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Dubai
- The City of Gold, the traditional and cultural
hub of the Middle East, a young and ever
developing city which has an outstanding record
as a host to International, Regional and
National Conferences, Conventions and
Exhibitions. Since the time UAE, has been
founded, Dubai - the second largest of the seven
emirates has made tremendous progress in all
fields.Known for its blue skies and glorious
sunshine Dubai attracts many visitiors from all
around the world. There lies more to Dubai, than
just a modern city skyline. Dubai encompasses a
wide range of landscapes from majestic deserts,
and rugged mountains to green golf courses and
parks. The emirate blends its rich cultural
heritage, Arabian charm and hospitality with all
the comforts of the modern age for people from
all over the world.
Dubai,
has also emerged as a location of choice for
global corporations, large numbers of which
conduct their local and regional operations from
the city. The city of Dubai, with its
fascinating shopping malls and breathtaking
recreational facilities provide a kind of
amusing diversion to the scientific discussions,
which take place in the region on a regular
basis.
Dubai -
the vibrant city with a cosmopolitan
community offers not only trade facilities but a
pleasant stay with long lasting memories. Area:
3,885 sq. kms. Population: 971,000
(2001estimate) Majority live in Dubai City and
its suburbs which has a cosmopolitan population.
A small percentage lives in village and agrarian
communities. Local Time: GMT plus four hours
Religion: Islam is the official religion of the
UAE and there are a large number of mosques
throughout the city. Language: Arabic is the
official language. English is widely spoken and
understood. Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, and other
languages are widely used by the large
expatriate population.
Visas: All visitors except
GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar &
Saudi Arabia) Western Europe countries (UK,
France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium,
Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece,
Finland, Spain, Monaco, Poland, Hungary, Malta,
Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino and
Liechtenstein) Other countries (USA, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan,
Malaysia, Hong Kong and South
Korea) require a Visa sponsored by a local
entity such as a hotel or company. There are two
types of visas; transit visa for 14 days and
visit visa for 60 days (Renewable) Climate:
Temperature ranges from 10° C/50° F to 40°
C/118° F. During March the average temperature
is expected to be 25° C/87° F. Currency: The
local currency is UAE Dirham and is pegged to
the US dollar at an exchange rate 1$ = 3.68Dhs.
(fluctuating). Banks: Bank opening hours are
8:00 am to 1:00 pm, from Saturday to Wednesday,
although some also open from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
On Thursdays, banks operate only from 8:00 am to
noon. However, ATM services are available around
the clock. Credit Cards: American Express,
Diner, Visa, Access, MasterCard and all other
major credit cards are accepted at leading
hotels and shops but some retailers offer better
bargains for cash. Clothing:
Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most
of the year, but jackets or pullovers may be
needed for the winter months. Good quality
sunglasses are advised for all season. Tipping:
Practice is similar to most parts of the world.
Some restaurants do include a service charge;
otherwise 10% is adequate. Bargaining:
Bargaining is expected in the souks and smaller
shops.
Business Hours: The weekend
has tradionally been Thursday afternoon and
Friday, but some organisations now close on
Friday and Saturday, working through Thursday
afternoon instead. Government offices are open
from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. Private sector office
hours vary, but are generally from 8:00 am to
1:00 pm, re-opening at either 3:00 pm or 4:00 pm
and closing at 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm., depending on
the organisation. Shop hours are similar in
their opening times, but most shops remain open
until 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Department stores,
boutiques, souks and many food shops remain open
on a Friday, apart from prayer times (between
11:30 am and 1:30 pm), while larger shops
re-open on a Friday afternoon at around 4:00 pm
to 5:00 pm. Medical Care: Dubai has a number of
highly specialized Hospitals. The Department of
Health and Medical Services runs the Al Maktoum,
Rashid, Dubai and Al Wasl ospitals, in addition
to 17 Health Centers/Clinics distributed all
over Dubai under Primary Health Care. The
Ministry of Health runs the Medical and Health
Services in the entire UAE. Money: Money can be
exchanged at banks and most hotels. There are
number of money exchange centers offering
competitive rates.
Shopping Information:
One of Dubai’s greatest attractions is indeed
its superb shopping. Apart from the shopping
areas and the traditional souks, there are a
growing number of modern shopping malls and
commercial complexes, besides the Dubai Duty
Free at the airport, offering a wide range and
selection for eager shoppers. In Dubai shopping
is regarded a pleasure. From the most modern
shopping malls
to the traditional souks
(markets), Dubai provides and endless scope for
shoppers. In terms of sheer variety, quality and
services. Dubai as a shopping center stands
second to none. Customs duties being low, luxury
goods are cheaper. Best buys include clothes and
fabrics (check out the designer label outlets at
Karama and Al Satwa.), carpets and rugs,
electronics, sports goods, perfumes, jewellery,
ethnic gifts and novelties, spices etc. Shopping
complex like Burjuman Center, Wafi Center and
City Center are certainly worth a visit. The
amazing gold souk, one of the largest retail
good markets in the world is in Deira.
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