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United
Arab Emirates Hotels | United Arab Emirates Information | Abu
Dhabi Information | Dubai Information
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United Arab
Emirates Information
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A modern
fountain on
the Abu Dhabi Corniche |
A coffee
house in Mamzar Park in Dubai
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Jumairah
Mosque, a spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture
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The
imposing Clock Tower symbolizes Dubai worldwide
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| Have a total
Tourist Experience of Unlimited Sun, Sand, Sports and shopping in the
UAE along with its friendly, helpful and generous people. The Sun always shines in the UAE, its naturally desert climate and its convenient location in the Arabian Gulf has endowed it with warm seas and cozy beaches. Together with a booming economy, where trade and tourism are encouraged, it also makes for the ultimate shopping destination. Its state-of-the-art tourist infrastructure with numerous world-class hotels, sports events and shopping spectaculars held annually, ensures its position as the Middle East's number one tourist destination. Every year, tourist attractions are constantly being upgraded and added - from one of the world's largest aqua parks to cultural and wildlife museums. From Wind Towers to Towering Skyscrapers, The UAE has a unique blend of traditional Arab, Islamic values and culture with the modernity of a cosmopolitan living environment. It celebrated its 25th year of formation in 1997. Its massive oil wealth is being wisely utilized to keep pace with technology and social changes the world is experiencing. As a result, tourists will find the UAE a modern country with thriving sky scraper filled cities no different from modern cities in Europe or Asia. |
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| The UAE occupy a triangle of land and sea on Arabia's eastern flank. It is strategically positioned close to the entrance of the Arabian Gulf, and with extensive coastlines on its west and north facing shores, together with easterly coastline bordering the Arabian Sea. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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Customs
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| There is no restriction on the amount of currency that can be brought into the UAE and no customs duty on personal effects. |
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Electricity
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| 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. |
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Water
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| 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. |
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Telephone
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| 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. |
| 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. |
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Bargaining
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| 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 |
| 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. |
| One of
the priorities emphasised by Sheikh Zayed is the building of sports facilities
for the youth of the UAE. Sports clubs have been formed with government
support, stadiums built and football has become the national game. First-class
government and private sports and leisure centres have been established
throughout the country. As a result, UAE citizens now participate eagerly
at Dubai Hotel Reservations and abroad in a wide range of modern sports
and leisure activities, from basketball and bowling, to golf, cricket
and ice hockey. Despite the eagerness with which the UAE has embraced these contemporary activities, heritage sports continue to have a strong following: camel-racing and traditional boat-racing are subjects of a major heritage revival movement. Traditional skills honed in the past have also been developed in sports in which the UAE competes with considerable success internationally, such as powerboat-racing and various forms of equestrianism. International recognition has also been forthcoming for the staging of spectacular events and invitation tournaments in the UAE, especially in sports such as golf, tennis and snooker. These events attract world-class international sportsmen, increasing awareness of such competitive sports in the UAE, thereby encouraging wider participation, as well as assisting in the drive to promote tourism. Due to its location the UAE has been able to act as a connecting link between Europe and the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and Africa since time immemorial. It is still playing the role of intermediary between these vastly different cultures, the only difference being that air travel has significantly increased the number of visitors who come to the UAE. Traditional Arab hospitality and a delightful winter climate complemented by a highly sophisticated infrastructure and crime-free environment, have also contributed in recent years to creating an ideal atmosphere for the development of tourism. The UAE is also endowed with an extensive coastline, sandy beaches and varied landscape, where a wide variety of activities can be indulged, ranging from powerboat races to sand-skiing. Manicured golf courses provide ready enjoyment and for the less active shopping opportunities abound. In addition, the country's deep-rooted cultural heritage, accessible in the many cultural centres and at traditional sports such as falconry, camel- racing and horse-racing, has been a powerful attraction for tourists. The UAE has also become a much sought after venue for conferences, regional and international exhibitions and major sports events such as the Dubai World Cup, the Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament, and polo and cricket competitions. |
| Transportation:
About 2,000 kilometers of roads, of which 1,800 kilometers paved as of
1993. Principal road is highway from Ash Sham via all main coastal cities
to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Dubayy major regional and international sea
and air traffic center. UAE has several ports, of which largest is Mina
Jabal Ali near city of Dubayy. Dubayy has major international airport,
but Abu Dhabi, Al Fujayrah, Ras al Khaymah, and Sharjah also have international
airports. 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. 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. |
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United
Arab Emirates Hotels | United Arab Emirates Information | Abu
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