Fast Facts

Area Codes -- The country code for the UAE is 971, and the city code for Dubai is 4.

Automobile Associations -- The Arabian Automobile Association (AAA) (tel. 4/266-9989 or 800-4900; www.aaauae.com) offers 24-hour recovery service for an annual fee, including basic mechanical repairs, towing service, battery boosting, lockout service, and assistance for vehicles that have a flat tire or run out of gas. The organization is also licensed to issue International Driving Permits.

Business Hours -- Government offices are typically open Sunday to Thursday from 7:30am to 2:30pm. Private business hours are generally from 9am to 5pm, with some businesses taking an afternoon break and then staying open until later in the evening. Many shops open at 9 or 10am and stay open until 9 or 10pm. The weekend is Friday and Saturday.

Bank hours are Saturday to Wednesday 8am to 1pm, and (for some) again from 4:30 to 6:30pm. They are open Thursday from 8am to noon and are closed Friday.

Drinking Laws -- Alcohol is only available in hotel and club restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It is not sold in supermarkets or other public places. Technically, drinking or possession of alcohol without a Ministry of Interior liquor permit is illegal except for guests of the hotel. Liquor licenses are issued only to non-Muslim persons who possess UAE residency permits. Drinking alcohol in public is illegal, and there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving; doing so will result in jail and stiff fines.

Electricity -- Dubai's electricity is 220-240 volts AC. U.S.-made appliances generally require a transformer to operate here. Bring a connection kit of the right power and phone adapters, a spare phone cord, and a spare Ethernet network cable -- or find out whether your hotel supplies them to guests.

Embassies & Consulates -- All embassies are located in the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi. Many countries also have consulates located in Dubai.

The embassy of Australia is on the 14th Floor of the Al Muhairy Center, Sheikh Zayed the First Street, Abu Dhabi (tel. 2/634-6100; www.uae.embassy.gov.ae). The Australian Consulate General in Dubai is on the 25th floor of the Burjuman Business Tower (tel. 4/508-7100).

The embassy of Canada is in the Abu Dhabi Trade Towers (Abu Dhabi Mall), West Tower, Abu Dhabi (tel. 2/694-0300; www.international.gc.ca). The Canadian Consulate in Dubai is on the 7th floor of the Bank Street Building, Khalid bin Waled St. (tel. 4/314-5555).

The embassy of the United Kingdom is on Al Seef Road in Bur Dubai, Dubai (tel. 4/309-4444; www.britishembassy.gov.uk).

The embassy of the United States is at Al Khaleej A. Arabi Street, at 30th Street, Abu Dhabi (tel. 2/414-2200; abudhabi.usembassy.gov). The U.S. Consulate general in Dubai is in the World Trade Center off Sheikh Zayed Road (tel. 4/311-6000; dubai.usconsulate.gov).

Emergencies -- The Dubai Municipality Emergency Number is tel. 4/223-2323. For police or an ambulance, dial tel. 999. In case of fire, dial tel. 997.

Gasoline (Petrol)) -- Gasoline is referred to as petrol in the UAE and is available at stations operated by Emarat, EPPCO, and ENOC. It's sold by the imperial gallon (about 4.5 liters) and costs approximately AED 6.50 ($1.75/90p) per gallon, considerably less than in most Western countries.

Holidays -- Banks, government offices, post offices, and many stores, restaurants, and other businesses are closed on the following legal national holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), March 14 (Prophet's Birthday), July 19 (Lailat Al Mi'Raj), September 20 (Eid Al Fitr), November 27 (Eid Al Adha), December 2 (UAE National Day), and December 18 (Islamic New Year). Ramadan in 2009 will be from August 21 to September 19.

Hospitals -- The best government hospitals include Al Wasl Hospital (tel. 4/324-1111; www.dohms.gov.ae) on Oud Metha Road in Bur Dubai and Rashid Hospital (tel. 4/337-4000; www.dohms.gov.ae) in downtown Bur Dubai. Both offer emergency services. For private hospitals, the American Hospital (tel. 4/336-7777; www.ahdubai.com) on Oud Metha Road offers excellent emergency services and in-patient and out-patient care, as does Welcare Hospital (tel. 4/282-7788; www.welcarehospital.com) in Al Garhoud, near the Aviation Club. Dubai Healthcare City (www.dhcc.ae) also encompasses a selection of hospitals.

