Capital

The capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is Abu Dhabi.

Visa

No advance visa arrangements are required to visit the UAE. Upon arrival at the Dubai International Airport, you will be directed to the Immigration desk, where your passport will be stamped with a 30-day visit visa free of charge. This can be extended for an additional 30 days at an additional charge.

Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure date from the UAE.

Weather

Weather in the UAE can vary depending on your location. The climate is sub-tropical with hot summers and warm winters. It is warmest in July and August with temperatures climbing to upwards of 45^oC; this can be an uncomfortable time for tourists unaccustomed to warm, humid weather. The Al Hajar Mountains in eastern UAE are significantly cooler and sometimes even see snow in the winter months!

Average annual rainfall in the coastal areas is 120 mm. This precipitation occurs during the summer months in short torrential storms which can results in floods. This region is also susceptible to the occasional dust storm, which can reduce visibility.

Average daily temperatures in Celsius:

Health

There are no mandatory vaccinations for travelers to the UAE. However, as this document is not updated regularly, please check with your local travel clinic for the updated list of required vaccinations. We strongly recommend contacting your travel clinic at least 2 months before your departure.

The Canadian Center for Disease Control and Prevention tracks and maintains vaccine and other health information for travelers on their website: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/united-arab-emirates

Money

The currency of the UAE is Dirham (AED) and consists of bills and coins. There are ATMs all over the country, and most major credit cards are accepted. Some larger outlets, such as hotels or malls, may also accept debit cards, but this should not be relied upon as a primary payment option.

You should inform your bank that you will be travelling out of the country so they may activate your cards internationally. For security reasons, banks and credit card companies have been known to block cards when clients are withdrawing cash overseas, thinking them to be fraudulent transactions. We strongly recommend bringing cash along with your cards.

Applicable taxes vary between the emirates, and can range from 5 to 20%.

Electricity

Electricity in the UAE is 220/240 V. This will not typically correspond to North American appliances, so a European-style adaptor/converter is required.

Communications

1. Email and Internet

Internet in the UAE is widely available in hotels, wireless cafes and shopping centers. Websites are censored but it is rarely obtrusive. It should be noted that certain sites and domains are blocked. Instant messaging and voice-over-IP services like Skype sometimes work. The government-owned telecommunications operator blocks access to these services to varying degrees and does not always stop calls. It also appears to be able to block outgoing Skype-to-phone calls while allowing Skype-to-Skype calls.

2. Telephone

International calls are usually expensive. Many hotels offer this service for an additional charge. Public pay phones are the least expensive option, though not always efficient for international calls. There is good mobile coverage and roaming service available. Please check with your cell phone service provider regarding roaming and rates. Some cell phone providers offer a vacation phone package with a SIM card.

3. Postage

Postage is reliable and a reasonable way to share your journey with family friends. Post offices and mailboxes are available everywhere. Shipping is also available through post offices.

Food & Drinks

The UAE has some of the finest cuisine in the world, and every type of food can be found in major cities. Many of the hotels have 5-star restaurants, many of which have been opened by celebrity chefs like Gary Rhodes, Vineet Bhatia, Marco Pierre White, Nobu Matsuhisa, Yannick Alleno and Pierre Gagnaire.

There are also many traditional, local food options! Since the desert climate made produce scarce in this region, traditional dishes are made of a few simple ingredients. Camel meat, camel milk, dates and fish featured heavily in the original Bedouin diet. Once trade routes opened up, foreign influence shaped the local landscape. Most dishes are now served with rice and bezr, a unique spice blend usually consisting of cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, black peppercorns and chilies. Lamb and chicken are common main dishes. Also, be sure to try the Arabic coffee (or gahwa) which is flavored with cardamom.

Organic food and North American-style fast food options have become more popular and are widely available.

Food is quite safe and widely regulated in major cities. Be cautious about eating raw salads and shawarmas (meat cooked on a spit and served in a pita) in older cafes and restaurants in the old quarter (Deira and Bur Dubai). It is highly recommended that you drink only properly sealed, bottled water during your trip. Tap water in Dubai is considered potable but not recommended but ingestion.

Opening hours

Friday is the day of rest in Muslim countries, and most businesses and organizations are closed, with the exception of large shopping centers. Many office and government buildings shut down for a mid-day break and working hours will vary. It is always advisable to call ahead to ensure your specific location is open for business when you intend to visit.

Offices/Government:    08:00–12:00 and 13:00-15:00       Sunday to Thursday

Banks:                              8:00-13:00           Saturday to Thursday

Stores/shops:                  10:00–22:00        Saturday to Thursday

10:00-24:00         Friday (large shopping centres only)

Shopping

The UAE is famous for its shopping! From the world’s largest mall in Dubai to the smallest marketplace, you will be able to find excellent souvenirs and luxury goods. The most popular items to buy here are gold, spices, perfumes, incense, silk and carpets.

