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About Dubai
Dubai is the second largest of the seven
Emirates that make up the remarkably stable conglomeration that is the United Arab Emirates.
In just over three decades, Dubai has
transformed from a small settlement of palm
frond and sea stone dwellings into an
ultramodern city of gleaming skyscrapers,
air-conditioned malls and luxury hotels.
Dubai today is a confident city, where people
work hard, live well and enjoy life, as
evidenced by the countless leisure opportunities
on offer. Traces of the old way of life still
filter through however, with spice-filled souks
(markets) and ancient trading dhows (wooden
fishing boats) a common sight. The Emirate is a
place of endless contrasts, a distinctive blend
of modern city, timeless desert, east and west,
old and new, merging the past, present and
future.
Dubai is undoubtedly one of the world’s most
exciting new travel destinations. Lying on the
blue waters of the southern Gulf and backed by
the majestic desert, Dubai offers visitors a
unique Arabian experience.
A remarkable choice of leisure activities and
business facilities as well as some of the
finest hotels in the world and year-round
sunshine are complemented by the charming Arab
tradition of courtesy and hospitality.
Helpful information:
Business Hours
Banks are usually open Saturday to Thursday,
08.00 to 13.00 hours and are closed on Fridays.
Shopping centres are open Saturday to Thursday
from 10.00 hours to 20.00 hours and on Fridays;
the larger shopping centres are normally open
from 16.00 hours to 22.00 hours.
Climate
The UAE has a sub-tropical climate with a sunny,
hot and dry weather most of the year. In
January, temperatures range around 24 C during
the daytime and 14 C during the night.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners
Club are generally accepted in hotels and larger
stores.
Currency
The UAE Dirham (AED or Dhs) is made up of 100
fils. The Dirham is fully convertible and is
pegged to the US dollar at a current exchange
rate of USD 1.00 = AED 3.67.
Communications
Global links, including GSM mobile telephones,
pagers and internet are world-class and
inexpensive. Local and foreign television,
radio, newspapers, magazines and books are
readily available.
Telecommunications in Dubai are excellent.
Telephones have international direct dialing to
most countries in the world. Full telex, telefax,
and electronic mail facilities are widely
available. There is an efficient and reliable
postal service. The General Postal Authority
also offers a courier service. Commercial
courier services like DHL and Fed Ex are widely
used.
Dress Code & Guidelines for Ladies
No restrictions are imposed on visitors but
modest dress is recommended in public places.
Beachwear is acceptable at hotel pools and beach
clubs.
Electricity
The electricity is 220/230 volts A/C and most
sockets are three-pin, as used in the UK.
Although adaptors are available in most hotels,
you may want to purchase one prior to your
arrival in Dubai.
Health
No specific vaccinations are required to enter
the country however it would be wise to check
beforehand if you are traveling from a
health-risk area. Medical services in Dubai are
of an international standard.
Language
Arabic is the official language, though English
is widely spoken.
Business Hours
Banks are usually open Saturday to Thursday,
08.00 to 13.00 hours and are closed on Fridays.
Most of the multinational companies work from
0900 - 1800 with a one hour lunch break.
Government offices: 0730 – 1430, Saturday to
Wednesday
Alcohol
Alcohol is freely available in hotels, clubs,
restaurants and bars however many restaurants
outside hotels do not have a license to serve
alcoholic beverages.
Photography
Normal tourist photography is acceptable but it
is considered offensive to photograph Muslim
women. It is also courteous to request
permission before photographing men.
Bargaining
Bargaining is expected in the souq and is quite
usual elsewhere. Vendors will usually drop the
price and often quite substantially,
particularly for a cash sale.
Safety
The UAE is considered to be one of the safest
places in the world to visit with a very crime
low. It is however advisable to take out travel
insurance and to take the normal precaution to
safeguard yourself and your valuables.
Time
The local time in Dubai is GMT + 4 hours.
Tipping
Tipping practices are similar to most parts of
the world. Where no service charge is included,
it is customary to leave 10% as a tip.
Useful numbers
Country dialing code: +971
Dubai area code: (0) 4
Fire: 997
Ambulance: 998
Police: 999
Water
Tap water is quite safe to drink. But locally
bottled mineral water is generally served in
hotels and restaurants
Here are some helpful links to help you plan
your travel:
www.dubaitourism.ae
www.timeoutdubai.com
www.weather.com
www.oanda.com
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