Miscellaneous information - Dubai

This section contains information on:

Travel to Dubai and getting around
Passport and visa requirements
Geography and time zone
Weather
Electricity
Schooling
Medical Care
Useful tips

Getting There

International Flights

You can get to Dubai International Airport from many of the world’s major cities. Below you’ll find the main airlines flying to Dubai from airports in the UK and ROI:

British Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Emirates Airlines
Gulf Air
Qatar Airlines
Etihad Airlines
Brunei Airlines
Silverjet Airlines

Between them, the airlines offer daily flights and in many cases, several flights per day, from a number of airports around the UK and ROI:

Belfast
Dublin
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Leeds
London Gatwick
London Heathrow
Luton
Manchester
Newcastle
Teeside

Flight time from UK and ROI to Dubai varies depending upon the airport but is typically from 6h 45min to 7h 15min.

Flight costs vary according to airline and time of year. You do not have to pay departure tax at any of the UAE’s airports.

Dubai Airport (DXB) (04 2245555)
Enquiries: 04 2066666
Website: www.dubaiairport.com

By Land

Car

Road access to the UAE from Saudi Arabia and Oman is excellent. Connections can be made with the Trans-Arabian Highway on the overland route to Europe.

Bus

There is a twice daily bus service between Oman and Dubai via Hatta. A daily service runs between Muscat and Abu Dhabi via Al Ain. There are also bus services between Abu Dhabi and Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

By Sea

Port Rashid is the perfect place to berth if you’re coming to Dubai by sea. If you’re arriving on a cruise ship, the state-of-the-art Dubai Cruise Terminal is where you’ll dock. The terminal can handle ships as large as the as the 148,528 tonne Queen Mary 2.

Getting Around

Dubai offers a variety of inexpensive and efficient public transportation and you can choose between metered local taxis, intra-city and inter-city buses, private car hire services and abras (local boats).

Passports and Visas

Travelers holding passports with a right of residence in the following countries can get a visa on arrival at Dubai International Airport.

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, GCC Countries, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Vatican City.

A visitor’s visa valid for 60 days is stamped directly into your passport by immigration officials.

NB The Visitor’s visa validity and the above countries are subject to Dubai’s Department of Naturalization and Residency terms and conditions.

Geography

Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the South West corner of the Arabian Gulf. The total area of Dubai is approximately 2,428 sq. miles and it’s one of the emirates that make up the UAE.

The seven independent emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah came together to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971.

While Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE, Dubai remains its commercial centre.

Time

The UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT (GMT +4)

Weather

The UAE has a sub-tropical, arid climate with infrequent and irregular rainfall, amounting to less than 13 centimetres a year.

Dubai enjoys 365 days of glorious sunshine, with cooler evenings and occasional showers in the months between November to March.

Temperatures range from a low of 10 degrees (Celsius) to a high of 48 degrees. The average daily maximum is 24 degrees in January, rising to 42 degrees in July

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220/240 volts. The plugs are the three pin, square variety like those in the the UK. American appliances may need a transformer.

Schooling

Dubai has an excellent network of modern, private schools. They offer high standard education which meets the curriculum requirements of the UK, USA, Italy, Japan, Iran, India and Pakistan.

Medical Care

The government of Dubai provides excellent quality, heavily subsidised medical care to all visitors and residents. There are also private facilities available through several private hospitals and clinics, offering the full range of medical and dental care. Emergency medical care in Dubai is free to anyone and everyone and there are no restrictions.

Useful Tips

Cultural mix

Due to the available resources and diverse foreign enterprises located in Dubai, more than 80% of the population are expats from more than 200 countries around the world.

Alcohol

Alcohol is served at restaurants and hotels, it can also be purchased at the Arrivals Duty Free store in Dubai International Airport for consumption in your own home.

Non Muslim residents can also obtain a special permit for purchasing alcohol. Dubai operates a zero tolerance policy to driving under the influence of alcohol and drunken behaviour in public places.

Dress code

Visitors are free to dress according to their personal choice. We recommend that you dress sensibly to avoid causing offence to your host country, and don’t wear revealing clothes in public places or places of worship.

Skirts are acceptable for ladies as are shorts in the tourist areas. Most Emirati men and women still choose to wear the traditional national dress.

Lightweight summer clothing can be worn for most of the year, but the temperature can drop quite sharply at night during the winter.

Languages

Whilst Arabic is the official language, English is very widely spoken, especially in business. Given the large size of the expatriate population, several other languages are also used in everyday life, headed by Hindi, Urdu and Farsi.

Photography

Photography of buildings and sights is widely acceptable. Local people and especially ladies, do not welcome being photographed without their prior permission.

In general, it is best to avoid taking photographs (or video footage) of any individual in national dress.

Safety and security

Dubai is a very safe city for visitors and residents alike, with an exceptionally low crime rate. However, locking your car and minding your personal belongings is sensible, as in any other part of the world.