The Dubai Mall holds many designer and brand name stores amongst its 1,200 shops. It also hosts an aquarium, ice rink and underwater zoo for shoppers to take a sight-seeing break.

A trip to the UAE would not be considered complete without shopping at a souk, or marketplace. There are different souks depending on what you are looking to buy; the gold and spice souks are definitely worth a visit! Haggling for the lowest price gives you the opportunity to interact with local people and experience the culture.

Souks and antique shops also stock wonderful traditional goods, like old oriental carpets, exotic wall hangings, elegant Arabic coffeepots made of hand-beaten copper, carved wooden chests, ornamental khanjars (traditional daggers), chunky silver jewelry,, shishas, intricate jewelry boxes, woven camel-hair goods, worry beads, brass and the famous gold marked full of beautiful selection of gold jewelry.

Tipping

It is common to tip in the UAE. Often restaurants and hotels will include a service charge between 10 and 15% on your bill, but this usually is not distributed to those who served you. Ten percent (10%) is an appropriate amount to tip servers and hotel staff, although this is at your discretion. For taxi drivers, it is common to round the fare up to the nearest 5 dirhams.

Supermarket baggers, bag carriers and windscreen washers at petrol stations are generally given 2 dirhams.

Language

Arabic is the official language of the UAE.

In Dubai, Iranian, Indian, Asian and Western expatriates outnumber the Arabs, and many of them have very limited knowledge of Arabic. English is most commonly used, particularly in hotels, shops and commercial businesses. Locals studied English in school and can communicate easily. Generally, Arabic is still used by government departments and the police.

In Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, Arabic is much more widely spoken. Here are some basic Arabic terms to help you reach out to the locals:

Other languages widely spoken in the UAE include Hindu, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Farsi (Persian), and Tagalog (Filipino). Most people possess at least a basic command of English, though it is not uncommon to meet people whose English is limited.

Culture

1. People

Emirati people are diverse in their backgrounds, with ancestors hailing from the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Baluchistan and East Africa. The culture is heavily influenced by Persian traditions, seen in folk art and traditional dancing. As an Islamic country, there are many customs which may differ from North America. Here are some tips for proper etiquette during your trip:

• It is an insult to show the bottom of your foot to another person; it is best to keep both feet on the floor
• When asking about a Muslim person’s family, keep questions general and do not ask specifically about the spouse
• When meeting, men shake hands and women should wait until the man extends his hand (this is because pious Muslim men may not shake hands with women). Some women will not shake the hands or touch men who are not in their families; they might simply put their hand over their hearts to show their sincerity in welcoming the visitor
• Generosity and thoughtfulness are extremely admirable and respected in the Middle East and Arab cultures
• If you are about to eat it is considered polite to offer the food
• Standing up for new guests and especially older, higher-ranking people is important. Typically, elderly people are greeted first. Men also are expected to stand when a woman enters

2. Dress code

Dubai has a fairly relaxed attitude towards clothing, and both genders are largely free to wear what they want. However, beachwear should be limited to hotel beaches, and some mosques have much more strict dress codes for those wishing to visit them. In rural areas, it would behoove women to avoid tight fitting or revealing clothing, mainly for their own comfort but also to avoid offense.

3. Religion

Islam is the official religion in the UAE, although non-Muslim religions are permitted. The majority of the population are Muslims, whose faith is based on five concepts: profession of faith, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage. Muslims pray five times a day, and will often pray in public places or privately in mosques or rooms designated for this purpose.

Other religions practices in this country include Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism

Statutory Holidays 2017

Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of fasting and festivities celebrated by Muslims in the fall. The purpose of Ramadan is to avoid the distraction of worries and tasks of everyday life, and allowing observers to focus more fully on their religion practice; to achieve this Muslims do not eat between sunrise and sunset.

Work schedules are arranged differently during this month and often offices are closed during different parts of the day. Since the majority of the population are fasting during daylight hours, almost all restaurants will be closed at lunchtime.

During Ramadan, families and friends break their fasts together at a huge meal called iftar. If you are invited to attend one of these meals, is a wonderful experience and great introduction to family life in the Middle East.

Ramadan ends with Eid el Fitr, a religious festival and 1-4 day holiday (depending on the workplace).

Airports and hotels are often quite busy at this time, so it is recommended to book in advance.

Essentials

• Passport
• Airline Ticket
• Tour vouchers
• Insurance policy
• Visa
• Label on your travel bags
• Money & Credit cards
• Excitement