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ABOUT US   SERVICES   EXCURSION   our TRANSPOR   GETTING TO UAE   UAE INFO  
LOCATION   CONTACT US

 

 

 

 

 



 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES INFO

 

     

   
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of the formerly independent seven
sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm
Al Quwain. It has a total population of 3.2 million and has an area of about
84,000 square kilometers - three quarters of the population are "foreigners".
The country is known for its openness, tolerance and hospitality which attract
visitors from all over the world.
 
Another important factor is security - the UAE is amongst the countries with a
very low crime rate which is nearly zero. The UAE offers a unique tourist
infrastructure which meets even the highest requirements:
 
 * White sand beaches with crystal clear water
 * Undiscovered desert
 * Innumerable shopping centers
 * Historical places and museums
 * Magnificent choice of hotels in all categories from luxurious to low budget
 * Excellent restaurants
 * Daily multiple flight connections from different airlines to various cities
   of the world

 
The economy plays a vital role to the UAE, which is why it is constantly
growing. More and more international companies are attracted by the excellent
business conditions, which make them set up branches here. As a proof, Dubai
Internet City were established in the last 4 years. In the area of conferences
and conventions as well as for individual events, the hotels and suppliers
provide the best location, perfect service and the most modern technology. So
whatever your ideas are, there is nothing you won't find in the UAE.

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    LANGUAGE

  Arabic is the official language of the UAE while English is the language of
business, though it competes with Urdu as the lingua franca. You will have
little trouble making yourself understood, though when you venture out to the
rural areas you will find that English is not as widespread. Knowing the Iranian
language, Farsi, will help you get by.   Urdu and Malayalam (the language of
Kerala in India) can both be reasonably useful because of the large number of
Pakistani and Indian expats.

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    CURRENCY

  The UAE Dirham (Dhs) is divided into 100 Fils. Notes come in denominations of
Dhs 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000. There are 1 Dhs, 50 Fils, 25 Fils, 10
Fils and 5 Fils coins (although the latter two are rarely used today)

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    VISA

  Over 33 nationalities can get their visa directly at the Dubai International
Airport free of charge.

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    CLIMATE

  Dry and hot humid summer with comfortably soft winter.

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    TIME

  Plus four (4) hours GMT.

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    SHOPPING TIMING

  Open daily from 10:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m., Lunch break from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m.

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    RAMADAN

 
This is the month during which Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. Bars and Pubs
are closed for serving the alcohol in a day time throughout the month. Those
with a liquor license can still buy alcohol for consumption at home. Everyone,
regardless of their religion, is required to observe the fast in public. That
only means not eating and drinking but no smoking as well. Although it is
unlikely you will be arrested for breaking these rules, as you would be in Saudi
Arabia, you may stopped by the police and told to get rid of your sandwich or
put your cigarette out.

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    ALCOHOL

  In Sharjah, alcohol is strictly prohibited

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    PHOTOGRAPHY

  in taking photographs of places or people, ask for permission from the
concerned people in a very polite manner before taking the shot. Military
facilities must not be photographed at all.

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    RELIGION

 
Most of UAE Muslim population are Sunni Muslims subscribing to the Maliki or
Hanbali schools of Islamic law. Many of the latter are Wahhabic, though UAE
Wahhabic are not nearly as strict and puritanical as the Wahhabic of Saudi
Arabia. There is also a smaller community of Shiite Muslims, descendants mainly
from merchants and workers who crossed to the Trucia Coast from Persia in the
late 19th or early 20th century.

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    TIPPING & BARGAINING

 
Tips are not generally expected since a service charge is added to your bill
(this goes to the restaurant, not to the waiter, however). If you want to leave
a tip, 10% is sufficient.
 
Bargaining in Souks can be exhausting. Hang in there, be firm and be prepared to
spend some time at it. Prices probably wont come down by more than about 20%,
but if you are at Souk in the country, you will find that prices will come down
by about 50%.

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    TELEPHONE

 
The UAE has an efficient telecommunications system. The state telecommunications
monopoly is Etisalat, recognizable by the giant, sparkling golf ball on top of
its Headquarter building on the corner of Beniyas and Omar bin al-Khattab roads.
It is open 24 hours a day.

 
If you need to make a call from the airport, there are telephones at the far end
of the baggage claim area where local calls (i.e. within Dubai) can be made free
of charge. Some of the lounges at the gates in the departures area also make
free local calls. Coin phones have almost completely taken over by card phones.
Phone cards are available in denominations of Dhs 30 from grocery stores,
supermarkets, petrol stations and street vendors.
 
