The United Arab Emirates [1],
often referred to as the U.A.E, is a federation of seven emirates on
the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula, at the entrance to the
Persian Gulf. It has coastlines on the Gulf of Oman and the Persian
Gulf, with Saudi Arabia to the west and southwest, and Oman
to the southeast and also on the eastern tip of the Musandam Peninsula
as well as an Omani enclave within its borders. It is a country rich in
history and culture and an easy starting point for travels in the Middle East.
Understand
The United Arab Emirates is a modern and dynamic country.
For most Western tourists, the UAE offers an environment that is
extremely familiar. The malls are extraordinarily modern, filled with
virtually any product available in the West (save sexually explicit
material; movies are censored, as are, to some extent, magazines). The
less well known side of the UAE includes remote, magnificent desert
dunes on the edge of the Empty Quarter and craggy, awe-inspiring wadis in the north-east bordering Oman.
Alcohol is widely available at many restaurants and bars in Dubai
and in the tourist hotels of every other emirate save Sharjah. There is
a legal but roundly overlooked requirement to have a license to buy
alcohol. The alcohol license is proof that the bearer is a non-Muslim. A
passport will not suffice. However, you can purchase alcohol duty-free
at the airport to bring into the UAE. Sharjah emirate is completely dry.
An alcohol license is required in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and
Ajman; the remaining emirates of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm al
Quwain do not require any type of license. The requirement is sometimes
overlooked at certain stores.
The roads and other public facilities are modern if, at times,
extremely crowded. Supermarkets offer a vast assortment of products from
Europe and the U.S., depending on the shop, along with local and
regional items. Major international chains such as Ikea and Carrefour
have a presence and fast-food chains (nearly all from the U.S.) such as
McDonald's and KFC operate widely. On the other hand, there are still a
few crowded traditional souks filled with products from around
the world, rug stores. These can be hard to find for the average
traveler, as the malls tend to gain an overwhelming amount of attention.
(Please note that contrary to what is printed in guidebooks, the souks
in Abu Dhabi were torn down in 2006 and no longer exist. The souks in
Dubai are still wonderful to explore, though).
Culture
Politics
The
United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven different emirates, each
with its own king (or Sheikh). The capitol emirate, Abu Dhabi, covers
about 70% of the nation's land. Each emirate retains considerable
autonomy, most notably over oil revenues. In theory, the President and
Prime Minister are elected by the Supreme Council, which is composed of
the kings of each of the seven emirates. However, in practice, the king
of Abu Dhabi is always elected President while the king of Dubai is
always elected Prime Minister, making the posts de facto
hereditary. As a result the rulers--or Sheikhs--of each emirate are
revered and can radically affect the way of life in his respective
Emirate. For example, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum of Dubai is
very modern, so Dubai is forward-thinking and cosmopolitan. The ruling
sheikhs of Ajman and Sharjah are more conservative, thus the rules there
are more strict concerning religion, alcohol, and general living
conditions.
Climate
The
country is extraordinarily dry, getting only a few days of rain a year.
Despite that, Emiratis use water at an alarming rate: there are broad
swaths of grass in the major public parks, for example, and landscaping
can be extensive in the resorts or other public places. The majority of
this water comes from desalinisation. Visitors do not pay for their
water use. The weather from late October through mid-March is quite
pleasant, with high temperatures ranging from around 27 °C (85 °F) to
lows around 15°C (63 °F). It is almost always sunny. Rain can happen
between November and February, and can cause road hazards when it does.
In the summer, the temperatures soar and humidity is close to unbearable
— it is widely suspected that the officially reported temperatures are
"tweaked" to cut off the true summer highs, which can reach 50 °C (122
°F), or even higher!
People
The
population is incredibly diverse. Only some 20% of the population of the
Emirates are 'real' Emiratis; Most the rest come from the Indian
Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh (some 50%); other parts of
Asia, particularly the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka (another
perhaps 15%); and "Western" countries (Europe, Australia, North America,
South Africa; 5-6%), with the remainder from everywhere else. On any
given day in, say, Dubai or Sharjah, you can see people from every
continent and every social class. With this diversity, one of the few
unifying factors is language, and consequently nearly everyone speaks
some version of English. Nearly all road or other information signs are
in English and Arabic, and English is widely spoken, particularly in the
hospitality industry. On the other hand, there are elements that would
be unsettling for overseas travelers, such as fully veiled women, but as
this is "their way", tourists should show respect and will be offered
the same in turn.
