Traveling to Dubai
Hotel Information
Madinat Jumeirah
Madinat Jumeirah, The Arabian Resort - Dubai, is a tribute to Dubai's heritage and is styled to resemble an ancient Arabian citadel. Known for more than its role as the region's leading conference and banqueting center, the Resort is comprised of two grand boutique hotels, courtyard summer houses, recreational facilities and more.
Mina A'Salam is the gateway to Madinat Jumeirah and means the ‘Harbour of Peace’. A Grand Boutique Hotel built around a beach side harbor, its unique shape and omnipresent wind towers herald a step back in time – yet modern facilities and luxurious interiors provide the most discerning visitors a destination of unrivalled qualities.
Al Qasr is a beautifully proportioned Grand Boutique Hotel at the center of the Resort. Its name means ‘the palace’ and its scale, finery and design exude truly palatial qualities. Elevated from the rest of the Resort, the Palace Hotel overlooks gardens and pools which cascade toward the warm Arabian Gulf. It is surrounded by gardens and waterways.
Dar Al Masyaf - the Arabian Summer Houses are an elegant tribute to the courtyard style homes of days gone by. Each summer house is comprised of rooms and suites of quintessential Arabian style. All have their own terrace which overlooks waterways or beach.
Hotel Reservation
We have just received word that all hotel rooms at the Madinat Jumeriah are booked. You may attempt to contact Madinat Jumeriah directly to see if you
are able to secure a hotel reservation.
Contact Madinat Jumeirah:
PO Box 751257
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 3668888
Fax: +971 4 3667788
E-Mail: reservations@madinatjumeirah.com
Web:
www.madinatjumeirah.com
Kanoo Travel, the official travel agency of the Conference, may also be able to assist in
securing you a hotel reservation. Explain that you are with the Arab and World Media Conference when you contact them.
Contact Kanoo Travel:
Varghese Daniel
Riza Ahmed
P.O.Box 290
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 3341222
Toll Free : 800 KANOO
E-Mail: corpmgr@kanoo.ae
Airline Reservations
We have made an arrangement with conference sponsor Emirates airlines that provides delegates of the Arab and World Media Conference with a discount on Emirates plane tickets. The discounts are as follows:
- From Emirates on-line cities in Europe, Australia, Far East, New Zealand and Africa to Dubai: 50% discount on IATA published fares in F/J/Y & YEE fares.
- From Emirates on-line cities in Middle East and GCC to Dubai: 25% discount on F/J/YRT IATA published fares.
- New York to Dubai: 20% discount on F, J AND Y fares or 10% discount on all other economy class fare types.
Delegates need to contact the most local Emirates office for bookings and tickets. Request ARAB & WORLD MEDIA CONFERENCE special offer. Online List of Emirates offices.
RESTRICTIONS:
- Delegates will need to produce a COPY OF INVITATION or LETTER while purchasing the tickets in order to avail the offer.
- Fares are valid only for travel to Dubai from 30 Nov 2005 to 05 Dec 2005 and return travel from Dubai 06 Dec 2005 to 10 Dec 2005.
- The tickets can only be issued directly through Emirates offices. These are not valid for purchase through travel agents.
Travel Information
Travel Arrangements
Participants are encouraged to make their flight reservations early — December marks the height of the tourist season in Dubai.
Airport Arrivals
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is an international hub handling millions of passengers annually. As the region's leading airport, it ranks among the top 50 international airports in the world. Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai, operates scheduled service to more than 70 destinations.
Customs and Immigration
Customs Duty-free allowances: cigarettes — 2,000; cigars — 400; tobacco — 2kg; alcohol (non-Muslim adults only) — 2 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine; perfume — a reasonable amount. No customs duty is levied on personal effects entering Dubai.
Health Requirements
The UAE Department of Health advises that no vaccinations are required to enter the United Arab Emirates.
Insurance
Participants are strongly advised to arrange for their own individual medical, travel and personal effects insurance valid for the United Arab Emirates while attending the meetings.
