-ENTRY

Visas
 Most visitors to the UAE need an entry visa. This is best obtained through a sponsor within the UAE such as the hotel where you will be staying or a business contact. British passport holders with the right of abode in Britain may obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival  . Transit visas are valid for 14 days, visit visas for 30 days but can be renewed for up to a total of 100 days. Citizens of GCC may enter without a visa . Persons traveling on an Israeli passport or who  have Israeli stamped passport will be denied entry . The fine for staying on a late visa is Dh.100 per day with no waiver.
 

Duty Free Allowances
Visitors are allowed 2000 cigarettes or 400 cigars or 2 Kg. of tobacco and reasonable quantity of perfume. Non muslims adults are allowed 2 liters of spirits or 2 liters of wine . Award winning duty free shops are located in both, the Abu Dhabi & Dubai airports.
 

Customs
 there is no restriction on the amount of currency that can be brought into the UAE and no customs duty on personal effects.                                                                                                   Top of the page
 
 

-Airports and Ports
Airports
      There are seven international airports in UAE and they are:
  Abu Dhabi International Airport                                       Telephone: 02- 757500
  Al Ain International Airport                                              Telephone: 03- 855555
  Dubai International Airport                                               Telephone: 04- 245555
  Sharjah International Airport                                             Telephone: 06- 581111
  Ras Al Khaimah International Airport                                 Telephone: 07- 448111
  Fujairah International Airport                                             Telephone: 09- 226222

Ports
Port Zayed, Abu Dhabi                                                        Telephone: 02- 730600
Port Rashid, Dubai                                                              Telephone: 04- 451545
Jebel Ali Port, Dubai                                                            Telephone: 04- 815000
Port Khaled, Sharjah                                                            Telephone: 06- 281666
Port Saqr, Ras Al Khaimah                                                   Telephone: 07- 333613
Port Fujairah, Fujairah                                                          Telephone: 09- 228800
Port Umm Al Quwain                                                           Telephone: 06- 655882
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-GETTING AROUND

Car Rentals
 There are car rental offices in each of the emirates offering all makes and sizes of cars. cars can be either be rented alone or complete with driver. Rates vary but are around Dh. 120 a day for small cars, and up to Dh. 1000 a day for a chauffeur driven limousine  You will need to provide a copy of your passport and driver's license if payment is by credit card.

Driving Licenses
 Individuals from the following countries do not need an international license: EEC countries, Canada, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Turkey and USA.

Helicopter Hire
 Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft can be hired in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. You Need a license from the authorities to access the airport and must submit a flight plan. rates range from US$ 1200 to US$ 6000 per hour.

Taxis
   Taxis from a common means of getting around town. Abu Dhabi and Dubai now have a plenty of metered taxis that can be hired for Dh. 5-20. There are many unmetered taxis as well, so it is best to agree upon the fare in advance. For long distance journeys, it is common to share taxis.
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-UTILITIES

Electricity
   The electricity supply os 220/240 volts at 50 cycles. Visitors from Europe can use their appliances, although outlet adapters may be necessary. Appliances from the USA will need transformers.

Water
  Water comes from desalinization plants and is safe to drink. Many people still prefer to drink bottled  water which is readily available in shops and restaurants.

Telephone
   Telephone service is excellent throughout the UAE. Calls within cities are free. There is a small charge for calls within the rest of the country. Pay phones are operated with a phone a phone card that is issued by the telecommunications company in various amounts and is then used as a debit card. These are generally available at a variety of outlets in the town. Major hotels have fax and telex services and can arrange for modem access if necessary.

Television
  There are nine television stations in the UAE. Some broadcast in Arabic, some in English, and some have special programs in Urdu, Hindi, and French. Several additional stations are available via satellite and cable.

Radio
  Stations broadcasting in Arabic and English transmit 24 hours a day.

Shopping- Business Hours
   Shops are generally open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, and from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday through Thursday. Many shops in the malls remain open all day which offers, for shopping without crowds. On Friday, the Islamic holiday, shops do not generally open until 2:00 pm or later.

Bargaining
  Part of the tradition of shopping in the UAE is bargaining over the price. In other shop except for truly fixed price stores, a bit of negotiating will bring a reduction in price. If you have to ask the price of something, it means the price is not fixed.

Credit Cards
  Most hotels and finer restaurants accept credit cards such as American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Diner Club. Some larger shops do as well.                                                                   Top of the page

-HEALTH MATTERS

Immunization
  No health certificate or special immunizations are required when traveling to the UAE unless you have been in cholera or Yellow Fever affected area 14 days prior to visiting. It is wise to check with your travel agent before traveling however, should the situation change.

Coping with the Heat
  For eight month of the year the Emirates is hot and along the coast, very humid.  It is important that the visitors take precautions not to over exert. All hotels and restaurants are air conditioned as are most shops but outside, it's still hot. Try to limit going in and out of the air conditioning and be sure to drink plenty of fluids when outside for a long time.

Clothing
  Local dress for both men and women loosely covers the head, arms and legs. Fabrics are lightweight and of natural fibers. The same might be advised for the visitors within the limits of their native style. Summer clothing is suitable all year around with sweaters or light jackets being needed at night in the winter months.

Medical Care
  Even the smallest emirate is now equipped with a modern hospital so there is no need to worry about the availability of health care. Most major cities have several hospitals and an abundance of private clinics, should you be in need.                                                                                     Top of the page
 
 

-Embassies and Diplomatic Missions
 

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