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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dubai
is the second largest emirate in the U.A.E. Its
total area is around 1000 square miles.
The city of Dubai is divided by the famous Dubai
creek or Khor. This natural harbor, and Dubai's
strategic location on the international trading map
has made it one of the world's leading trading and
commercial centers.
The Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, succeeded his father in 1990.
His
father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was one
of the founding fathers of the U.A.E together with
H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan and was the
Vice-President and Prime Minister until his death in
1990.
Now,
Sheikh Maktoum has taken the mantle of the above
positions.
The Maktoum family is also a part of the Baniyas
tribe who first settled in Abu Dhabi but then later
took control of Dubai in 1833. Dubai's growth can be
traced back to the early years of the century when
the grandfather of H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al
Maktoum persuaded the British shipping line plying
between Britain and India, to make Dubai their main
port of call in the 1940s.
To
further consolidate its position as a major port,
H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum took an
active interest in the development of Dubai, he
established a Police Force, a customs service and
developed trade connections with India.
Soon, in the 1960's, with the discovery of oil,
money started to pour in and Dubai's prominence and
prosperity increased. But aware of the risks of
oil-dependency, Sheikh Rashid actively promoted new
industrial ventures. The Aluminum and Cement factory
are the result of this endeavor.
The
Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone - the fifth largest in the
world within a short span of ten years, has
attracted over 900 international companies that
include global giants - a few of these are General
Motors, AEG, Aiwa, BP, Ciba, Geigy, Daewoo and
Heinz.
Dubai's attractiveness not only lies in its trade.
Like the rest of the U.A.E., it has also been
actively promoted as a tourist destination.
Also See:
TIPS ON DUBAI:
Taxis
We recommend the following metered taxi
companies:
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National Taxis (Silver cars)
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Cars Taxi (White cars with blue/red stripes)
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Dubai Transport Corporation (Ivory cars).
Operates from the airport with a pick-up fee of
Dhs16 plus an additional Dhs1.17 per
kilometer.
Car rentals
An international driver’s license*, passport and two
photographs are required to rent a car while
visiting Dubai.
* Visitors may obtain a temporary Dubai driving
license, as long as they hold a valid national
license from one of the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK and the USA.
Driving in Dubai
-
Driving in the U.A.E is on the right-hand side.
-
Dubai has impressive first-class roads
connecting all parts of the city and surrounding
areas.
-
Two bridges and a tunnel link the two main
districts of Bur Dubai and Deira on either side
of the Creek.
-
A 4-lane highway (Sheikh Zayed Rd) heads
southwards from the city to Abu Dhabi.
Working hours
Business schedules: Dubai’s working week is mainly
Saturday through Wednesday. An increasing number of
businesses do work Sunday to Thursday.
Office hours vary: Working 7:00am to 1:00pm
then from 3:00pm to 6:00pm or 4:00pm to 7:00pm, with
a siesta in between.
Banks: Open Saturday to Thursday, 8:00am to
1:00pm. Some banks re-open in the afternoon.
Government: 8:00am to 2:00pm, Saturday to
Wednesday.
Shops: 9:00am to 8:00pm or later. Many close
for a couple of hours at lunchtime, reopening again
at 4:00pm or 5:00pm. Some are closed on Friday,
although the downtown souks and major shopping malls
mostly remain open.
Tipping
Restaurants, bars and hotels add a service charge.
Additional gratuities are entirely discretionary and
not necessary. Porters and bellboys expect modest
tips. Taxi drivers do not expect a gratuity.
Electricity
220 V AC, 50 Hz
International direct dialing code
+011 for US
+00 for rest of the world
Emergency services
Police:999
Fire: 997
Ambulance: 998
Local time
GMT +4, EST +8, CST +9 and PST +11.
Hotel information
Dubai has built deluxe properties considered to be
the best in the world. You can find comfortable
accommodations for every budget. All major hotels
offer a variety of restaurants and superb leisure
and sports facilities.
Recommended beach and desert resorts: Le Meridien
Mina Seyahi,
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort
& Towers,
Royal Mirage,
Hilton Jumeirah,
Jebel Ali,
Ritz-Carlton,
and
Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
and
Al-Maha Desert Resort and Spa.
Recommended city hotels: Emirates Towers,
Crowne Plaza,
Hyatt, Inter-Continental, Le Meridien, Metropolitan,
JW Marriott,
Renaissance, Al Bustan Rotana and Sheraton.
Click here
for more Hotels.
Climate
|
|
JAN |
FEB |
MAR |
APR |
MAY |
JUN |
|
Temp 0°f max |
73 |
75 |
81 |
86 |
93 |
97 |
|
min |
55 |
57 |
61 |
64 |
72 |
77 |
|
|
JUL |
AUG |
SEP |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
|
Temp 0°f max |
111 |
102 |
99 |
91 |
88 |
79 |
|
min |
84 |
82 |
77 |
72 |
64 |
57 |
Airport
Dubai International Airport, 2.4 miles from the city
center.
For flight information, please call +00 9714
2162525 www.dubaiairport.com
Customs
Visitors may import:
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2,000 cigarettes or 400 cigars or 4.4 lbs of
tobacco
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150g of perfume.
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Only non-Muslims can import 2 liters of spirits
or 2 bottles of wine.
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Natural or cultured unstrung pearls may not be
imported, unless for personal use.
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The import of firearms, pornography and drugs is
strictly prohibited.
Currency
The U.A.E Dirham (AED) is divided into 100 fils at a
constant 3.67 AD to the US dollar.
Notes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50,
100, 200, 500 and 1000 Dirhams.
Coins are issued in 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and 1
Dirham.
Foreign currency and travelers checks can be
converted at all banks and hotels. ATM’s are also
widely available.
International credit cards are accepted almost
everywhere, except at a few shops in the souks.
There are no currency import or export restrictions.
Clothing
It is usual to wear a suit and tie for business,
otherwise dress is generally informal. Females
should dress modestly in public places out of
respect for local culture. For both males and
females, swimwear is acceptable around hotel pools
and beaches.
Sightseeing Tours in
the United Arab Emirates:
Sightseeing Tours in
Oman:
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