dubai holidays Dubai City Information

dubai holidays Dubai Airport Arrivals Information        dubai holidays During Your Stay in Dubai         
 dubai holidays  Local Lingo           dubai holidays Dubai Airport Departures Information   



Visa Services
Arriving passengers who need to collect the original visa permit at the airport can do so at the specially designated desks at the end of the Arrivals tunnel before taking the escalators to passport control desks. EU citizens and citizens of some other countries get the 90 days Tourist Visa stamped on their passport at the Immigration Control on arrival.

Passport Control
There are 32 passport control desk upon arrivals. Visitors to Dubai need a valid passport or travel document and visa. Those arriving in Dubai need not fill in the embarkation cards if their visas have been issued in Dubai. Thirty-three countries have been exempted for visa requirement. E-gates are available here for faster processing of immigration formalities. more...


Baggage Services
The baggage and conveyor belts are the widest available on the market and the checked-in baggage is tagged with a special Baggage Reconciliation System which tracks each piece of baggage from check-in through loading. All bags are scanned with barcode scanners and the system stores all information about the location of the baggage. This makes retrieval - whenever necessary - much faster.
 

Customs
Duty Free Concessions:
2 litres liquor
2 litres wine
10 cartons cigarette
100 cigars

Book your Dubai Private Arrival Airport Transfer here

Hotel Reservations
Upon arriving at Dubai International Airport, a special one stop travel desk is available in the Arrivals Hall next to the Customs X-ray machines. Passengers can book hotels, tour packages, airline tickets etc. on arrival. However, it is best to book your hotel in advance.

 

DTCM Tourist Kiosk
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dubai (DTCM) desk is available upon Arrivals after clearing customs. Tourist information, maps and sightseeing tours can be organised from here.
 

Special Lounge
A dedicated lounge for unaccompanied minors and passengers with special needs is available in the Arrivals Hall. Those waiting to receive such passengers can do so here. Airline staff or ground handling staff will bring the arriving passengers to this lounge.

Transportation
Taxi: Public transport service is very efficient in and around Dubai. Dubai Transport taxis are available 24 hrs a day in the city and at the Arrivals Terminal.
Airport shuttle service: Available between Terminal 1 and 2.
Bus service: Bus stations are located opposite both terminals. Bus nos 4, 11, 15, 33, 44 connect with Terminal 1 while bus no 2 connects with Terminal 2 connects with Terminal 2.Special Dubai International Airport Buses have also been introduced which provides custom-built air-conditioned buses with ample baggage hold.These buses serve the most popular corridors in the city center with over 80 hotels and furnished apartments within easy walking distance. The bus service targets both residents and tourists.
Car Rentals
12 car rental firms available at Arrivals Hall. Some offer specialised limousine service as well but it is advisable to pre-book you car hire.

dubai holidays  Departures   



Book your Dubai Private Departure Airport Transfer here


Check-in
The Departures Hall offers 221 check-in desks with state-of-the-art 42 inch plasma screen providing bilingual displays of flight information and also guiding passengers to the desired check-in counters. A separate and dedicated check-in facility for Emirates First and Business Class passengers is also available.
 


Passport Control & E-gate
All passengers proceeding to passport control need to have their boarding cards and passports in hand. The e-gate facility, newly introduced at Dubai International Airport, is also available here for quick passage. This is an advanced passenger clearance system that considerably accelerates the movement of traffic through electronic screening of passengers' data with the help of a smart card.
The smart card carries all the relevant information about the holder. In order to obtain the smart card, passengers need to be above 17 years of age.  They can register at the DNRD office on the first floor at Dubai International Airport in the Departures Building, Terminal 1.

Dubai Duty Free
 Located in the heart of Dubai International Airport's Sheikh Rashid Terminal, the complex covers an area of some 5,400 square meters, while the operation in Terminal 2 covers over 1,400 square meters. Arrivals shops and landside shops bring the total retail area to over 7,000 square meters.

Dubai Duty Free at Dubai International Airport has won numerous international awards and ranks among the top duty-free operations in the world. As part of the airport’s expansion for the next millennium it will quadruple in size to cover an area of 9,000 sq m.

Dubai Duty Free is open 24 hours a day and offers a wide variety of merchandise catering to the multinational passengers using Dubai International Airport.

One of the main attractions at Dubai Duty Free is the Finest Surprise raffle draw which gives passengers the chance to win a luxury car.

