United Arab Emirates

Capital City: Abu Dhabi

People: Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%

Religion: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%

Language: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Currency: UAE Dirham

Electrical Voltage: 220 volts

How to get there:
By Plane: The main hub for air transport in the United Arab Emirates is Dubai, which is served by several major airlines, most notably Dubai-based Emirates Airline. Direct flights connect Dubai to Johannesburg, London, Sydney, Melbourne, Karachi, Tehran, Riyadh, Bombay, Hong Kong, Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, New York City and most major cities in Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa. Etihad Airlines now offers direct flights from New York City (JFK) to Abu Dhabi. British Airways also offers direct flights from London (Heathrow) to Abu Dhabi.

By car: There is road access to the United Arab Emirates from Saudi Arabia in the south and Oman in the east. All highways in the UAE are in excellent condition.

Weather: The country is extraordinarily dry, getting only a few days of rain a year. Despite that, Emiratis use water at an alarming rate: there are broad swaths of grass in the major public parks, for example, and landscaping can be extensive in the resorts or other public places. A visitor is not restricted in water use in any way. The weather from late October through mid-March is quite pleasant, with high temperatures ranging from the upper-20s C (mid-80s F) to lows in the mid-teens C (low 60s F). It is almost always sunny. In the summer, the temperatures soar — it is widely suspected that the officially reported temperatures are "tweaked" to cut off the true summer highs, which can reach 50 C, or around 120 F, or higher!

Travel Documentation and Custom Duty: Citizens of most industrialized countries as well as all Gulf Cooperation Council countries will received a 60-day visa on arrival in the United Arab Emirates.

Getting Around: taxis, Car Rental

 Tourism Website: http://dubaitourism.co.ae/

Medical Facilities:

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