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Quick Links: The Venue - The City - Visa Requirements - Transport - People - Language - Time Zone - Climate - Currency - Credit/Charge Cards - Voltage
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The Venue
The hotel is located within 15 minutes of Dubai International Airport and close to the Deira business centre. Traders Hotel, Dubai is one of the most conveniently located hotel in Dubai which combines deluxe comfort with welcoming service.
The City
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven Emirates’ and Dubai is the most popular destination of them all. It is situated on the southern shore of the Mideast Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai is the second largest Emirate after Abu Dhabi.
The city boasts remarkable skyscrapers, such as the world’s current tallest building, the Burj Dubai, and is also in the process of developing one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world – The Pad. This is based on the idea of an iPod; this residential tower is set to be embedded with the latest gadgets that will have the power to change interior design and window views to almost anything imaginable.
The city of Dubai gains higher returns from its tourism unlike many of the other Emirates, as revenue from oil only accounts for around 6% of Dubai’s gross domestic product. The city’s oil is decreasing by the year and therefore cannot be depended upon. That is partly the reason why there has been a construction boom in order to diversify its economy in the expansion of commercial and corporate activity. Dubai has therefore become a world famous city through innovative real estate projects, sports events, conferences and Guinness records. |
Although Dubai has been transformed into a man-made hi-tech city, it still has a strong Islamic culture with a stretch of historical buildings by the Creek. Whilst some may view this as a conflict of old meeting new, it is also considered to be a captivating city that offers both extremes; a traditional past interlinked with modern day.
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Panoramic photograph of Dubai |
Visa Requirements
Important Notice
Please note that the Dubai Department of Naturalisation & Residency has recently revised Visa regulations.
Please check with the nearest UAE embassy for the latest information or contact the Dubai Naturalisation & Residency administration department.
Useful link: UAE Government Website
Visa Charges
Please see below the required documents in order to process visas.
Citizens of the UK (with the right of abode in the United Kingdom), France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtesnstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and holders of Hong Kong SAR passports will be granted a free of charge for One Entry Visit visa on arrival in the UAE for other nationalities visas need to be processed as per the below requirement.
For all visas that required to be processed you would need to provide the Traders Hotel with the following:
a) At least 3 working days
b) Clear passport copy with 6 months validity
c) Duly filled visa application forms
d) AED 450 net per visa fee
e) Company guarantee letter from a local company based in Dubai
Transport
Air
Dubai International Airport (224 5252, flight inquiries 216 6666; www.dubaiairport.com) The busiest air hub in the Middle East, with a famed duty-free selection.
Emirates Airlines (214 4444; www.emirates.com; DNATA Airline Centre, Al-Maktoum Rd, Deira; 9am-6pm Sat-Thu) There’s another office on Sheikh Zayed Rd, Bur Dubai.
Taxi
Taxis around town are metered and are thick on the ground. If you come across a non-metered taxi, it’s most likely from Sharjah or a northern Emirate, and it’s illegal for the driver to collect a fare from Dubai; if you choose to take one of these, you’ll have to negotiate a fare but if the driver tries to rip you off you don’t stand a chance with the authorities. Women travelling unaccompanied after dark shouldn’t use these taxis.
You can also phone Dubai Transport (208 0808) to book a taxi. If you ask for a taxi at a five-star hotel, you may be shown to an unmarked limo; ask the fare before getting in, as these are often double the price of a standard taxi, or ask for a Dubai Transport taxi.
Car Hire
Dubai has scores of car-rental agencies, from major global companies to no-name local businesses.
Avis www.avis.com; airport 224 5219; head office 295 7121
Budget www.budget.com; airport 224 5192; head office 282 3030)
Europcar www.europcar-dubai.com; airport 224 5240; head office 339 4433)
Hertz www.hertz-uae.com; airport 224 5222; head office 282 4422
People
Dubai’s population is estimated at 1.5 million, a huge difference from 183,200 in 1975. Dubai is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with the expatriate community covering most of the population, with less than 10% of the total being national Emiratis.
Language
The official language is Arabic. Arabic and English are commonly used in business and commerce. Hindi and Urdu are also widely used.
Time Zone
Dubai Time is + 4 Hours GMT.
Climate
Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Sunny, blue skies can be expected most of the year. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular, falling mainly in winter. Temperatures range from a low of about 10.5°C to a high of 48°C. The mean daily maximum is 24°C in January rising to 41°C in July.
The best time to visit is between November and April when the weather is pleasant (temperatures in the low 30s) and the city is full of life. During the summer months Dubai turns into an absolute sauna with temperatures soaring up to 48°C.
Money / Currency
The monetary unit is the dirham (Dh) which is divided into 100 fils. The dirham is linked to the Special Drawing Right of the International Monetary Fund. It has been held constant against the US dollar since the end of 1980 at a mid-rate of approximately US$1= Dh3.67.
In central Deira, especially along Baniyas Rd and on Baniyas Sq, every other building seems to contain a bank or a moneychanger. In Bur Dubai there are moneychangers around the abra docks. There are ATMs throughout the city, in all shopping malls and in most five-star hotel lobbies.
Tipping practices are similar to most parts of the world. Some restaurants include service; otherwise 10% is adequate.
Credit/Charge Cards
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard, etc are generally accepted in the main hotels and larger shops but some retailers offer better bargains for cash.
Voltage
The electricity supply in Dubai is 220/240 volts at 50 cycles. You will most likely need a voltage converter, and plug adapter in order to use your appliances, even though some outlets will correspond to American plug types and voltages. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit.
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