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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.
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.
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 and invitees. 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
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.
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.
Currency Exchange Rate
1 UAE Dirham = 100 fils - US$ 1 = dhs3.672
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.
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