United Arab Emirates - Förenade arabemiraten

United Arab Emirates is a country in Middle East which often goes under its English abbreviation UAE. The country was founded in 1971 and consists of seven emirates (sheikh reviews).

Planning before the trip

Swedes receive a free 60-day tourist visa at the airport.

To take with you to the United Arab Emirates

Travel adapter. The country uses 220V 50 Hz AC as in Sweden, but with a three-pin wall socket (as in the UK, called Type G).

Everything is available for purchase in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (including travel adapters) in the major international food chains as well as branded stores for electronics, appliances, watches, shoes, clothing, sporting goods and cars. You can also buy typical Swedish products such as caviar, herring and hard bread.

To bring with you from the United Arab Emirates

Facts about the United Arab Emirates

History

The country has a very short history when it was formed in 1971.

The locals

Only about 19% of the population is of local Arab nationality, emirate, and 23% of others araber and Iranian. 50% of the population are South Asians (pakistanier and Indian) and 8% are other nationalities including West or East Asians.

The country's official language is Arabic, but English dominates as the common language (lingua franca). In addition, Persian, Hindi and Urdu occur to a significant extent among these ethnic groups.

Climate

The country has a tropical climate with extremely hot and humid summers. The amount of precipitation is very small (about 100 millimeters of rain per year) and comes in January, February and March, it is rain-free April-November. Temperatures are often above 40 degrees Celsius during the days during the summer months, but cooler during the winter. The humidity in the coastal cities of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi is very high, over 85% during the summer months.

During certain periods at the beginning and end of winter, heavy fog occurs along the coast, affecting air traffic with canceled and severely delayed flights.

Holidays

Muslim holidays are respected with the fasting month of Ramadan in the center as well as the major holidays Eid al-fitr and Eid al-adha. The dates when these festivals occur are fixed according to the Muslim calendar but are shifted by about 10 days year after year in the Gregorian calendar.

Regions

The United Arab Emirates consists of the following seven emirates:

• Abu Dhabi (emirate)
• Ajman (emirate)
• Dubai (emirate)
• Fujairah (emirate)
• Ras al-Khaimah (emirate)
• Sharjah (emirate)
• Umm al-Qaywayn (emirate)

Cities

• Abu Dhabi
• Ajman
• Al Ain
• Dubai
• Fujairah
• Ras al-Khaimah
• Sharjah
• Umm al-Qaywayn

Getting to the United Arab Emirates

Preferably you get to the country by plane, it is also possible to get there by land from Saudi Arabia and Oman as well as by cruise ship.

There are many flights from Sweden and most of the world to the United Arab Emirates, mainly to Abu Dhabi and Dubai as these emirates' airlines Etihad and Emirates have worldwide networks of air connections and are among the world's leading airlines. It is also possible to fly to Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah.

From Sweden there are direct flights Stockholm-Dubai with the Norwegian airline Norwegian air[1].

There is no train service to the United Arab Emirates.

It is possible to get to the country by car from Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Relocation in the United Arab Emirates

Domestic flights occur between major cities and the emirate.

There is no traditional railway in the United Arab Emirates. On the other hand, Dubai opened the region's first "metro" in 2009, a train network in the form of an above-ground subway that today stretches 75 kilometers and runs from Jebel Ali in the south to the central parts of the city in the north.

The country is built for car traffic and has a well-developed road network with high-class 10, 12 and 14-lane motorways that cover the entire country. It is also well signposted and easy to find and has excellent car maps. Fully automatic car tolls (SALIK) have been introduced in Dubai on Sheikh Sayed Road (E11), the fee is 4 Dirhams per passed customs. Other roads are duty free.

The country has a very well-functioning taxi system operated by the country's Swedish Transport Administration, RTA. Payment according to receipt and taximeter as well as cash as most taxis do not accept card payment. You can call to order a taxi or at taxi stations that are located at all shopping centers, hotels and the like. It is also possible to stop and hire a taxi directly "on the street".

