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About Dubai:
Time: GMT + 4 hours -
For example, if it is 1:30PM in Minneapolis, Minnesota then it is 11.30PM in Dubai.
Central time in the US - 10 hour difference in Dubai
There is no daylight savings in Dubai.
Airport:
Dubai
International Airport is 4 kms or about 2.5 miles to city centre.
Distance from Dubai International
Airpor to other emirates:
Abu Dhabi:170 kms / 105 miles
Sharjah: 15 kms / 9 miles
Ajman: 30
kms / 18 miles
Umm Al Quwain: 55 kms / 34 miles
Ras Al Khaimah: 100 kms / 62 miles
Fujairah: 130
kms / 80 miles
To convert kms to miles, you can use this website: http://www.convertunits.com/from/km/to/miles
Language spoken:
Arabic is the official language while
English and Urdu are also widely spoken and understood. You might also hear Hindi, Urdu, and Farsi. Many traffic, hotel and everyday signs in Dubai are in both Arabic and English.
Electricity:
220/230 volts A/C
Voltage- 220V
Frequency- 50Hz
Cycle- AC
Plugs- British style 3 pin
You can purchase adaptors at many places in Dubai.
Tipping:
Hotels and restaurants usually
include 15% service charge with their bills. This goes to the restaurant, so if you want to tip your waiter and waitress, then you can do so. Tipping in Dubai is similar to tipping in the United States.
Who you should tip in Dubai:
Valets, Taxi drivers, Hotel Porters, Waiter or Waitress, and Tour Guides.
Health Requirement:
No health certificates are required for entry to Dubai, but it is always wise to
check before departure, as health restrictions may vary, depending upon the
situation at the time, but a certificate is required
for cholera and yellow fever if arriving from affected area.
Currency:
Dhs = UAE dirhams. 100 fils = 1 dh
Notes: Dhs 1000, 500, 200,
100, 50, 20, 10 & 5
Coins: Dhs 1, fils 50, 25,
10
To give you an example:
Based on the currency exchange rate on Monday, March 03, 2008
1 Utd. Arab Emir. Dirham(s) =
0.272301 US Dollar(s)
1 USD = 3.6724 AED
1 AED = 0.272301 USD
Public Holidays:
Fixed:National Day (December 2 & 3);
New Year's Day (January 1)
Varies: Eid Al Fitr; Eid Al Adha; Hijra New Year's
Day, Prophet's Birthday; Accession Day, Essra Wal Mehry
Emergency
numbers: Police - 999; Fire - 997; Ambulance - 998, Operator - 181
Average
temperature:
Mininum - January between 14 and 24 degrees Celsius or 54 to 75 degrees in Fahrenheit.
Maximum - August between 29 and 41 degrees Celsius or 84 to 106 degrees in Fahrenheit.
Best time to Visit:
If you are going to visit, there are several tips for you.
1) Try to visit between November and April. During those times, Dubai has the coolest temperatures.
2) Avoid going during the summer, since it is hot and humid in Dubai during the summer, but there are excellent deals offered during this period if you want to bear with the hot weather.
3) Winter is considered the "peak" season in Dubai and hotel rates increase.
4) Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year on the western
calendar, is the Muslim month of fasting and is strictly adhered to throughout
the UAE. Please do consider this when planning your vacation.
Hours of work:
Government - 7:30 am - 2:30 pm. Closed Thursdays and
Fridays. The weekend is considered Friday and Saturday in Dubai. Most companies generally are open from 9am to 5pm. Some companies open at 8am and some companies close at 6pm. The malls are usually open from 10am to 10pm. Be sure to check when you get to Dubai.
Places of interest:
Creekside, Dubai Museum, dhow rides
in the creek, desert safaris, beaches and parks, Wild Wadi amusement
park.
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