Before You Book

PREPARING TO GO TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

CAPITAL
Abu Dhabi

LANGUAGE
Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but English is widely used.

RELIGION
Islam is the official language of the UAE. Approx. 96% of the population is Sunni Muslims.

LOCAL TIME
UAE Standard Time (IST) is 4 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
220 and 240 volts, 50Hz - The most frequently used plugs are the square three-pin type.

PASSPORT & VISA

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY
UAE Dirham (AED, also written as Dhs) = 100 fils. Notes are in denominations of AED1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of AED1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils (10 and 5 fils coins are rarely used). The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar. XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.

Credit cards:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. ATMs are found across the UAE, mostly in the major cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

ATM:
ATMs accept foreign debit and credit cards including Switch, Maestro, Visa, Union Pay and Cirrus, and can be found throughout the UAE, in shopping malls, hotels and petrol stations. However, cash back is not commonly available in the UAE. Plan ahead if you are taking taxis, they will only accept cash and often only small notes and change.

Banking hours:

These vary depending on the branch and bank; however, a rule of thumb is Sat-Wed between 0800-1300 and Thursday 0800-noon. Some open later in the evening from 1600-1830. All are closed on Fridays and public holidays.

Currency exchange:

Most hotels will handle the exchange of foreign currency as well as many major banks. Many of the large shopping malls have bureaux de change. Recommended bureaux de change include UAE Exchange located at Dubai Mall and Marina Mall, both in Dubai, and Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi.

CLOTHING

Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but sweaters or jackets may be needed for the winter months, especially in the evenings. Compared with certain parts of the Middle East, the UAE has a very relaxed dress code. However, care should be taken not to give offence by wearing clothing which may be considered revealing. At the pool or on the beaches, trunks, swimsuits, and bikinis are quite acceptable. Good quality sunglasses are advised and photo- chromatic lenses for those who wear spectacles. Hats or some protection for the head are advisable when in direct sunlight.

VISITOR - CODE OF CONDUCT

We kindly ask all visitors to respect our religion and place of prayer by following these simple requests:

• Visitors must be dressed appropriately on arrival; if not, entry will be denied.
• Modest, conservative, loose fitting clothing; long sleeves, long skirts, and trousers.
• No transparent (see-through) clothing.
• No shorts for men.
• No shorts and skirts must be ankle length.
• No tight clothing, no swimwear, and no beachwear.
• Shoes will be removed before entering the mosque, so we recommend slip off shoes.
• Headscarf for ladies is essential Intimate behaviour, i.e. holding hands or kissing is not acceptable in a Muslim place of worship.
• For safety and respect to worshippers, visitors should stay within the areas of the mosque that are permitted and not roam freely around.
• Smoking and food are not allowed in the mosque area.
• Visitors are requested not to touch the Holy Quran (Holy Book) and other architectural elements inside the main prayer hall.
• ALL women must wear a traditional robe (abaya) and headscarf (shayla) before entering the mosque. The mosque does not provide these garments. Please ensure that it is closed (not open abayas) and non-transparent.
• Children are to be supervised.
• The area around the mosque is still under construction and personal safety must be always observed.

**Guests need to be dressed as in the pictogram otherwise entrance will be refused.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is excellent. Tourists can purchase pre-paid mobile SIM cards.

Internet:
There are numerous internet and Wi-Fi cafés in the UAE but VoIP telephone systems, such as Skype, are officially blocked. Websites deemed culturally or religiously insensitive are also blocked.

WEATHER & CLIMATE

The UAE enjoys an arid subtropical climate, with blue skies and sunshine all year round. The hottest months are between June and September when temperatures can soar to 45° (Celsius) and more during the day and humidity levels are very high. Even the sea temperature touches on 40° (Celsius) during the summer months, and swimming pools at hotels are usually cooled to be refreshing. Temperatures are only slightly more moderate the rest of the year, the coolest time being between December and March. There is very little rainfall in the UAE, but when showers do fall it is mainly in the cooler months.

MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack: $US 5
• Light meal: $US 10-18
• Fancy restaurant: $US 55 - 165

DRINKS

Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below but note that prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water: $US 1
• 30cl bottle of soft drink: $US 1

** Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in some of the city's bars, restaurants, clubs, and hotels. Smoking is banned in public places. Anyone under 20 is not allowed to buy cigarettes and is barred from designated smoking areas. It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places. It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public during Ramadan.

FOOD

Whether you are searching for sashimi, Italian, fish and chips or a nine-course degustation journey at a fancy French restaurant, you will find it in the UAE. Visitors to the country really are spoiled for choice, with a wide range of cuisines available and many celebrity chefs have launched their namesake branches in the UAE, including Nobu Matisuya, Gary Rhodes and Giorgio Locatelli. Supermarkets and grocery stores stock home comforts and nearly everything that is available in Australia, USA, and the UK, while hotels serve both Arab and European food. There is also a fantastic range of Arabic, Persian, Indian, Pakistani restaurants – especially in areas like Satwa, Deira and Bur Dubai.

Specialties:

Modern Emirati cuisine fuses several regional flavours, yet the nation’s staples have remained the same for centuries. You will likely find lamb, beef, goat, fish and rice in any of Middle Eastern themed eateries as well as the selection below:

• Hummus (chickpea and sesame paste).
• Tabbouleh (bulghur wheat with mint and parsley).
• Ghuzi (roast lamb with rice and nuts).
• Warak enab (stuffed vine leaves).
• Dates (there are more than 30 million date palms in the UAE).
• Shawama (spit cooked meat in pitta bread with thick garlic sauce).
• Khameer and chebab (local bread often eaten for breakfast with eggs).
• Falafel (fried or grilled balls of herby chickpeas).
• Hamour (local grouper fished in Gulf waters).
• Luqaimat (Crispy deep fried batter dumpling balls served with syrup).

All the Emirates, except for Sharjah, permit the consumption of alcohol by non-Muslims in designated areas. Designated areas are usually restaurants or bars located inside hotels. It is illegal to drink alcohol in the street or to buy it for a UAE citizen. Muslims do not consume pork, which is also absent from many restaurants. If it is served at a buffet or sold at a supermarket it will be separate from other food and clearly labelled. It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in any public spaces during daylight, during the month of Ramadan. Regulations have tightened recently regarding food and drink consumption in public during Ramadan, and punishments are harsh; expect to be slapped with a fine of AED2000-2500 or face up to two months in jail.

Regional drinks:

• Ayran (a refreshing yoghurt drink).
• Strong black coffee.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.