UAE, in full detail

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - a young state with a history of 36 years, was founded as a result of the unification on December 2, 1971 of six principalities (emirates): Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Kuwain and Fujairah. In February 1972, the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah joined the UAE.

Capital countries - the city of Abu Dhabi, where about 700 thousand people live. The head of state is the president - His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Population The UAE is only 20% indigenous, the rest come from other countries in the Arab region, as well as from India and Southeast Asia.

The annual population growth of the UAE is about 6.5%, and in 2006 its total number was to reach 4.1 million people (according to the latest census).

The United Arab Emirates is located in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula and borders on Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, between 22 ° and 26 ° north latitude and between 51 ° and 56 ° east longitude. To the northwest of the UAE is Qatar. Saudi Arabia stretches west, south and south-east from the Emirates, and Oman - to the south and north-east.

Square countries - about 83,600 square meters. km - approximately equal to the area of ​​the Leningrad region. UAE coastline - 600 km of the Persian Gulf coast and 100 km of the Gulf of Oman. climate

Climate in the UAE, dry subtropical. Rains are extremely rare, they occur in the winter period (November February). In winter, the average temperature at night is + 15 ° C, during the day + 21 ° C. In summer, the average temperature at night is + 30 ° C, and during the day + 40 ° C. The water temperature on the beaches in winter is + 19 ° C, in summer + 35 ° C.

The average monthly readings of air temperature, humidity and rainfall are given in the table:

You may notice that the hottest and driest month of the year is July, the coldest is January, and the rainiest is February. One of the features of the UAE climate is the low oxygen content in the air - about 80% of the usual. Therefore, some tourists during their stay in the country may experience slight lethargy and drowsiness.

From October to May, the UAE has wonderful warm weather. The temperature does not exceed 35 ° C, the sun is not as merciless as in summer, evenings are warm and quiet. It is during these months that the peak of the tourist season falls.

In summer, the air temperature can exceed + 50 ° C, even many locals during this period leave for other countries where the climate is not so merciless. Clothing made from cotton and cotton-based fabrics is ideal for hot summer time. In winter, when it can be cool at night and in the morning, you may need a sweater.

Is the local climate harmful to health?

Not so much heat is harmful as frequent temperature changes during the transition from the street to the air-conditioned room and back. Although, of course, do not forget about the awning, a hat and sunblock. It is advisable to drink at least six glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration. Doctors also recommend eating more vegetables and fruits, as well as drinking laban (a local fermented milk drink) to cool the body.

The water in the hotel pools is cooled in the summer, otherwise it would have warmed up to 35 degrees and would not bring a feeling of freshness.

The main life in the UAE begins in the evening, so do not be discouraged if you safely overslept in the room the first half of the day.

Arriving here in the summer, you can significantly save on accommodation and flights. In addition, in the summer, the Dubai Summer Surprises festival is held, including all kinds of show programs and sales.

Visas

The following types of visas exist in the UAE today:

Visit Visa

Must be sponsored by a private person (relative) or company in the UAE. A package of documents for a visa is submitted directly by the sponsor. It is issued for 2 months with the possibility of extension for another 1 month.

Holders of passports of some countries have the opportunity to receive a free visit visa for a period of 30 days at the airport upon arrival in the UAE, with the possibility of its further extension. These countries include: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra , San Marino, Liechtenstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Tourist Visa It is issued to tourists sponsored by travel agencies and hotels in the UAE. Validity period - 30 days. Not extendable.

Entrance visa for special missions (Special Mission Entry Visa).

It is issued without the possibility of extension for a period of 14 days. The finished visa is collected at the airport upon arrival. Used by business people and tourists sponsored by businesses or hotels in the UAE.

Mission Visa

A new type of visa for holders of temporary work permits in the UAE. It is issued for a maximum period of 180 days. It was introduced for holders of a temporary work permit. Thus, in order to obtain this type of visa, the applicant must provide a temporary work permit to the Ministry of Labor of the UAE.

