In Dubai they count with one time. They do not use summer time or winter time. You can calculate how much later it is in dubai by doing a simple check from your current location on google. Dubai is in the time zone of UTC +4. The weekend of Dubai is on Friday and Saturday. This means that the first working day of Dubai takes place on Sunday.
Electricity in Dubai and internet
The voltage used in Dubai is 220 volts. The sockets in Dubai do deviate from what you are used to. In Dubai the sockets are not made for two-pin plugs but for three-point plugs, similar to the plugs used in England. In order to use our double-headed plugs in Dubai, special adapters are required.
These adapters are for sale in many locations in Dubai, such as the supermarket and airports. Many hotels also offer the adapters on loan. If you have a travel or world plug, an adapter is not needed, the plug is also fitted with the three-point plug that fits into the sockets in Dubai.
Phone, internet and mail
To call from abroad to the United Arab Emirates you must use the country code 971. If you want to call a number in Dubai, the 971 country number must be followed by a 4. Calling in Dubai with your mobile phone is possible if your provider allows you to call abroad, if you have a smartphone, your device is always a tri-band device and that is what you need. Please note that mobile calls in Dubai to another country or the mobile call in Dubai can be quite pricey.
Those who want to call from Dubai to another country use the country code before the telephone number and omit the zero of the prefix or mobile number. For those who spend a longer time in Dubai, it may be useful to buy a local SIM card. This makes it possible to make cheap calls within Dubai and you can be reached abroad on a local number which also saves money. Prepaid SIM cards from Etisalat for example, are available at various locations, such as the telephone shops in the major shopping centers and at the airport.
Most hotels offer free or paid Wi-Fi in the lobby and depending on the hotel you can also use the internet in the room, via WiFi. Major tourist spots such as the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates also offer a free Wi-Fi connection. Please note that some sites are not accessible because they are seen as offensive.
Sending mail from Dubai to Europe takes about 5 days, the rest of the world take a bit longer. In Dubai it is possible in most places to make normal mobile calls, but make sure that in the desert the connection will be a lot worse or not at all possible. For the costs of mobile calls and mobile internet, it is best to consult your provider.
Drinking water
The water that comes out of the tap in the United Arab Emirates is of good quality and can be drunk without danger to health. Yet most tourists opt for the certainty of bottles of mineral water. The advantage of bottles of mineral water is that you can put them cold, especially in the summer months the cold tap water can be on the hot side. The price of mineral water in the supermarkets is very low.
Clothing rules
Although Dubai is very tolerant you have to take into account the general dress code. Anyone wanting to visit a mosque or public building should take into account the fact that the knees and shoulders are covered, otherwise there is a chance that you will be refused. This rule applies to both men and women. For women, there is also the fact that wearing short skirts or dresses, hot pants and short or translucent tops is not appreciated. Men may wear shorts, but preferably shorts that cover the knees. Visiting a restaurant in shorts is not appreciated particularly in the more luxurious restaurants, there is even a chance that you will be refused. Clothes regulations also apply in the shopping centers, although these are less strictly observed than in public buildings and mosques.
Wearing swimwear is only allowed on the beach, by the pool or in a water park. Topless sunbathing or translucent bikinis are out of the question in Dubai.
Holidays in Dubai
Dubai has a number of Islamic holidays which are celebrated on different dates every year because of the position of the moon. For the exact dates of the holidays and parties such as the Sugar Festival, Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice, we refer you to the World Festivals Almanac.
January 1 – New Year’s Day
August 6 -Throne ascension
December 2 – National Day (celebration of the 7 emirates in 1971)
December 25 – Christmas
Variable holidays (national):
Ramadan (different each year)
Sugar festival (after Ramadan)
Eid al-Adha – pilgrimage to Mecca (variable)
Hejra – Islamic New Year’s Day (variable)
Please note that during the Islamic New Year there will be no entertaiment and no alcohol will be served in the locations where this is normally allowed. The dates of Hejra, or the Islamic New Year differ each year and are dependent on the state of the moon.
