DUBAI FACT FILE
Background
Dubai is one of seven small states that form the United Arab Emirates. The other member states are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain.
The United Arab Emirates are bordered by Saudi Arabia and Oman and boast a long coastline that includes part of the
Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
The currency of the UAE is the
Emirati Dirham which is pegged against the US Dollar
The international telephone dialing code for France is +971.
The national language of the UAE is Arabic, but English is widely used in business.
The UAE has a
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland with mountains in east. The city of Dubai itself is a cosmopolitan oasis in what is otherwise a very sparcely populated desert landscape.
Climate
Dubai has a sub-tropical, desert climate. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular and is confined to an average of just five days during the "winter" months. Temperatures average 105°F in July and 75°F in January. Air conditioning is a necessity.
Getting There
Dubai International Airport the busiest airport in the Middle East,
catering for over 20 million passengers every year. As such there is no shortage of flights to Dubai from London and other European airports. Flight times from London are between 7-8 hours.
If you are visiting Dubai, you no longer need to apply for a visa in advance if you are a UK national. A Visit Visa is now stamped directly into your passport on arrival in Dubai and is valid for 30 days (this can be extended to 90 days on request).
Resident visas and work permits are issued by the concerned authorities in the UAE and the application is made through a prospective employer.
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Living There
Dubai's population of over a million people consists of mainly ex-pats from other Arab countries, Asia and Europe - only around 20% of residents are from the Emirates.
In recent years, Dubai has been reinventing itself as the financial, commercial and leisure capital of the Middle East and this has coincided with a massive construction boom.
New laws have just been passed that allow UK citizens and other foreign national to purchase land and property in designated areas.
Despite a buoyant property market, most of the construction projects are just that - still in construction. An estimated 50,000 new properties will be completed this decade.
Many foreign nationals simply rent in Dubai.
Above: Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai
Employment opportunities in the commercial, IT, media and financial sectors are available and an employer will get you the necessary work permit. Tourism too is a big growth industry.
Excellent healthcare facilities exist in the UAE and medical insurance is recommended.
There are also excellent international schools, but some have waiting lists and they can be expensive (there is no state education for non-nationals).
In every respect, Dubai is a modern cosmopolitan city, but despite being one of the most liberal places in the Middle East it is a Moslem country and respect for this is required.
Embassies
UAE Embassy, 30 Princes Gate , London, SW7 1PT
(0207 581 1281)
British Embassy, British Embassy,
PO Box 65, Dubai
(+971 (2) 610 1100)
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Home to some of the most innovative property developments to be found anywhere in the world, Dubai offers tax free luxury living
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Maz Ahktar,
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To
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Tuesday May 17th 2005 ,
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With more than 85,000 residential properties and
Don’t Miss The Homes Overseas Magazine Exhibition At Earls Court This Weekend!
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Green Lakes Towers - Dubai’s Latest Addition To The Luxury Property Market
Wednesday April 20th 2005 ,
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Dubai's latest addition to its booming property market is Green Lake Towers, a 720 unit luxury one, two and three bedroom apartment project scheduled for completion in April, 2007.
Situated
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