Banking
Most International banks have branches in Dubai as well as other Emirates serving both the corporate and retail segments

Transportation
Taxi is the main mode of transportation though bus services are available in selected routes in Abudhabi and Dubai. The taxis are metered in Dubai and in Dubai the taxi service is well controlled by four major taxi companies – Dubai Transport, National Taxi, Metro Taxi & Cars Taxi. Taxi service in Dubai is also metered.

Telephones
UAE is well connected within as well as internationally by a very modern telephone network. Telephone calls within respective emirates are free of charge. The mobile phone standard is GSM.

Electricity
Electricity supply is 220/240 volts at 50 cycles.

Water
Tap water is quite safe to drink but generally visitors prefer to use bottled water

Visa
Nationals of 33 countries get visa on arrival. That includes nationals of AGCC (Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar & Saudi Arabia), United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. All other nationals other than above needs should procure visa before arriving in UAE.

The different type visas issued are as follows:

•  Tourist Visa

•  Entry Service Permit

•  Transit Visa

•  Multiple Entry Visa

Tourist visa. This special category of visit visa is available for individual tourists from East and West Europe who are not entitled to be issued a visa on arrival, as well as visitors from Thailand, South Africa and China. Clear passport copy of the passenger with a minimum validity of 6 months for passport is required to process a tourist visa. Validity of visa is two months from the date of issue and one month from the date of entry into UAE. Visa is not renewable.

Entry Service Permit This is available to businessmen and tourists and is issued to all other nationals other than those who are eligible to get visa on arrival and tourist visa. Clear passport copy of the passenger with a minimum validity of 6 months for the passport is required to process the visa. For nationals of Yemen, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya & Morocco 2 passport size photographs are required along with passport photocopy to process the visa. Validity of the visa is 14 days from the date of issue and 14 days from the date of entry into UAE, exclusive of arrival and departure days. Visa in not renewable.

Transit Visa This is a 96 hours visa issued to passengers who travel through UAE airports while traveling from one destination to another. A valid ticket with onward flight confirmation is a must for this visa.

Multiple Entry Visa This visa is issued to business visitors who are frequent visitors to UAE and who have a relationship with reputable company in UAE. Visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Each visit must not exceed not more than 30 days from the date of entry. The visitor must enter Dubai on a visit visa and apply for a multiple entry visa while in UAE. German nationals can get one or two year multiple entry visas from UAE Embassy in Germany without a sponsor and the maximum duration of stay should not exceed three months in a year. US Citizens can get one or ten years multiple entry visas from the UAE Embassy in US with a sponsor. The maximum duration of stay per visit should not exceed six months.

Restrictions
As UAE is an Islamic country, there are strict controls on import of following things.

• Ammunition and weapons

• Ivory, Hippo teeth, animal skins, etc.

• Illegal and internationally banned drugs

• Alcohol other than 2 liters of spirit or 4 cans of beer

• Pornography and nude photographs and documentation containing same