Visa

The additional information about visa you can find here

Taking Medication to Dubai

For a full list of restricted and controlled medicines in Dubai visit the Government of the United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Health website

Banks and ATMS

Many international banks are represented by branches in Dubai and provide a range of standard banking services. Most banks operate a six-day week and are open from 8am to 1pm, Saturday to Thursday, and closed on Fridays. Exchange houses are open from 8:30am to 1pm and 4:30pm to 8:30pm.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all generally accepted in hotels and shopping malls and can be used at most ATM machines.

Driving

Driving in the United Arab Emirates is on the right hand side. Wearing a seat belt is mandatory and the use of mobile phones while driving is forbidden.

Dress Code

Care should be taken all year round so as not to give offence by wearing clothing that may be considered inappropriate or revealing. Visitors are required to wear clothes that adequately cover the body. It is not advisable for men to remove their shirts in public places as this can cause offence.

Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport is widely recognised as a duty-free industry trendsetter. Its 17,500 square metres of retail space offer an incredible 35,000 product lines. Dubai Duty Free’s most innovative marketing campaigns are the Finest Surprise Luxury Car draw and the Millennium Millionaire draw. Since its launch in 1989, the Finest Surprise Luxury Car draw has enabled more than 1,300 travellers to drive away in the cars of their dreams.

Many people visiting Dubai are keen to take advantage of the emirate’s Duty-Free allowances which permit:
• 400 × cigarettes; 400 × cigars; 500 grams tobacco
• Perfume (a reasonable amount)

In addition, no customs duty is levied upon personal effects entering Dubai. Nor is there any value-added tax on items sold in the emirate, enabling shoppers to pick up the very best bargains.

Restrictions and Local Customs

It is hoped that everyone enjoys their time in Dubai, and as such people are expected to behave responsibly and respect the culture, traditions and local laws of the emirate.

• It is customary for men to shake hands as a form of greeting. However, local women tend not to offer their hands to men, and some local men would prefer not to shake hands with a woman. It is best to wait until a hand is offered when meeting someone for the first time.

• Visitors – particularly men – should avoid staring at local women or attempting to make eye contact. And permission should be sought before any photographs are taken of locals, especially women. Photography of government buildings and any petroleum or military installations is also to be avoided.

• Upon entering a home, it is customary to remove shoes. Visitors should offer to do this. However, showing the soles of feet can be considered rude or offensive; care should be taken when crossing legs to ensure that the soles of feet are not pointing towards anyone.

• Visitors are free to dress according to their personal choice – but it is best to wear conservative items, avoiding wearing revealing clothes in public places or places of worship. Swimwear is appropriate at beaches and swimming pools. Public displays of affection between couples should be avoided as they can be considered offensive.

• As with the vast majority of countries around the world – including the UK – drugs are illegal in Dubai. Dubai has a very clear policy regarding drug trafficking, smuggling and possession, which is one of the reasons why the emirate has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Very clear guidelines are issued to visitors regarding bringing certain medicines into Dubai: to travel with various over-the-counter medicines such as Codeine, it is necessary to carry an accompanying doctor’s note or prescription to authenticate its use. It is advised to take the medicines in their original packaging and an appropriate quantity for the length of stay.

• Dubai features a wide range of world-class dining and entertainment facilities, catering for an international audience, and alcohol consumption is widely accepted within these licensed premises (most hotels, restaurants and sports clubs). As with many destinations around the world, the abuse of alcohol in public spaces is not tolerated and in this respect Dubai is no different. The legal drinking age is 21 and it is an offence for anyone to buy alcohol from an off-license without an alcohol license.

• During the month of Ramadan, whereby Muslims observe a month of fasting, visitors to Dubai should refrain from eating, drinking and smoking in public during fasting hours.

Basic Phrases

Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, though the use and comprehension of English is widespread. That said it is always useful to know a selection of Arabic phrases:

Hello/Welcome                                                                                      MarHuba
Goodbye                                                                                                  Ma’assalaama
Please                                                                                                     Min fadlak (to a man)                                                                                                                   Min fadliki (to a woman)
Thank you                                                                                               Shukran
Yes                                                                                                           Na’am
No                                                                                                             La’
Sorry                                                                                                         Muta’assif
Excuse me                                                                                              Ismahlee
Do you speak English?                                                                        Tatakullum ingleezi?
I don’t speak Arabic                                                                               Ma-atkallam arabi
I don’t understand                                                                                  Ana maa afham
How much is that?                                                                                 Bekam?
Could you please repeat that?                                                            Mumkin min fadhlak a’id Hatha
Could you please speak more slowly?                                             Mumkin min fadhlak takalam shwai shwai
Could you please write it down?                                                         Mumkin min fadhlak iktbHa lee
I want to change money                                                                       Ana areed an asref beezat
I want to buy a stamp                                                                            Ana areed an ashtaree tab’eh bareed
I’d like an adaptor plug                                                                         Ana areed maakhaz tawseel
Where’s the nearest doctor?                                                               Wayn aghrab tabeeb
I have a pain                                                                                           Ana andee alam or ana andee waja’

Local Newspapers & Magazines

Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The Gulf Today, Emirates Today, The Emirates Post, 7Days and Emirates Business 24/7 are the daily English-language newspapers, while Arabic newspapers include Al-Bayan, Al-Ittihad, Al-Khaleej and Al-Emarat Al-Youm. International newspapers and magazines, especially British and Asian, are readily available in hotel bookshops and in most large supermarkets.

Post Offices

Post offices are generally open between 8am and 2pm in Dubai although a number, including the Dubai Central Post Office, are open from 8am until 8pm. 24 hour postal services are also available at the Dubai Airport Post Office and at the following Emarat Petrol Stations in Dubai – Safa Park, Al Garhoud, Al Wasl Road and Al Diyafah Street. You can purchase stamps, mail letters and parcels at these stations.

On public holidays and Fridays, most post offices in Dubai are closed.

Currency Converter

The monetary unit is the dirham (Dhs/AED) which is divided into 100 fils. The dirham is linked to the Special Drawing Right of the International Monetary Fund and has been held constant against the US dollar since the end of the 1980s at a mid-rate of approximately US$1 = Dhs3.679