TRAVEL TIPS
Currency
There are no currency regulations and foreign currency of almost any denomination is readily exchanged in the UAE. The dirham is the official currency of the UAE. The prefix is written as AED.
The dirham is index linked to the dollar and the official exchange rate is Dh3.671 = US$ 1.00.
There are no currency regulations and foreign currency of almost any denomination is readily exchanged in the UAE. The dirham is the official currency of the UAE. The prefix is written as AED.
The dirham is index linked to the dollar and the official exchange rate is Dh3.671 = US$ 1.00.
Foreign banks have branches in the UAE
and ATMs are readily available in all urban centers.
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.
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.
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Ambulance
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998 or 999
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Fire
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997
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Police
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999
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Marine Emergencies
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996
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Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory, 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).
Tipping is not compulsory, 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).
Photography
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.
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.
Electricity
Domestic supply is 220 volts. Sockets suitable for three-pin 13 amp plugs of British standard design are the norm. Appliances purchased in the UAE will generally have two-pin plugs attached.
Domestic supply is 220 volts. Sockets suitable for three-pin 13 amp plugs of British standard design are the norm. Appliances purchased in the UAE will generally have two-pin plugs attached.
Telephone and internet:
The landline network, operated by the main national telecommunication organizations ETISALAT and Du, is superb: local calls are free and direct dialing is available to over 150 countries. The international dial code for UAE is +971.
The landline network, operated by the main national telecommunication organizations ETISALAT and Du, is superb: local calls are free and direct dialing is available to over 150 countries. The international dial code for UAE is +971.
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UAE Exchange
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National Access Code
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International Access Code
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Abu Dhabi
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02
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+ 9712
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Ajman
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06
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+ 9716
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Al Ain
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03
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+ 9713
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Dubai
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04
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+ 9714
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Fujairah
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09
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+ 9719
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Jebel Ali
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04
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+ 9714
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Khor Fakkan
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09
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+ 9719
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Ra’s al-Khaimah
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07
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+ 9717
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Sharjah
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06
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+ 9716
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Umm al-Qaiwain
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06
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+ 9716
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ETISALAT information service
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144
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Du information
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155
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Directory enquiries
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180/181
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* Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain share the access code 06 and Fujairah and Khor Fakkan the access code 09
The UAE also has an excellent and
extensive mobile phone network. Pay-as-you-go cards are available for visitors
who do not wish to use their home services.
Most hotels offer guests internet
access and Wi-Fi hotspots are provided at many cafes.
Post
Emirates Post (Empost) runs an efficient postal system with red post collection boxes dotted throughout the cities and towns. Mail is usually collected morning and evening. Express postal facilities are also available at post offices, which are open Sunday to Thursday. Note that telephone, fax and poste restante facilities are not available at UAE post offices.
Emirates Post (Empost) runs an efficient postal system with red post collection boxes dotted throughout the cities and towns. Mail is usually collected morning and evening. Express postal facilities are also available at post offices, which are open Sunday to Thursday. Note that telephone, fax and poste restante facilities are not available at UAE post offices.
Weights and Measures:
The UAE uses the metric system, although British and US standard weights and measures are understood.
The UAE uses the metric system, although British and US standard weights and measures are understood.
Clothing
Respect for local culture and customs is highly desirable: bikinis, swimsuits, shorts and revealing tops should be confined to beach resorts. Men should not be bare-chested away from the beach and women are 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.
Respect for local culture and customs is highly desirable: bikinis, swimsuits, shorts and revealing tops should be confined to beach resorts. Men should not be bare-chested away from the beach and women are 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.
Health and Hygiene
As with all travel, health insurance is a must to cover all eventualities. However, a successful government immunization programs, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene in hotels and restaurants virtually guarantees you an illness-free visit. No special immunizations are required. Nevertheless, it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area.
As with all travel, health insurance is a must to cover all eventualities. However, a successful government immunization programs, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene in hotels and restaurants virtually guarantees you an illness-free visit. No special immunizations are required. Nevertheless, it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area.
There are very few mosquitoes in the
towns and cities and, since it is not considered to be a risk, malaria tablets
are not prescribed for travel to the UAE. It is likely, however, that
mosquitoes will find you if you are camping near the mountains or exploring
wadis or date groves in the evening and it is always safer to avoid being
bitten.
Tap water, produced by desalination,
is normally safe to drink. Nevertheless you may prefer the taste of bottled
water.
Opening Hours
Shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.00 to 9.00 p.m. Most shops, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, stay open all day and many in tourist areas close later. Shopping malls open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – frequently 12 p.m. Some supermarkets are open for 24 hours. Although shops and shopping malls are fully air conditioned, the cool of the evening is a favorite time for shopping. Shopping malls 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.
Government offices open at 7.30 a.m. and officially close at 2.30 p.m. Private offices tend to keep longer hours, coming back to work in the evening after an extended mid-day break. Many private businesses open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All government offices close for the weekend on Friday and Saturday. Many private companies also recognize this two-day weekend. Some offices outside the public sector close only on Friday.
Shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.00 to 9.00 p.m. Most shops, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, stay open all day and many in tourist areas close later. Shopping malls open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – frequently 12 p.m. Some supermarkets are open for 24 hours. Although shops and shopping malls are fully air conditioned, the cool of the evening is a favorite time for shopping. Shopping malls 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.
Government offices open at 7.30 a.m. and officially close at 2.30 p.m. Private offices tend to keep longer hours, coming back to work in the evening after an extended mid-day break. Many private businesses open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All government offices close for the weekend on Friday and Saturday. Many private companies also recognize this two-day weekend. Some offices outside the public sector close only on Friday.
Public Holidays
Since Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of phases of the moon, the dates for Islamic religious holidays are approximate and 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.
Since Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of phases of the moon, the dates for Islamic religious holidays are approximate and 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 neighboring state dies. Government offices and some private companies
will close for the period.
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