Handbook

The seven cities of the emirates are all on the coast - Abu Dhabi, the capital of the U.A.E, centers on an island; Dubai, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah on creeks; Ajman, Umm al Qaiwan and Ras al Kaimah on sand spits curling around a lagoon. Abu Dhabi's territory is the largest (around 85 percent of the total land area) and driest, a vast stretch of desert relieved only by the oases of Liwa and Al Ain. Ajman, by contrast, is so small that it is not much more than the city itself.

Complicated tribal allegiances at the time the federation was formed mean that the several states have enclaves away from their main territory. Fujairah, for example, is split by enclaves belonging to Sharjah and Oman, and on the border between Ras al Khaimah and Oman are the tiny but lush parcels of Ajman and Dubai (Hatta). The pattern reflects the traditional tendency of the tribes to divide their time between two economic activities, one in the desert or the mountains and one on the coast. Herdsman, for example, might have spent the winter in the mountains or the dessert and the fiercely hot summer working the perarl banks or fishing. This economic split has a modern manifestation - it is quite common for a city civil servant also to have a country farm.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the richest Emirates. Sharjah, at one time the federation's capital, is the third in terms of wealth, while the other states are essentially subsidized by the wealthier members. Ras al Khaimah, however, is rich in agriculture, and Fujairah is considered the most beautiful of the emirates, cut off from the rest of the U.A.E. by the dramatic Hajar Mountains that run up from Oman.

Modern infrastructure has transformed the cities, but the stark geography of the region - sandy desert merging gradually into limpid seas scattered with islets and sandbars - is unchanging. The ring of forts and watchtowers - some ruined, some restored - are evocative reminders of a different but not to distant era of tribal rivalries, piracy and pearls.

Government
The U.A.E. is a federation of seven Emirates, all of which are ruled by sheikhs. The president of the U.A.E. is the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, the largest and wealthiest Emirate. The federal government runs a major part of the country's infrastructure and affairs, while the individual Emirates retain considerable autonomy that which they exercise to a greater or lesser degree.

Economy
The U.A.E. ' s economy is based on oil and gas extraction, which brings in the vast majority of the government's revenue and forms about forty percent of the gross domestic product. Abu Dhabi generates about two thirds of the total GDP and Dubai, the main port of the U.A.E., about one quarter. Over the past ten years, oil refining and non-oil industries have begun to play a more substantial part in the economy, and in Dubai trade is now a very important part of the economy.

Climate
Summers are very hot. From May to September daytime temperatures are rarely below forty degrees Celsius (one hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit) with humidity up to ninety percent. From October to April there is very good weather (sunny and warm) with temperatures ranging from as low as ten degrees Celsius (fifty degrees Fahrenheit) inland to thirty degrees Celsius (mid -eighties Fahrenheit) but strong winds sometimes bring sandstorms, and it occasionally rains very heavily. The rain usually comes sometime from January to March, and can result in large areas of flooding. The desert inland gets much colder than the coastal regions at night and during the winter months.

Visas
Visas are required by all nationalities except GCC members. British nationals get an automatic thirty day visa upon entry and can then renew this stamp for a further two months, after which they must leave the country. This visa does not permit the holder to work. Other nationalities can obtain visas through U.A.E. embassies abroad. It is essential to obtain your visa before travelling to the U.A.E. They vary between a single entry visa valid for use within three months and a ten year multiple entry visa. As well as a valid visa you will need proof of sponsorship from within the U.A.E. this can be a letter from a friend, a hotel reservation or a company letter, to indicate that there is someone to contact in the U.A.E.

Currency
The local currency is the U.A.E. Dirham. Any currency can be exchanged at one of the many banks or money exchanges. Moneychangers offer varying rates and are sometimes a better value than banks. Moneychangers are mainly located ion the Souq area. Traveler's checks are sometimes accepted in major shops and are easily exchanged at banks. It is best to have the purchase receipt with you. Credit cards are widely accepted and banks have globally linked ATM points. Money transfers can also be made through any bank.

Business hours
Government offices are open 7/7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday. On Thursdays offices tend to close at noon. Banks and private companies and shops are open 8/9 a.m. to 1/1:30 p.m. and 4/4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday to Wednesday and 8/9 a.m. to 1/1:30 p.m. on Thursday. It is best to check in advance as these times may vary. Increasingly large shopping malls remain open all day to 10 p.m. Saturday to Thursday. They are closed on Friday during the day, but may open during the evening. In the Northern Emirates some small shops may close during prayer time although, you will always find some shops open. Prayer times usually only mean a delay of about thirty minutes

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