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United Arab Emirates Practical information Dubai

 
 
Area : 32278  sq.mi - Population 2262000 hab.
Dubai

Our expert United Arab Emirates

map

map United Arab Emirates

Weather

Practical information Dubai

superficie

Area

32278  sq.mi
vol

Flights

7 hrs. Abu Dhabi is 3, 398 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

Dubai is four hours ahead of London (GMT +4).
population

Population

2262000 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

The main airports in the Emirates are Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. They are respectively 20, 12, and 9 miles from the town centres. A taxi ride will cost £20 for Abu Dhabi and £16 for Dubai and Sharjah.
Abu Dhabi airport phone number: +971 (2) 505 5555
Dubai airport phone number: +971 (4) 224 5555
Sharjah airport phone number: +971 (6) 558 1111
Customs: pornographic films and magazines are strictly forbidden. Travellers have the right to take back 1,000 cigarettes, 400 cigars, 4 pounds of tobacco and 2 litres of alcohol for non-Muslims, except in Sharjah, where it is prohibited to bring back any alcohol at all.
securite

Security

Delinquency is extremely rare because of the severe prison sentences or immediate expulsion from the country for any foreigner disobeying the law. During the hottest months (June, July and August), you should avoid exposing yourself to the sun from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
langue

Languages

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in the tourist areas and in the business world.
formalites

Requirements

British citizens need not apply for a Dubai visa before arrival. For tourist and business trips, the visa is free and will be delivered upon arrival in the country (for a maximum stay of 60 days). It can later be renewed for an additional 30 days for around 500 Dhs (£95).
religion

Religion

80% of the population is Sunni, 16% is Shiite, the rest is composed of Christian and Hindu minorities.
monnaie

Currency

The currency is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), which consists of 100 Fils. International credit cards are accepted everywhere and you will have no trouble finding an ATM machine. In general, banks are open from 8am to 1pm, Saturdays to Wednesdays. On Thursdays, opening hours are usually 8am to noon, and banks (like other businesses) are closed on Fridays. Some banks re-open in the afternoon from 4.30 to 6.30pm
transports

Local transportation

Dubai has a new metro system, still under construction, with one line currently open. There are also air-conditioned buses which tend to be relatively frequent. Dubai also has an extensive taxi system, by far the most frequently used means of public transport within the Emirate. The international driving licence is valid and driving is on the right.
In the UAE, all cars are equipped with sound alarms that prevent speeding. Car rental costs vary from £15 and £20 per day for a compact car, and from £40 to £47 for a 4x4, which is essential for desert hikes. The average price of a litre of petrol is about 30p.
There are daily flights on Emirates and Gulf Air to all seven Emirate capitals.
sante

Health

No vaccines required, though it is recommended that travelers be up-to-date on all vaccinations. In town, tap water is drinkable but does not taste good because it is a mix of desalted sea water and fresh water. It is thus recommended to drink water outside of hotels.
electricite

Electricity

220 V (not compatible with the US and Canada, but compatible with Europe, including the UK), 50 Hz frequency.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

Dubai is among the top ten most visited cities in the world. Around one million British nationals visit the UAE every year (Source: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
taxe

Taxes and tips

Service is included in the bill in most bars and restaurants. If not, tips of 10% are recommended. There is no tax on most goods, though alcohol carries a 30% sales tax, and hotels and entertainment (rooms, food, etc.) carry a 5% municipality tax.
telephone

Telephone

To call the United Arab Emirates from the UK, dial 00 + 971 (country code) + 2 (Abu Dhabi), 3 (Al-Ain), 4 (Dubai), 5 (Umm al-Quwain), 6 (Sharjah), 7 (Ras-al-Khaimah), 9 (Fujairah) + correspondent's number.
From the United Arab Emirates to the UK: dial 00 44 + correspondent's number without the initial 0.