Holidays
Ramadan dates
Ramadan ends with the Eid ul-Fitr festival extendign over several days. |
The weekend in the the U.A.E. for most government and public services as well as businesses runs from Friday to Saturday; for many, Thursday may be a half day (although most often work all day Saturdays). In nearly every city, commercial activity will be muted on Friday mornings, but after the noon services at the mosques most businesses open and Friday evenings can be crowded.
The major exception is during the fasting month of Ramadan,
when the rhythm of life changes drastically. Restaurants (outside
tourist hotels) stay closed during the daylight hours, and while most
offices and shops open in the morning from 8AM to 2PM or so, they
usually close in the afternoon while people wait (or sleep) out the last
hours of the fast. After sundown, people gather to break their fast
with a meal known as iftar, often held in outdoor tents (not
uncommonly air-conditioned in the UAE!), which traditionally starts with
dates and a sweet drink. Some offices reopen after 8PM or so and stay
open well after midnight, as many people stay up late until the morning
hours. Just before sunrise, a meal called sohoor is eaten, and then the cycle repeats again.
Regions
The seven emirates (imarat, singular - imarah) that make up the UAE are:
Map of the United Arab Emirates
Cities
- Abu Dhabi - The capital of the UAE
- Ajman - The smallest emirate, One of the budget destinations.
- Al Ain - Inland and close to the Omani bordertown of Buraimi, Al Ain comprises a triangle between the proper cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
- Dubai - The most common entry point for travelers, it is the transport and commerce center of the UAE.
- Fujairah
- Hatta
- Khor Fakkan
- Sharjah - A cheaper destination, dusty and chaotic in places but with its own unique charm.
- Umm al Quwain - The most peaceful Emirate of UAE, free from the hussle and bussle of city-life.
Other destinations
- Liwa Oasis - a cluster of villages around oases on the edge of the Empty Quarter.
Get in
 |
Visa Restrictions: Entry will be refused to citizens of Israel. |
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations do not require a visa, may enter using a National ID card, and may stay, work and travel in the Emirates indefinitely.
Citizens of the European Union (except Ireland and the United Kingdom), Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Seychelles, Switzerland and Vatican City do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.
Citizens of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom and the United States,
in addition to persons holding British National (Overseas) passports
may obtain a free visa on arrival valid for 30 days. Extension is
possible for a fee.
Several other countries are eligible for free hotel/tour-sponsored tourism visas. See UAE Interact [2] for the latest details.
All other nationalities will be required to apply for a visa in
advance, which will require a sponsor from inside the UAE. Your travel
agent will usually be able or arrange this for you if you book your
hotel through them.
The UAE and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, and as such
Israeli passports will not be recognised at the border. Holders of
Israeli passport need to make advance arrangements for an entry permit.
If you are travelling for business with a UAE company, they would
normally be able to organise it fairly quickly; chances of getting one
for tourism purposes are very small (unless you are a high net worth
individual; your specialist travel agent should be able to advise on it
in such case). However, despite much online misinformation to the
contrary, Israeli visa stamps are — by official policy [3] — not a problem at all, and neither is having been born in Israel or Palestine.
If you are travelling from India (not sure of procedure from
other countries), please get a stamp of 'OK to Board'. Most of the
times, it is arranged by your travel agent. In case he hasn't then as
soon as you get your Visa; take your Visa, Passport and Ticket to your
Airlines office and get the stamp of 'OK to board'. Without this you
might not be allowed to travel to UAE.
Customs regulations
Each non-muslim adult can bring in four items of alcohol , eg four bottles of wine, or four bottles of spirits, or four cases of beer (regardless of alcohol content).
The UAE takes an infamously strict line on medicines, with many common drugs, notably anything with containing codeine, diazepam (Valium) or dextromethorphan (Robitussin) being banned unless you have a notarized and authenticated
doctor's prescription. Visitors breaking the rules, even
inadvertently, have found themselves deported or jailed. The US Embassy
to the UAE maintains an unofficial list [4]
of what may not be imported.
