The United Arab Emirates is a constitutional federation of seven emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah.
The federation was formally established on 2 December 1971.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupies an area of 83,000 sq km along the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital and the largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name.
Four-fifths of the UAE is desert, yet it is a country of contrasting landscapes, from awe-inspiring dunes to rich oases, precipitous Rocky Mountains to fertile plains.

The United Arab Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations, has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, sun, sand, sea, sports, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment.

WHAT TO EXPECT - UAE is a friendly, safe, welcoming with virtually no crime. Non Muslim visitors are generally not expected to follow Muslim customs but should respect them. The consumption of alcohol by non Muslims is permitted in all the UAE states except Sharjah. However, drinking alcohol in the street or purchasing it for any UAE citizen is forbidden. Alcohol is usually only available in hotels.
* Mosques are places of worship for Muslims. Women are not allowed to enter and in most cases men may only enter if they follow the Muslim faith. If you are in doubt ask permission before entering.

* RAMADAN- The annual Muslim fast of Ramadan is governed by the lunar calendar and consequently varies from year to year. During Ramadan all Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset daily. The fixed hours of prayer are observed and during the daylight no Muslim will eat, drink and smoke. The fast is strictly observed. Eating drinking or smoking in public places during hours of daylight is forbidden. In Dubai hotel coffee shops will remain open but will not serve alcohol during daytime. Alcohol can be ordered from the room service.

The Holy month of Ramadan in 2008 will start on approximately 30 August. - Its end is marked by the feast of Eid al-Fitr.

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting for Muslims. During Ramadan all Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset daily. The fixed hours of prayer are observed. Eating, drinking, and smoking in public places during the day is forbidden. Alcohol will not be served during the day in restaurants, but can be ordered through room service. Every hotel has one restaurant (closed with curtains) open to serve meals for tourists during the day. There is no live entertainment during Ramadan. Tourists are requested to adhere to the local customs as a mark of respect.



FOOD & DRINK - The UAE offers visitors a very varied choice of cuisine including French, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Persian, Polynesian, Mexican and of course Arabian. Hotels offer a remarkably diverse range of food and beverage outlets, partly because they serve not only their own guests but also attract large numbers of local residents. Alcohol is served in hotel bars and clubs but not in local restaurants.
* Arabian cuisine makes up an important part of most buffet spreads and the local specialities include spiced lamb with rice or a variety of local fish including lobster, tuna, pomfret and red snapper. Another local favourite is the shawarma which consists of grilled shavings of lamb or chicken, mixed with salad and rolled inside Arabic bread - perhaps washed down with a mango milkshake.

RELIGION - Islam is the official religion of all the Emirates. A vast majority of the people are Sunnis. There are foreign minority Hindus and Christians as well. Dubai is the only Emirate to house a Hindu temple.

LANGUAGE - Arabic is the official language and English, Hindi, Urdu and Farsi are widely spoken. Arabic and English are commonly used in business and commerce.

CLIMATE - The winter months from November to March are generally very pleasant with warm sunny days, cool evenings and little rain. In the mountain areas it can be chilly. Summers are usually extremely hot and humid with temperatures reaching 40C.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
1st January - New Year's Day * February - Eid Al Adha * March - Islamic New Year * 11th May - Prophet's Birthday * 21st September - Ascension of the Prophet * October/November - Ramadan * November - Eid Al Fitr (feast following end of Ramadan) * 2nd December - UAE National Day * 25th December - Christmas (for Christians).
* In addition every Friday is a public holiday. Islamic festivals are based on sightings of the moon and so dates given vary from year to year.


WHILST IN UAE

SHOPPING - Dubai has many attractions for visitors and one of its greatest is its superb shopping. Indeed, the city draws large numbers of "shopping tourists" from countries within the region and as far afield as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Subcontinent. As an open port with low import duties, Dubai's retail prices are reasonable and the variety of products available matches that of any other major international city. Freed from taxes imposed elsewhere, many top brand name products are cheaper in Dubai than in their country of origin.
* Souks have been called "the heart of urban Arabia", and Dubai has plenty. These range from the traditional, dusty, alleyways of the spice souk, a stone's throw from the Creek, to the modern fish souk with the many varieties caught in Gulf waters and the fruit and vegetable souk with its bustle and vivid colours.
* Dubai's most famous market of all is the gold souk, where narrow streets are lined with shop windows glinting with bracelets, necklaces and ear-rings in 18, 21 and 22 carats. Bars of 24 carat in any form and weight and bullion coins in 24 and 22 carat are also available. Prices are very reasonable and largely determined by weight, rather than design and craftsmanship.
* The shops are generally open 0800-1300 and 1600-2030 Saturday to Thursday. The souk and food shops will usually be open on Friday. These hours may change in the month of Ramadan.
* An inbound duty free shop at Dubai Airport can be used if you obtain a pass from a desk in the baggage reclaim area in Dubai. The choice there may be somewhat limited.

CAR HIRE / TAXIS - There are plenty of international and local car hire companies offering competitive rates. The hire company will arrange a temporary local driving licence for visitors. You will need to produce your passport, two photographs and a valid national or international licence. Dubai has an impressive network of roads that have been built over the last 20 years. Driving in the UAE is on the right side of the road.
* Taxis are plentiful and can be taken from hotels or hailed in the street if necessary. Taxis are usually metered, and are reasonably good value but if not metered agree the fare in advance of your journey. Check with your hotel for the appropriate fare.
* The beach hotels in Dubai operate free shuttle bus services making regular trips to the shops and the city centre.

CURRENCY - The currency of the UAE and therefore Dubai is the Dirham (Dh) which is divided into 100 fils. There are no currency restrictions.

CREDIT CARDS - The major credit cards such as AMEX, Diners, Visa and MasterCard are generally accepted in the main hotels and larger shops but some retailers may offer better bargains for cash.

BANKS - Open 0800-1300 from Saturday to Wednesday and 0800-1200 on Thursday. Some banks open in the afternoon between 1600 and 1730.

TIPPING - Tipping practices are similar to most parts of the world. Some restaurants do not include service, otherwise 10% is adequate. It is not usual to tip taxi drivers.

ELECTRICITY - 220/240 volts at 50 cycles. Square 3 pin plugs are normal.

TIME - Dubai is 4 hours ahead of GMT.

USEFUL ADDRESSES
Government of Dubai Department of Tourism
And Commerce Marketing Tel: 020 7839 0580
125 Pall Mall Fax: 020 7839 0582
London SW1Y 5EA
Website: www.dubaitourism.co.ae

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Tel: 0870 005 6984
48 Princes Gate Fax: 020 7581 9616
London SW7 2QA