Transit Visa

It is issued free of charge to transit passengers directly at airports for a period of 96 hours and is sponsored by any of the airlines operating in the UAE. To obtain a transit visa, you must provide a valid ticket for the next flight.

Multi-Visa (Multiple Entry Visa).

It is issued to businessmen who constantly come to the UAE for a short period of time. It is done on the basis of an agreement with a large local company. Validity - 6 months from the date of issue. Each of the visits should not exceed 30 days. To obtain this type of visa, you must enter the UAE on a visit visa and apply here for a multi-visa.

Visa of the resident (Residence Visa).

It is issued to persons wishing to reunite with a family living in the UAE. Validity period is 3 years. A visa is automatically canceled if its holder is not in the UAE for more than 6 months. Parents of residents of the UAE receive this type of visa after special approval. Visa of parents after 3 years can be renewed annually. A deposit of 5000 dirhams ($ 1367) is paid for each parent, which is returned after the visa is closed.

Investor Visa

Issued to foreign investors with a local partner.

Work Visa

A work visa (work permit) is issued by the Immigration Department to a foreign citizen who has an invitation to work in the Emirates, certified by the UAE Ministry of Labor. Valid for two months from the date of issue. It makes it possible to enter the country for up to 30 days. During this time, the employer must begin applying for a resident visa.

How to open a tourist visa to the United Arab Emirates?

Tourist visas are opened by the immigration service. For this, travel agencies or hotels registered in the UAE submit documents for their opening. As a rule, a visa is opened at the request of the sending party.

The receiving party usually refuses the request from a private person, since in this case it may be difficult for her to receive a 100% guarantee of payment and the tourist’s return home before the visa expires.

Is it true that the UAE does not open visas for girls under 30?

In the Emirates there are no age restrictions on the opening of visas. However, the UAE authorities from time to time do restrict the issuing of visas to single young women.

Knowing about this practice, travel agencies try to avoid possible problems and refuse to apply for visas if the tourist is less than 30 years old.

However, a woman up to 30 years old without a visa is opened if she flies with her husband or father - namesakes. Another option is when the girl leaves a guarantee at the travel agency, guaranteeing her timely return. You can also solve the problem by booking and paying for a five-star hotel - in this case, the probability of being refused is much lower. If you refused to open a visa in one travel agency - look for another.

Can problems arise if husband and wife have different surnames?

Problems can only arise when applying for entry visas, especially if the wife is less than 30 years old. If visas are already open, then there will be no problems at the entrance to the country. To exclude the possibility of unpleasant situations, take a marriage certificate. Some travel agencies recommend translating it into English and notarizing it, but most often it is an unnecessary reinsurance.

Do I need an original UAE entry visa at Russian customs?

To fly out of the country, the original visa is not needed - just have a copy in your hands, transmitted by fax. Large travel companies send their customers without a copy of visas at all. They present to the border guards of the CIS countries their own document, which contains a list of departures, on which a visa is guaranteed to be obtained. Tourists receive the original visa at the airport of arrival: individuals through a special visa delivery service, organized tourists - from an employee of the host travel company. Recently, the emirate of Dubai has begun issuing the so-called "electronic" tourist visas, fully issued through the Internet. Such visas do not have the original at all - only a copy that is transmitted via e-mail or fax. Accordingly, at the UAE airport, the original of such a visa does not need to be obtained - you can go to passport control with a regular copy. An important addition: today Dubai “electronic” visas are valid only in two emirates - Dubai and Sharjah.

Why do they scan the retina when entering the UAE?

Scanning the retina (eye control) allows you to stop the entry into the country of people who had previously been deported from the UAE and were blacklisted. Today, almost 100% of foreigners entering the country are subjected to this procedure, which often leads to large queues at arrival. Those who pass this control receive a stamp on the visa (or copies thereof) and can go for passport control.