However, as many people have noticed even when having all the correct
documentations in both English and Arabic have not been enough to be
able to bring in some medication and have resulted in both refusal of
entry into the UAE and in some cases fines or jail time. It is advised
not bring any kind of medication with you if you can manage without
them.
Don't even think about bringing in narcotics: possession of even
trace amounts leads to a minimum of four years in prison. Using Khat/qat
(a flowering plant that contains an alkaloid called cathinone) which is
popular in other nearby countries (notably Yemen) is also illegal, with life prison sentences possible.
By plane
Dubai airport
The main hub for air transport in the United Arab Emirates is Dubai airport, which is served by several major airlines, most notably Dubai-based Emirates [5]. Direct flights connect Dubai to Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town , London, Sydney, Melbourne, Karachi, Tehran, Riyadh, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hong Kong, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, Houston, Milan, Madrid, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, São Paulo and many other major cities in Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and Africa.
After Dubai, the airport at Abu Dhabi has the next best international connections. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways [6] now offers direct flights from New York, Toronto and many other airports in Europe and Asia.
Other major airlines serving Abu Dhabi include British Airways [7] from London-Heathrow, KLM [8] from Amsterdam, Lufthansa [9] from Frankfurt and Singapore Airlines [10] from Singapore and Jeddah.
For low-cost flights, Air Arabia [11] has set up a hub at Sharjah airport (which is very close to Dubai), and flies there from many cities in the Middle East and India.
By car
There is
road access to the United Arab Emirates from Saudi Arabia in the south
and Oman in the east. All highways in the UAE are in excellent
condition, but there is a huge amount of traffic between Sharjah and
Dubai, as well as a 4 AED charge to cross the Salik toll gate. A prepaid
Salik Tag is required for this.
By boat
There is a large network of dhows which transport goods throughout the Gulf and India.
It may be possible to buy passage on one of these boats. They call at
all coastal cities in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Get around
Distances
in the UAE are relatively short. The roads are generally in excellent
condition; however, signage is poor in some of the emirates.
By public transport
Public
transportation within most cities remains rudimentary. Dubai is
building extensive Metro, monorail and tram networks, and has invested
heavily in the local bus network in recent years. The other emirates
offer very little public transportation. Abu Dhabi has a network of city
buses that cost Dh2 per trip and are fairly reliable, but can be
overcrowded for male passengers. Intercity bus services are fast,
comfortable and reasonably frequent.
In the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, taxis are widely
available. They are relatively cheap in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. A ride to
anywhere within the city of Abu Dhabi will cost approximately US$10, as
they charge solely by distance traveled. A night surcharge of US$3 may
be added after 10PM, depending on your driver.
By car
The legal driving age in the United Arab Emirates is 18.
The UAE has a modern road system. Renting a car or driving in the
UAE requires an international driver's license, which is simply a
translation of your standard license and can be acquired at a local
automobile association. If you have UAE residency status, you must
obtain a local driver's license. This can be a simple process that must
be completed and can be done in 20 min but only if you are from a
specific list of countries (predominantly Western). If you are from an
Asian country, you currently have to undergo 40 classes at a local
driving school and get through a pretty tough license exam. This is
changing, though, and it may apply to all nationalities soon.
Car rentals are slightly cheaper than in the US. There is a flat
fee per day for renting a car, based upon the car's size. Petrol
(gasoline) is, by US and European standards, inexpensive. The road
system is based along European standards, with many roundabouts and
highly channeled traffic. But the signs are readily understandable and
are, in most places, clear and coherent. Drivers in the UAE,
particularly in the urban areas, tend to be highly aggressive and often
use tactics that range from the stupid to the disastrous. This may
perhaps stem from the traffic, which can be extremely congested in the
urban areas, or from other factors.
People in the UAE drive extremely fast, and some are
completely reckless: overtaking by the right is the rule, speed limits
are ignored by many, even heavy trucks. Last-second lane change seems to
be a national sport. The UAE has one of highest death-rates in the
world.
Be especially careful when you spot a tinted-window SUV at night:
the black windows make the driver not see you and change lanes.
Theoretically forbidden, tinting windows is widespread among young Arabs
and is generally associated with poor driving skills and fast driving.
