VISITING THE UAE:
Ruled by the Al Maktoum family, this cosmopolitan city is voted the 22nd best city to live in and the
best city to live in the Middle East.
It is safe! Which is why most people live here.
Its original background is pearl diving and oil, however, the main revenue is tourism, gold, aviation,
real estate and financial services.
Well know for its skyscrapers, the Burj Khalifa is currently the highest building in the world.
Accompanying the country's ongoing strive to have ''the highest'' ''the biggest'' ''the most
expensive'' .....
The population is around 17% local Emirati and the rest all expats.
Majority from the subcontinent asia (india, pakistan, bangladesh)
Western nationalities is UK, USA, Australia, South Africa, New Zeeland, Canada, Germany.
Currency: UAE Dirhams
1 AED = 3.65 USD when exchanging for USD to AED, 3.68 when exchanging AED to USD
most places accept USD, GBP, Euro cash as well.
Dont exchange at the airport, in shopping malls is better. UAE Exchange, Al Rostamani,
Al Ansari, to name a few.
Shopping:
The shopping culture is big in the UAE. Which might be influenced by various traditions that woman
stay home and don't work. Shopping Malls are a great escape for the hot summer months. And
Malls are also a meeting place (for non office based business owners and consultants) and lots of
meetings happens during the day in Coffee shops and restaurants.
Due to the tax free environment, some items can be found cheaper here.
Annual shopping events with discounts:
Dubai Shopping Festival (1 months, from beginning of January - beginning of February)
Dubai Summer Surprises (3 months, from mid June - mid September)
All Eid Celebrations (a 3 - 5 day discounted event)
Large Supermarkets are open from 8am - 12am(midnight)
Malls are open from 10am - 10pm.
Dubai Mall (ice ring and aquarium, Dubai Fountain outside and Burj Khalifa)
Mall of the Emirates (indoor ski, Sheraton hotel, Pullman hotel, Kempinski hotel)
Ibn Battuta Mall (closer to DWC, Ibn Battuta Gate hotel(Movenpick))
Deira City Centre (closer to Dubai int. Airport, Novotel hotel, Pullman hotel, Ibis hotel)
Festival City (closer to Dubai int. Airport, Intercontinental hotel and Crown Plaza hotel)
Mirdiff City Centre (Mirdiff neighbourhood)
Wafi Mall (more upmarket, Raffles Hotel)
BurJuman Centre (in Bur Dubai area)
Lamsy Plaza
Other:
Deira Gold souk in Deira, or try the newer Gold and Diamond park (Al Noor metro stop)
Naif Street Souk for material shopping (and cheap gifts)
Madinat Jumeirah souk and hotel (upmarket version of the old souks, great restaurants, nightlife
and beautiful Jumeirah hotel in old architecture. Great for photo's)
Karama (for cheap and fake items)
Transport:
Taxi's, Metro or rental Car.
Taxi's are reasonably priced and almost always available. Please pre book at busy times.
The fairly new Metro serve most malls. Easy to use and only 17 AED for a full day ticket.
There is special areas for females only.
Rental car. I would not recommend this unless you are familiar with the driving in the Middle East.
Personal car.... because this is what most people think we all drive :-)
Food:
International cuisine available.
for great arabic dishes and decor try Wafi Gourmet in Wafi centre, Festival city, Dubai Mall.
(also look at their olive collection, arabic dried fruits, arabic sweets for your flight)
Zuma, Okku and most places have a business lunch from 12h30 - 14h30 where you can enjoy lite
versions of their best food for a very reasonable price.
Some smaller restaurants and take aways are open 24hours.
Try Zaater W Zeit on Sheikh Zayed Rd for well prices midnight munchies with a local taste.
Dresscode:
Conservative by day and in public areas. But you will see every possible outfit.
Hotel pools and beaches are fine, but you will be stared at on public beaches.
Nightclubs and social areas allow a lot less fabric 
The preference is to cover your shoulders and ankles. No figure hugging clothes. No low cut tops.
Try to have a scarf with you at all times to cover your shoulders when in public areas.
Hotels:
Chains available everywhere. Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Shangri-La, Dusit.
Best Marriott at the moment, Marriott Marquise in Bussiness Bay. Then Marriott Dubai Marina.
Marriott Deira is not the best location.
Try the local hotels: The Address group, Jumeirah group.
