Page 108 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

106 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Practical Information

Passports and Visas from the US Department hospitals. Good hospitals
of State, from the for tourists include the
Free 30-day (90-day for Australian Department American Hospital and
some nationalities) visit of Foreign Affairs and Emirates Hospital in
visas are available on Trade, and from the Dubai, and the Burjeel
arrival to citizens from UK Foreign and Hospital and Cleveland
47 countries. Passports Commonwealth Office. Clinic in Abu Dhabi.
must be valid for six The UAE also has good
months from the date of Embassies dentists and consultations
entry to the UAE. Visas for and Consulates are reasonably priced. In
30 days (but not for 90 an emergency, the best
days) can be extended by Canada, the UK, the US, place to go is the British
the General Directorate and other countries have Dental Clinic (branches in
of Residency and consular representation Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
Foreigners Affairs at a in the region. Check your There are numerous
cost of AED 620. consulate’s UAE website pharmacies, including
for travel warnings and many that open 24 hours
Customs security information. (ask at your hotel for the
Regulations nearest branch).
Travel Insurance
The duty-free allowance Personal Security
for each traveller is 400 While petty crime is rare
cigarettes, 500g of in the UAE, insurance While petty crime is
tobacco, 50 cigars and covering loss of luggage almost unheard of, be
4 litres of alcohol. It’s not and theft is always good sensible – don’t leave
possible to buy alcohol to have, along with com- valuables unattended and
in shops in the UAE prehensive health and don’t flash cash around.
without a liquor license dental insurance. Hospitals As a pedestrian be vigilant;
(only available to UAE are very efficient, but drivers will not stop for
residents), so buy duty services are expensive. you on a crossing, so
free at the airport if you cross only at lights where
want to have your own Health possible. If your taxi driver
supply. In addition to the is driving too fast or
usual items (firearms, No special vaccinations recklessly, tell him to slow
illegal drugs and porno- are needed for the UAE. down (“shway shway”).
graphy), it is forbidden The biggest danger to If you’re driving and you
to bring in any banned your health is the heat. have an accident, first get
movies, TV programs Take precautions to avoid out of harm’s way, then
and offensive publi- dehydration, sunburn and call the police for instruc-
cations, especially films sunstroke. Be careful, too, tions. Do not move the car
and programs that may when crossing roads, and unless instructed to do
include scenes with when driving. Tap water is so by the police. Rainy
passionate kissing, sex, safe to drink. At most, you weather makes driving
nudity or semi-nudity, or may experience an upset hazardous simply
drugs use. Goods made in tummy as your body because UAE residents
Israel (or bearing Israeli adjusts to new bacteria. If aren’t used to driving in
logos) are also forbidden. you need urgent medical the rain – they won’t
Check the Dubai Customs attention, call the necessarily slow down.
website for the most Emergency Number. Decelerate or pull over
up-to-date information. Standards are out- in sand storms when
standing in both private visibility is poor. When
Travel Safety Advice and public hospitals, you see oncoming drivers
although the service is with their hazard lights
Visitors can get up-to-date faster at emergency on, it means conditions
travel safety infor mation departments at private are even worse up ahead.

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