There are now some good local city maps, particularly for Dubai (the Explorer
series of books). Be aware that construction is on-going, sometimes
rapidly changing the road networks, so maps capture only a "point in
time." Sharjah remains poorly mapped. A website [12]
offered the first decent online maps of the UAE. Google Earth does
offer solid satellite pictures but at a level of detail good mainly for
broad reference purposes. The lack of good maps or signage makes the use
of a compass or GPS sometimes useful if you want to get off the
highway.
Desert safaris or "wadi bashing" are good attractions in the
vicinity of Dubai, but great care needs to be taken while choosing a
hired vehicle; it should be a four wheel drive. Desert safaris are also
generally pre-designed with travel agents and can give you good deal as
well on quantity.
Talk
The official language is Arabic, but it is safe to say that the majority of the population doesn't speak it.
This is especially true in Dubai, where Iranian, Indian, Asian and
Western expatriates - who usually have very limited knowledge of Arabic -
are more numerous than Arabs. Generally speaking, Arabic is spoken by
government departments and the police; however, in Abu Dhabi and in the
Northern Emirates, Arabic is much more widely spoken.
English is the lingua franca; most shops, hotels and
commercial businesses conduct their business in English. As the UAE was a
British protectorate, most Emiratis have learnt English in school and
know at least basic English. Most people possess at least a basic
command of English, though it is not uncommon to meet people whose
English is limited.
Due to immigration from the Indian subcontinent, Hindi and Urdu
are widely spoken and understood. Other languages widely spoken in the
UAE include Malayalam, Tamil, Farsi (Persian), and Tagalog (Filipino).
See
Fossils in a cliff face in the UAE.
- Some of the largest sand dunes in the world in the south of Abu Dhabi in the Liwa Oasis area.
- Beautiful beaches on the east coast.
- Rugged, remote wadis in the northern emirates.
- Archeological sites and natural rock formations in the Hajar Mountains.
- Resplendent oases in Al Ain.
Although at first glance the outdoors may seem dull and
uninteresting, and even dangerous due to the desert conditions, there
are actually amazing natural destinations in the UAE - the difficulty is
in knowing where to find them! There are pristine waterfalls, cliffs
lined with fossils, even freshwater lakes - Weekenduae
is a blog that freely shares ideas, routes and plans for weekend
adventures in the UAE (and Oman) with all trip details including
description, GPS track, interactive map, and photos.
Do
The turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi
One of the main focuses of tourist life (other than shopping) is the beach.
The waters of the UAE, although definitely more cloudy in recent years
due to heavy coastal construction, are still, for those from less torrid
climes, remarkably warm, clean, and beautiful. There are long stretches
of white-sand beaches, ranging from completely undeveloped to highly
touristed (even in cities like Dubai). The snorkeling and diving can be
magnificent, especially along the eastern (Indian Ocean) coast. Vast
swaths of desert stretch to the south of the major urban areas, offering
dramatic views and terrifying rides in fast-driven safaris. The
mountains are dramatic, steep rocky crags, and a visit to them (for
example, the town of Hatta) is well rewarded with amazing views. Women
wearing bathing suits will draw unwanted attention at the public
beaches; it is advisable to pay for a one-day entry pass to a private
beach at a hotel.
Ski Dubai in Dubai Emirates Mall opened in December 2005. It is
the world's third largest indoor ski slope, measuring 400 metres and
using 6000 tons of snow. Ski Dubai resort [13]
is the first UAE indoor ski slope to open, and more are planned. All
equipment, except for gloves and a hat, are provided--skis/snowboards,
snowsuits, boots and socks are all included in the price (the socks are
disposable). The adjoining ski store sells equipment, including gloves.
The Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open an indoor ski
slope as well in 2007 - 2008. A ski slope in Ra's al Khaimah is also in
the works.
'Desert Safari' trips can be a fun experience for tourists. They
can be booked ahead, but can often be booked as late as the day before,
and most hotel receptionists can arrange this for you. Trips normally
start late afternoon and end late evening. You will be collected from
your hotel and driven to the desert in a 4x4 vehicle. Most packages
include a heart-pumping drive over the dunes, a short camel ride, an
Arabic buffet and perhaps a belly dancer. Another option would be
renting/buying a 4x4 and joining the many growing 4x4 clubs in the UAE,
which are varied and each carry their own different flavour: ad4x4 [14], uaeoffroaders [15], arabianoffroader [16], me4x4 [17], emarat4x4 [18],
etc. They offer a free learning experience for all newcomers with
scheduled weekly trips to suit all levels of driving skills, some of
them have over 2,000 members from many nationalities.
