Page 109 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Practical Information ❮❮ 107

The UAE is an Islamic seat of taxis and in the also see Emirati men rub
state and you can land in “women’s section” of noses when they meet, in
trouble for not respecting buses. Dedicated women’s the same way that close
local religious customs queues at banks and male friends kiss cheeks
and decency laws. Never government departments in Europe’s Mediter-
drink alcohol and drive. indicate that women will ranean countries.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, get preferential service. When swimming, take
arrests have resulted Do not attempt to bring warning signs about
from foreigners being too medicinal drugs into the dangerous rips and strong
affectionate in public. If country. Bear in mind that undertows seriously.
you get arrested, do not even some prescription Despite the calm appear-
sign anything in Arabic drugs, such as codeine, and ance of the water, Dubai’s
immediately. Your consu- anti-depressant and HRT beaches have very
late should be your first medications, are banned. powerful undercurrents.
call – they can help The UAE has a zero toler- In Dubai, if you leave
facilitate contact with a ance policy on recreational something behind in a taxi,
local bilingual lawyer. drugs. Penalties and sen- you’ll need to file a report
In Sharjah, it’s illegal tences are harsh. While at Dubai Taxi. For any
for women to travel in a the death penalty is an other lost property, contact
vehicle with men other option, it’s rarely applied. the Police Lost and Found.
than their husband. Homosexuality is illegal Casual irritations while
Women must dress and punishable with harsh visiting Dubai include the
modestly and not show penalties, although rarely numerous touts in old city
their upper arms or back. enforced. You will some- souks attempting to sell
Women travelling solo times see men from “copy watches”, “copy bags”
in the UAE shouldn’t Central Asia and the and so on. Male visitors may
experience any harass- Indian Subcontinent also be approached by pros-
ment if they follow local holding hands – this titutes in bars, especial ly in
norms. Sit in the back signifies friendship. You’ll the older parts of the city.
DIRECTORY
PASSPORTS EMBASSIES Cleveland Clinic
AND VISAS AND CONSULATES (Abu Dhabi)
General Directorate Canada § 04 313 9999, 800
of Residency and ∑ canadainternational. 5111, 800 8 2223
Foreigners Affairs gc.ca ∑ clevelandclinic
§ 04 313 9999, 800 5111 UK abudhabi.ae
∑ dnrd.ae ∑ ukinuae.fco.gov.uk/en Emergency Number
CUSTOMS US (Ambulance, Fire
REGULATIONS ∑ dubai.usconsulate.gov and Police)
∑ abudhabi.usembassy. § 999
Dubai Customs gov
∑ dubaicustoms.gov.ae Emirates Hospital
HEALTH (Dubai)
TRAVEL SAFETY § 04 313 9999, 800 5111,
ADVICE American Hospital 04 349 6666
(Dubai) ∑ emirateshospital.ae
Australian Department § 04 337 5000
of Foreign Affairs and ∑ ahdubai.com
Trade PERSONAL SECURITY
∑ dfat.gov.au British Dental Clinic Dubai Taxi
∑ smartraveller.gov.au § 04 342 1318 (Dubai) ∑ dubaitaxi.ae
§ 02 677 3308 (Abu Dhabi)
UK Foreign and ∑ britishdentalclinic.com Police Lost and
Commonwealth Office Found
∑ gov.uk/foreign-travel- Burjeel Hospital § 901
advice (Abu Dhabi)
§ 04 313 9999, 800 5111 (Dubai)
US Department of State 02 508 5555 § 02 699 9999
∑ travel.state.gov ∑ burjeel.com (Abu Dhabi)

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