To phone out from the UAE, dial 00 followed by the country code. If you want to
call the UAE, the country code 971. The area code for Dubai is 04 and mobile
phones 50, and 55 though if you are calling from outside the UAE you just dial
4. The following is a list of area codes in the UAE.
 

Abu Dhabi
Ajman                         
Al-Ain                          
Dibba                          
Fujairah                        
Hatta                           
Khor Fakkan                
Ras Al-Khaimah           
Sharjah                        
Umm Al-Quwain   02
06
03
09
09
085
09
07
06
06

Mobile numbers begin with 050  and 055 in the UAE.

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    USEFUL NUMBERS

 

The following are some useful telephone numbers

Police                            
Fire                                
Time check                   
Ambulance
Directory Enquiries     999
997
140
998
181

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    BUSINESS HOURS

 
The weekend there is Saturday and Friday. Government offices start work at
7.30am and finish at 1 or 1.30pm from Sunday to Thursday.
  Local Shops are open from 8am to 1pm and from 4.30pm or 5pm to 8 or 9pm
everyday except Friday morning.

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    CAR HIRE

 
If you decide to hire a car to get around the city, remember that traffic
congestion in the UAE can be a real problem in peak hours, which occur three
times a day: between 7 and 9am, 1 and 2pm and most of the evening from 6pm
onwards up to 09:00 pm
 
It is compulsory to wear seatbelts in the front and it is illegal to use a
hand-held mobile phone while driving. As you can well imagine, UAE is not short
on petrol stations. Petrol is sold by the imperial gallon (an imperial gallon is
just over 4.5 liters). Regular petrol costs Dhs 0.80 per gallon and premium is
Dhs 1.00

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    ROAD RULES

 
Drive on the right in the UAE. The speed limit is 60km/h, and 100km/h on the
highways with a maximum of 120km/h. If you are caught speeding, you will be
fined, but in some cases you will simply be sent a bill by police .
 
The traffic situation in UAE has improved immensely since the government started
forcing people to pay for the privilege of parking throughout the core of the
city. For years the flow of traffic within the city had always been congested,
but now with a strictly enforced four-hour limit on parking the level of
overcrowding has lessened. Tickets must be purchased from one of the numerous
ticket-dispensing machines. Rates are 2 Dhs for the first hour, 5 Dhs for up to
2 hours, 8 Dhs for up to 3 hours and 11 Dhs for up to 4 hours. Place the ticket
on top of your dashboard. Parking in the center is free on Friday and holidays

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    ABRAS (WATER TAXI)

 
Scores of Abras constantly cross the Creek from early morning until around
midnight. On the Deira side of the Creek, the dock is at the intersection of
Al-Sabkha and Beniyas Road. On Bur Dubai side, the dock is at the west end of
the souk. Abras, like service taxis, leave when full, but it never takes more
than a few minutes for one or them to fill up. The fare of  100 fils is
collected once you are out on the water.

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    TAXIS

 
The starting fare of Dubai Transport taxis is Dhs 3. this goes up to Dhs 0.50
after 10pm. There are also private taxis which come in all sizes and colors and
do not have meters. This presents you with a choice: negotiate the fare in
advance (and perhaps pay too much) or get in, tell the driver your destination,
pay him what you think is an appropriate fare once you get there and hope that
it is accepted without an argument. 50% premium after midnight.
 
Should you go for the latter option, expect to pay a little less than the
metered taxis (i.e. around Dhs 5 for trips around the center of Dubai that do
not involve crossing the Creek). Crossing the Creek immediately runs the
standard fare up to about Dhs 8 or Dhs 9. For a trip from the Clock Tower
roundabout to Satwa you should pay Dhs 12; a trip to Jumeirah will cost about
Dhs 15.

