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Contact IIR Hospitality at:
Tel: +971 4 4072693 Fax: +971 4 4072517
Email: hospitality@iirme.com
About Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is one of the most successful and wealthy cities in the world, boasting more than 10% of the total world's oil supply. The city is modern, clean, safe and very cosmopolitan. It is well serviced by highways, by air and by sea with superb ports and airport facilities. The city has many top quality hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs which provide excellent facilities for business travelers.
Languages
The official language of the country is Arabic, although English is the official business language. English is widely used and most road and shop signs, restaurant menus, etc are in both languages.
Currency Exchange Rate
1 UAE Dirham = 100 fils - US$ 1 = dhs3.672
Business Hours
Government offices: 0730 – 1430 Sat to Wed.
Offices and banks closed on Fridays Banks: 0800 – 1300 Sat to Thurs; some also open from 1600 – 1730
Private companies: generally 0800 – 1300 and 1600 – 1900 Sat to Wed, 0800 – 1300 Thurs; some companies work 0800 – 1730 with one hour lunch break
Local Time
The local time in the UAE is GMT +4hrs. Please note that Summer DST is not observed.
Visas
Nationals of the following countries will be issued with a visit visa for AED 100 and valid for 30 days at the passport control desk upon arrival in the UAE. The visa process may take minimum 7 working days to maximum 2 weeks.
France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong or members of all GCC countries.
Nationals of the United Kingdom will be issued with a visit visa free of charge and valid for 60 days on arrival.
People of nationalities not listed are solely responsible for obtaining visas for themselves, their representatives/hotels. Some hotels provide a visa service provided sufficient time is given for the application to be processed. If you are not using our recommended travel agent then please check the costs with your hotel as they may differ. Please also note:
- Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from date of departure
- The Organisers are not in a position to sponsor visa applications
- The visit visa does not entitle the visitor to take up permanent work in the UAE
- Some hotels provide a visa service provided sufficient time is given for the application to be processed, if you are not using our recommended travel agent then please check the costs with your hotel as they may differ.
- All Visitors and Exhibitors require a full passport for their visit
Travel & Accommodation
Abu Dhabi is extremely busy and failure to reserve your flight and accommodation early may result in them being unavailable. The Cityscape travel and accommodation team have arranged preferred rates for Cityscape participants. Please contact the Cityscape Hospitality Desk:
Tel: +971 4 4072693 Fax: +971 4 4072517
Email: hospitality@iirme.com
Climate
Abu Dhabi has a sub-tropical, arid climate. May – October are the warmest months with temperatures reaching the high 40’s and high humidity, the rest of the year temperatures fall any where between the mid 20’s - 30’s. Rainfall is infrequent falling mainly in the cooler months around November to March.
Language
The official language of the country is Arabic, although English is the official business language. English is widely used and most road and shop signs, restaurant menus, etc are in both languages.
Food & Drink
Abu Dhabi offers pretty much every type of international cuisine imaginable. Whilst restaurants located in hotels are able to offer alcohol and can be expensive, some of the best places to eat are the small street side stands around town, however these restaurants do not serve alcohol.
Shopping
The shopping Capital of the Middle East! Prices are competitive in many products from gold to carpets, textiles or designer labels. The key to shopping here is to bargain where possible since prices, especially in the souks, can drop quite substantially.
The attractive and often imaginatively designed, modern shopping malls in Abu Dhabi are one of the highlights of shopping in Abu Dhabi and are generally spacious and fully air conditioned. Most international brands and high street shops can be found in the shopping malls.
Most malls have a food court, which offers a variety of types of cuisine. Some malls also have cinemas.
Souks
Souks are the Arabic markets where any kind of goods are bought, sold and exchanged. Over the years, the items on sale have changed dramatically from spices, silks and perfumes to include electronic goods and the latest kitsch consumer trends.
Tours & Sightseeing
There are many companies in Abu Dhabi offering an exciting variety of city and safari tours. An organised tour can be a great way to discover the UAE. Tours range from a half-day city tour to an overnight safari visiting the desert or mountains and camping in tents. Most trips require a minimum of four people for the tour to run. It is advisable to book three or four days in advance although in some cases less notice is not a problem
Cityscape travel and accommodation team has negotiated rates for Cityscape visitors, please contact the Cityscape Hospitality Desk on telephone +971.4.4072693, fax +971.4.4072517 or by email hospitality@iirme.com
Activities
There are numerous activities available to visitors to Dubai including water sports and golf packages.
Nightlife
Abu Dhabi has numerous cinemas, cafes, bars, nightclubs and discos to suit all tastes and ages. There are a number of local magazines available from the Newsagents listing details of the above facilities. Feel free to visit www.timeoutabudhabi.com for more information
Customs Regulations
2,000 cigarettes and 400 cigars or 2kg tobacco, 2 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine for non-Muslims, reasonable quantity of perfume.
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