Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The UAE dirham (Dh) is fully convertible and pegged to the US dollar. One dirham is di-
vided into 100 fils. Notes come in denominations of five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and
1000. Coins are Dh1, 50 fils, 25 fils, 10 fils and 5 fils.
Currency exchange offices such as UAE Exchange, Al Rostamani or Travelex some-
times offer better rates than banks. Not all change travellers cheques, but currencies of
neighbouring countries are all easily exchanged.
There are globally linked ATMs all over the country, at banks, shopping malls, some
supermarkets and big hotels. Major credit cards are widely accepted; debit cards less so,
although they're usually no problem at bigger retail outlets.
In each emirate, a different level of municipal and service tax is charged against hotel
and restaurant bills. This is somewhere between 5% and 20%. If a price is quoted 'net',
this means that it includes all taxes and service charges.
OPENING HOURS
Hours listed here are guidelines only and may vary slightly by individual business. The
UAE weekend is on Friday and Saturday. Hours are limited during Ramadam and in sum-
mer.
Banks
8am to 1pm (some until 3pm) Sunday to Thursday, 8am to noon Saturday
Government offices
7.30am to 2pm (or 3pm) Sunday to Thursday
Restaurants
noon to 3pm and 7.30pm to 11pm or midnight
Shopping malls
10am to 10pm Sunday to Wednesday, 10am to midnight Thursday and
Friday
Souqs
9am to 1.30pm and 4.30pm to 9pm or 10pm (often later in Dubai and Abu Dhabi),
closed Friday morning
Supermarkets
9am to midnight daily, some open 24 hours
PHOTOGRAPHY
Memory cards, batteries and other accessories for digital cameras are available in major
supermarkets, at shopping malls and in electronics stores. Taking video or photographs of
airports, government offices, military and industrial installations may result in arrest and/
or prosecution. Also ask permission before photographing people, especially Muslim wo-
men.
POST
Your hotel should be able to send mail for you, but otherwise stamps are available at local
post offices operated by
Emirates Post
(
600 599 999;
www.emiratespost.com
)
and found in every
