PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Passports and Visas

Free 30-day (90-day for some nationalities) visit visas are available on arrival for 47 countries. Passports must be valid for six months from the date of entry to the UAE. Visas for 30 days (but not for 90 days) can be extended by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs at a cost of AED 620.

Canada, the UK, the US, and other countries have consular representation in the region. Check your consulate’s UAE website for travel warnings and security information.

Customs and Immigration

The duty-free allowance for each traveller is 400 cigarettes, 500g (18 oz) of tobacco, 50 cigars and 4 litres of alcohol. Alcohol cannot be bought from local shops without a liquor license (only available to UAE residents), so buy duty free at the airport if you want to have your own supply. In addition to the usual items (firearms, illegal drugs and pornography), it is forbidden to bring in any banned movies, TV programs and offensive publications, especially films and programs that may include scenes with passionate kissing, sex, nudity or semi-nudity, or drug use. Goods made in Israel (or bearing Israeli logos) are also forbidden. Check the Dubai Customs website for the most up-to-date information.

Travel Safety Advice

Visitors can get up-to-date travel safety information from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the US Department of State, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Travel Insurance

While petty crime is rare in the UAE, insurance covering loss of luggage and theft is always good to have, along with comprehensive health and dental insurance. Hospitals are very efficient, but services are expensive.

Health

No special vaccinations are needed for the UAE. The biggest danger to your health is the heat. Take precautions to avoid dehydration, sunburn and sunstroke. Be careful, too, when crossing roads, and when driving. Tap water is safe to drink. At most, you may experience an upset stomach as your body adjusts to new bacteria.

Standards are outstanding in both private and public hospitals, although the services are generally faster at the emergency departments at private hospitals. Good hospitals for tourists include the American Hospital and Emirates Hospital in Dubai, and the Burjeel Hospital and Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE also has good dentists and consultations are reasonably priced. In an emergency, the best place to go is the British Dental Clinic (branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi).

There are numerous pharmacies, including many that open 24 hours (ask at your hotel for the nearest branch).

Personal Security

While petty crime is almost unheard of, be sensible – don’t leave valuables unattended and don’t flash cash around. As a pedestrian be vigilant; drivers will not stop for you on a crossing, so cross only at lights where possible. If your taxi driver is driving too fast or recklessly, tell him to slow down (“shway shway”).

If you’re driving and you have an accident, first get out of harm’s way, then call the police for instructions. Do not move the car unless instructed to do so by the police. Rainy weather makes driving hazardous simply because UAE residents aren’t used to driving in the rain – they won’t necessarily slow down. Decelerate or pull over in sand storms when visibility is poor. When you see oncoming drivers with their hazard lights on, it means conditions are even worse up ahead.

The UAE is an Islamic state and you can land in trouble for not respecting local religious customs and decency laws. Never drink alcohol and drive. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, arrests have resulted from foreigners being too affectionate in public. If you get arrested, do not sign anything in Arabic immediately. Your consu-late should be your first call – they can help facilitate contact with a local bilingual lawyer.

In Sharjah, it’s illegal for women to travel in a vehicle with men other than their husband. Women must dress modestly and not show their upper arms or back.

Women travelling solo in the UAE shouldn’t experience any harass-ment if they follow local norms. Sit in the back seat of taxis and in the “women’s section” of buses. Dedicated women’s queues at banks and government departments indicate that women will get preferential service.

Do not attempt to bring medicinal drugs into the country. Bear in mind that even some prescription drugs, such as codeine, and anti-depressant and HRT medications, are banned. The UAE has a zero tolerance policy on recreational drugs. Penalties and sentences are harsh. While the death penalty is an option, it is rarely applied.

Homosexuality is illegal and punishable with harsh penalties, although very rarely enforced. You might sometimes see men from Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent holding hands – this act signifies friendship. You may also see Emirati men rub noses when they meet, in the same way that close male friends kiss cheeks in Mediterranean countries in Europe.

When swimming, take warning signs regarding dangerous rips and strong undertows seriously. In spite of the water’s calm appearance, Dubai’s beaches have very powerful undercurrents.

In Dubai, if you leave something behind in a taxi, you’ll need to file a report at Dubai Taxi. For any other lost property, contact the Police Lost and Found.

Casual irritations while visiting Dubai include the numerous touts in old city souks attempting to sell “copy watches” or “copy bags” and so on. Male visitors might also be approached by prostitutes in bars, especially in the older parts of the city.

Emergency Services

For urgent medical help, call the emergency number for the ambulance. The fire and police departments also have emergency numbers.

Travellers with Specific Needs

Developers have worked hard to cater to visitors with specific require-ments. Most of the more modern and upmarket hotels now have specially adapted rooms, although cheaper accommodation is harder to find.

There are excellent transport services at both airports for visitors with disabilities, while the Dubai Metro boasts tactile guide paths, wheelchair spaces in compartments and other facilities. The Special Needs Taxi service can be booked in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. Many of the city’s malls also have some facilities, including specially adapted toilets.

