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Cars 4 Rental Information on United Arab Emirates

General

Area: 77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles).

Population: 2,940,000 (official estimate 1999).

Population Density: 37.8 per sq km.

Capital: Abu Dhabi. Population: 398,695 (1995).

GEOGRAPHY: The Emirates are bordered to the north by the Gulf and the Musandam Peninsula, to the east by Oman, to the south and west by Saudi Arabia and to the northwest by Qatar. They comprise a federation of seven small former sheikhdoms. Abu Dhabi is the largest Emirate, and the remainder (Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain) are known collectively as the Northern States. The land is mountainous and mostly desert. Abu Dhabi is flat and sandy, and within its boundaries is the Buraimi Oasis. Dubai has a 16km (10 mile) deep-water creek, giving it the popular name of ‘Pearl of the Gulf’. Sharjah has a deep-water port on the Batinah coast at Khor Fakkan, facing the Indian Ocean. Ras al-Khaimah is the fourth emirate in size. Fujairah, one of the three smaller sheikhdoms located on the Batinah coast, has agricultural potential, while Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain were once small coastal fishing villages.

Government: Federation of seven autonomous Emirates. Head of State: Sheikh Zyid bin Sultn An-Nahyn (Emir of Abu Dhabi) since 1971. Head of Government: Vice President Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (Emir of Dubai) since 1990.

Language: Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken and used as a second language in commerce.

Religion: Mostly Muslim, of which 16 per cent are Shiite and the remainder Sunni.

Time: GMT + 4.

Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are widespread.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available both to and from all states. Country code: 971. Outgoing international code (Abu Dhabi): 00. Main area codes: Abu Dhabi 2; Ajman, Sharjah and Umm al Quwain 6; Al Ain 3; Dubai 4; Fujairah 9; Jebel Ali 4 and Ras al-Khaimah 7. There is a good local telephone network. Telephone calls within each state are free.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 network. Network operators include ETISALAT (website: www.etisalat.co.ae).

Fax

ETISALAT offices at main centres provide a service. All hotels have facilities.

Internet

Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Emirates Telecommunication (website: www.emirates.net.ae).

Telegram

Services are run by ETISALAT, which has offices throughout the Emirates and are also available through main post offices.

Post

Airmail letters and parcels take about 5 days to reach Europe.

Press

English-language daily newspapers include Emirates News, Gulf News and Khaleej Times. Foreign newspapers are available in hotel bookshops and supermarkets.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: UAE Dirham (Dh) = 100 fils. Notes are in denominations of Dh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Dh1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 fils.

Note: The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar.

Currency exchange: Most hotels will handle the exchange of foreign currency.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: The import and export of both local and foreign currency are unrestricted.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the UAE Dirham against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 5.85 6.21 6.68 6.56
$1.00= 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67

Banking hours: Sat-Wed 0730-1300, Thurs 0730-1200. Some also open Sat-Wed 1630-1800.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 1 N/A
Malaria 2 N/A

1: Immunisation against polio is advised; typhoid occurs in rural areas.

2: Malaria is not considered to be a risk in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi nor in the cities of Ajman, Dubai, Sharjah or Umm al Qaiwain. There is, however, a risk of contracting the disease (predominantly the benign vivax form) in the valleys and on the lower slopes of mountainous areas of the Northern States. In these areas chloroquine or proguanil are recommended, plus protection against mosquito bites.

Food & drink: Mains water in major cities is safe to drink, but in small villages it should be filtered, or bottled water should be used. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Cutaneous leishmaniasis and tick-borne typhus may occur; avoid mosquito, sandfly and tick bites. Wear shoes to avoid soil-borne parasites. Take precautions against heat exhaustion and sunstroke. Immunisation against hepatitis A is recommended. Hepatitis B is endemic.
Rabies is present close to the border with Oman. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Medical facilities are of a very high quality but are extremely expensive. Private health insurance is essential.

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Climate

The best time to visit is between October and May. The hottest time is from June to September with little rainfall.

Required clothing: Lightweights, with mediumweights from November to March; warmer clothes for evening.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No/1 Yes
Australian Yes No/3 Yes
Canadian Yes No/3 Yes
USA Yes No/3 Yes
OtherEU Yes No/2 Yes
Japanese Yes No/3 Yes

Restricted entry and transit: The Government of the United Arab Emirates refuses entry and transit to nationals of Israel.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of 3 months from date of arrival (6 months for business travel) required. Often a sponsor will hold a visitor’s passport. In these cases a receipt will be issued. This will generally be accepted in place of a passport where a transaction may require one.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of the UK with the endorsement ‘British Citizen’ for a maximum of 30 days (extendable on request up to 90 days);
(b) 2. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), for a maximum of 30 days (extendable on request up to 90 days);
(c) 3. nationals of Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, the USA and Vatican City for a maximum of 30 days (extendable on request up to 90 days);
(d) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia;
(e) transit passengers, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport for up to 12 hours.

Note: The Embassy only issues visas for diplomatic or service visits. For routine travel, visas for tourists and travellers (intending to visit family) and business travellers must be arranged via the sponsor (the hotel/package tour operator or UAE resident/company concerned). To obtain approval, the sponsor will require the visitor’s proposed flight and passport details in advance. Business visits are made by invitation only and proof of company trading licence is required.

Types of visa and cost: Visitor and Business: £20. Price given is for UK nationals but price is dependent on nationality. Multiple-entry visas are only issued in very special circumstances. In case of visa being arranged by a sponsor, the request for multiple-entry should be marked clearly.

Validity: 30 days from date of entry and 2 months from date of issue. It may be possible to extend visas on request for up to a maximum of 90 days at the local immigration office.

Application to: Sponsor (as described above).

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Duplicate application form. (d) Letter from applicant’s company/organisation (with extra copy) stipulating position held and purpose of visit. (e) Letter showing proof of sponsorship. (f) Fee, payable in cash only. (g) Sponsor’s name, address, telephone number and occupation (business activity if a company). Contact local sponsor for details of individual requirements.

Working days required: Between 1 and 5 when arranged through a sponsor. However, allowances should be made for possible delays in approval procedure. It is strongly advised to apply well in advance of departure date.

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