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Cultural Tips
Language
Arabic is the official legal language of the country, but English is used in business and everyday life. Most road and shop signs are in both languages.
Basic Arabic phrases
| Yes | Na'am |
| No | La |
| Please | Min fadlak(m) / Min fadliki(f) |
| Thank you | Shukran |
| Hello | Marhaba |
| Goodbye | Ma is-salaama |
| How much? | Kam? |
Climate
The United Arab Emirates has a subtropical climate, and blue sunny skies can be expected all year round. The average daily temperature for December ranges from a minimum of 14°C (57°F) to a maximum of 26°C (79°F), with humidity in the 80% range.
Attire
Business casual attire that respects local traditions and customs is appropriate.
A sweater or light jacket is recommended as the evenings can be cool in December.
Transportation
Taxis are recommended as a cheap and convenient means of transportation in Dubai.
Rental cars are also available.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications in the United Arab Emirates are world-class. Landline phones are available and mobile phones are widely used. The country's telecommunications provider, Etisalat, has roaming agreements with more than 112 countries. You can also purchase a 'Wasel' card which offers easy connectivity worldwide.
Wi-Fi is available in the conference area.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 200/240 volts, 50 cycles. The socket type is the same as the three point British system.
Currency
The monetary unit is the Dirham (AED or Dhs) that is divided into 100 fils. The Dirham has been tied to the US dollar since 1980 at a mid-rate of USD 1 = Dhs 3.67.
Money exchanges are available all over the United Arab Emirates, offering good service and reasonable exchange rates. ATMs are also available at banks and most large shopping centers, hotels and gas stations.
Credit cards, such as American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard, are generally accepted in the main hotels and larger shops but some retailers offer better bargains for cash.
Tipping
Tipping practices are similar to most parts of the world. Some restaurants include gratuity in the bill; otherwise 10 percent is adequate.
Local Time
The United Arab Emirates is four hours ahead of GMT (UTC). When it is noon in Dubai, it is 08:00 in London, 03:00 in Washington and 17:00 in Tokyo.
Photography
Normal tourist photography is acceptable but it is considered offensive to photograph Muslim women. It is also courteous to ask permission before photographing men. In general, one should not take photographs of government buildings or military installations.
There is a wide choice of films available and processing is inexpensive and fast.
Religion
The official religion of the United Arab Emirates is Islam. However, there is also respect for other religions and denominations. For details on the locations of places of worship and service times, contact the concierge at your hotel.
Alcohol
Alcohol is available in hotel and club restaurants and bars. However, restaurants outside the hotels are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages. back to top
Visa & Passport Requirements
Regulations & Guidelines
- Traveling to Dubai is now easier than ever with the introduction of an on-site visa facility by UAE Immigration authorities. Nationals of the five Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states and the 33 countries listed in the section below no longer need to apply for a visa in advance of travel. A visit visa is now stamped directly in your passport by immigration officials at the port of entry, and is valid for 60 days.
- For nationalities that require a sponsor, airlines may seek confirmation that the sponsor is holding a valid visa for the incoming visitor.
- Visas are valid for SINGLE ENTRY only. If an individual leaves the United Arab Emirates with the intention of returning later, they must first acquire a multiple-entry visa.
- A copy of the visa along with the individual's national passport will be required to board the flight at the point of embarkation and must be presented to immigration officials on arrival in the United Arab Emirates.
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Visas Issued on Arrival
Nationals from the countries listed below are not required to apply for a visa in advance and will be granted entry to the United Arab Emirates on arrival:
Western European Countries:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (with the right of abode in the United Kingdom) and Vatican City.
North America: Canada and United States.
Pacific Rim: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.
Gulf Co-operation Council States: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
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Passports
- All persons traveling to the United Arab Emirates must be in possession of a valid passport.
- Passports must be valid for at least three months from the date of entry into the United Arab Emirates.
- Travel Documents and Identification Certificates are not recognized
as valid passports by the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Interior with the exception of Travel Documents of Hong Kong Chinese holding 44-page Identity Certificates.
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