Buy
The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED, local abbreviation dhs).
Conversion rates are 3.67 AED for 1 USD, 4.89 AED for 1 EUR and 5.68
AED for 1 GBP. The Dirham is pegged to the USD, so rate variations with
this currency are unlikely.
Notes are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000
dirhams. There is a one dirham coin with sub-units of 25 and 50 fils
coins (100 fils = 1 dirham). There are 5 fils and 10 fils coins but
these are rarely seen (and provide an excuse for traders to 'short
change').
Cash and travellers' cheques can be changed at exchanges located
at the airports or in all the major shopping malls. ATMs are numerous
and generously distributed. They accept all the major chain cards:
Visa, Cirrus, Maestro etc. Credit cards are widely accepted.
If you pay with an overseas credit card, most merchants will attempt to apply dynamic currency conversion,
charging several percent more than the issuer conversion would have
cost. The credit card terminal will offer the choice of whether the
conversion should be accepted. The merchant will not ask you
about this, and will choose to accept the conversion. If you pay
attention, you can intervene and ask for "No" to be answered. If you ask
upfront, some merchants will have no idea what you mean, but many will.
Costs
Basic
commodities used to be cheaper than in most western countries, although
this is changing rapidly (Dubai has moved up the ranking to be the 25th
most expensive city to live in; Abu Dhabi is close behind). Hotels rates
are not cheap--there is a shortage of hotel rooms available, especially
in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which keeps the hotels often at above 90%
occupancy. Vast numbers of new hotels are scheduled to come on line
during the next five to ten years, but as tourism is on the rise, it is
unlikely that prices will come down. All things touristy also tend to be
rather expensive. Rents in Dubai are starting to compete with cities
like Paris or London, and other prices tend to follow. Some places have
shared accommodations available and are quite reasonable.
Shopping
One
of the things the UAE is most famous for is shopping. There are no sales
taxes in the UAE, but it is very difficult to find any real bargains
anymore as inflation is at an all-time high. If you are interested in
shopping, you can't leave the UAE without visiting Dubai. Dubai boasts
the best places for shopping in the whole of the Middle East, especially
during the annual shopping festival, usually in January till the
beginning of February.
Eat
A fancy Arabic mixed grill. Clockwise from top: lamb kofta, chicken shish tawuk, beef shish kebab, pilaf (Arabic rice), vegetables.
Dubai and, to a lesser extent, Abu Dhabi
offer a vast spread of food from most of the world's major cuisines.
By Western standards most restaurants are quite affordable although it
is easy to find extremely expensive food too. Most upper-end restaurants
are located in hotels.
Due to the large expat populations, Indian and Pakistani
restaurants abound, offering affordable and succulent choices. Also
popular are Lebanese, Syrian and Jordanian cuisine restaurants.
A popular favorite is grilled chicken, available at most of the
open-air cafeterias by the roadside which can be relished with other
accompaniments like Khubz (Arabic Bread), hummus, etc., and the most
popular rice dish is Biriyani, with grilled chicken or fish or lamb.
Traditional Shawarma and falafel sandwiches are readily available and
are quite cheap and delicious.
Very few traditional Emirati dishes are served at restaurants;
and the closest is the Mendi-style cuisine of Yemen, in which platters
of fragrant rice are topped with lamb, chicken or fish that has been
slow-roasted in a pit.
Drink
The legal drinking/purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 21.
Dubai has a burgeoning nightlife scene and even formerly
straitlaced Abu Dhabi has loosened up and tried to catch up. Alcohol is
available in alcohol stores, 5-star hotel restaurants and bars in all
emirates except Sharjah, where you can only drink in your home or in an
expat hangout called the Sharjah Wanderers. As a tourist, you are
permitted to buy alcohol in bars and restaurants to drink there. If you
are a resident, you're supposed to have a alcohol license (never asked
for in bars) which also allows you to buy alcohol at alcohol stores
(they do check).
During Ramadan, no alcohol is served during daylight (fasting)
hours. Dubai and Abu Dhabi permit bars to serve alcohol at night, but
bands stop playing, background music is off or quiet, no dancing is
allowed and nightclubs are usually closed. On certain holy days in the
Islamic calendar, no alcohol is served publicly in any of the UAE.
