Dubai Practical Matters
Your comprehensive guide to Everything Dubai
The AED dirham (sometimes written locally as Dhs) is the official currency throughout the United Arab Emirates. The dirham is subdivided into units of 100 fils. The UAE pegged its currency to the US dollar in 1997 and as a result US$ are accepted in some outlets and hotels. The fixed exchange rate is 3.67 dirhams to the dollar.
Cash is accepted everywhere as are all major credit and debit cards, cheques however, are not. ATM’s can be found all over the city, as are money exchange booths. Changing currency at the airport is the best deal as typically there are no handling charges.
Time:
The U.A.E. is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 3 hours during British Summer Time and + 4 hours in winter.
Telephones:
There are public phone booths available in the main parts of the city but typically the country does rely heavily on individuals having mobile phones. Pre-paid phones and SIM cards can be purchased with a ‘pay as you go’ SIM card on arrival at the airport or from the local operators Etisalat or Du at their local outlets or dealers. Local calls are based on reasonable rates. To dial a fixed line number within the U.A.E. you need to dial 04 plus the number for Dubai, 02 for Abu Dhabi, 06 for Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Qawain, 07 for Ras Al Khaimah and 09 for Fujeirah. For mobile phones dial 050 for Etisalat numbers or 055 for Du numbers. The international dialing code for the U.A.E is +971.
Computer connections are readily available with many coffee bars and hotels offering fast Internet Wi-Fi connectivity.
Post Offices:
Are few and far between and it best to ask directions from your hotel. Postal addresses in the U.A.E are by P.O. Box rather than house and street addresses. Stamps can be purchased from most hotels, supermarkets and petrol stations. There is a post office in departures lounge (1st floor) at Dubai International Airport. Local courier services are very popular for deliveries inside and outside of the UAE (Empost, Aramex) as well as the well-known international couriers such as Fed Ex, TNT and DHL.
Customs and Excise:
Care should be taken along with common sense when considering goods to bring into the U.A.E. Being a Muslim country the laws on illegal drugs and alcohol are very strict. None may be brought into the country from outside. Alcohol may be purchased by non-Muslim visitors in the baggage hall on a duty free basis and may be consumed only on private property e.g. not in public places. Alcohol may also be purchased and consumed within licensed restaurants, bars and hotels. The laws on prescription drugs can be somewhat ambiguous and commonly accepted prescription drugs from other countries may well be banned in the U.A.E. It is recommended that if you are carrying prescription drugs from another country you also carry the signed and stamped prescription with you. Pornography is not permitted.
Safety:
Dubai is one the safest cities in the world; you will witness cars with their engines running outside the supermarkets! However, crime is not non-existent and as a rapidly growing city it is suggested you take the due care and attention as you would anywhere else in the world.
Photography:
It is impolite to photograph Emirati’s especially women, without asking their consent first. Avoid taking photos of government and military buildings.
Electricity:
The voltage is 220v and utilising the traditional British 3-pin plug.
Health:
Health insurance is recommended for all travellers. The facilities are excellent with state of the art hospitals in all areas of expertise, however costs are high. General Practice and Dental services are also of a high standard and freely available for a fee. As an example the cost for an initial consultation with a GP is on approximately 35 pounds sterling. Any tests or medication would be in addition to this. Chemists are in abundance and many are open 24 hours a day. Unusually, many prescription drugs are available over the counter from chemists without a prescription. Tap water is safe to drink but as all water is desalinated the taste can be strange and the majority of people drink bottled water; the local brands are excellent value.
Getting around:
Public transport, other than taxis is limited although massive developments are underway to improve this including the development of the Dubai metro rail system. It is recommended you use the taxis that are efficient and extremely economical too. Car hire is available although not all countries driving licenses are permitted so if possible remember to bring your International Driving Licence. Petrol is extremely cheap compared to Europe and other parts of the world, however getting around can be challenging as maps are not generally used nor are street names and navigation is primarily done by landmarks. Having said that the roads are well signposted by area and the road system is quite logical. Right hand driving is the standard. The metro system is due for completion in 2009.