Customs restrictions

Per adult, it is allowed to import up to 2 thousand cigarettes, 400 cigars or 2 kg of tobacco into the UAE. Non-Muslims can bring up to 2 liters of spirits and the same amount of wine for personal use. Photo and video materials, as well as printed materials of reprehensible and frivolous content, are prohibited for import. The import of drugs, weapons, psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited. There are no restrictions on the import and export of currency and products from precious metals, but customs has traditionally shown increased interest in very large quantities of currency and jewelry.

What drugs are banned for import and use in the country?

In Dubai you can buy almost everything you are used to. Therefore, take medication with you only in case of emergency, and with a doctor’s prescription explaining why you need just such a number of medications. The fact is that many drugs contain (to one degree or another) narcotic substances. For example, codeine in the Emirates is prohibited and is considered as a drug that changes the human psyche. The import of illicit drugs without an accompanying permit is fraught with imprisonment and deportation from the country.

Tongue

The official language is Arabic. But the vast majority of the population speaks excellent English. Hindi and Urdu are also widely used. Most of the shopkeepers, hotel and telephone network employees speak English, and you can often hear Russian.

Will the country's guests feel comfortable without knowledge of English?

Quite. Up to half a million Russian tourists come to the UAE annually, so the local market has adapted to it. In expensive hotels, as a rule, there is a Russian-speaking staff. The same applies to large stores (as well as small ones around Nasser Square). Don't be afraid to look like a black sheep with your English.

Religion

The UAE state religion is Islam, on the basis of which the country's legislation is largely built. The country respects other religions as well - no one is forbidden to perform religious rites and to celebrate holidays, provided that this does not violate public order and does not sow hostility between peoples. For example, in Dubai, there are two Christian churches: St. Mary and the Holy Trinity, for immigrants from India - the Temple of Krishna, the Temple of Shiva, the Temple of Sikh-Gurudwara.

Is there an Orthodox church in Dubai?

Yes, in the UAE there is a community of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). The community does not yet have a temple, but regular services are held on certain days. In Dubai, services are held in the building of the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity (in Bar Dubai, on Ud Metha Street), in Sharjah in the temple of the Armenian Church (Yarmouk district). On September 9, 2007, the foundation stone of the first Russian Orthodox church on the Arabian Peninsula, which will be built in Sharjah, in the Al Yarmouk area, was consecrated. Now the parishioners are collecting donations for the construction of the church, which will officially belong to the parish of the Apostle Philip, registered in the UAE. All services are conducted by the abbot of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tehran, Father Superior Alexander (Zarkeshev). Contact phones: (050) 787 0612, (050) 589 1263.

Currency

UAE Dirham is divided into 100 fils. Currently in circulation are coins in denominations of 25 fils (antelope), 50 fils (oil derricks) and 1 dirham (coffee pot), as well as denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 dirhams. Common abbreviations are AED or DHS. The dirham course is strictly 3.66 per US dollar, or about 4.4 dr.h for the euro and about 6.5 dr./ for the British pound. Tourists do not have problems with currency exchange: there are a large number of exchange points in the country.

Almost all trading enterprises accept for payment the currency of different countries and credit cards. On the streets, in banks, supermarkets there are many ATMs that work with all payment systems: American Express, MasterCard, Visa and others.

What currency is the most profitable to bring with you? What is better to pay in stores?

It is better to pay when shopping with local currency - dirhams. The course of $ 1 = 3.66 dirhams has not changed since 1983. Coins of the same denomination can have different sizes. Bargaining, you can get in dirhams big discounts than when paying in currency. In stores where prices are fixed, it is also better to pay in dirhams: the exchange rates established there are clearly underestimated. In exchange offices at hotels it is worth changing the currency only in case of emergency - there is an unprofitable rate. Large amounts are best changed in numerous exchangers in the city.

The majority of the population of the UAE is made up of immigrants from other countries, so on every corner you can freely exchange the dirhams of the currency of India, the Philippines, as well as euros, pounds and money from all countries of the Middle East. However, the best option for today is US dollars, which in the UAE are still more popular than other types of currency. Definitely not worth carrying banknotes of the CIS countries, including the Russian ruble. Unused dirhams can be exchanged back without problems.

