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Dubai City Guide
Dubai has become a thriving city and tourist destination with more than 7 million visitors a year. Travel to Dubai for world-class dining, unparalleled shopping and recreational activities for every style and taste.
Dubai Culture
Dubai culture is essentially very colorful and vibrant. With the influx of large expat population, culture in Dubai has become a global city. Dubai has embraced different cultures, but it is
centered mainly around Islam.
Government
Dubai is the second largest emirate and commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates. The capital of UAE is Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate; the other members of the federation in addition to Abu Dhabi and Dubai are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Infrastructure
Multi-billion infrastructure projects in Dubai are underway in full gear (despite the global economic downturn). The various commercial sector includes major international banks, international retail chains, industrial engineering companies, and services companies.
Transport
The most common method of transport for Dubai Travel is the local taxi services. International driving licences are accepted by most car hire agencies. Within the confines of Dubai operates a reliable bus service. The construction of the Dubai Metro, new bridges, new ferries and trams are under progress.
Accommodation
There are essentially 2 categories of hotel accommodation in Dubai; city hotels and beach resorts. Most of the city hotels are found in Deira, Bur Dubai and Sheikh Zayed Road, while the beach resorts are located in Al Sufouh, Umm Suqeim, and at the Dubai Marina.
Currency
The monetary unit of the UAE is the Dirham (Dhs.), which is divided into 100 fils. The dirham is pegged to the US dollar at the rate of Dhs. 3.67 to $1.00
Business Hours
Business hours are Sunday to Thursday 08:00-18:00. Some government departments open on Saturday mornings also. Business socializing in Dubai can be quite formal. Friday is considered a day of prayer and rest, so meetings should not be scheduled for this day.
Education
Encompasses the many levels of primary, secondary and collegiate education catering to various ethnic and linguistic groups. There are many public and private schools serving Emiratis and expatriates. Schools offer GCSE, 'A' Levels, French, American, Indian, and Japanese also.
Amenities
Dubai's health services are internationally recognized. Hospitals, which boast of their modern facilities, are strategically located to ensure accessibility. Dubai public health care free or very low cost medical services for UAE residents. There are also private health care providers.
Dubai Duty Free (DDF)
Dubai is the tax-free shopping haven located at Dubai International Airport. With a huge range of cosmetics and perfumes, gold and jewellery, electronics, tobacco products, and alcohol, it is consistently ranked as one of the top airport retail operations in the world.
Massive discounts can be obtained on December 20, the anniversary of its opening. For example in 2006, it celebrated its 23rd year by offering a 23% discount for the day.
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| Location: |
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Southern Shore of the Arabian Gulf, North Eastern United Arab Emirates. (United Arab Emirates : Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia) |
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| Time Zone: |
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GMT +4 |
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| Weather: |
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10 - 30 degrees Celsius in winter (50 - 86 Fahrenheit). 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 Fahrenheit) in summer. |
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| Population: |
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4.75 million |
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| Languages: |
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Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu |
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| Country Dialling Code: |
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971 |
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| Internet Country Code: |
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.ae |
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| Electricity: |
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220 or 240 volts AC, 50Hz |
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| Currency: |
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Emirati Dirham (AED) |
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| Exchange Rates: |
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Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.67 |
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