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    EMBASSIES & CONSULATE

 

Australia 04 331 3444 Canada 04 352 1717 Denmark 04 222 7699 Egypt 04 397 1122
France 04 332 9040 Germany 04 397 2333 Italy 04 331 4167 Japan 04 331 9191
Jordan 04 397 0500 Kazakhstan 04 224 2462 Kuwait 04 222 1900 Lebanon 04 397 7450
Netherlands 04 352 8700 Norway 04 353 3833 Oman 04 397 5000 Qatar 04 398 2888
Romania 04 394 0580 Russia 04 223 1272 Saudi Arabia 04 266 3383 Spain 04 331
3565 Sweden 04 345 7716 Switzerland 04 331 3542 Syria 04 266 3354 Turkey 04 331
4788 Uzbekistan 04 394 7400 UK 04 397 1070 Ukraine 02 632 7586 USA 04 331 3115

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    FOOD & DRINK

 

Food is cosmopolitan, from roadside “shawarmas” (traditional Arabic meat, bread,
salad, pickle and spices) to haut cuisine in top hotels American cuisine   Billy
Blues (Rydges Hotel)                       
Champions (JW Marriott Hotel)              
Scarlett’s (Emirates Towers Boulevard) 04 398 2272
04 262 4444
04 319 87 67 Arabic/ Lebanese Cuisine   Al Khayal Jumierah Beach Hotel
Al Iwan (Burj Al Arab)                                
Al Khaima (Le Royal Meridien)              
Al Lebnani (Ajman Kempinski Hotel)    
Al Qasr (Dubai Marine Beach Resort)   
Mawal (Al Bustan Rotana Hotel)             04 284 5000
04 268 8888
04 301 7600
04 395 5555
06 745 1555
04 346 1111
04 282 0000 Argentinean Cuisine   La Parilla (Jumeirah Beach Hotel)         04
348 0000 Chinese Cuisine     Hai Tao (Ajman Kempinski Hotel)          
Long Yin (Le Meridien, Dubai)                 06 745 1555
04 282 4040 Continental/ International Cuisine   Al Dawaar (Hyatt Regency
Hotel)          
Antigo (Le Meridien, Dubai)                    
Brasserie (Le Royal Meridien)               
Café Kranzler (Ajman Kempinski Hotel)   
Fontana (Al Bustan Rotana Hotel)         
Jules (Le Meridien, Dubai)                      
Japengo (Palm Strip Shopping Mall)    
Rendezvous (Marbella Resort, Sharjah) 
The Terrace (Sheraton Deira Hotel)      
Waves (Le Meridien Mina Seyahi)          04 209 1100
04 282 4040
04 395 5555
06 745 1555
04 282 0000
04 282 4040
04 345 4979
06 574 1111
04 268 8888
04 399 3333 Japanese Cuisine   Benihana (Al Bustan Rotana Hotel)       
ET Sushi (Emirates Towers)                   
Kiku (Le Meridien, Dubai)                         
Miyako (Hyatt Regency Hotel)                  
ShoCho (Dubai Marine Beach Resort)  
Tokyo@Towers (Emirates Towers)        04 282 0000
04 330 0000
04 282 4040
04 209 1222
04 346 1111
04 330 0000 Mediterranean Cuisine   Al Muntaha (Burj Al
Arab)                         
Il Paradiso (Sheraton Deira Hotel)        
Prasino’s (Jumeirah Beach Club)         
Vu’s (Emirates Towers)                           04 301 7600
04 268 8888
04 344 5333
04 330 0000 Seafood   Al Mahara (Burj Al Arab)                            
Club Joumana (Jebel Ali Hotel)              
Marina (Jumeirah Beach Hotel)              
Mi Vida (Le Royal Meridien)                     
Seafood Market (Le Meridien, Dubai) 04 301 7600
04 283 6000
04 348 0000
04 395 5555
04 282 4040 Spanish Cuisine   Bodega (Le Meridien, Dubai)                  
Seville’s (Wafi City)                                    04 282 4040
04 324 4777 Steakhouses and Grills   JW’s Steakhouse (JW Marriott Hotel)      
M’s Beef Bistro (Le Meridien, Dubai)       
Rodeo Grill (Al Bustan Rotana Hotel)     
Western Steakhouse (Crown Plaza Dubai) 04 262 4444
04 282 4040
04 282 0000
04 331 1111 Thailand Cuisine   Blue Elephant (Al Bustan Rotana Hotel)  
Fusion (Le Royal Meridien)                         
Sukhothai (Le Meridien, Dubai)                  
Thai Bistro (Dubai Marine Beach Resort) 
Thai House (Sheraton Deira Hotel)           04 282 0000
04 395 5555
04 282 4040
04 346 1111
04 268 8888

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    NIGHT CLUBS

 

