| Immigration & Visa Requirements |
| 1. All visitors to the UAE must hold
a valid passport without endorsement or restriction for the
country. |
| 2. Visas required for all visitors
except for Nationals of AGCC countries and thirty-three
international countries which are specified. |
 |
| Health Requirements |
| Cholera and TAB are advised. Cholera
is mandatory for visitors arriving from infected countries.
Valid certificate for yellow fever is required if arriving from
a country where the disease is endemic. |
|
|
| Climate |
| During the summer months (May -
October), the weather is generally hot and humid and the
temperature may reach a high of 48¼C. Between November and
April, the climate is very pleasant with temperatures ranging
between 140C and 250C. Also most of the rainfall occur during
this period. |
|
|
| Roads |
| Modern dual carriageways link all
the emirates with Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. |
| Personal travel : By taxi/car
hire/bus service. |
| Driving On the right. |
|
|
| Licences |
| GCC Nationals holding valid licenses
of respective countries are permitted to drive in the U.A.E.
Other visitors wishing to drive must obtain a temporary permit
from the Police Traffic Department. International licenses are
subject to recognition. |
|
|
| MUSLIM HOLY OBSERVANCES* |
| Pilgrimage begins - 12th February
2002 |
| Period of the Hajj, the pilgrimage
between the first and 10th of Dhul Hijjah. Muslims (who can make
the journey) make at least one pilgrimage to Makkah in their
lifetime. Commemorates the time when Ibrahim considered the
sacrifice of Ismail. |
|
|
| Eid Al Adha - 22nd February 2002 |
| Day of festivities concluding the
pilgrimage. Muslims, whether in Makkah or at home observe this
day of participating in the ritual of sacrifice and distribution
of food. |
|
|
| Islamic New Year's Day - 14th
March 2002 |
| The Islamic Lunar calendar is
counted from the year of the Hijra, the departure of the Holy
Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) from Makkah to Medina. The current
year is 1423. |
|
|
| The Holy Prophet Mohammed's
Birthday - 23rd May 2002 |
| Modest ceremony of remembrance. |
|
|
| Lailat Al Mi'raj - 3rd October
2002 |
| Literally the night journey and
ascent; the night when the Holy Prophet ascended to heaven on
Buraq; Muslims learned the fixed ritual of prayers since that
night. |
|
|
| Ramadhan - 5th November 2002 |
| A month of fasting; spiritualism,
meditation and abstinence from food and drink between dawn and
dusk. (Visitors should note that it is inappropriate to eat or
drink openly during the day.) |
|
|
| Lailat Al Qadr - 1st December
2002 |
| Commemorates the revelation to Holy
Prophet Mohammed that prayers will be answered. |
|
|
| Eid Al Fitr - 5th December 2002 |
| The first day of Shawwal following
Ramadhan. The breaking of the holy fast, called the lesser
feast, a time of celebration. |
| |
| * Dates indicated above are
subject to sighting of moon. |