Currency and Banking

The UAE’s currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham, written as AED or Dh. One dirham is divided into 100 fils. Currency notes are in denominations of AED 5, AED 10, AED 20, AED 50, AED 100, AED 200, AED 500 and AED 1000. Coins are available as 25 fils, 50 fils and one dirham. The UAE dirham is pegged to the US dollar. US$1 is equal to AED 3.67. All other currencies fluctuate, but at the time of writing €1 was equal to AED 4 and £1 was worth AED 5.

Numerous international banks operate in the UAE, including HSBC, Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank. Good local banks include National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Mashreq Bank and Emirates National Bank of Dubai. Globally linked ATMs are located everywhere. American Express, Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted, and credit cards can be used almost anywhere.

There are also several bureaux de change, such as the leading Al Ansari Exchange, which has branches all over the city, including in many malls.Bringing cash from home and changing it locally is often cheaper than using plastic, which can mean having to pay hefty credit card and ATM fees.

Telephone and Internet

To phone the UAE from abroad, dial your international access code, the UAE country code 971, then 4 for Dubai or 2 for Abu Dhabi, followed by the local number. To dial a mobile from abroad, dial 971 50/55/56 followed by the mobile number. Within the UAE, dial 050/055/056 for mobiles, 04 to call Dubai from outside the emirate and 02 to phone Abu Dhabi from another emirate.

If you’re bringing your own mobile/cellphone from home, note that GSM phones (the type typically used in Europe) will work in Dubai, but make sure any international call bar is switched off. North American CDMA phones will not work, so you’ll have to either bring a non-CDMA phone from home or buy a handset locally.

If you need a mobile, it’s generally easier (and cheaper) to get a local SIM card. The national telecommunications company Etisalat offers visitors a useful “Visitor Mobile Line” (AED 35, including 20 minutes of free local calls), which gives you a SIM card and allows you to make calls at local rates. The card is available at the Etisalat shops and other outlets. You will need to present your passport when purchasing a SIM card.

There is WiFi access everywhere. Etisalat operates numerous WiFi “hotspots” in shopping malls, restaurants, coffee shops and elswhere. You can pay online with a credit card, with rates starting at around AED 10 per hour.

Postal Services

Emirates Post is the UAE’s national postal service. You can buy stamps at any post office and at some stationery shops. Mail to Europe, North America and Australasia takes about 10 days. It is unreliable, however, so register anything valuable or use a courier for anything urgent. Emirates Post also provides surface and air delivery services for sending large parcels, although courier services are more reliable. Postal companies with a good reputation for service include Aramex, FedEx and DHL. All will pick up from your hotel. You can pay on collection if you don’t have an account.

Television, Radio and Newspapers

The UAE has a number of daily English-language newspapers (mostly AED 3–4), although all of them practise self-censorship to some degree in order to avoid offending the government. The National is the best, and Gulf News is also reasonable. The online newspaper Emirates 24/7 gives the latest updates.

The biggest of the many Emirati television channels is the English-language Dubai One, which mainly screens repackaged US shows and movies, along with a few local programmes. There are also several English-language radio stations including Virgin Radio Dubai (104.4 FM), although none of them are notably interesting.

Opening Hours

The UAE weekend is Friday and Saturday. Business hours aren’t fixed but, generally, shopping malls and supermarkets are open daily 10am–10pm (sometimes later on weekends). Shops in the streets open at approximately the same times but at times close for lunch from 1 to 4/5pm. Take advantage of the regular happy hours at restaurants (generally 6pm–8pm daily). Offers during this time can massively reduce the cost of a drink. Government departments open around 7am and close to the public around 3pm. Work hours in private companies are usually 9am–6pm. Opening hours for museums fluctuate wildly, and some smaller places close during the afternoon.

Time Difference

The UAE time zone is GMT+4. It is 9 hours ahead of North American Eastern Standard Time, 12 hours ahead of North American Western Standard Time, and 6 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time. There is no daylight saving.

Electrical Appliances

UAE power sockets generally accept the UK three-prong plug operating on 220/240 volts, although you may also see the European two-round-prong plug. It’s a good idea to bring an adaptor that works for both. Some hotels have adaptors you can borrow, or you can buy them in supermarkets.

Weather

The UAE has an arid desert climate with infrequent rainfall. Temperatures average 20°C (68°F) in the winter to 45°C (113°F) in the summer. Winter (December to January) is usually when Dubai is at its best and busiest, although you may experience a little rain and overcast skies. This is when the Dubai Shopping Festival, Global Village and most major sporting events take place. October to November and March to April are a bit hotter and are almost guaranteed sunshine. Summer (May to September) is scorching and it’s almost impossible to do anything except lounge by a pool or stay in air-conditioned buildings, although hotel prices tumble dramatically. The holy month of Ramadan presents some challenges to visitors and is best avoided unless you want to experience the country’s more traditional side.

