At $360 billion in 2012, the GDP of the UAE ranks second in the CCASG (after Saudi Arabia), third in the Middle East?North Africa (MENA) region (after Saudi Arabia and Iran), and 30th in the world.
There are various deviating estimates regarding the actual growth rate of the nation's GDP, however all available statistics indicate that the UAE currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance and Industry, nominal GDP rose by 20.8% in 2012 to $360 billion, compared with $298 billion in 2011.
Although the United Arab Emirates is becoming less dependent on natural resources as a source of revenue, petroleum and natural gas exports still play an important role in the economy, especially in Abu Dhabi. A massive construction boom, an expanding manufacturing base, and a thriving services sector are helping the UAE diversify its economy. Nationwide, there is currently $350 billion worth of active construction projects. The UAE is a member of the World Trade Organization.
* Collected from Wikipedia
The dirham (code: AED) is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. The ISO 4217 code (currency abbreviation) for the United Arab Emirates dirham is AED. Unofficial abbreviations include DH or Dhs. The dirham is subdivided into 100 fils. 1 US Dollar = 3.65 AED.
Emiratis are welcoming people and are generally extremely friendly. Like most peoples of the world, they welcome visitors who are willing to show some amount of respect and can be extremely generous. (Some expats and visitors do not understand that revealing clothing can be quite offensive to some people, even if nothing is said to the offenders.) Their culture is unique and can be highly conservative, but overall they are quite attuned to the ways, customs, events, media, and manners of the world.
The UAE is more conservative than most Western societies, though not as much as some of its neighbors. Travelers should be aware and respect the more traditional outlook in the UAE, as there are behaviors typical in the West (for example, making "rude and insulting gestures") that will result in arrest in the UAE. On the other hand, Western travelers will find most of the UAE quite comfortable.
Although women are not required to wear the hijab, most revealing fashions such as tank tops and shorts should be avoided. Below-the-knee skirts are somewhat more acceptable, although you will still incur stares. However, there are quite a few tourists or expatriate-dominated zones where even "provocative" dress may be seen, although not necessary respected. These include many areas of the Emirate of Dubai and, for example, beach resorts in Ajman or Fujairah. Public nudity anywhere is strictly forbidden and will be punished. Sharjah is the most conservative of the Emirates with public decency statutes (i.e., forbidding overly revealing clothing or certain kinds of beach wear), but few of them are enforced (although that varies).
* Collected from
http://wikitravel.org/en/United_Arab_Emirates
The UAE is one of the safest countries to live with very tight security arrangements from the Police in all the emirates. The crime rate is extremely low in the United Arab Emirates, although of course one must use common sense.
A couple of things you should be aware of are to do with drug laws in the UAE. Some common painkillers in western countries are illegal narcotics in the UAE, eg. codeine. Don't bring any with you unless you carry a copy of your prescription. People have received jail sentences for making this mistake. In contrast, antibiotics are freely available over the counter at pharmacies. If you receive a prescription for controlled drugs in the UAE -- such as some painkillers and antidepressants -- be sure to keep the copy of the prescription with you when traveling out of the country.
Another trap for the unwary is that if you are suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a blood test can be taken and if it shows evidence of substances that are illegal in the UAE, then you will probably end up in jail even if the substances were ingested in the country that you were previously in.
The students are urged to respect and follow the laws of the land.
Checklist for packing
Items to carry in your hand luggage
- Your valid passport, with visa or entry clearance if relevant Your travel tickets
- Money — cash, travellers' cheques, credit card — preferably in a money belt or a
very secure inside pocket
- Vaccination certificates if required/X-ray report if required any prescribed drugs
or medicines you are taking, plus a letter from your doctor explaining what they
are Original letter of acceptance from your institution
- Original documentary proof that you have enough money to pay your fees and meet
your living costs (e.g. recent bank statements, proof of scholarship, sponsor's
letter, reference letter from your bank in your own country)
- Originals (or certified true copies) of any degree certificates or technical qualifications
- Confirmation of any accommodation you have booked, including full address and telephone
number
- A list of what you packed in each item of your main luggage, in case you need to
make an insurance claim Warm jacket, sweater, an umbrella
- Items to pack in your main luggage
- A photocopy of each page of your passport, including its number and the date and
place of issue and any entry clearances
- A note of the serial numbers of your traveller's cheques
- Back-up photocopies of all essential documents
- At least nine passport-size photos of yourself – you will need them for student
identification cards, bus/rail passes and various other purposes
- Clothing – bring comfortable clothes which you can use as layers to keep you warm
if necessary.
- Toiletries and personal items to last a few weeks
The country is extraordinarily dry, getting only a few days of rain a year. Despite that, Emiratis use water at an alarming rate: there are broad swaths of grass in the major public parks, for example, and landscaping can be extensive in the resorts or other public places. A visitor is not restricted in water use in any way. The weather from late October through mid-March is quite pleasant, with high temperatures ranging from around 27°C ( 85°F) to lows around 15°C ( 63°F). It is almost always sunny. In the summer, the temperatures soar — it is widely suspected that the officially reported temperatures are "tweaked" to cut off the true summer highs, which can reach 50°C, or around 120°F, or even higher!
Weather is another contributing factor for travel to the United Arab Emirates. There is very little rainfall in the UAE making it an excellent holiday destination. Rainfall occurs between November and March and is minimal. Between May and September temperatures can be scorching. Throughout the rest of the year it's very warm and pleasant. During the summertime temperatures soar and humidity skyrockets along the coastline. One should be prepared to keep cool and take in plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Many believe the best time for UAE travels is between October and May when the average temperatures is a pleasant 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
The population is incredibly diverse. Only some 20% of the population of the Emirates are 'real' Emiratis; the rest come from the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh (some 50%); other parts of Asia, particularly the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka (another perhaps 15%); and "Western" countries (UK, Europe, Australia, USA, South Africa)(5-6%), with the remainder from everywhere else. On any given day in, say, Dubai or Sharjah, you can see people from every continent and every social class. With this diversity, one of the few unifying factors is language, and consequently nearly everyone speaks some version of English. Nearly all road or other information signs are in English and Arabic, and English is widely spoken, particularly in the hospitality industry. On the other hand, there are elements that would be unsettling for overseas travelers, such as fully veiled women.
Quick Links
