| United Arab Emirates - Information, Reservation in UAE Hotels Online |
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| UAE Hotels - United Arab Emirates History: |
The history of the United Arab Emirates dates back to as early as the Bronze Age. Over centuries, the region has hosted people of many different cultural backgrounds.
Until 1500 BC, the area was a center of piracy. In the third century, the Umm an Nar culture dominated UAE. Later, the Greeks arrived, and their existence is evident from the ruins found at Meleiha and Al-Dour area which have Hellenistic features. |
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| For years, the UAE was mainly occupied by sea traders, and even with the spread of the Islamic faith in the 7th century, the people of the region remained unaffected and continued to become pirates. During the middle ages, the kingdom of Hormuz dominated the region and controlled most of the trade in the gulf. The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and started trade in the 16th century, during which time the region came to be known as the Pirate Coast. |
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| In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Al-Qawasim was the dominant tribe that controlled the maritime commerce. Its attacks on British ships led to the British naval attack in 1819. In 1820, the British forced the sheikhs on the coast to stop piracy. From the mid-19th century and on, and with the defeat of the Qasimi forces, the Banu Yas tribal confederation of Abu Dhabi became dominant. |
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| In 1853, the United Kingdom and the nine sheikhdoms signed a treaty agreeing to name the region the Trucial Coast, a name it kept until 1971. The British set the borders of the seven emirates and provided the Trucial Sheikhdoms with protection, but the sheikhdoms were autonomous and followed the Arab Monarchy. |
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| Petroleum, which led to the prosperity of the region, was first discovered in 1958, and when its commercial exploitation began in 1962, that increased the revenue of the UAE. |
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| In March 1968, the Trucial States joined Bahrain and Qatar in the Federation of Arab Emirates. However, due to different interests, the Trucial States got separated and Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Ajman and Fujayrah received their independence on December 2, 1971. Sheikh Zaid ibn Sultan al-Nahayan was elected the president of the UAE from the founding of the federation until his death in 2004, when his son and heir, Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zaid Al Nahayan, succeeded him. Ras al-Khaimah joined the United Arab Emirates in February 1972. Throughout the 1970s, there were disputes about the border amongst the sheikhdoms and also about the extent of integration these sheikhdoms needed to have. |
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| In 1981 the UAE joined the Gulf Cooperation Council. Since the Gulf War, it has expanded its international contacts and diplomatic relations. It contributed large sums of aid to Arab countries. In 1991, the UAE participated on the United Nation’s side in the conflict with Iraq. |
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| In 1999, the marriage of the crown price of Dubai and the daughter of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign brought the two emirates together. |
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| Today, UAE has become a major international business center and one of the most stable and untroubled countries in the Arab world. |
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| Climate: |
| Throughout most of the seasons, the weather of the United Arab Emirates is characterized by a hot and dry subtropical climate. The average maximum temperature on the coastal plain is 48°C. The country’s humidity rises above 85% on the coast. Little rainfall is seen between the winter months of December and February, especially in the mountainous areas. |
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| The coastal regions rarely receive showers, but when they do during the months of summer, the heavy pour causes floods in dry wadi beds. In addition, sometimes the United Arab Emirates experiences violent dust storms which greatly reduce visibility. |
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| One of the main winds that blow during winter is the cool Shamal, blowing from the northeast, and the second is Khamsin, which blows from the south and causes sandstorms. |
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| It is best to visit the United Arab Emirates between the months of October and May to avoid being exposed to extreme hotness. Between the months of November and March, it is best to wear light shirts during the day, with slightly warmer wear in the evenings. |
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| Time and Place: |
| The United Arab Emirates lies in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and is 90% desert. It is a federation made up of seven countries, namely, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujayrah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain. Each of these countries have unique features that are joined together to form a marvel, the UAE. |
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| This mostly barren and sandy country borders the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf; its neighboring countries are Saudi Arabia to its west and south, Qatar to its north, and Oman to its east. Up until today, the exact border between UAE and Saudi Arabia is not known to the public but remains confidential between the governments of these two countries. |
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| The Hajar Mountains, UAE's only mountains, are located in the Fujayrah emirate since most of the country is a desert with a flat coastal plain. It is because of the country’s sandy soil that only 1% of its land is able to be cultivated. |
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| The county’s total area is approximately 82,880 square Kilometers, and Abu Dhabi, being the largest emirate, covers about 87% of this area. Most of UAE’s shores consist of salt pans that stretch far inland. In spite of the formation of other ports at Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the largest natural harbor of the country is in Dubai. |
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| UAE is an essential transit point for world’s crude oil because of its particular location along the southern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz. |
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| The UAE’s Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4). The country has no known Daylight-Savings Time adjustment for the year 2006. |
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| Government: |
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| Based on the 1971 provisional constitution, the United Arab Emirates is a coalition of seven emirates. The federal and the emirate governments share the power over the country. The UAE president, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nuhayyan, is the head of state, elected by the Federal Supreme Council of the Union, the executive branch, comprised of the individual rulers of all the seven emirates. They also elect the Vice-President. |
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| The Federal National Council, the legislative branch, has a consultative function only. As for the judicial system, it is in the hands of the Islamic and secular courts. All the emirates have secular and Islamic laws for civil, criminal, and high courts. |
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| The UAE received its independence on December 2, 1971. |
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| There are no political parties in the country; the amirs and their families, especially those of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are the most active members in the political field. |
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| People, Society, and Culture: |
