Business Tips

Dubai Dress Code: Clothing should be conservative in Dubai. Women should avoid wearing revealing or tightly fitting clothing, especially in rural areas, and go for garments such as loosely cut trousers and long dresses.

Greeting Someone in Dubai: Usual practice is the use of 'Sayed' (Mr) or 'Sayeda' (Mrs) followed by the first name. The first name should always be prefixed with the honorific title, especially in business situations.

Business Hours and Banking: Dubai's business community works Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 20:00. Banking hours in Dubai are from 08:00 to 13:00, Saturday to Wednesday, although some also open from 16:30 to 18:30. On Thursdays, banks are open between 08:00 and 12:00.

Smoking: Attitudes to smoking in Dubai are the same as in Europe, and in most cases it is obvious where not to smoke. Visitors should remember that during Ramadan, it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public.

When to Visit - Arts and Events

Dubai's Muslim festivals, held annually on varying dates, include Ramadan, the four-week religious fast, which always ends in the festival Eid al-Fitr. The Islamic New Year and the Prophet's Birthday are the two main celebrations.

Observing Etiquette

Some other matters of etiquette to observe include:

• Only use your right hand when offering or receiving things
• Always ask permission before taking photographs, especially of native women
• Be mindful of religious practices to avoid causing offence
• Avoid pointing the soles of your feet directly at other people
  

Dubai Tipping Advice

Tipping is not a widely established practice in the UAE, as restaurants prefer to include a service charge. Given the low salary of many waiters, however, tips are greatly appreciated.

When to Visit - Arts and Events

Dubai's Muslim festivals, held annually on varying dates, include Ramadan, the four-week religious fast, which always ends in the festival Eid al-Fitr. The Islamic New Year and the Prophet's Birthday are the two main celebrations.

Dubai Dining

Traditional Middle Eastern cuisine consists of the staples 'fuul', made from broad beans flavoured with lemon juice, garlic and spices; and 'felafel', which is fried chick pea paste and lamb or chicken served in pita bread and sold as 'shwarma'. Houmos is a widely available local speciality and tastes delightfully different from the westernised mayonnaise emulsion version. Of course, it is very easy to find all the old favourites in this cosmopolitan city: pizzas, pasta, steak, salads, shellfish platters, Indian cuisine and fast-food burger bars, but the country's traditional dishes are well worth sampling. Fresh produce stalls in the souks contain an extraordinary variety of highly exotic, colourful fruit, begging to be tried. In Dubai, alcohol is only available in restaurants and the more expensive hotels.

PASSPORT/VISA

Passports

Passport valid for a minimum of three months from date of arrival (six 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) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above (UK nationals must travel with a passport reading 'British Citizen' as national status), except 1. nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia, who do need a visa for touristic or business stays of up to 30 days;

(b) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, and Vatican City for stays of up to 30 days;

(c) nationals of Gulf Co-operation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia);

(d) transit passengers, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport for up to 12 hours.

Restricted entry and transit
The Government of the United Arab Emirates refuses entry and transit to those holding transit documents issued from Lebanon or the Syrian Arab Republic, and travel documents issued by the Coalition Authority in Iraq, should their visas be obtained through an associate in the UAE.

HEALTH

Remarkably, the UAE was one of only two countries with no reported cases of holiday illnesses recorded in a survey by the leading British consumer magazine, Holiday Which? This is a tribute to the success of government immunization programmes, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness in hotels and restaurants.

Vaccinations

No special immunizations are required, however it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area. Tetanus inoculations are usually recommended if you are considering a long trip. Polio has been virtually eradicated in the UAE and hepatitis is very rare and can be avoided by taking precautions. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food and water, Hepatitis B, C, D through sexual contact, the use of unsterilized needles and blood transfusions.

Malaria

There are very few mosquitoes in the towns and cities and, since it is not considered to be a risk, malaria tablets are rarely prescribed for travel in the UAE. However, mosquitoes will find you if you are camping near the mountains or exploring wadis or date groves in the evening, so cover up and use a suitable insect repellent as it is always safer to avoid being bitten. If you are in any doubt consult your doctor or your nearest tropical medical centre before your trip.

Sunburn

The sun can be fierce throughout the year so heatstroke and heat exhaustion are always a risk. Adequate sunglasses, hats and high factor sun creams are essential, especially for children.

Health insurance

Public hospitals, where the medical facilities are very good, will deal with emergencies free of charge, however it would be wise to take out medical insurance to cover all eventualities, especially if you need to attend a private hospital or clinic where treatment can be quite expensive. In all instances, medical procedures, including the use of sterilized needles and the provision of blood transfusions are very reliable.

Doctors

If you need a doctor, ask at your hotel, or ring your embassy for recommendations. If you need emergency treatment and are unable to contact a doctor, try one of the major hospitals listed below.

Pharmacies

Most medicines are readily available at pharmacies. Each emirate has at least one pharmacy open 24 hours a day. Check in local newspapers for information. In some emirates a 24-hour municipality emergency number (Abu Dhabi 02 777 929; Dubai 04 2232323) lists the locations of open chemists.

Dentists

Good dentists are readily available, including orthodontists