Visitor Information

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) oversees tourism in Dubai, while the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA) is in charge in Abu Dhabi. There are no proper tourist offices in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but both DTCM and ADTCA maintain tourist offices overseas and operate helpful websites.

For information on the latest events and happenings, Time Out Dubai and Time Out Abu Dhabi magazines are the best resources. 800Tickets sell tickets for many major music (and other) events. What’s On magazine is also handy. For Dubai, The Entertainer app is great for deals, discounts, services and information across categories such as food, fitness, spas, and children’s attractions.

For more detailed practical information, the brilliant (though somewhat out-of-date) Dubai FAQs website is useful.

The best source of breaking local news is the website of The National newspaper. Blogs worth browsing include Dubai at Random and (for food) the excellent I Live in a Frying Pan.

Trips and Tours

There are dozens of tour operators in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi offering a fairly stereotypical range of desert outings, trips to neighbouring cities and dinner dhow cruises.

Arabian Adventures is the biggest and best. Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours are offered by Big Bus Tours in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while the unusual Wonderbus in Dubai is also enjoyable.

Abras can be chartered (see Dubai Creek) for private cruises up and down the creek in Dubai, and there are also sightseeing trips aboard the Dubai Ferry.

Walking tours of Al Fahidi are offered by the SMCCU, and interesting foodie tours of offbeat Dubai eateries by Frying Pan Adventures. Shaheen Xtreme at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, while for a walk on the wild side in the mountains of the UAE and Oman, contact Absolute Adventure or UAE Trekkers.

For the ultimate view of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, try out a helicopter ride with Emirates Helicopter Tours and Abu Dhabi Helicopter respectively.

Shopping

There are basically two types of shopping in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: modern malls and traditional souks. Shopping malls are found everywhere, from huge mega-developments to low-key local places. Many leading local and international shops have outlets in malls, and chains such as Damas (jewellery), Paris Gallery (perfume) and Grand Stores (electronics and cameras) can be found in almost all the major shopping centres. Prices are fixed and credit cards normally accepted.

Shopping in traditional souks of the old city is a different affair. Prices are generally lower and haggling is expected (credit cards may not be accepted except for big-ticket items). A lot of the items on sale consist of everyday essentials, but you’ll also find interesting collectibles such as gold, spices, perfumes, designer fakes and antiques. Shops in Karama Souk have a vast array of well-priced and convincing fakes.

Dining

There’s a huge range of places to eat in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from inexpensive local cafés to extravagant fine-dining venues overseen by Michelin-starred chefs.

There’s also a huge array of cuisines on offer. This is one of the best places to sample classic dishes from across the Middle East including traditional Arabian cuisine (or “Lebanese”, as it is often described), along with Iranian, Moroccan and Emirati specialities. Indian, Italian and Chinese cuisine is also popular.

Cheaper places are aimed largely at Asian expats living in the city, hence the huge number of Indian and Pakistani restaurants across the old city. Plenty of inexpensive cafés serve Arabian food including shawarma kebabs in pitta bread plus other local dishes.

More expensive places are largely attached to hotels and come in every possible shape and form, from opulent Arabian-themed venues to chic boltholes. Dining next to the sea is popular, and many places offer outdoor terraces – those with outdoor seating may also offer sheesha (waterpipes). Happy hours (typically from 6pm to 8pm) can make drinks much cheaper.

Tipping is generally not expected but is appreciated if you’ve enjoyed your meal and service. A 10 per cent service charge may be added to cover the tip, along with other taxes. These can add up to 25 per cent of the basic cost of a meal and drinks, so check before if included.

Children are generally well-catered for and welcome everywhere except at the very best fine-dining restaurants.

Accommodation

There’s a mind-boggling array of accommodation in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The vast majority in both cities is generally found in large and almost exclusively modern hotels, although there are a few more characterful small hotels in historic houses in Dubai, including several places run by the Heritage Collection. You’ll also find many Airbnb options and self-catering apartments. Golden Sands is the main local operator, with over a dozen apartment blocks in Bur Dubai.

There is considerable variety amongst the more upmarket hotels. At the top end of the scale places range from chic modernist highrises through to lavish resorts built in opulent pseudo-Arabian style. Cheaper places, however, tend to be functional concrete boxes of rather uniform appearance. The main local chain is the luxurious, Dubai-owned Jumeirah group, although most of the world’s leading hotel companies now have at least one establishment in each city, often several.

Accommodation is available on all the usual booking websites. Check for hotel-plus-flight packages instead of both separately. Rates vary considerably from month to month (sometimes from week to week), peaking during the winter months and falling hugely during the summer (see Weather). During busy periods, such as the religious festival of Eid, hotel prices can soar. Rates start from around AED 250 (US$70) for a double in a rock-bottom, old-city one-star hotel, rising up to thousands of dollars per night at top places. Many hotels quote room rates exclusive of relevant government taxes, which can bump the price up by 25 per cent. Be sure to always check before booking.