Business contacts

Mobile phones The UAE uses the GSM network, so most mobile phones are compatible. ETISALAT’s pre-paid Wasel service allows you to use a local SIM card and get a local number (codes always start with 050). Top-up cards are widely available at kiosks, bookshops and vending machines in the malls.

Car hire There are many choices here, including Avis (Tel: 295 7121), Autolease (Tel: 282 6565), Budget (Tel: 224 5192), Europcar (Tel: 339 4433) and Thrifty (Tel: 337 0743). DEL (Tel: 050 695 7160, website: www.dubaiexoticlimo.com) offers a 24-hour service.
Office rental is available from Regus
Instant Offices Worldwide (Tel: 211 5100, Fax: 211 5101).
Translators can be hired from Elite
Translators (Tel: 223 3607) Saturday-Wednesday 9am-1pm and 4pm-8pm, Thursday 9am-1pm, closed Friday.

Local press

Gulf News, Gulf Today and Khaleej Times are the English-language daily papers. Time Out (www.timeoutdubai.com) is a monthly, self-proclaimed ‘obsessive’ guide in the West, but renamed an ‘intelligent’ guide to life for its Dubai version, though equally covering it all.

There are also What’s On and Concierge magazine, found in the rooms of top five-star hotels. Plus there are plenty of glossy magazines, which seem to be increasing in number quite rapidly.

Internet

Al Jalssa Internet Café, Al Ain Centre, Computer plaza, bur Dubai, Tel: 351 617, open daily 9am-2am.
Browse House Internet Café, Sky Tower, ground floor, Sheikh Zayed Road, Tel: 343 9817, open daily 9am-midnight, Friday 12pm-midnight.
French Connection, Sheikh Zayed Road, Tel: 343 8311, open daily 7am-midnight.

Money

The currency is the UAE dirham, which is pegged to the US dollar. The current rate is approximately Dhs7 to £1. Banks are open Saturday-Wednesday 8am-1pm, 8am-noon on Thursday and closed on Friday. All major credit cards are accepted in most establishments. Bureaux de change include Al Fardan (Tel: 228 0004), Al Ghurair (Tel: 351 8895) and Thomas Cook (Tel: 222 3564).

Bargaining is best left to the souks, where cash is always an advantage. Remember, when they quote you a price, always offer half and barter up from there. In the end you’ll arrive at a price that suits both of you.

Tipping etiquette

It is customary to tip when you feel you have received good service, although it’s not obligatory. Gratuities are at your discretion. Most restaurants add service charges to the bill, but whether you want to leave an extra tip is up to you. If the service charge isn’t added, the usual tip is 10% of the bill.

Taxi drivers often give you part of your change and wait to see if you ask for the rest. Tipping them is discretionary but most customers give a few dirhams extra. Supermarket baggers and windscreen washers are usually given Dhs2 (28p).

Visa/vaccination

As visa regulations change frequently, it’s worth checking with your local embassy, but American and British nationals don’t need to obtain a visa before travelling.

No vaccinations are needed, but avoid the tap water, dairy products, raw salads and kebabs if you have a sensitive stomach.

Public holidays

The fixed dates are as follows:
1st January — New Year’s Day
11th January — Mount Arafat Day
6th August — Accession of Sheikh Zayed
2nd December — UAE National Day Variable dates include:
Eid Al Adha — a three-day feast to mark the end of the haj pilgrimage to Mecca
Ras al Sana — Islamic New Year
Mawlid al-Nabi — The prophet Mohammed’s birthday
Lailat Al Mi’raj — the accession day of the prophet Mohammed
Eid Al Fitr — the three days at the end of Ramadan

Weather and climate

Check in hourly, daily and monthly at www.weather.com, and it will become obvious that it is a long, hot summer in Dubai. However, if you don’t have the option and need to plan your trip during dog days, you may at least enjoy ‘Dubai Summer Surprises’, a blockbuster festival complete with mascot Modhesh (an irritating smiley yellow creature). Best summer news is: as the heat rises the hotel rates fall drastically—from June until mid-September. October through February is the best, March and April start to heat up and the humidity creeps up to a serious heat wave come June. The average January temperature is 24C, and in July it goes up to 41C.

Suggested reading

Bedouin: Nomads of the Desert by Alan Keohane.
Images of Dubai and the UAE by Alistair MacKenzie et al.
Crossing The Sands by Wilfred Thesiger.
The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power by Daniel Yergin.