In case you are left without money, relatives can send you the required amount through the universally located offices of Western Union.

Cafes, restaurants, bars

The restaurants and bars, of which there are a great many in the UAE, will offer you the cuisine of any country in the world: here you can taste Chinese, Iranian, Arabic, Lebanese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Italian, Japanese, Polynesian, Spanish, English, French, Greek, as well as Russian and Uzbek dishes.

In the UAE, despite the hot climate, you can not be afraid for the quality of products and finished products from them even on the street: an incorruptible sanitary-epidemiological service strictly monitors compliance with all necessary norms and rules. Restaurants in hotels mainly offer international cuisine, as well as original, incomparable local dishes of lamb, chicken and fish, spicy seasonings and sauces.

How much money do you have to spend on food?

If you are satisfied with a lunch of salted kefir (0.5 drx), shawarma (2.5 drx) and some fruit, then it will cost you less than $ 2. Juice or Coca-Cola from a vending machine cost 1 drh. Residents of city hotels can easily find two or three establishments within the radius of "walking distance" offering a buffet for 15-20 drx (about $ 5), especially if you arrive there before 16.00. For 30-40 drh ($ 8-11) you can finally feel like a Swede in quite good restaurants, for example, Apple between Twin Towers skyscrapers. In addition, in large supermarkets like Spinney's, you can buy ready-made take-away food. Say, fried chicken is only 7 drh there.

To whom and how much should I leave "for tea"?

In many restaurants, tips are included in the cost of the service (Service charge 16%), but if the menu does not say this, then when paying the bill you need to add about 10% of the amount. The carrier at the airport or hotel is usually given 5-10 drx.

Where can I smoke hookah in Dubai?
How much does it cost and is it unhealthy?

There are many Arabian coffee houses in the city. These are small cozy cafes in the Arabic style, very different in class. Their menu includes coffee, tea, oriental sweets and hookah. These establishments are in special demand among the local population, leading a calm, measured lifestyle. It is here that the Arabs relax, having leisurely conversations, playing backgammon, smoking a hookah, or simply contemplating the world around them. We recommend visiting one of these establishments in order to fully plunge into the atmosphere of the East and slow down your life rhythm.

Usually smoking a hookah (in Arabic it is called "shisha") costs about 15 drx ($ 4). If you are not familiar with this device, do not be shy: the waiter will be happy to show you how to use it, and will also quickly change extinct coal. If you wish, you can buy your device for "nargile" for 100-150 dirhams ($ 27-41). If they ask for more, be careful: you may be "fooled." Hookah tobacco is sold even in the smallest stores. The effect of getting used to it does not occur. After examining the pack, you will see that it contains 10-20 times less tar and nicotine than your favorite cigarettes. People with hookahs can be seen in any cafe or restaurant located at every step. You can read about how to choose and prepare hookah for work in the eighth issue of the Russian Emirates magazine (p. 62).

Weekend

Government offices are closed on Friday and Saturday. The day off at the offices of private companies is Friday. At banks, Thursday is a short day (until 12:00). Shops, shopping and entertainment centers work seven days a week.

Local time

In summer, the local time coincides with Moscow, in winter it overtakes it by 1 hour. There is no translation of arrows on the seasons here.

Behavior rules

In the UAE, as in any other country, modesty and restraint are the norm for both local residents and guests from abroad, who must respect the laws, rules and customs of the country in which they are located.

What clothes to choose for traveling around the country and visiting public places?

Nobody forces you to wear a burqa, but still the United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country. When choosing clothes, you should avoid miniskirts, deep necklines and translucent dresses on a naked body. Particular attention should be given to clothing for tourists living in the emirate of Sharjah, the most conservative in this regard. Too frank outfit can create problems for you not only with the police, but also with local womanizer, who will immediately begin to make you "romantic" offers.

