City Info:
Intro - Overview, Culture, History
The capital city of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi is the largest amongst all seven emirates that comprise in UAE. Positioned on a T-shaped island, the city extends to the Persian Gulf via central western coast. It inhabits a massive population of 900,000 people as counted recently in 2008, out of which 80% of them were expatriates. Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE is the ruler who controls the activities and important decisions of the city.
Investment in the tourism and the financial services has diversified the economy of this largest producer of oil in the world to a great extent.
Green boulevards, large parks and gardens in the city along with high rise sophisticated buildings and opulent chain of hotels and shopping malls is all that defines the city of Abu Dhabi.
Overview
Wealthiest city of the world, guest workers constitute the majority of population of the area. The fast growing economy of the area has made recent investment in tourism and financial sector. On the weather front, blue or sunny skies hovers the city most of the year. November to March witnesses a cool temperature. As far as education is concerned, various local and international universities and schools are housed in Abu Dhabi. Culture
A home to the renowned cultural institutions such as the National Theater and the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi is trying hard to take the position of a “Cultural hub” of Middle East from its neighboring cities Cairo and Beirut. Several cultural societies of Abu Dhabi including the Classical Music Society has successfully established its mark in the already in the eyes of people of the city. Grants have been made by Emirates Foundation to support education, science and technology, social development and arts of the area. The cultural site of Saadiyat is an essential part of the huge development project which aims to make this “Island of Happiness” a vital destination and the motor of tourism in the Abu Dhabi. Simultaneously began the groundwork for Guggenheim Museum worth US$200 million. The museum designed by Frank Gehry will present the prestigious collectiom of the contemporary art, whose completion has been scheduled for 2011. The early history of Abu Dhabi is similar to the fishing pattern and nomadic herding of any broader region. While some of its parts can be traced long back in 3rd millennium BC, the modern areas of Abu Dhabi origins relate to tribal confederation in the later part of 18th century known as Bani Yas. Abu Dhabi parted ways with Dubai during the 19th century. Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan, in 1939 gave concessions on petroleum and the oil was first found after 19 years in 1958. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the brother of Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan recognized the potential to transform Abu Dhabi by oil wealth and on August 6, 1966, he replaced his brother with assistance from British as the ruler of the city. After the announcement by UK in 1968 for its withdrawal from Gulf area latest by 1971, the main man that led to the development of United Arab Emirates was Sheikh Zayed. After independence of Emirates in 1971, oil wealth to the area continued and the traditional huts of mud-bricks were soon replaced by banks, modern highrises and boutiques. Handy Info Languages: Though Arab is the language of the natives, English is most commonly6 used language in the city.
Religion: Islam
Currency: UAE Dirhams
Population: 928,000
Area: 87,340 sq km
ISD Code: 02
Emergency Services
Fire- 998/999
Medical emergency - 999
Best time to visit: November to April
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
Saeed bin Tahnoon St.
Abu Dhabi
Tel: 02 4462244
Tourist Office
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)
Tel + 971 2 4440444
Fax + 971 2 4440400
Website: www.abudhabitourism.ae/Corp/en/
Important Documents
ID card, residence visa or passport, entry service permit, work permit (if working in Abu Dhabi) are some of the essential documents that are required.
Besides, one may also require Multiple Entry Visa, which is a choice for the business guests who frequently visit UAE. There is another Transit Visa that can be taken if one is flying from or to US or Europe, to Africa or Asia via UAE airports. This is a special 96-hour transit visa that can be obtained by them.
Climate
Summers accompanied with storms that reduce visibility – April to September
Average temperature during summer months – over 40 °C
Winter- November to March
Tips for Tourists
To make the visit to Abu Dhabi hassle-free and a pleasurable one, reading these travel tips may prove to be very beneficial. An overall knowledge about the culture of Arabs may help to interact with inhabitants of the city, establish a bond of friendship with them and win their respect.
• Dress conservatively – Being a part of Islamic country, people of Abu Dhabi are quite conventional in their ideas. Conservative dressing especially in public areas is advisable as revealing dresses may make people around frown easily. Though black abaya and covering the hair is a general scenario, tourists have been freed from such restrictions, but modestly dressing would certainly help to win respect of people. However, hotels of the area may allow its visitors to wear western swimwear, but any such dress on beach would surely be frowned upon.
• Etiquettes for Ramadan – The whole period of Ramadan prohibits people from drinking, smoking and eating in the day time in public places. The rule to dress conservatively applies here as well especially for outdoor activities.
• Tipping not compulsory – Tipping is certainly not mandatory, but can help to win some good service and bridge the intercultural communication gap. 10 per cent is considered to be a superior yardstick. Hotel tax and service tax are included in the hotel bill. Apart from this, UAE is completely free from tax.
• Tax-free shopping – Being situated in a tax-free country, the amount mentioned on price tag is definitely the final amount that has to be paid while shopping.
• Passing food – Arab people are fond of eating especially in religious holidays and after the fasting period of Ramadan. While on the dining table, it is better to pass or touch the food from left hand as using the right hand is taken to be a rude gesture.
• Women traveling alone – Abu Dhabi is a conservative place where a woman traveling alone without any male accompanying her may draw undue attention from people around on the streets. Though this may bother the woman, but this attention is certainly harmless. However, in case a woman feels that she is being harassed, a call to the police will surely be helpful as the cases of harassment are treated very seriously in this part of the world.
• Skin care – With temperatures shooting up to 50 degree Celsius, protective clothing and wearing a sunscreen is a must for visitors. It is also advisable to increase the intake of liquids when in Abu Dhabi as dehydration caused due to heat may lead to some health problems.
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