Shiekh Rashid Terminal Services
Quite commonly known as the 'Concourse', here one would find the main Dubai Duty Free, foodcourt, banking, internet services, entertainment for children, business facilities, medical care, special needs, airport hotel, postal, lounges, and many more services. more...

Departure Hall Services
This is the area used by both passengers and public to avail services such as ticketing, e-gate registration, Etisalat payment machines, foodcourt, and numerous other services.

 

Transportation
Taxi Public transport service is very efficient in and around Dubai. Dubai Transport taxis are available 24 hrs a day in the city and at the Arrivals Terminal.

Airport shuttle service
Available between Terminal 1 and 2.

Bus service
Bus stations are located opposite both terminals. Bus nos 4, 11, 15, 33, 44 connect with Terminal 1 while bus no 2 connects with Terminal 2.Special Dubai International Airport Buses have also been introduced which provides custom-built air-conditioned buses with ample baggage hold.
These buses serve the most popular corridors in the city center with over 80 hotels and furnished apartments within easy walking distance. The bus service targets both residents and tourists.


 

dubai holidays  During Your Stay in Dubai

Population: 757,000 (estimated)
Country: United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Main language: Arabic; English is also widely spoken.
Type of government : federation of emirates
Political subdivisions: 7 emirates

Dubai is the second largest of the emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates. It was established in the late 1950’s to serve a tiny coastal settlement. Today, Dubai is a modern metropolis with a population of over 700,000. It offers its citizens the finest in modern comforts. It is known internationally as a premier tourist destination.

Dubai is really two towns separated by Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai), an inlet of the Gulf. Deira lies to the north and Bur Dubai to the south. Both districts are packed with traditional architecture and bustling souqs, but the city centre is in Deira. Glittering new office buildings along Shaikh Zayed Rd in Bur Dubai form the core of another burgeoning city centre.

Currency: The monetary unit is the dirham (Dh) which is divided into 100 fils. The dirham is linked to the Special Drawing Right of the International Monetary Fund. It has been held constant against the US dollar since the end of 1980.

Banks: Both the local banks and the many international banks represented by branches in Dubai provide the usual commercial banking services. Transfers can be made without difficulty as there is no exchange control and the dirham is freely convertible.
Bank opening hours are 8:00am to 1:00pm, from Saturday to Wednesday, although some also open from 4:30–6:30pm. On Thursdays, banks operate only from 8:00am to noon.

Business Hours: The weekend has traditionally been Thursday afternoon and Friday, but some organizations now close on Friday and Saturday, working through Thursday afternoon instead.
Stores are similar in their opening times, but most shops remain open until 9–10pm. Department stores, boutiques, souqs and many food shops remain open on Friday, apart from prayer times (between 11:30am and 1:30pm), while larger shops re-open on a Friday afternoon at around 4–5pm.

Time zone: GMT + 4 hours (When it is noon in NY City by Eastern Standard Time; it is 8pm in Dubai) Daylight saving time is not observed.
The climate is hot and dry. The mean January temperature is 65°F. and the mean temperature in July is 92°F. The average annual rainfall is 6in.

Location: The second largest of the seven emirates which make up the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is located on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. It has an area of some 3,900 square kilometres.
Outside the city itself, the emirate is sparsely inhabited and characterized by desert vegetation.

Temperatures:

Month

High

Low

January

74F

54F

February

75F

57F

March

80F

60F

April

86F

65F

May

93F

72F

June

97F

77F

July

100F

82F

August

100F

82F

September

99F

77F

October

92F

71F

November

87F

64F

December

78F

58F

 

When to Visit:
The best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November and April, when the weather is coolest. Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year on the western calendar, is the Muslim month of fasting and is strictly adhered to throughout the UAE. That means that it's illegal, not to mention rude, to eat, drink or smoke in public from sunrise to sunset during your stay

Packing: Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Sunny, blue skies can be expected most of the year. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular, falling mainly in winter. Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but sweaters or jackets may be needed for the winter months, especially in the evenings. Compared with certain parts of the Middle East, Dubai has a very relaxed dress code. However, care should be taken not to give offence by wearing clothing which may be considered revealing

Water: Tap water is safe to drink, but visitors usually prefer locally-bottled mineral water and this is served in hotels and restaurants.

Religion: Islam is the official religion of the UAE and there are a large number of mosques throughout the city. Other religions are respected and Dubai has two Christian churches, St Mary’s (Roman Catholic) and Holy Trinity (Inter-denominational).

