National Information on Dubai

Comparison of temperatures

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
UAE Dubai	24°	25°	27°	31°	37°	38°	40°	39°	38°	37°	32°	26°
London	5°	7°	8°	10°	16°	20°	22°	20°	16°	15°	10°	8°

General note:

Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk) before your departure.

Geography:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprises seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um al-Qawain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The UAE is located in the southeast of the Persian Gulf and borders on Oman.

Form of government:

The United Arab Emirates is a federal constitutional monarchy comprising seven autonomous emirates.

Capital:

Abu Dhabi

Religion:

Islam is the state religion (Sunnis, a smaller proportion of Shiites). Resident foreigners practice their religions without hindrance (e.g. Christianity, non-native Islam religions, Hinduism).

Language:

The official language is Arabic. English is also spoken and understood in business transactions and in hotels.

Climate:

Subtropical to tropical desert climate with very low annual rates of precipitation (mostly in winter); extreme heat and humidity from May to October.

Electricity:

220-250 volt AC, 50 Hertz. Three-pin plugs are the norm here. Adapters can be obtained from any electrical store and all larger supermarkets.

Local time:

The time zone in the UAE is GMT +4 hours with no daylight saving time. The time difference with the UAE is +3 hours in summer and +4 hours in winter.

Making telephone calls:

The country code for international calls from the UK to the Emirates is 00971 (+971). When phoning the UK from the Emirates, the country code to dial is 0044 (+44), dropping the zero before the area code.

Country and people:

Due to Islam, alcohol consumption is restricted in the UAE. In particular, the Emirate of Sharjah enforces a strict, general ban on alcohol. Here, no alcohol is offered in any hotel or restaurant, whereas in the other emirates alcohol is served. Women should not wear off-the-shoulder tops, hotpants or miniskirts, but should always cover their shoulders and knees. During the fasting month of Ramadan, restrictions in daily life are to be expected (e.g. restaurants outside hotels closed during the day, reduced working hours for government offices) as well as increased sensitivity regarding religious matters and the observance of Islamic traditions. Eating, drinking, smoking and even chewing gum in public, including in vehicles, is prohibited from sunrise to sunset, even for non-Muslims. During this time, women should wear discreet, long-sleeved clothing as much as possible and men should refrain from wearing short leisurewear.
The jewellery and leather workshop are an integral part and in some cases a centuries-old tradition of oriental culture – which is why our tour also includes a visit to a jewellery maker and a leather merchant. In the manufactories you then have 1 – 2 hours to look at the works of art and products.
Bartering is a typical custom. If you are not interested in buying anything, the traders will also accept a clear ‘No’. No bartering takes place in department stores and supermarkets.
Tipping recommendation: It is customary to tip, as it represents part of the income in service professions and symbolises appreciation. For chambermaids, £1 – £2 per night and room is customary, and in restaurants and taxis, approximately 10% of the bill is customary. For group tours, it is recommended that the tour guide receives approximately £2 per person per day, and the bus driver approximately £1 – £2 per person per day. Of course, it is up to each individual to decide whether and how much to tip. Tips are not expected in shops.

Entry requirements for British citizens:

To enter the UAE, your ‘British citizen’ passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive in the UAE. You can get a visitor or tourist visa issued free of charge when you arrive. You do not need to apply in advance of travel. Your passport will be stamped with the visa as you go through immigration. It will be valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period, which will begin from the date of first entry into the UAE. Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Entry will only be permitted to persons whose gender is recorded in their passport as ‘M’ (male) or ‘F’ (female). Entry may also be refused to persons whose date of birth is recorded in their passport, for example, as ‘XX.XX.’ instead of numbers for the day and month, or who do not have a first name or surname in their passport.
Note: Entry requirements for British citizens can change at short notice without the Foreign Office being made aware of this beforehand. Legally binding information and/or information on entry regulations going beyond this information can be obtained from the competent representation of the destination country. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Embassy of the UAE about the entry requirements applicable to them.
Whilst we endeavour to provide guidance where necessary, we can not be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/.

Tour guides:

Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture, etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that the UAE have to offer, and learn all about the country and its people.