Criticism:
Lots of people have lots of things to say about the UAE. Yes, animal cruelty, human rights and
environmental issues are BIG issues over here. But you won't change it, but local expats are trying
to improve it. Best to keep it for yourself than to criticize out load, and enjoy the city for what it has
to offer.
Public affection:
You will notice that public affection is not showed a lot. Please try to refrain from doing it.
Meeting someone:
A blind eye is usually turned on most things behind door. Meeting people is great. But please know
that to having sex with someone that is not your husband is illegal and worst case scenario, if
something might happen to you, you will be the one ending up in jail. Usually for 2 reasons (1)
consuming alcohol, (2) having sex without marriage.
Drugs and medication:
Drugs is illegal in the country. Certain medication is banned.
They won't necessarily search your medicine, but try to bring alternatives in case you end up in
hospital and they find the banned medication in your blood.
OK, BACK TO WORK!
Handling Agents with FBO's:
Jet Aviation (Handling and FBO at Dubai Int. and DWC
Execujet (Handling and FBO at Dubai Int. and DWC)
Jetex (Handling at Dubai Int. and DWC. FBO at DWC under construction)
DhabiJet (Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi)
Royal Jet (Abu Dhabi Int)
Catering:
Dubai
(1) Emirates Catering (www.ekfc.com: Services - VIP & Private Jet catering - view our menu)
+971 4 282 7586
[email protected] / [email protected]
catering min 6hrs notice.
100% charge if cancel within 12hrs.
laundry need min 8hrs for normal washing and drying
dishes with normal laundry
storage of items at FBO's
Mostly on account. please check
(2) Marriott Deira
[email protected] and [email protected]
Sebastian Kuckart on +971 56 216 0374 (mobile)
Mr. Faiz on +971 50 768 4705 (mobile)
24 hrs notice for catering
100% charge if cancel within 12 hours.
(3) Canape (tbc)
AbuDhabi
Catering by Executive Gourmet (under Gate Gourmet)
Located at Al Bateen but can deliver to Royal Jet at Abu Dhabi Int.
Tel no: +971 2 4917001
E-mail. [email protected]
Things to do:
If you manage to stay in a beach hotel, we have great beaches.
Just beware of the very salty water (due to the desalination)
(1) Desert Safari (usually pick you up around 15h30 and take you back to the hotel at 21h00) a
thrilling experience in 4x4 vehicles with a dinner included.
Check on Cobone.com (Dubai or Abu Dhabi versions) or Groupon.ae for specials!
(2) Friday Brunches - a festival of great food and excessive drinking being enjoyed by the local
expats. Packages offers for soft drinks only, house beverages and then the free-flow versions!
Best brunches is Saffron (Atlantic Hotel), Al Qasar (Jumeirah Qasar Al Sahab hotel), But please google
Time Out Dubai for one closer to you and your needs (BBQ Brunch at Rixos, Bubbilicious) Budget for
around 500dhs per person just for the food. Remeber to tip and taxi both ways.
(3) Barasti - great atmostphere for sporting events and just the general holiday feeling.
At the Le Meridien Beach Resort. Free entery. Big hangout on the weekends (friday and saturday).
(4) Skydive Dubai - For thrill seekers, this is possibly one of the most scenic jumps and you might just
end up jumping with the Crown Price of Dubai which is a regular! Pricey around 1700dhs.
(5) Dubai Fountain - yes, our version of the fountain outside the Bellagio in Vegas, but off course,
bigger and higher :-)
Try and get a table outside any of the various restaurants before sunset and enjoy the evening with
the amazing views of skyscrapers, the Burj Khalifa and the fountain.
(6) Go the Atmosphere - the highest restaurant in the world, in the Burj Khalifa (122 floor)
Females can enter for free from 12h00 - 14h00 to enjoy a drink/tea.
Males have a minimum charge of 200dhs per person.
Can opt for the afternoon tea (320AED).
But for a little bit more you can enjoy the afternoon tea in the Burj Al Arab. (360AED per person)
Never said it was cheap to do things here!
(7) Dubai has a great hop-on-hop-off bus from the Big Bus Tours company. Which takes you around
and show you most sights with the history. It has 2 routes and tickets valid for 24 hours, 48 hours,
day tours and night tours and combined tours. Well worth it!
(8) Try to take these pictures!