Alcohol: Alcohol is available in hotel and club restaurants and bars. However, restaurants outside the hotels are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is prohibited for Muslims, yet the UAE is lenient to foreigners in this regard. Alcoholic drinks are available in private clubs, hotels, and restaurants in hotels. In addition, non-Muslim expatriates can get liquor permits for purchase and consumption of alcohol in their homes; however, as permit holders, they may not sell, serve or give liquor to Muslims

Photography: Normal tourist photography is acceptable but it is considered offensive to photograph Muslim women. It is also courteous to ask permission before photographing men. In general, photographs of government buildings or military installations should not be taken.

Telephone: To call the UAE from abroad, the country code is 971 followed by the city code and the local number.

Business District: The main business district is barely 1 sq km (0.4 sq mi), bounded by Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed and Istiglal Sts to the north, Zayed the Second St to the south, Khalid bin al-Walid St to the west and As Salam St to the east.

Hijra Calendar and Method of Determining Holidays:
The Hijra (Islamic) calendar is lunar; each month begins and ends with the sighting of the new moon. There are twelve months in the Hijra calendar: Muharram, Safar, Rabi’ al-Awwal, Rabi’ al-Akhir, Jumada’ al-Ula, Jumada’ al-Akhirah, Rajab, Sha’baan, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qi’dah, Dhul-Hijjah. Each month is 29-30 days long, making the Hijra year shorter than the Gregorian year. Unlike the Gregorian day, which is from midnight to midnight, the Muslim day starts and ends at sunset. The Hijra calendar began with Prophet Mohammed’s migration from Mecca to Medina. The first year corresponds to 622 AD in the Gregorian calendar.

Holidays
Hijra New Year
Prophet’s Birthday
A significant day for many Muslims
Israa’ Wal Miraaj
The Prophet’s miraculous night journey to Heaven
UAE National Day
The official establishment of the United Arab Emirates
Eid Al Fitr
Feast of Fast Breaking at the end of the month of fasting
Eid Al Adha
Feast of Sacrifice; occurs during the pilgrimage to Mecca, commemorating the example set by Prophet Abraham
Accession Day
The day Shaikh Zayed Al Nahayan become ruler of the UAE

Holidays are subject to change according to the sighting of the moon


National Dress: The men of the Arabian peninsula wear the gleaming white (sometimes brown or gray) ankle length dishdasha. Local men wear a small skull cap (gafia), covered by the white or sometimes red-checkered head cloth (gutra) and held in place by the twisted black coil (agal). Only rarely will a national appear in western dress within the Emirates. For important occasions and men of standing, the white dishdasha is covered by a flowing black cloak (bisht) edged with gold braid.

Emirati women usually wear trousers (sirwal) fitted tightly at the ankles. Over the sirwal is worn the jillabeeya, a floor length dress which is often decorated in embroidery and covered by a black cloak (abaya). Some women cover their face with a black cloth (nikab) that only reveals the eyes and others, mostly older women, wear a canvas mask called a burga which covers eyebrows, nose and mouth. Almost all women cover their hair with a shaila or hejjab as, according to Islam, hair is private.

dubai holidays  Local Lingo

ENGLISH

 ARABIC PHONETICS
 Hello  Marhaba
 Welcome  Ehlan wa sehlan
 Good morning  Sabah El Khair
 Good evening  Masa El Khair
 Greetings   Assalam'alaikoom
 How are you?  Kaif al hal?
 Goodbye  Ma'assalama
 Please  Min Fadlak
 Yes  Na'am
 No  La
 What  Matha  or aish
 Who  Man or meen
 Where  Ayina  or wane
 Why  Lematha?
 How much? (cost)  Bekam?
 How many?  Kam?
 Excuse me  Affwan
 Thank you  Shukran
 I don't know  Lusto Adree
 Do you speak English?  Hal Tatkalam Al Engleaziah?



 

 English to Arabic Words

 ENGLISH  ARABIC PHONETICS
 Airport  Mataar
 Post office  Bareed
 Airlines office  Maktab Al Taiaran
 Bank  Bank
 Passport  Jawaz Safar
 Luggage  Aghradd
 Ticket  Tathkarah
 Taxi  Taxi
 Car  Sayarrah


 

 English to Arabic Numbers

 ENGLISH  ARABIC PHONETICS
 One  Wahid
 Two  Itnain
 Three  Thalatha
 Four  Arba'a
 Five  Khamsa
 Six  Sitta
 Seven  Sab'a
 Eight  Thamania
 Nine  Tis'a
 Ten  ‘Ashra