Do not under any circumstance drink and drive in the UAE.
If by chance you are in an accident, this becomes a card for going
directly to jail — especially during Ramadan. Taxis are widely available
if you have been drinking and are a much safer and wiser option given
the insane driving habits in the region.
Sleep
For the
visitor, the UAE has one of the most spectacular ranges of tourist
accommodations in the world. There are staggeringly beautiful, modern
hotels, which can be staggeringly expensive, along with more modest
housing. Low-cost accommodations are available but, as anywhere, vary
alarmingly as to their condition.
There is an impressive number of super-luxury hotels, most
notably the sail-shaped Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs), a Dubai
landmark popularly known as a "7-star hotel" — a nonexistent category,
but still opulent by any standard. The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi
also aspires to the same standards, at a fraction of the price.
Work
Much of the
work force in the UAE are foreign expatriates - hence the country's
population makeup being so diverse, with Emirati citizens being a
minority in their own country. All Emirati citizens receive profit
sharing cheques from the government, and mostly do not work. Migrant
workers from the Indian Subcontinent and the Philippines are mostly
employed in the service and construction industries for low wages. Many
mid-level jobs are filled by Arabs from other countries, and many
high-skilled and management positions are worked by Westerners who
typically enjoy a very good standard of living. If you're interested in
working in the UAE there are opportunities in oil and gas, banking,
engineering and education. The public school system in Abu Dhabi is
hiring a large numbers of English-language teachers from Western
countries. These teaching jobs in the UAE are accessible through official recruiters of the Abu Dhabi Education Council.
Be Aware: The U.A.E.'s legal system is known to be flawed
for foreigners moving and working there. Many expats from various
countries have had their passports taken away from them for crimes that
they weren't involved in. And the legal system will keep them there for
many years or for the rest of their life.
Respect
Emiratis
are a proud but welcoming people and, when not in their cars, are
generally extremely civil and friendly. Like most peoples of the world,
they welcome visitors who are willing to show some amount of respect and
can be extremely generous. (Some expats and visitors do not understand
that revealing clothing can be quite offensive to some people, even if
nothing is said to the offenders.) Their culture is unique and can be
highly conservative, but overall they are quite attuned to the ways,
customs, events, media, and manners of the world.
Local men usually wear a "Kandoura" (more commonly known as a dish-dash),
a long robe (typically white), and ghutra, a red-checked or white
headdress. Local women wear a black robe-like garment (abaya) and a
black head scarf (shayla).
The UAE is more conservative than most Western societies, though
not as much as some of its neighbors. Travelers should be aware and
respect the more traditional outlook in the UAE, as there are behaviors
typical in the West (for example, making "rude and insulting gestures")
that will result in arrest in the UAE. On the other hand, Western
travelers will find most of the UAE quite comfortable.
Although women are not legally required to wear the hijab,
revealing fashions such as tank tops and shorts should be avoided.
Below-the-knee skirts are somewhat more acceptable, although you will
still incur stares. However, there are quite a few tourist or
expatriate-dominated zones where even "provocative" dress may be seen,
although not necessary respected. These include many areas of the
Emirate of Dubai and, for example, beach resorts in Ajman or Fujairah.
Public nudity anywhere is strictly forbidden and will be punished.
Sharjah is the most conservative of the Emirates with public decency
statutes (i.e., forbidding overly revealing clothing or certain kinds of
beach wear), but few of them are enforced (although that varies).
Stay safe
The crime rate is extremely low in the United Arab Emirates, although of course one must use common sense.
There are a couple of things you should be aware of are to do
with drug laws in the UAE. Some common painkillers in western countries
are illegal narcotics in the UAE like codeine. Don't bring any with you
unless you carry a copy of your prescription or you may join others who
have received jail sentences. In contrast, antibiotics are freely
available over the counter at pharmacies. If you receive a prescription
for controlled drugs in the UAE, such as some painkillers and
antidepressants, be sure to keep the copy of the prescription with you
when traveling out of the country.
