General
information about Dubai
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates is located in the Middle
East on the southern shore of the Gulf in the south
eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The total area
of the Emirates is 3,885 sq km.
Population
The current population of the UAE is approximately 3
million. Dubai has approximately 1.5 million and is
set to increase to 3.5 million by 2010.
Language
The official language is Arabic. However English is
widely spoken as are Urdu and Hindi.
Religion
96% Muslim, Hindu, Christian, 4% other. Mosques are
present throughout the city; however a non-Muslim is
not permitted to visit a Mosque.
Climate
Dubai is dry with a sub-tropical climate and rain is
very rare. The hottest months are between June and September
when the temperature often tops 45 degrees C during
the day and the humidity is high. October, November
and April’s temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees
Celsius. Between December and March the average temperature
is 24 degrees Celsius.
Local time: Dubai is four hours ahead of GMT
Country dialling code
+ 971
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED) divided into 100 fils.
Exchange rate
The UAE Dirham is fixed to the US dollar at
3.68
Useful information
Click
Here for UAE Map
Flying time
The flying time from the UK to Dubai is 6 hours 35 minutes.
Clothing
Summer clothing is recommended for most of the year.
However in the winter months the temperature can drop
in the evenings. Skirts and shorts are acceptable for
ladies; however it is recommended that a woman should
cover her shoulders in souq areas and night markets.
Please dress sensibly to respect the local customs of
the UAE.
Electricity
Electricity in Dubai is 220 volts. The 3 pin socket
is available everywhere.
Visas
All visitors except AGCC nationals require a visa sponsored
by a local entity such as a hotel or company. Visitors
may apply for a transit visa (for 14 days), a visit
visa (for 30 days renewable), or a tourist visa (for
30 days non renewable). British citizens with a right
of abode in the UK and expatriate residents of the AGCC
who meet certain criteria may obtain 30 day visas on
arrival. You should check on your visa requirements
before visiting Dubai. Please contact our office we
may be able to help with your visa application.
Business hours
Private companies generally work a straight shift from
8am to 6pm or some work a split shift from 8am to 1pm
and then 4pm to 7pm. Government companies work a straight
shift from 8am to 2pm. The weekend in Dubai is a Friday.
Some companies have a two day weekend and take either
a Thursday or a Friday.
Banks
Many international banks are represented by branches
here in Dubai. Please check with your bank for your
nearest branch. All of our local banks here have ATM
machines that take visa, master card etc.
Money changers
There are numerous money changers here in Dubai and
can be found in all the shopping malls.
Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted in the main restaurants,
bars and larger shops.
Shopping
Welcome to a shoppers paradise! Dubai is home to the
Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises.
There are many malls that offer top international brands
at reasonable prices. The malls are open from 10am to
10pm Saturday to Thursday and 2pm to 10pm on Fridays.
Telecommunications
Communications in Dubai are excellent. All telephones
have an international direct dialling facility and the
local provider Etisalat has roaming agreements for GSM
with a large number of countries. International calls
can be made from any public telephone and telephone
cards are available from your local shop and supermarkets.
Internet access is also available in a large number
of outlets and some of our villas and apartments. Please
check property details.
Media
There are now several English language daily newspapers
published in Dubai. The larger of the two being Gulf
News and Khaleej Times. International newspapers and
magazines are all available from bookstores and supermarkets.
Photography
Local people especially women, do not like you to photograph
them without their permission. In general we recommend
that you avoid taking photographs or video footage of
any local person in national dress.
Medical care
The medical care in Dubai is excellent. All the clinics
and hospitals are of an international standard. However,
they are expensive and private health/travel insurance
is recommended. For latest immunisation requirements
for Dubai please contact your local GP.
Water
The tap water in Dubai is desalinated sea water. This
water is very safe to drink however residents and visitors
often prefer to drink bottled mineral water. Various
local and international brands are available almost
everywhere you go.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available in Dubai and generally safe
and very economical. Dubai Transport Corporation is
the largest company or there are private companies available.
Taxis can be found at all hotels, restaurants, bars
and shopping malls. If in a residential area they will
collect you upon request by a telephone booking.
Alcohol
Alcohol is available in all restaurants, bars and clubs
located in a hotel. However restaurants outside of a
hotel are not allowed to sell or serve alcohol. Alcohol
is not available to buy outside of a hotel. Muslims
do not drink alcohol and expatriate residents must have
an alcohol permit to purchase alcohol from permitted
retailing outlets.
Customs
Duty free allowances: cigarettes – 2,000, cigars
– 400, tobacco – 2kg, alcohol (non-Muslim
adults only) – 2 litres of spirits and 2 litres
of wine, perfume – a reasonable amount. No customs
duty is levied on personal effects entering Dubai. Dubai
Duty Free has an outlet in the Arrivals Hall.
Events Calendar 2007/2008
20 February – 4 March (tbc)
Dubai Tennis Championships
The US$1 million Dubai Tennis Championships attracts
many of the world's top male and female players to the
city's impressive Tennis Stadium. The tournament incorporates
both men's ATP Tour and Women's WTA Tour events, and
features both singles and doubles competitions.
1st to 4th February 2007 (dates tba)
Dubai Desert Classic – Emirates Golf Couse –
Part of the European PGA tour, the Dubai Desert Classic
takes place at what was the first grass golf course
in the Middle East, which was entitled The Desert Miracle
in 1988. The tournament attracts prestigious international
players to compete for the trophy and US$2.2 million
in prize money.
25 March 2007 (tbc)
Dubai World Cup
Forget the Grand National, the Kentucky Derby and even
the Arc de Triomphe. When it comes to money, the Dubai
World Cup at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is the richest
horse race in the world.
21 June - 1 September 2007(tbc)
Dubai Summer Suprises
Second only to the frenzied bargain-hunting of the
Dubai Shopping Festival in spring, Dubai Summer Surprises
is an event which encourages visitors to shop, save
and celebrate during ten weeks of entertainment. |
It
was reported as far back as the 15th century that Dubai
was a prosperous pearl-diving and fishing community. It
was still much the same by the beginning of the 20th century
with over 300 pearl-diving dhows stationed in Dubai Creek.
This small fishing village, clustered around the mouth
of the Creek gradually grew into a small trading port.
This was the beginning of Modern Dubai when 800 members
of the Bani Yas tribe under the Al Maktoum family came
to settle here. The Maktoum’s have ruled ever since
and each generation has produced a leader with acute business
acumen growing and steering Dubai from an old world town
to the modern state of the art city that it is today.
Dubai
is the second largest of the seven Emirates that make
up the United Arab Emirates and consists of two cities.
Dubai and Deira are divided by the Creek which runs 10
kms inland. The waterfront is alive with the activity
of dhows filled with a diverse range of cargo and the
abras (water taxis) cross the creek late into the night.
On the Deira side a variety of souqs can be found. The
pungent smell of the spice souq will draw you in and lead
you to the famous gold souq. Here you will find hundreds
of little shops glittering with the most amazing array
of jewellery you are ever likely to see.