a pittta bread sandwich) are to be avoided if you have any doubts.
Water is usually produced by desalination so it is normally safe to drink, nevertheless you may prefer the taste of bottled water. In any case it is advisable to drink plenty of water in the heat so carry a bottle with you at all times.