Frequently Asked Questions

Capital City:
Abu Dhabi is the capital and the largest city of the United Arab Emirates.  It is a 90 minute drive from Dubai.

Climate:
Dubai has a sub-tropical climate with sunny blue skies and high temperatures ranging from a low of 10C (50F) in the winter to a high of 48C (118F) in the summer. Rainfall is infrequent, usually falling on average 25 days out of the year.

Clothing: 
Business or smart casual. Summer clothing is suitable all year, with jackets for winter nights. Swimwear is permitted on the beach and at swimming pools.

Credit Cards:
Most major credit card are accepted (Visa, Amex, MasterCard and Diners Club).

Culture:
Dubai’s culture is firmly rooted in Islamic tradition.  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is tolerant and welcoming and you will have the opportunity to learn and appreciate the customs and practices of this culture.

Currency:  
The local currency is the dirham (Dhs), which is divided into 100 fils.  It is also referred to as AED (Arab Emirate Dirham). 

Electric Current:
220 Volts

Language:
Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, but English is also widely spoken, as well as Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.

Shipping:
Regular post to North America may take up to two weeks, up to five days for Europe.

Time Zones:
GMT/UTC plus 4 hours.

Tipping: 
Tips are not generally expected in the UAE, but they are appreciated. An additional 10% is acceptable in hotels and restaurants.