OPENING HOURS: Shops: Normal shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m.–1 p.m. and 4.00– 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. Although shops and shopping centres are fully air conditioned,

Only emergency cases at the A&E Public hospitals can be seen free of charge. Public hospitals, where the medical facilities are very good, will deal with emergencies free of charge, however 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

The weekends in Dubai has shifted from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday in recent years.  Deira on Friday afternoons is busy as are most of the shopping malls, this is because the workers are in town on their only day off of the week and its also time for Jummah Prayers at the mosques. Advice for those traveling

There are over 800 gold outlets in Dubai, including over 275 shops in the Gold Souk, Dubai's famous jewellery market alone. This means there is a dazzling variety of choice available. Dubai is known for the purity of the gold products sold. Dubai Municipality Inspections Department also ensures quality through regular checks. In short, you can be

Ensure you are fully covered for medical treatment through your travel insurance. Although pharmacies readily provide medicines quite accessibly, (there is even Boots Chemist here now), treatment, hospitalization and evacuation can add up to a large amount. Hospitals are generally very well equipped however and there are specialists in all areas of medicine with many

On a visit visa, you can drive on an International driving license, but this changes if you are a resident when you will need to apply for a Dubai driving license. Don't drink and drive, ever. Penalties can range from large fines, to imprisonment and even lashings and deportation. If you have an accident, remain with

Want to keep your cool and your cash in Dubai? This glorious megatropolis of mind-boggling architecture is perched on the edge of a hostile desert, so you’ll be tempted to live it up at the resorts, arcades and waterparks - but it still pays to venture beyond the hotel pool. Here are some of our

Alcohol is permitted in Dubai and can be purchased at the Duty Free Shop on the way into the country. The limit for this is four bottles each per person. Alcohol cannot be purchased in supermarkets or liquor stores here unless you are a resident with an alcohol license. However, alcohol is readily available in

According to rumours, the UAE's press is swiftly becoming a bastion of free speech. Why then, is the UAE still ranked below Yemen on the Press Freedom Index? Much has improved in the past 2 decades, but the UAE still ranks an astonishingly dismal 137th in the world on respected free-speech organisation Reporters Sans Frontiers' Press

Although Dubai is a Muslim country it is probably the most liberal of all the Middle East countries and of the UAE Emirates also. Having said that, there are some faux-pas that need to be avoided in order not to offend the local populace!  Reads through our travel tips It is permitted to wear bikinis and