Another trap for the unwary is that if you are suspected of being
under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a blood test can be taken, and
if it shows evidence of substances that are illegal in the UAE, then
you will probably end up in jail even if the substances were ingested in
the country that you were previously in. In addition to testing your
blood, they will likely check your belongings. People have been jailed
for possession for finding microscopic specks of drugs on them with
highly sensitive equipment.
Another cause for concern is the very high rate of automobile
accidents: besides due care while driving a vehicle, crossing the road
on foot can be quite dangerous as well.
LGBT Visitors
|
WARNING: LGBT activities are illegal in the UAE. Enforcement of this law is somewhat lax in the private sphere but very strict in public and punishment may include a prison sentence, fines, whippings and death. |
Stay healthy
General
medical care in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah is quite good, with
clinics for general and specialized care widely available, including
some which are now open 24 h. Hospitals in the major centers are
well-equipped to deal with any medical emergencies. There is an
ambulance system in all major population centres; however, coverage can
be patchy in the more remote areas. Ambulances are designed for
transportation rather than providing care as first responders, so don't
expect top-flight on-site care.
The main government hospital in Abu Dhabi is one of the best in
the Middle East; as is the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, now managed by
Cleveland Clinic.
In Dubai, the government hospitals are Rashid hospital, which has
a new Trauma Centre and Dubai Hospital which are very good. Welcare
Hospital American Hospital Zulekha Hospital NMC Hospital, and Belhoul
Hospital in the private sector all have a good reputation. In Sharjah,
the Kuwaiti (Goverrnment) Hospital accepts expatriates. The private
hospitals in Sharjah are the Zahra hospital, Zulekha Hospital and
Central Private Hospital. Prices including healthcare are generally
cheaper in Sharjah and although all hospitals meet the Ministry of
Health standards the Central Private Hospital and Zulekha Hospitals are
considered more affordable.
Al Ain is served by a number of modern hospitals and care
centers: Tawam Hospital, now managed by Johns Hopkins, and host to the
UAE University Faculty of Medicine and Health Science; Al Ain Hospital
(also called Al Jimi Hospital as it is in the district of Al Jimi), now
managed by the Vienna Medical University; and the private Oasis
Hospital, previously known as Kennedy Hospital, which was founded and
run by Christian missionaries, and which was the first hospital in the
city.
The country is free of malaria and prophylaxis is not needed.
The water is safe to drink in the UAE, although most people
prefer bottled water for its taste. The food is clean and in most
restaurants is served to Western standards, particularly in tourist
areas; however, hygeine can be an issue in some establishments outside,
particularly roadside stalls. That said, food poisoning does happen, so
use your common sense!
The heat in summer can reach 50°C (122°F), so avoid outdoors
activity at the height of the day and watch out for signs of heat
stroke. Be sure to drink lots of water as dehydration happens easily in
such heat. If travelling off road (most of the country is desert),
ensure you carry sufficient water to allow you to walk to the road
should vehicles become bogged.
Although the UAE is somewhat more accommodating to handicapped
travellers than other countries in the Mideast, it would nonetheless be a
difficult country to navigate in a wheelchair. Curbs are high and there
are few, if any, ramps or other accommodations.
Contact
By phone
The country code is 971. The mobile phone network uses the GSM technology (as in Europe and Africa)
and use is widespread. There are internet cafes in the major towns. The
format for dialing is: +971-#-### ####, where the first "#" designates
the area code. Key area codes include Dubai (4), Sharjah (6) and Abu
Dhabi (2). Calls to mobile phones use the operator's area codes: (50/56)
for Etisalat and (55/52) for Du. Like other countries, when dialing
locally, "00" is used to access an international number (and followed by
the country code) and "0" is used to access a national number (followed
by the area code).
By internet
Internet
cafés are fairly common in the larger cities, and web censorship is at
times odd but rarely obtrusive. Users should be well aware of the fact
that any website that contains the Israeli domain .il is blocked. Not
much information is known of how to bypass this blocking for people who
need to visit Israeli websites. Instant messaging and voice-over-IP
services like Skype sometimes work. The government owned
telecommunications operator blocks access to these services to varying
degrees. The blocking does not always stop calls and may vary depending
on the network used. It also appears to be able to block Skypeout calls
whilst allowing Skype-Skype calls. Even if the services are not blocked,
connection speed can be an issue.
Most people use a VPN Service to bypass local.
Source from:http://wikitravel.org/en/United_Arab_Emirates
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