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Practical information United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates

Our expert United Arab Emirates

Rooksana Hossenally Section editor

Travel is my driving force in life, and although I have had the privilege of visiting 30 countries so far, my heart will always remain in India...

map of United Arab Emirates

map of United Arab Emirates

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Weather

United Arab Emirates : Travel Information before you go!

superficie

Area

12463  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

8,264,070 inhabitants
aeroports proche

Airports

The main airports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. They are respectively 20, 12, and 9 miles from the town centres. To get into the centre of Dubai, a taxi will cost around 40 AED which is roughly £7.

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, therefore any books, CDs, DVDs and photographs must be declared at customs. Travellers have the right to take back 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 500g of tobacco and 4 litres of alcohol for non-Muslims. The exception is in Sharjah, where it is prohibited to bring any alcohol into the emirate 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

Required travel documents for

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

The official state religion of the UAE is Islam, with roughly 75% of the population belonging to the religion. There are also relatively large communities 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 metro system with one line running from Bur Dubai all the way down to the Jumeirah Beach area. There are also air-conditioned buses which tend to be relatively frequent.

The Emirates has an overall extensive taxi system, by far the most frequently used means of public transport. Look out for 'pink taxis' which have female drivers and are for the exclusive use of women and families.

An international driving licence is valid and driving is on the right. Be warned that in the UAE, all cars are equipped with sound alarms that prevent speeding. Car rental costs vary depending on how old the driver is and what sort of car you want. For a compact car, prices start from around £15 and from £40 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 the country's national airline, Emirates, and on Etihad, Gulf Air and RAK Airways.

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

Tourist numbers

The UAE as a whole welcomed about 8.13 million tourists in 2011, with Dubai as the most visited emirate.
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.