Trip Planner

Full Country Name: United Arab Emirates
Area: 83,600 sq km
Population: 9.346 million (2013)
Religion: Islam is the official religion and widely practised
Time Zone: Standard time is four hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time
Language: Arabic.  English is widely understood and Hindi and Urdu are also common.
Country Dialling Code: +971

• The best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November and April, when the weather is coolest.
• Any outdoor activity becomes difficult in the summer months from June to September as both temperature and humidity is high, so it is recommended that during this time when temperatures soar above 35°C and the humidity reaches above 90%, not to venture outdoors for long periods of time. However there are many indoor activities with air-conditioning to keep everyone entertained.
• The hottest months are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach above 50 °C.
• In the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains, temperatures are considerably cooler, a result of increased altitude.

• The unit of currency is the Emirati dirham (AED), which is made up of 100 fils.
• Full banking services are available in all the major towns, although a commission is normally charged.

• UAE is a predominantly Muslim country and visitors should respect religious sensitivity, particularly in the matter of dress and public conduct.
• Women, in particular, should wear appropriate clothing.
• Eating, drinking and smoking in public during the holy month of Ramadan should be avoided, as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture.
• Alcohol is available only at licensed hotels and restaurants.

• In Dubai the general voltage is 220 and the frequency is 50 Hz.
• As the sockets can vary a ‘Travellers Adaptor Set’ is recommended.

Do I need a Visa to Travel to UAE?

• At the time of writing, no visa for Dubai for stays up to one month is required for travellers on Australian Passports.
• Please double check this with your travel agent as this may change at any time.
• You must hold return or onward flight tickets.

• One Year in Wonderland: A True Tale of Expat life in Dubai – Christopher Combe
• Dubai Dreams: Inside the Kingdom of Bling – Raymond Barrett
• Escape from Dubai – Herve Jaubert
• Dubai: The Story of the World’s Fastest City – Jim Krane
• Dubai Wives – Zvezdana Rashkovich
• Dubai Tales – Muhammad Murr
• The Sand Fish – Maha Gargash
• The Duke of Dubai – Luigi Falconi
• Dubai: Gilded Cage – Syed Ali

Tipping Guidelines

Tipping is usually considered customary in the Middle East although not as widespread as the United States or Europe. It is always at your discretion. If you feel that someone has gone the extra mile to make your stay more enjoyable, a tip would be considered a nice way of saying thank you.

To help you budget for your trip, the following is given as a guideline only (shown in US Dollars):

Driver (per person per full day): $5.00
Guide (per person per full day): $10.00
Hotel porters (per bag): $1.00
Restaurant (per person per meal): $1.00
A la carte dining (% of bill): 10%

Smart Traveller advice on travel to United Arab Emirates from Australia. Here you can find UAE’s most up to date COVID-19 health screening requirements for entry, exit and transit, which may include recent COVID-19 test results and/or vaccination requirements.

Subsequently we advise you to subscribe to Smartraveller for updates to stay informed if something changes.

Smart Traveller’s Global Covid-19 Health and Travel Advisory.

Subsequently we advise you to subscribe to Smartraveller for updates to stay informed if something changes.