United Arab Emirates (UAE) Travel Guide

Essentials

Safety: it is widely agreed that the UAE is one of the safest destinations in the world for tourists to visit. The main safety concern for tourists is bad driving, as it seems that the practice is ‘every driver for himself’.

Also, swimming presents its own dangers, as the waters of the Gulf often experience dangerous rip currents. Public beaches are not patrolled, so swimmers are advised to use caution as there are regular reports of drownings off Dubai beaches.

During Ramadan, Islam’s month of fasting, no drinking, eating or smoking in public is permitted from dawn to dusk. This might not be an optimal time to plan your visit. Venues normally serving alcohol do not do so during Ramadan. The timing of the fasting period is set by the lunar calendar, and although it changes yearly, the beginning is typically sometime in September or October.

Money: the dirham is the UAE’s official currency. Notes are issued in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 dirham denominations. The dirham is divided into fils: 100 fils equals 1 dirham. Coins in circulation include: Dh1, 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils (10 and 5 fils are seldom used). You’ll find the values written in Arabic only.

Language: Arabic is the UAE’s official language, although English is widely spoken and is the language most often used for business transactions.

Emergency: 997

Ambulance: 998 or 999 (or call hospitals mentioned below)

Police: 999

Tourist police emergency hotline: 1155

Business needs: even though the weather is hot and at times very humid, doing in business in the UAE requires formal business attire for men and women. Women in particular are expected to dress conservatively, covering themselves as much as possible.

It is highly unlikely that business visitors will come into contact with local businesswomen, as the UAE business world is overwhelmingly dominated by men.

The Arabic greeting of 'salaam aleikum' takes the place of 'hello’, and you’ll find that politeness helps in developing strong, mutually-respectful relationships. Although shaking hands is common, men should only shake hands with a woman if she offers her hand first; otherwise a simple nod of the head is appropriate.

Business agreements are often verbal in nature and will be as valid and reliable as if they were in writing. Gifts will be appreciated as a sign of personal interest but are not required to establish business relationships. If you do choose to give a gift, you should be sure to avoid anything containing alcohol or that is pork-related – as both are taboos for Muslims.

Companies still tend to be family affairs in the Arab world, although this custom is changing as firms grow in size and complexity to deal with international affairs. That said, in many businesses you’ll find that the ultimate decision-maker is the head of the family. It’s important to identify who the decision-maker actually is, and also to realise that initial meetings will probably be held with staff holding lower-level positions.

The nurturing of these relationships is also important, as it’s essential to build trust and to have these staff report back in a positive manner to the decision-makers. It’s recommended that you have your business cards printed in both English and Arabic, and to make sure that all your promotional and presentation materials are professionally-prepared, and in full-colour.

Typical business hours:

• Government departments: 07:30 to 14:30, but a visit in the morning is recommended. The departments close on Thursday afternoon for the weekend.
• Retail: 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 21:00. Many shops in Abu Dhabi and Dubai remain open throughout the day. Shopping centres are typically open from 10:00 to 22:00, and some are open even later. There are some supermarkets open 24 hours. Although most shops and shopping centers are open on Friday, they close on that day during Juma prayers, from 11:30 to 13:30.
• Banking: 08:00 to 13:00, except for Thursday, when the weekend begins. Banks close at 12:00 on Thursday, and are closed all day Friday and also on public holidays.