Additional packages:

Although your trip already includes a comprehensive package, you also have the option of choosing added extras. We recommend booking the following package:

Explorer Package : The package includes the three excursions ‘Traditional Dubai Tour‘, ‘Boat Trip of Dubai, incl. dinner‘ & ‘Abu Dhabi tour, incl. lunch‘: only £195* p.p.

* Package prices may vary when booking on site.

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Room tax:

An additional government bed tax of AED 15 (approx. £3) at TIME Grand Plaza and AED 20 (approx. £4) at Dukes The Palm per room/night is payable locally (as of August 2026).

Currency / Banks / Credit cards:

The currency is the UAE dirham (AED). 1 dirham = 100 fils. Exchange rate (August 2026): 1 GBP = 4.98 AED; 1 AED = 0.20 GBP.
International credit cards are accepted by hotels, car rental companies and numerous shops. Cash withdrawals with a PIN code are possible at ATMs. Money can be exchanged at banks during opening hours and at the hotel. Friday and Saturday constitute the weekend.

Customs regulations:

Passengers departing from or arriving in the UAE and carrying cash, or financial instruments exceeding AED 60,000 (approx. £12,000) or an equivalent amount in other currencies, are required to declare it to the customs authorities. For passengers under the age of 18, the amount in their possession will be added to the permitted limit of their parent/guardian or accompanier. It is forbidden to bring banned items, such as controlled/recreational drugs and narcotic substances, pirated content, counterfeit currency, items used in black magic, witchcraft or sorcery, publications and artwork that contradict or challenge Islamic teachings and values etc. There are restricted goods, which need prior approval from the authorities concerned prior to import or export, such as animals, plants, weapons and related equipment, medicines (except for personal need), drugs, alcoholic drinks, eCigarettes and further.

More detailed customs information on importing goods can be obtained from the embassy of your destination country. Only there will you receive legally binding information.

Important: If you are travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain.

Country-specific safety advice:

In view of the general situation in the Near and Middle East, vigilance is also advised in the United Arab Emirates. You should act in a safety-conscious manner that is appropriate to the situation, especially in large crowds. Crime: The UAE is one of the safest countries in the Middle East with an extremely low crime rate. Nevertheless, individual incidents of pick pocketing, e.g. in larger shopping centres or at big events, can not be ruled out.

Special criminal provisions:

Strict Islamic moral values prevail in the UAE. Homosexuality and extra-marital sexual relations are prohibited and punishable by a prison sentence if reported to the authorities. Tourists sharing rooms in hotels do not generally experience any difficulties in this regard. Likewise, expressions of mutual affection (e.g. kissing, physical contact) in public can lead to fines or prison terms in accordance with Islamic law. Consideration of customs and traditions in the UAE is therefore recommended. Travellers should exercise restraint in public, and their behaviour should take consideration of the religious, political, cultural and social traditions of the country, as well as staying clear of any demonstrations or protest events.
The possession and consumption of even the smallest quantities of drugs will also result in prison sentences. Even consumption of soft drugs some days beforehand can be established through blood tests and subject to correspondingly tough punishment.
It is a criminal offence to photograph/film the following facilities: Military facilities, ports, airports, imperial palaces, public buildings, industrial plants, crude oil/natural gas plants. In the event of a violation, at least the camera/film/chip will be confiscated.

Medical information:

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries). Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.

Medical care:

If you are planning to travel with any prescribed or over the counter medicines for personal use, you will need to meet the UAE’s specific requirements for your medicine to be allowed into the country. A list of medicines where this rule applies, allowed quantities and documents to present can be found on the UAE Ministry of Health website (https://www.mohap.gov.ae/en). To gain approval prior to travelling, you can apply online using the electronic application form and accompanying user guide on the UAE Ministry of Health website. Healthcare facilities in the UAE are generally comparable with those in the UK, but visitors may be prevented from using them without travel insurance or without the means to settle any medical fees.

It is strongly recommended to take out international health insurance with the option of medical repatriation to the UK.

Customers should ensure that they are physically and psychologically fit for undertaking the selected trip and make the necessary queries concerning the level of physical and psychological fitness required.

All information is subject to change/Last updated: August 2026