Page 111 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Practical Information ❮❮ 109

shopping malls and January) is usually when DIRECTORY
supermarkets are open Dubai is at its best and
daily 10am–10pm (some­ busiest, although you CURRENCY AND
times later on Friday and may experience a little BANKING
Saturday). Shops in the rain and overcast skies. Al Ansari Exchange
streets open at approx­ This is when the Dubai ∑ alansariexchange.com
imately the same times Shopping Festival, Global Citibank
but sometimes close for Village and most major ∑ citibank.ae
lunch from 1 to 4/5pm. sporting events take HSBC
Government departments place. October to November ∑ hsbc.ae
open around 7am and and March to April are a Mashreq Bank
close to the public around bit hotter and are almost ∑ mashreqbank.com
3pm. Private companies guaranteed sunshine. National Bank of
usually work 9am–6pm. Summer (May to Sep­ Abu Dhabi
Museum opening hours tember) is scorching and ∑ nbad.com
fluctuate wildly, and some it’s almost impossible
smaller places close to do anything except National Bank of Dubai
∑ emiratesnbd.co.uk
during the afternoon. lounge by a pool or stay
in air­conditioned buildings, Standard Chartered
Time Difference although hotel prices Bank
∑ sc.com/ae
tumble dramatically. The
The UAE time zone is holy month of Ramadan TELEPHONE AND
GMT+4. It is 9 hours presents some challenges INTERNET
ahead of North American to visitors and is best Etisalat
Eastern Standard Time, avoided unless you want ∑ etisalat.ae
12 hours ahead of North to experience the country’s
American Western more traditional side. POST AND COURIERS
Standard Time, and 6 Aramex
hours behind Australian Travellers with ∑ aramex.com
Eastern Standard Time. Disabilities DHL
There is no daylight saving. ∑ dhl.ae
Developers in Dubai and Emirates Post
Electrical Abu Dhabi have worked ∑ emiratespost.com
Appliances hard to cater for visitors FedEx
with specific require­ ∑ fedex.com/ae
UAE power sockets ments. Most of the two
generally accept the UK cities’ more modern and TV, RADIO AND
three­prong plug upmarket hotels now NEWSPAPERS
operating on 220/240 have specially adapted Dubai One
volts, although you may rooms, although cheaper ∑ dmi.ae/dubaione
also see the European accommodation is harder Emirates 24/7
two­round­prong plug. to find. ∑ emirates247.com
It’s a good idea to bring Transport facilities are Gulf News
an adaptor that works also good. There are ∑ gulfnews.com
for both. Some hotels excellent services at both
have adaptors you can airports for visitors with The National
∑ thenational.ae
borrow, or you can buy disabilities, while the
them in supermarkets. Dubai Metro boasts tactile Virgin Radio Dubai
guide paths, wheelchair ∑ virginradiodubai.com
Weather spaces in compartments TRAVELLERS WITH
and other facilities. The DISABILITIES
The UAE has an arid Special Needs Taxi
desert climate with service can be booked in Special Needs Taxi
§ 04 208 0808
infrequent rainfall. Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. (Dubai)
Temperatures average Many of the city’s malls § 600 53 53 53
20°C (68°F) in winter to also have some facilities, (Abu Dhabi)
45°C (113°F) in summer. including specially
Winter (December to adapted toilets.

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