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INTRODUCTION
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GETTING TO DUBAI
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| Getting around |
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Dubai's
location at the cross-roads of Europe,
Asia and Africa makes for easy accessibility.
Most capitals and other major cities have
direct flights to Dubai, More than 80
airlines operate to and from Dubai International
Airport to more than 130 destinations,
making it one of the worlds busiest. Dubai
is also the home base of Emirates Airline,
international airline of the UAE, which
operates scheduled services to more than
45 destinations.
Cars
are also very reasonably priced and it
is cheaper to keep them running in Dubai
than it is almost anywhere else in the
world. After all, a bottle of mineral
water is more expensive than a litre of
petrol, which costs about Dhs1(15p!).
The key to driving in Dubai is to remain
calm in the face of adversity. The main
artery is Sheikh Zayed Road and driving
it is akin to running the gauntlet or
playing Frogger as cars undertake, overtake
on the hard shoulder, tailgate at 100mph
and generally behave with no consideration
to other road users. |
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| Public Transport |
The
United Arab Emirates boasts an impressive
network of first-class roads that connect
major towns and villages, including a multi-lane
highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Highways
and main roads in Dubai and the United Arab
Emirates are designated by an Emirate Route
Number. Driving in the UAE is on the right-hand
side. Speed limits are clearly displayed
on road signs and are usually 60-80kph (37-50mph)
around town and 100-120kph (62-74mph) elsewhere.
Seatbelts are compulsory and it is illegal
to use handheld mobile phones while driving.
Certain minor traffic offences incur on-the-spot
fines. Drinking and driving is illegal and
the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio
for driving is zero.
A valid International Driving Permit, a valid national licence and a passport are required to drive in Dubai. Visitors from many European, North American and Pan-Asian countries can obtain a temporary local driving licence if they do not have an international licence ? a valid national licence, passport and two passport-size photographs are required for applicants to obtain this. Drivers must be over 18 years old. Third party insurance is compulsory.
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Taxis |
| Air-conditioned
taxis can be hailed on the street or pre-booked
by telephone. Metered taxis, operated by
the Dubai Transport Corporation . are distinguished
by their cream colour and uniformed drivers.
Occasionally, drivers do not have detailed
knowledge of the city and might ask passengers
for directions. |
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| Driving in the City |
| Dubai
has an excellent and well-signposted road
network and the majority of roads have two
to four lanes. Unfortunately, driving standards
do not match the quality of the roads. Many
local drivers travel at speed and change
lanes with wild abandon. In addition, drivers
are prone to make sudden and dangerous manoeuvres.
Accidents occur frequently and visitors
are advised to drive defensively. Outside
the city centre, signposts are rare, making
a good road map essential, to avoid heading
aimlessly out into the desert. Increasingly
traffic congestion is also a problem, particularly
in Deira and along Jumeirah Beach. Drivers
should note that there is a Dh20 tax to
pay for driving out of the UAE. |
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Car Hire |
| A
valid International Driving Permit, passport
and credit card are required for one to
hire a car in Dubai. Visitors from many
European, North American and many Asian
countries can obtain a temporary local driving
licence if they do not have an international
licence. A valid national licence, passport
and two passport-size photographs are required
in order to do this. Fully comprehensive
insurance is essential. In the event of
an accident, the police must be informed
and a written police report obtained, otherwise
the hire company’s insurance might not cover
any damage. Drivers must be at least 21
years old and have held a full licence for
one year. The age limit is often raised
to 25 years, for more expensive models.
Payment must be made by credit card. |
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| Bicycle Hire
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| Considering
the desert environment, Dubai is not a cyclist’s
paradise and bicycle hire is not a roaring
trade in the city. Nevertheless, some hotels
hire out bicycles. Whether or not they will
hire them to non-guests varies. |
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| Airport Guides for Dubai |
| The airport is a hub to Dubai's international airline, Emirates.Because of the many stores in the airport, it is considered a major place to buy duty free goods in that country, which is in turn considered a duty free shopping haven.
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