The United Arab Emirates, (formerly known as the Trucial States)
is one of the world's youngest governments. A federation was formed
in 1971 which now consists of seven Emirates. It is roughly 55,000
square miles in size and is bordered by Saudi Arabia and the Sultonate
of Oman.
The Emirates initially came under British influence
in the 1820s when Britain sought control of the Gulf to protect
India. Britain withdrew from the Gulf in 1971
In the years since independence, the federation
has rapidly gained strength and impressive internal development.
With the discovery of oil approximately 30 years
ago marked progress has been made in the sophisticate network of
communications, roads and ports, airports and satellite communications
which link the country with the rest of the world. Free education
is available to all UAE national children from primary to university
level. Health care has also advanced and all members of the population
now have access to medical care.
The Emirates are now moving towards the integration
of many governmental functions such as formation of federal water,
agricultural and defense policies, a central bank and creating a
civl service to serve the UAE as a whole.
Much of the credit for the country's progress
is due to His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President
of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Cornish Abu Dhabi
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Fishing Dhow |
Visiting Tips
The best times
to visit UAE are in December, March, April sees the Sharjah
Ramadan Festival, Abu
Dhabi Festival of Sales, Dubai Summer
Surprises and the Dubai Shopping Festival
on - this may be of interest to shoppers looking for good bargains.
These are also the cooler months, a good time to explore the UAE.
For the culturally oriented, December 2nd, the National Day of
the UAE is one of the best times to visit. Abu Dhabi ruler and
President of the UAE, H
H Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
has taken an active interest in promoting culture and this month
is full of cultural activities. Various international sporting
events, exhibitions and trade shows create a festive atmosphere
and is a good time to visit.
Being a country
of booming metropolises and a melting pot of different cultures,
various events are held all the year around, so keep an eye on
the Events calendar to decide on the time you want to visit.
How
to get there
From outside the
Gulf :
You can reach Abu
Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah and other emirates by air from almost
all the international destinations. Most of the emirates have
world-class International airports and many flights stop here
en route from Asia to Europe or vice versa.
From outside the
UAE :
If you are in a neighboring country like
Oman or Muscat, it is very easy to drive down into the UAE provided
you have the visa.
Weather
The Emirates is sunny all the year
around. July and August are the months when summer is as its peak.
Usually from September, the climate turns cooler. Winters are
pretty cool with light jackets and sweaters recommended and lasts
till mid March.
For more information on UAE Weather
forecast please visit the following link:
Stay
International Hotel chains have their
residence here as well as other reasonably priced hotels, so you
have no dearth of places to stay. Hotels cater to every budget
and taste.
Duty
Free Allowances
Visitors are allowed
2000 cigarettes or 400 cigars or 2 kg. of tobacco and a reasonable
quantity of perfume. Awards winning Duty Free shops are located
in both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai airport.
Customs
There is no restriction
on the amount of currency that can be brought into the UAE and
no customs duty on personal effects.
For more information please visit
the following link:
Car
Rentals
There are car rental
offices in each of the emirates offering all makes and sizes of
cars. Cars can either be rented alone or complete with driver.
Rates vary but are around Dhs. 120 a day for a small car, up to
Dh 1000 a day for a driven limousine. You will need to provide
a copy of your passport and one of your drivers license if paying
by credit card.
For more details please visit the
following links :
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
Helicopters and
some 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 around
US$ 1200 to US$ 6000 per hour
Taxis
Taxis are
a common means of getting around town. Abu Dhabi and Dubai now
have plenty of metered taxis that get you around town for Dh 5
- 20. There are still many un-metered taxis as well, so it is
best to agree upon their fare in advance. The same can be said
for going outside of town. For long distances, it is common to
share taxis.
Electricity
The electricity
supply is 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 with
a small charge for calls within the rest of the country. Pay phones
are operated with 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 about town. Major
hotels have fax and telex services and can arrange for modem access
if necessary.
For more information on Telecommunication
services please visit the following site:
Television
There are nine
television stations originating in the UAE. Some broadcast in
Arabic some in English and some have special programming 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. FM channels are
very popular. Tune into Abu Dhabi Capital Radio at 93.5 FM, Dubai
FM at 92.0, Channel 4 FM at 104.8.
Shopping
- Business Hours
Shops are generally
open from 9:30 - 1:00 and from 4:30 -9:30 on Saturday through
Thursday. Many shops in the malls are remaining open all day which
can offer a time for shopping without crowds. On Friday, the Islamic
holiday, shops do not generally open until 2:00 or later.
Bargaining
Part of the
tradition of shopping in the UAE is bargaining over the price.
In the souk, a rule of thumb is to offer half of the first price
and work your way up. In other shops 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, 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,
but generally a better deal can be made with cash.
Health
Matters
Immunizations
No health certificate
or special immunizations are required when traveling to the UAE
unless you have been in a 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 months
of the year the Emirates are hot and along the coast, very humid.
It is important that the visitor take precautions not to overexert.
All hotels and restaurants are air conditioned as are most shops
but outside is 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.
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.
