Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coin phones have been almost completely superseded by card phones. Phonecards are
available in various denominations from grocery stores, supermarkets and petrol stations.
TOILETS
The best advice is to go when you can. Public toilets in shopping centres, museums, res-
taurants and hotels are Western-style and are generally clean and well maintained.
Those in souqs and bus stations are usually only for men. Outside the cities you might
have to contend with hole-in-the-ground loos at the back of restaurants or petrol stations,
although these are increasingly rare.
You'll always find a hose and nozzle next to the toilet, which is used to rinse yourself
before using the toilet paper.
VISAS
Entry requirements to the UAE are in constant flux, so all information below can only
serve as a guideline. Always obtain the latest requirements from the UAE embassy in your
home country.
At the time of writing, citizens of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Bel-
gium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland,
Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein,
United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea
and Hong Kong are granted a free 30-day tourist visa upon arrival in the UAE.
Everyone else must have a visit visa arranged through a sponsor - such as your UAE
hotel or tour operator - prior to arrival in the UAE. The nonrenewable visas cost Dh210
and are valid for 30 days.
Visas can be extended for a further 30 days at a cost Dh500 at an immigration office in
the emirate in which you arrived.
If you're transiting via the UAE and are a citizen of a country eligible for an automatic
30-day tourist visa, you do not need to pre-arrange a transit visa. Other nationalities need
to get the airline or a local hotel to organise a 96-hour visa. The official fee is Dh165.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens only need a valid passport to enter the UAE
and stay indefinitely.
WOMEN TRAVELLERS
Many women imagine that travel to the UAE will be much more difficult than it actually
is. No, you don't have to wear a burka, headscarf or veil. Yes, you can drive a car. No, you
won't be constantly harrassed.
In fact, the UAE is one of safest Middle Eastern destinations for women travellers. It's
fine to take cabs, stay alone in most hotels and walk around on your own in most areas.