Is it true that you can’t kiss in public?

To show more than friendly feelings in public places is prohibited under the threat of a major fine.

Is cohabitation allowed for unmarried persons?

Although five-star hotels are loyal to couples, it is best not to abuse their tolerance. Before flirting with anyone, think carefully: both of you are seriously at risk. If he turns out to be a secret agent of the "morale police", then you will find a prison and expulsion from the country. The deportation note in your passport can complicate subsequent overseas voyages.

Can I drink alcohol in the Emirates?

Alcohol is prohibited for Muslims. This prohibition does not apply to visitors unless they profess Islam. It is strongly not recommended to offer or give alcohol to Muslims, as well as to drive while intoxicated. If you are "taken to the chest" in a restaurant, bar or disco, try to silently walk to the exit, catch a taxi and return to the hotel. Drinking alcohol, including beer, in public places (on a street bench, in a park, on the beach) is fraught with a fine and imprisonment.

Do I need to have a passport when traveling around the country?

No no need. It is enough to have photocopies of passports and visas. The originals are best left in the safe - in the hotel room or at the reception. The loss of a passport threatens a very big trouble until the arrest for the period necessary to obtain a new passport or certificate from the consulate. In any case, in case of conflicts with the police, do not try to offer money. Giving a bribe is likely to be a much more serious crime than what you tried to pay off.

Do Arabs have hostility towards Russians or people of any other nationality?

All local residents, including customs officers and border guards, are traditionally welcoming and hospitable. And this is not a game - because the Emirates, unlike Egypt and Turkey, do not live at the expense of tourists. Most jobs in the service sector are occupied by Arabs from neighboring countries, as well as immigrants from the CIS and Southeast Asia. So it is unlikely that you will be able to communicate with local Arabs in everyday life (unless you yourself are curious about them).

Try to keep your interest from looking like an invasion of privacy. Do not photograph the inside of the house in the absence of the owner, the interiors of mosques, praying people and especially Muslim women - the latter is prohibited by law.

Avoid all that can be perceived as disrespect for shrines. A case is known, for example, when a guest from Britain parked near a mosque and was fined $ 1,100 for refusing to turn off loud music in the car during a call to prayer.

Purchases

The widest selection of goods and affordable prices, free trade zones and low duties are the reasons why the Emirates are often called the "paradise for customers."

Numerous shopping centers and markets (Souk), supermarkets and individual stores offer a huge assortment of goods at relatively low prices. Here, among other things, you will find a grandiose selection of gold jewelry, precious and semiprecious stones, Bedouin handicrafts. We advise you to bargain in small shops and markets when making a purchase - the initial price can significantly decrease.

UAE - haute couture haute couture country, many world famous brands are represented here. It is a real pleasure to make purchases at low prices, both in expensive stores and in general stores.

Where can I get alcoholic drinks?

Alcohol is available in restaurants and hotel bars; its prices are comparable to Moscow. Takeaway is not permitted. In restaurants, fast foods and snack bars located in the city (not at the hotel), alcohol is not served. In specialized stores, alcoholic drinks can only be purchased by foreigners living in the UAE, who have received permission from local authorities and only within the framework of the quota established for them . In this regard, we can assume that the alcohol that was brought with you or purchased in Duty Free upon arrival in the UAE is all that a tourist can count on.

Are condoms sold everywhere in the Emirates?

Condoms in the UAE are freely sold in all supermarkets and pharmacies, as well as at gas stations.

Does the UAE have Russian literature?

In many hotels and bookstores of major Dubai stores, you can buy books by Marinina and Dontsova, Cosmopolitan and Caravan of History magazines, Argumenty i Fakty newspapers, Mother-in-law Teschin, as well as Speed-Info with pictures painted with a marker. Demand free copies of the Russian Emirates, Business Emirates and Keys of the East magazines, which are published in the UAE in Russian, from representatives of the host travel company. Remember also that the hut-reading room and the book department in the supermarket are not exactly the same thing.

