Abu Dhabi is the name of both the capital city of the UAE and the largest of the seven emirates that make up the country. A destination for the discerning traveller, the emirate has something for everyone, from the bustle and the excitement of a dynamic 21st-century city to endless unspoiled beaches, the tranquility of the desert, rugged mountain scenery and lush green oases. With an estimated 10 percent of the world’s known oil reserves, Abu Dhabi ranks as the richest of the emirates and a global player in its own right.Plug TypeLanguageArabic, English widely spokenPopulation1.6 millionTime ZoneGMT +4 hoursMeasuresMetric SystemVoltage220/240Mobile PhonesGSM 900
All visitors except nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia) require visas for entering the UAE. However, for the following nationalities it is a simple case of obtaining a visitor visa upon arrival: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
Visa Requirements from the United Arab Emirates GovernmentThe monetary unit of the UAE is the Dirham (abbreviated to DHS or AED), which is divided into 100 fils. The Dirham is linked to the US Dollar at a rate of Approximately USD1 to DHS3.67
Abu Dhabi has a comprehensive network of local and international banks as well as numerous ATMs. All major credit cards are widely accepted.
Licensed money-exchange facilities can be found all over Abu Dhabi, including at international hotels.
Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.AED 1.00 equals:
.19
Euro (EUR)
.15
British Pound (GBP)
.27
US Dollar (USD)
.34
Australian Dollar (AUD)
.29
Canadian Dollar (CAD)
2.11
Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
28.97
Japanese Yen (JPY)
.39
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
.31
Swiss Franc (CHF)
.10
Rial Omani (OMR)
UAE is a tax-free destination but there are few exceptions:
Service Charge: 10 percent
Tourism Fees: 6 percentTipping practices are similar to those in the rest of the world. Taxi drivers do not expect it but do appreciate it when given something extra. In restaurants, 10 percent is adequate if service is not included.Bank HoursUsual opening hours are Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm, but some banks will remain open until 3pm.Office HoursMany offices are open from 8am to 6pm, Sunday to Thursday (weekends being Friday and Saturday).Shop HoursOpeing times vary according to high street or mall location. Usual times are 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 10pm or 11pm. Malls are generally open from 9am to 11pm every day except Fridays when they open from either 2pm or 4pm to 11pm.
During the holy month of Ramadan shops can stay open till 1am.
Medical services in the country are of a high standard and visitors should not find it difficult to obtain appropriate treatment and advice.
No health certificates are required to enter the country unless arriving from a cholera or yellow fever infected area visited in the previous 14 days.
The attitude to dress in Abu Dhabi is relaxed, but all visitors should show respect for local culture and customs in public places by avoiding excessively revealing clothing.
Lightweight summer clothes are suitable year-round, but slightly warmer garments may be needed in the evenings during the winter months. A sweater or a cardigan maybe required in malls, hotels and restaurants as air-conditioning can create low temperatures.
Swimming attire is acceptable at beaches and pools.
Abu Dhabi has a sub-tropical, arid climate and sunny blue skies with temperatures ranging from a low of around 10°C (50° F) in winter, to a high of around 48°C (118° F) in the summer. The most pleasant time to visit is in the cooler winter months when temperatures are around 24°C (75° F) during the day and 13°C (56°F) at night. Air conditioning makes life comfortable even in summer, though humidity can be somewhat high for prolonged stays outdoors during the hottest months (July and August). Rainfall is almost nonexistent.