Umm al Qaiwain Travel Guide
Once a fishing village dependent on pearl diving and trade, still a piece of unspoiled, pre-oil emirates. There is a charming fort by the sea, deserted and even unpaved streets delimited by clay cottages and fenced courtyards, fishing boats, and natural beaches. The more traditional activities are the fishing and the culture of dates.
Contrary to the majority of the other emirates, it does not draw its incomes from oil, but from the sale of postage stamp and the alcohol trade.
Full Name
Umm al Qaywayn
Capital City
Umm al Qaywayn
Government Type
federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved
Area Size
the emirate covers 750 km, which is 1% of all of the UAE. It is hence the least populated of all the emirates.
Time Zone
GMT +4 hours
Climate
Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, the UAE is warm and sunny in winter and hot and humid during the summer months. Winter daytime temperatures average a very pleasant 26
Geography
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is situated along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula.Qatar lies to the north-west, Saudi Arabia to the west, south and south-east and Oman to the south-east and north-east. Occupying a total area of about 83, 600 sq. km (32,400 sq. miles), the UAE has 700 km of coastline, 600 km along the Arabian Gulf and 100 km bordering the Gulf of Oman.
Languages
The official language is Arabic. English is widely understood and ranks alongside Arabic as the language of commerce.
Travel Information
Travel to the UAE has never been easier since it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Most of the leading airlines of the world fly into the UAE, but you can also travel by road or sea. The vast majority of visitors take advantage of the excellent deals on offer through a number of tour operators. The national airlines Etihad Airways and Emirates offer a comprehensive air service to the UAE's six international airports at Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ra's al-Khaimah and Fujairah. Road access to the UAE from Saudi Arabia and Oman is excellent. Connections can be made with the Trans-Arabian Highway on the overland route to Europe. Daily bus service runs between Muscat and Abu Dhabi via Al Ain. There is a twice daily bus service between Oman and Dubai via Hatta. There are also bus services between Abu Dhabi and Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the UAE is of a very high standard and many of the world
Visa Requirements
Citizens of the following countries will be issued with a free-of-charge VISIT VISA on entry to the UAE: 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. /Citizens of other countries should apply to their nearest UAE embassy.
Getting Around
Most tourists visiting the UAE on all-inclusive package tours will base themselves at one or more hotels in the UAE, using the ubiquitous and inexpensive taxis for sightseeing and shopping and local tour companies for more extended trips. However, it is worth remembering that cars and four-wheel drives are readily available for hire, the road network is excellent and there are intriguing places to visit far from the cosmopolitan cities.
Health & Safety
Remarkably, the UAE was one of only two countries with no reported cases of holiday illnesses recorded in a survey by the leading British consumer magazine, Holiday Which? This is a tribute to the success of government immunization programmes, the provision of adequate clean water and high standards of cleanliness in hotels and restaurants. No special immunizations are required, however it would be wise to check beforehand if you are travelling from a health-risk area. The sun can be fierce throughout the year so heatstroke and heat exhaustion are always a risk. Adequate sunglasses, hats and high factor sun creams are essential, especially for children. Hospitals in the UAE provide a high standard of care. It would be wise to take out medical insurance to cover all eventualities, especially if you need to attend a private hospital or clinic where treatment can be quite expensive. In all instances, medical procedures, including the use of sterilized needles and the provision of blood transfusions are very reliable. If you need a doctor, ask at your hotel, or ring your embassy for recommendations. If you need emergency treatment and are unable to contact a doctor, try one of the major hospitals. The UAE is one of the safest places in the world to visit. In fact, it has been designated the world’s safest holiday destination by the international travel industry on two occasions. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to take out travel insurance and to take the normal precaution to safeguard yourself and your valuables.
National Holidays
Fixed dates: 1 Jan (New Year's Day) 1 Jan (Eid al Adha/Feast of Sacrifice) 2 Jan (Eid al Adah Holiday) 20 Jan ( Islamic New Year) 31 Mar (The Prophet's Birthday) 6 Aug (Sheikh Zayed's Accession, Regional) 10 Aug (The Prophet's Ascension) 13 Oct (Eid al Fitr/End of Ramadan) 15 Oct (Eid al Fitr Holiday) 2 Dec (National Day) 19 Dec (Eid al Adha/Feast of Sacrifice) 22 Dec (Eid al Adha Holiday)
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED)
Electricity
220V G
Working Hours
There are no set business hours in the United Arab Emirates. Companies will either work "straight" which is between 08hrs and 17hrs, or "shift" which is anytime between 08hrs and 13hrs, and then again between 16h00 and 21hrs or even 22hrs. Government departments are open from 07hrs until 14hrs, Saturdays to Wednesdays. Banks are open from 09hrs to 13hrs Sundays to Wednesdays and from 09hrs to 12hrs on Thursdays. Shops Normal shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4.00pm to 9.00 p.m. however many shops, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi stay open all day. Most shopping centres open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m, frequently later. Some supermarkets are open for 24 hours. Shopping centres and most shops are open on Friday, the Islamic day of rest, but they all close for Juma (Friday) prayers from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
Emergency Numbers
ambulance/fire/police 998/999