Accommodation

Tourists in the UAE are presented with a wide selection of beach resort complexes and hotels of any category, including the world-famous for their luxury Emirates Palace and Burj Al Arab hotels of the 5 star deluxe class. For a longer stay in the United Arab Emirates, it is better to rent a hotel type apartment. It is also possible to rent or buy an apartment in a skyscraper, a villa on the beach or even a cozy cottage on any of the artificial islands.

Can a tourist live "wild" in a tent by the sea?

For "wild" hikes, the East Bank, especially the Khorba Kalba Nature Reserve, is more suitable. In the UAE, you still need a visa and a hotel. In the hot summer, a hike is feasible if you have an air-conditioned car, as well as experience in the desert. Otherwise, such an "extreme" you are unlikely to like. After he will have to take another vacation to take a break from the "Bedouin" life. Having accidentally crossed the border with Oman (you will find out about this by looking at the mobile phone), try not to linger on its territory in order to avoid problems with the police. For mountain lovers, we recommend the neighborhood of Hutta, where, however, there is no sea.

Why do you need to leave a deposit (cash deposit) when checking into a hotel?

In most coastal hotels in Dubai, as well as in some city hotels, tourists are asked to pay a deposit of $ 200-1000 per room (payable in cash or by credit card) in case of additional costs that are not included in the room price - use of a minibar, long-distance calls and etc. The deposit is refunded on the day of departure (in dirhams, at the hotel rate) minus the amount you spent, as well as the cost of damaged or broken furniture.

Do hotels have Russian television channels?

In most hotels working with Russian-speaking tourists (and there are more than 100 such in the UAE), TVs receive programs in Russian.

If a person goes to Dubai to work under a contract and the company provides him with housing, then which areas should not be settled?

We cannot give general recommendations: each district has its own pros and cons. Even in the slums you can find a good house (and vice versa - a ruin on the main street). Ask your Dubai friends to see not only the area, but also the house itself: find out when it is built, whether it has a sauna, pool and gym, if you have your own toilet with a bath in the room. All this here is considered not "bells and whistles", but a standard sign of normal housing. Avoid houses with window air conditioners (window A / C), and in houses with a central cooling system (central A / C) - the last floors where you can hear the noise of a working cooler. If you do not like the rumble of take-off planes, try not to settle north of the airport.

Evaluate soberly your financial opportunities and think about who you would like to see as your neighbors: immigrants from India, Russians or, say, Arabs. Please note that if your work and home are shared by Dubai Creek Bay, you will lose not only money for a taxi every day, but also time for standing in traffic jams. On the other hand, do not flatter yourself with the pedestrian accessibility of work: even one kilometer will appear in the heat by way to Calvary. Demand that you include the item "transportation costs" in the contract. The 8th issue of Russian Emirates magazine contains an article entitled Russian Troubles (p. 52), which describes in detail the search for a rented apartment in Dubai.

How can a tourist from a hotel get to the beach without spending a taxi?

As a rule, all city hotels, regardless of level, offer guests a free daily shuttle service. Buses provided by the hotel take tourists to the beach in the morning, and bring them back for lunch. The timetables for these buses can be found at the hotel reception. You can also use the services of regular buses.

Transport

The most preferred means of transportation is a taxi, which can be stopped right on the street. It will cost slightly less than parking near the hotel. In Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, taxis are equipped with meters. The fare in Dubai is 1.25 drx per kilometer plus 3 drx (after 22.00 - 3.5 drx) per landing. The cost of landing in a special "female" taxi with a pink roof is 6 drh. On average, a short trip within the city will cost you 15-25 drx ($ 4-7). Keep in mind that the price of a taxi depends not only on the distance of the distance on the map, but also on the number of traffic jams.