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| One of the features that distinguish the society of the United Arab Emirates from other Middle Eastern societies is its view on women. In this society, men and women are considered equals, and women are encouraged to rise in status; they are not restricted to the home environment, as the former president Shaykh Zayid ibn Sultan Al Nuhayyan recognized the importance of women and their participation in the work force. Thus, the governmental constitution of UAE allows women to enjoy the same legal status as men, and have access to education and the right to practice professions. Today, women can be found in all fields of work, even in the armed forces and in governmental posts. The number of literate women in the country outnumbers that of men. |
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| In general, the UAE society respects the Muslim religious laws. Clothing styles in the UAE are both Western and local. Men usually wear the Dishdasha which is a white, loose-fitting garment, and women wear the black Abaya and a face mask called the Burka which is now being abandoned by younger, educated women. |
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| Alcohol is not prohibited and is allowed in city bars, restaurants, clubs, and hotels. Smoking, however, is forbidden in some areas. |
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| The people use the English language in commerce, despite the fact that Arabic is the official language of the UAE. Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu are also spoken by many of the Asians there. |
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| Some of the traditional means of entertainment for the people include camel racing and falconry. Today, new sports like soccer, golf, and horse racing are being added to these traditions. |
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| The majority of the people are not native citizens, but rather, are workers from different Arab and South Asian countries who have become residents. Less than half of the inhabitants are Arabs; there are also Persians, Baluchis, Indians, and Westerners in the country. |
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| The most widespread religion is Islam, of which 16% are Shiites and the remainders are Sunnis. Some Christians and Hindus also exist in the UAE. |
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| The UAE has its roots in Islamic culture and has strong ties with the Arab world. Perhaps the main traditional social rites kept by the Emiris are the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. |
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| The culture of the country is a mixture of traditional and modern elements. There exists a tolerant atmosphere to non-Emiris who can enjoy their own cultural and religious lifestyles, and the several churches found in the country prove this diversity. However, amongst the multiculturalism, it keeps its own Islamic heritage intact. |
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| There are different types of houses in the UAE, for next to the modern air-conditioned houses and villas, you can find rural, traditional houses and even nomadic tents. |
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| As for food, the UAE provides a mixture of both, a traditional Arab menu as well as American and European food. |
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| All the emirates of the UAE make sure to preserve their traditional art and culture by providing museums and libraries for their heritage and mostly through the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation. |
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| There is almost no poverty in the UAE society because a large fraction of Abu Dhabi’s wealth is given to the poorer emirates to create a balance. |
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| Having been Bedouin people living in the desert, the Emiris, up until today, give ample importance to the family bond. The camel and the palm tree have become the country’s two major trademarks. The Arabian horse is another tradition in the UAE. |
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| Like other cultures, the Emirati culture has its own tradition of music and dance. For each type of job, a special song was sung by the naha’an as the workers labored. Each song had a specific rhythm for the particular task performed. Singing and dancing also took place during celebrations, and many of the songs and dances, handed down from generation to generation, have survived to the present time. |
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| Health and Safety: |
| To ensure a healthy visit to the United Arab Emirates, be sure to contact your local medical health immunization center about four weeks before traveling to be informed about shots that you need to take prior to your travel; in general, there are no serious health problems in the UAE, but consultation is necessary because health risks depend on the type of visit you intend to have to the country. |
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| Once in the UAE, always make sure to wash your hands with soap, drink only bottled water, and avoid eating raw meat or buying food from street vendors. |
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| If you take a specific type of medication, it is always better to have a supply with you. |
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| For more information about health in the UAE, visit the WHO website for the UAE here |
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| Crossing Borders: |
| The UAE issues a free visit visa to tourists coming from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. |
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| As a UK citizen, you receive a visit visa for 6 months upon your arrival to the UAE. |
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| In addition, you don’t need a visa if you are a civilian or a professional of the Gulf Co-operation states, namely, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. |
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| If you are coming from other countries, you should contact your local UAE embassy to be informed about the necessary arrangements needed to take to get a tourist visa. |
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| Basically, you need to have a valid passport and a visa. To receive a visa from the UAE embassy, you must present your passport, 2 photographs, a copy of the application form, a letter from your sponsor in the UAE embassy, and a letter from your company. |
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| You can pick up your visa from the hotel you are staying at if you have made early arrangements with the hotel, or you can simply pick the visa from the airport where your local sponsor would have left it for you. Visit visas are valid for 30 days and can be renewed to a maximum of 100 days. |
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| If you are a frequent business visitor of the country, you can get a multiple entry visa that is valid for six months, with the condition that each visit does not surpass 30 days. |
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| If you plan on staying in the UAE for 14 days, you can find a sponsor to arrange an entry service permit for you. |
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| More detailed information about visas can be found in the United Arab Emirates Government website. |
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| Entertainment: |
| Except for Sharjah, all the emirates of the UAE have an active nightlife. Different modes of entertainment can be sought in various bars such as cocktail lounges, British pubs, jazz bars, discos, and nightclubs with Arab singers, belly dancers and musicians. Most clubs have a dress code that needs to be followed. |
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| As a sports fan, you can enjoy watching major sporting events on large screens in some pubs. |
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| For a more cultural experience, you can attend plays, ballets, classical music and operas performed by visiting groups. In addition, you can enjoy the latest blockbuster movies in the movie theatres located all around UAE hotels . |
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| In order not to miss out on the events that will be held during your stay, you can always check the newspapers and entertainment magazines for the latest updates. |
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