Dubai ‘s nightclubs tend to be segregated into Arabic, western, Filipino and
Indian clubs. This is just the way people socialize in Dubai – apart, Thursday
and Friday nights are the biggies, with music rocking until 3 am.
Kasbar (Royal Mirage)

Madinat Jumierah wide range of clubs and pubs
The Apartment (Jumeirah Beach Hotel)
Cavalie Fairmont Dubai
Century Atlantis

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    PUBS & PARS

 
Pubs and bars in Dubai are open until 1 or 2am. They are well stocked with
spirits and all the  major beers are available. The wines are invariably the
same as the wines at licensed restaurants – mostly table wines from France,
Italy, Australia and California. At most places, Tuesday and Sunday are “Ladies’
Night”, which means those of the right sex get not one, but two free drinks. Not
surprisingly ladies’ night tends to attract more men than women.

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    MAJOR HOSPITAL

 

Al Maktoum Hospital 04 222 1211 Al Wasl Hospital 04 324 1111 American Hospital
04 336 7777 Dubai Hospital 04 271 4444 Rashid Hospital 04 337 1111 Welcare
Hospital 04 282 7788

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    MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

 

Dubai International Airport    General Information 04 224 5555 Flight Inquiry 04
206 6666 Abu Dhabi International Airport       General Information 02 575 7500
Flight Inquiry 02 575 7611 Sharjah International Airport   General Information
06 558 1111 Flight Inquiry  06 558 1000

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    MAJOR AIRLINES

 

Company Reservation Confirmation Air France 04 294 5899 04 294 5899 American
Airlines 04 393 3234 04 393 3234 Aeroflot 04 222 2245 04 222 2245 British
Airways 04 307 5555 04 307 5777 Cathay Pacific 04 282 2013   04 295 0400
Emirates Airlines 04 221 8555 04 221 8555

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    SHOPPING MALLS

 

Dubai Mall 04 263 0000 Al Ghurair Center 04 223 2333 Bur Juman Center 04 352
0222 Deira City Center 04 295 1010 Mall of The Emirates 04 335 9999 Marina Mall
02 681 8300 Mercato 04 344 4161 Mirdef City Center 04 339 5459 Reef Mall 04 346
1462 Wafi Center 04 344 0111

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    DOS & DON'T

 
Though alcohol is legal in the UAE, you should never ,ever drive while under the
influence of alcohol consumption. If you are caught doing so there will be, at
the very least, a steep fine to pay and you may wind up spending a month or more
in jail.
 * It is impolite to photograph people without asking their permission. Avoid
   pointing your camera at police stations, airports and palaces.
 * When two men meet it is considered polite for them to inquire after each
   others families but not each others wives.
 * If you are in a frustration situation, be patient, friendly and sensitive.
   Never lose your temper.
 * Men should never appear bare-chested in public, except when at the beach or
   at the swimming pool. Emirates in Dubai are used to seeing westerners in
   shorts and they are seen as something comical rather than offensive. If you
   do wear shorts they should be relatively long – all the way to the knee if
   possible- but don’t wear them into someone’s home.

Women should wear loose-fitting clothing that is not revealing. Even in the UAE,
where you see exposed midriff, short skirts and tight pants, you should still
consider the impression you are making. Bathing suites are OK for the beach,
though women may want to cover up more at public beaches to avoid the ogling of
men.  

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    SOUKS

Gold Souk
Even if you have no plans to buy anything, it is worth a visit to the Gold Souk
simply to take in the atmosphere, and to ogle at the size of some of the
jewellery on offer.

Spice Souk
Also known as the Deira Old Souk (since it doesn’t just sell spices), this is
one place you must wander around for a real taste of  traditional Dubai. The
spices are mainly found at the souk’s eastern end, in the area closest to the
Creek.

Satwa Souk

This area, which lies to the south of Al-Dhiyafa Road near the Satwa roundabout,
is the place to buy shoes, textiles, tacky souvenirs, imitation brand watches
and sunglasses.

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  BASIC FACTS

 

- Language - Currency - Visa - Climate - Time - Shopping Timings - Ramadan -
Alcohol - Photography - Religion - Tipping & Bargaining - Telephone - Useful
Numbers - Business Hours - Car Hire - Road Rules - Abras (Watertaxi) - Taxis -
Embassies & Consulates - Food & Drink - Nightclubs - Pubs & Bars - Major
Hospitals - Major International Airports - Major Airlines - Shopping Malls - Dos
& Don't  - Souks