You can call a taxi in Dubai by calling (04) 208 0808. In this case, the cost of boarding a taxi will also be 6 drx in the daytime, and not 3 drx, as indicated earlier. Typically, taxis are on duty at hotels or they are called by the concierge. You can stop a taxi in the city with your raised hand, but you should do it where it is possible to park the car so that it does not interfere with the traffic flow (for example, at a bus stop or at a "pocket" for parking). There are also taxis operating outside the city (long distance). You can travel alone in them, but then you have to pay for all the places - or you can go to the company of fellow travelers, dividing the cost for each. Long-haul taxis leave from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bar Dubai and from the bus station on Al Ittihad Square in Deira. This way you can get from Dubai to Hatta or Al Ain for 150 drh, for 100 to Fujairah and 25 to Sharjah. Keep in mind that not all taxis are equipped with meters in Sharjah, and when traveling from Abu Dhabi outside the city, the price should be discussed with the driver in advance.

For those who like to save money on everything, there is such a kind of transport as regular buses, which run every half an hour on different routes. A trip inside Dubai (in the company of citizens of India and Pakistan) will cost 1.5 drx, that is, less than $ 0.5. The two main bus stations are Al Ghubaiba in Bar Dubai and the Gold Souk in Deira. From them you can drive not only to Jumeirah Beach (bus number 8), but also to other emirates. For example, from Bar Dubai, buses leave for Abu Dhabi (15 drx), Al Ain and Sharjah. Buses to Fujairah (25 drh) and the eastern emirates leave the bus station at Al Ittihad Square in Deira. (By the way, bus No. 22 passes through it to Al Mamzar beach.) If in the latter case the ticket can be purchased directly from the driver, then in other places the ticket purchase system can be different - say, when traveling to Abu Dhabi, you should first take a seat in salon, and then go to the cashier.

Many buses in the UAE are equipped with transparent partitions that separate female seats from male ones. But even where these partitions do not exist, the lady has the right to demand that a male neighbor not be seated to her.

Details of Dubai buses can be obtained at major stops equipped with maps and timetables. For more information, visit the Dubai Department of Public Transport at www.dubaipublictransport. ae. The map posted on the site will allow you to take a virtual walk around the city. The site is bilingual - in Arabic and English.

Finally, there remains such an exotic mode of transport as the lightweight 20-seat boat abra, the lines of which connect the embankments of Deira and Bar Dubai.The number of stations is constantly increasing, so perhaps soon they will be located not only near the Twin Towers shopping center, Al Sabha Street, Spice Market (Deira) and the Old Bazaar (Bar Dubai). A crossing that takes several minutes costs only 1 drh. Stock up on a coin in advance.

Can i rent a car?

Practice shows that the Russian (Kazakhstan, Ukrainian, etc.) driving licenses are normal. The only condition is that the car must be rented through a car rental company (rent-a-car). You do not have the right to drive a car that is not taken from an official car rental company.

In general, the rules of the road in the UAE are no different from the rules in the CIS countries. If you have experience driving a car in a large city, then it will not be difficult for you to join the traffic flow of the United Arab Emirates. The traffic in the UAE is right-handed. The roads here are with excellent surface, without potholes and pits. There are some positive differences in the organization of traffic (compared with Russia). So, for example, at almost every major intersection there are road branches that allow you to make a right turn, bypassing a traffic light, which helps a lot during peak hours. The intense rhythm of movement led to the emergence of another rule - all, without exception, roundabouts in the UAE are organized according to the principle: movement along the ring - movement along the main road.

Another positive point: with a confidence of 95%, it can be argued that if you have not committed a serious violation (accident, driving at a red light), the traffic inspector will never stop you. For minor violations (unfastened seat belt, talking on a cell phone while driving while driving, a slight speeding) you will not be stopped. They simply enter the car number into the computer database and you will have to pay a fine when returning the rental car. Moreover, the authorities do not even bother to send out penal receipts. Most violators learn about fines issued only at the time of the annual technical inspection.

Unpleasant features.

Firstly, the location of information road signs: they are not set for

Watch the video: UAE Explained (April 2024).