UAE

The Jewel of the Middle East

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in Western Asia and borders Oman and Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi is the nation’s capital, while Dubai is the most populous city and an international hub.

The UAE also consists of seven emirates; Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.

The UAE’s high number of expats and immigrants makes the country one of the most diverse international countries. The variety of cultures allows people to make friends from different countries.

Tourists and visitors can marvel at the modern Arabic architecture, discover the history and culture of the emirate, swim with dolphins, ride a camel in the desert, experience an exciting time on the dunes, enjoy a day at the waterpark, embark on a hot air balloon adventure, plus much more. And one of the many highlights is to experience the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

But we must not forget about the sweltering weather here. With a tropical desert climate, people tend to spend most of their time indoors in the comfort of air conditioning, especially during humid summer days.

Hence, shopping malls in the UAE are designed not just for shopping but also for meeting friends, exercising, unwinding — and shopping!

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

The ideal time to visit UAE is from November to approximately March when the weather is perfect and neither too hot nor too humid, making it perfect for sightseeing and travelling.

Climate:

The United Arab Emirates has an arid climate, hot and humid summers from April to September and generally warm and dry conditions in winter from October to March. The ocean affects the weather due to its proximity to the Arabian Gulf and Oman.

June to September are the hottest time in the UAE, with the temperature exceeding 50°C. With this extreme heat, you must stay out of the sun and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Also, during this time, sandstorms and dust storms occur.

Winter in the UAE starts in December until mid-March with the minimum temperatures around 12 degrees celsius and highs of about 25 degrees celsius. Although there is a winter season, it can’t be called winter since it rarely drops below 12° C.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Language:

The official language in the United Arab Emirates is Arabic, but English is also widely used.

Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)

Banks & ATMs:

The leading Banks in UAE are; First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, First Gulf Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreq Bank. ATMs are widely available.

Plugs and Sockets:

The associated plug type is G with three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Dubai operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Highly recommended to carry a universal adaptor.

Safety:

The United Arab Emirates is a welcoming, safe country to travel to with a low crime rate. Pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, so be mindful of your surroundings. Avoid walking alone after dark, especially in isolated places, including pedestrian underpasses.

Flight Connections:

There are two leading national carriers for UAE; Emirates in Dubai and Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi.

Other local airlines include; Air Arabia, Fly Dubai and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.

International carriers include; Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Air Canada, British Airways, China Airlines, Air China and Aeroflot.

Search Skyscanner or WayAway for great airfares!