Below you can get practical information when traveling to the United Arab Emirates – for example about travel insurance. Visit rrrjewelry.com for middle east overview.
Language: Arabic
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Population: 9 million
Religion: Sunni Islam
Currency: Dirham
Area: 83,600 km2
Worth knowing
Time difference
The time difference between Sweden and the United Arab Emirates depends on whether Sweden has summer or winter time.
Summer time + 2 hours
Winter time + 3 hours
Transport
Bus The
buses are of a good standard. All buses have air conditioning.
Taxi The
cities are generally characterized by heavy traffic. It is cheap to take a taxi and it is generally a good, safe and easy way to get around. Remember to bring cash with you, as you cannot pay by credit card in a taxi in Dubai.
Price level
A main course with accessories costs about 90-170SEK. When it comes to pocket money, we know from experience that you usually manage 300 SEK per day. If you want to include extra drinks in that amount, you should expect an additional 90-120 SEK per day per person.
Tip
On our travels, you come into contact with everyday life in the United Arab Emirates, including conditions that may not appeal to you, or that you are not used to. Take for example the system of tips. In many countries, tips are a more organized phenomenon than we Swedes are used to, and you are expected to leave some tips to local guides, and drivers during the trip, because the salary in the service industry is usually based on that. We enter an amount in our travel program so that you can count on this when you make up your travel budget at home. The price of the trip does not include the cost of tips as you decide how much you want to give during the trip. The tip system is part of the culture you visit and something you should therefore respect. We want to emphasize that everyone decides for themselves how much they want to give in tips.
In bars, cafés and international restaurants, a 10-15% service charge is often added to the bill. In addition, it is customary to add an extra 5-10% in tips to the waiter in addition to this amount if you are satisfied with the service.
Currency and credit cards
The currency is called the dirham (AED). You can bring USD and EUR and exchange on the spot, and you can pay with Visa and MasterCard at most major restaurants and hotels. In most major cities, you also have the option of withdrawing cash with Visa and MasterCard, but there are additional fees when withdrawing cash abroad. Although payment by card is common, there are some situations where you can only pay with cash, for example in a taxi.
Electricity
The United Arab Emirates, just like Sweden, has 220 volts. In general, Swedish connectors cannot be used, so we recommend that you bring an adapter set that has different options.
Telephone and internet
The international country code for the United Arab Emirates is +971. It is expensive to call home, so feel free to contact your mobile operator regarding coverage and rates for calls from the United Arab Emirates.
In most major cities there are internet cafes and most major hotels offer internet service for a fee.
Hygiene
Hotels and larger restaurants are of a modern / western standard. Out in the city and in the country, you can count on going to so-called pedal toilets, and that there is a lack of toilet paper. The standard of public toilets or in the countryside can thus be relatively primitive. Bring your own toilet paper, wet wipes and perhaps hand sanitizer (available at Swedish pharmacies, for example), so you will not be as dependent on access to water.
To be on the safe side, you should not drink tap water, but instead buy bottled water.
Customs and traditions
The United Arab Emirates is a very international community and therefore there are no general guidelines for dress or behavior. As in all other places in the world, it is first and foremost about dressing according to the circumstances, showing respect and otherwise using your common sense.
When visiting mosques, you should remember to take off your shoes and place the shoes so that the soles face each other. Women should cover their hair with a shawl and not show their arms.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited during all flights and transport. Follow the signs to restaurants, bars and other public places, and ask before lighting a cigarette.