The supply of taxis is good and in relation to Sweden it is cheap to take a taxi, it costs about 30 AED per 10 kilometers.

It is possible to cycle in the United Arab Emirates, but you should be extremely careful as fellow road users are not used to cyclists in the same way as in Sweden. The rules are basically the same as in Sweden, you wear a helmet and cycle on the right side of the road, but it is not allowed to cycle on motorways or motorways. Special bicycle lanes exist but are few, it is possible to rent a bicycle in some bicycle shops.

Payment

Payment in AED. Price tag or price information applies everywhere with the exception of bazaars, markets and specialty stores. In ordinary shops and stores, it is normally not possible to bargain. At markets and bazaars, such as the gold souk, bargaining is expected.

Domestic currency, Emerati Dirham (AED). The dirhams have a fixed exchange rate against the US dollar, 1 USD = 3.67 AED. It is no problem to exchange local currency as there are plenty of banks and exchange offices at hotels, airports and shopping centers. You can switch from virtually any currency, including Swedish kronor, but the most common are the US dollar and the Euro.

Travel checks can be redeemed in banks or special offices from the checkers' exhibitors.

Payment by card is very widespread and you can pretty much pay anywhere by card. The only exception is taxis.

There are a variety of ATMs in or adjacent to public places such as shopping malls and banks.

Accommodation

Food and drinks

There is a rich selection of food from different cultures, with a large selection of Indian and Iranian. Due to the rapid expansion and modernization of the country, there is a large selection of international restaurants and fast food chains in the major cities. Dubai and Abu Dhabi also have a large selection of exclusive restaurants with high-class service.

With a few exceptions, alcohol is only served in the bars and restaurants of the larger hotels, but as these are so common, this is hardly a problem. Alcohol can also be purchased in the airports' duty-free shops (also on entry) and in special shops for alcohol. In these specialty stores, only people with an alcohol license can shop and a residence permit is required to obtain these licenses. Recommended restaurants and bars:

• Ossiano (Michelin guide restaurant, located in Altlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeirah)
• Zheng He's (First Class Chinese Restaurant in Madanat Jumeriah)
• Reem El Badawi (Egyptian restaurant in classic Arabic setting and food including hookah, along Shekk Sayed Road, Umm Sequimm)

To see

To do

In addition to visits to the capital Abu Dhabi and the country's largest city Dubai, which offers everything imaginable, it is also possible to visit out in the desert and ride camels. Everything is possible in this country, only the wallet that puts a stop.

Work

Communication

The United Arab Emirates has one of the world's best mobile networks with both 2G and 3G covering built-up areas. Roaming works for most Swedish operators. To save on roaming charges, you can buy prepaid cards from the local operators (you or Etisalat) upon presentation of a passport. The internet is well spread out, available in almost all hotels and there are also internet cafes.

There are a number of local TV channels as well as most international in English, French and German. There is a very large selection of sports channels, especially football. Movies are shown in the original language and subtitled in Arabic.

Security

The United Arab Emirates is a very safe country to live and stay in. Crime is low and more serious crimes such as robbery, assault or violent crime are rare. The country has a well-functioning police force, the police are visible in society and are happy to help when needed.

Respect

The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, here one must respect the laws and traditions of the inhabitants. Homosexuality is more or less taboo and forbidden, even lightly dressed bodies on the city streets are unacceptable. Special dress code applies if you are going to visit a mosque, this must be followed. Women must hide their hair with any Muslim veil, men must not wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts. When visiting a mosque, there are many small shops that sell traditional Arabic clothes such as veils and the male dishdasha / thawb.

Problem solver

The police customer service can be reached by phone 901 and they can provide advice and information. The police emergency number is 999 and they are quickly on site when needed. The Swedish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, address: 12th Floor, Al Otaiba Tower (Mashreq Bank on ground floor), Zayed the 1st Street (Electra Street) crossing with 4th Street. Phone 971 2 417 88 00

Other

• Dubai, which boasts the world's tallest building "Burj Khalifa".