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VISA UPDATE »
Important, updated visa information for citizens of 33 countries . . . Go to new UAE
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CONTROLLED DRUGS GUIDELINES


UAE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGY
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Weather
A comprehensive guide to current and future events and exhibitions in the UAE
SHEIKH ZAYED - A SPECIAL TRIBUTE »
A tribute to Sheikh Zayed, founding father of the United Arab Emirates, who died 2 November, 2004 Zayed
UAE YEARBOOK 2008 »
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The complete UAE Yearbook 2008 in English, French and Arabic in pdf format. Comprehensive, up-to-date information on all aspects of the UAE.
UAE yearbook
UAE AT A GLANCE »
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Valuable concise reference source on the UAE, covering political system, economy, business, history and heritage, education, women, healthcare, tourism and environment.
UAE yearbook
THE EMIRATES – A NATURAL HISTORY »
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Natural history of the UAE, covering all animals and plants recorded in the Emirates.
UAE yearbook
TRADELINE - UAE »
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Report by National US Arab Chamber of Commerce on the UAE. Vol XV, No 3, June 2007. Includes analysis of UAE economy.
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UAE HISTORY »
UAE History
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Contacts
THE EMIRATES TOUR »
Take an on-line tour of the UAE, including the major cities and islands EMIRATES TOUR - ISLANDS AND CITIES
GOLD ARTEFACTS »
Visit UAEinteracts virtual museum which features 3D images of ancient gold jewellery Marine Life
MARINE LIFE OF THE UAE »
Turtles are among the many species covered in the marine section of UAEinteract Marine Life


The tourist

TRAVEL TIPS

General Information
General tips
Opening hours and holidays
Communications and Media
Health

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COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone and fax
The telephone network, operated by the main national telecommunication organization ETISALAT and by the recently established Du, is superb: local calls are free and direct dialling is available to over 150 countries.

The international dial code for UAE is +971. Cheap rates for international direct calls apply from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and all day on Fridays and public holidays. There is a complete list of rates at the back of each telephone directory. You do not need to use the emirate access code when dialling an internal number in that emirate. In other words to ring a number in Dubai from Abu Dhabi you must use the 04 prefix. If you are dialling a number in Abu Dhabi from another location in that emirate you will not need to use a prefix.

Yellow page directories are available for each emirate (see also www.emirates.net.ae). These can be purchased at ETISALAT offices.

Pay phones, both card and coin operated, are located throughout the UAE. Phone cards for local use (Dh30 or Dh45) are usually available from phone company offices, supermarkets, pharmacies etc.

UAE Exchange National Access Code

International Access Code

Abu Dhabi

02

+ 9712

Ajman

06

+ 9716

Al Ain

03

+ 9713

Dubai

04

+ 9714

Fujairah

09

+ 9719

Jebel Ali

04

+ 9714

Khor Fakkan

09

+ 9719

Ra’s al-Khaimah

07

+ 9717

Sharjah

06

+ 9716

Umm al-Qaiwain

06

+ 9716

ETISALAT information service

144

Du information

155

Directory enquiries

180/181


* Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Qaiwain share the access code 06 and Fujairah and Khor Fakkan the access code 09

All hotels offer fax facilities. Faxes can also be sent from ETISALAT (www.ETISALAT.co.ae) offices throughout the Emirates. The offices are recognizable by the distinctive ‘golf ball’ structures on top of each building.

Shops advertising typing and photocopying services often have fax facilities.

Mobile phones
GSM services are available and the mobile phone code within the UAE is 050.‘Speak Easy’ is a GSM mobile service for those visitors and tourists who cannot use their own mobile phones in the UAE. You can either buy a new mobile phone and purchase a temporary SIM card or use your own handset with a temporary card. Contact ETISALAT and du for details.

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Internet
ETISALAT (www.emirates.net.ae) and du (www.du.ae) provide internet services in the UAE .

Most five-star hotels offer guests internet access.

If you have brought your laptop with you, along with a modem and browsing software, you can dial 500 5333 to get connected to the internet. A charge of 15 fils per minute is billed to the telephone to which you are connected. For more details call 800 5244.

The British Council Library in Dubai (04 3371540) also offers internet access from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5 p.m.–8p.m.

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Post
Emirates Post (EmPost) runs an efficient postal system with red post collection boxes dotted throughout the cities and towns. Mail is usually collected morning and evening. Stamps can be purchased and post mailed from your hotel. Express postal facilities are also available at post offices.

In general, post office opening hours are from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. and 4 p.m.–7 p.m. Sunday to Thursday. Note that there are no telephone or fax facilities at post offices in the UAE and poste restante facilities are not available.


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MEDIA

Newspapers
Most foreign newspapers can be purchased in hotels, large bookshops and supermarkets, at least in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Local newspapers are available in English and Arabic. These can be very useful not only for practical information on events, local business news, TV programmes etc, but also to obtain a flavour of the society that you are visiting. The three English language dailies are Gulf News, Gulf Today and Khaleej Times. A number of local publications also have websites:

Gulf News www.gulfnews.com
Khaleej Times www.khaleejtimes.com
Gulf Business www.gulfbusiness.com
Gulf Today www.godubai.com/gulftoday
Al-Khaleej www.alkhaleej.co.ae
Al Bayan www.albayan.co.ae
Al Ittihad www.alittihad.co.ae
Emirates Evening Post www.emirateseveningpost.com
Seven Days www.7days.ae

Magazines
Foreign magazines are available from newsagents and supermarkets. A number of general interest English language magazines are also published in the UAE – again these can be purchased from newsagents or supermarkets. Some are particularly useful.Whats On is a monthly publication with up-to-date information on nightlife, restaurants, events etc.

Time Out Dubai and Time Out Abu Dhabi, more recent additions, are also full of information.

TV and radio guide - CLICK HERE

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