Hot Lines -- The toll-free hot line for Dubai's Tourist Police is tel. 800-4438. The Dubai Municipality Emergency Number is tel. 4/223-2323. Health Call (tel. 4/363-5343) offers in-house medical calls 24 hours a day. The team of medical doctors from North America and Europe out of Dubai Healthcare City provide comprehensive primary healthcare.

Insurance -- Medical Insurance -- For travel overseas, most U.S. health plans (including Medicare and Medicaid) do not provide coverage, and the ones that do often require you to pay for services upfront and reimburse you only after you return home.

As a safety net, you may want to buy travel medical insurance, particularly if you're traveling to a remote or high-risk area where emergency evacuation might be necessary. If you require additional medical insurance, try MEDEX Assistance (tel. 410/453-6300; www.medexassist.com) or Travel Assistance International (tel. 800/821-2828; www.travelassistance.com; for general information on services, call the company's Worldwide Assistance Services, Inc., at tel. 800/777-8710).

Canadians should check with their provincial health plan offices or call Health Canada (tel. 866/225-0709; www.hc-sc.gc.ca) to find out the extent of their coverage and what documentation and receipts they must take home in case they are treated overseas.

Travelers from the U.K. should carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaced the E111 form as proof of entitlement to free/reduced cost medical treatment abroad (tel. 0845 606 2030; www.ehic.org.uk). Note, however, that the EHIC only covers "necessary medical treatment," and for repatriation costs, lost money, baggage, or cancellation, travel insurance from a reputable company should always be sought (www.travelinsuranceweb.com).

Travel Insurance -- The cost of travel insurance varies widely, depending on the destination, the cost and length of your trip, your age and health, and the type of trip you're taking, but expect to pay between 5% and 8% of the vacation itself. You can get estimates from various providers through InsureMyTrip.com. Enter your trip cost and dates, your age, and other information for prices from more than a dozen companies.

U.K. citizens and their families who make more than one trip abroad per year may find an annual travel insurance policy works out cheaper. Check www.moneysupermarket.com, which compares prices across a wide range of providers for single- and multi-trip policies.

Most big travel agents offer their own insurance and will probably try to sell you their package when you book a holiday. Think before you sign. Britain's Consumers' Association recommends that you insist on seeing the policy and reading the fine print before buying travel insurance. The Association of British Insurers (tel. 020/7600-3333; www.abi.org.uk) gives advice by phone and publishes Holiday Insurance, a free guide to policy provisions and prices. You might also shop around for better deals: Try Columbus Direct (tel. 0870/033-9988; www.columbusdirect.net).

Trip Cancellation Insurance -- Trip cancellation insurance will help retrieve your money if you have to back out of a trip or depart early, or if your travel supplier goes bankrupt. Trip cancellation traditionally covers such events as sickness, natural disasters, and State Department advisories. The latest news in trip cancellation insurance is the availability of expanded hurricane coverage and the "any-reason" cancellation coverage -- which costs more but covers cancellations made for any reason. You won't get back 100% of your prepaid trip cost, but you'll be refunded a substantial portion. TravelSafe (tel. 888/885-7233; www.travelsafe.com) offers both types of coverage. Expedia also offers any-reason cancellation coverage for its air-hotel packages. For details, contact one of the following recommended insurers: Access America (tel. 866/807-3982; www.accessamerica.com); Travel Guard International (tel. 800/826-4919; www.travelguard.com); Travel Insured International (tel. 800/243-3174; www.travelinsured.com); and Travelex Insurance Services (tel. 888/457-4602; www.travelex-insurance.com).

Internet Access -- Most Dubai hotels offer Internet access, including business centers with computers. Al Matrix.com Café (tel. 4/343-0000) lies in the Metropolitan Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road and is open from 10am to midnight. Formula One Net Café (tel. 4/345-1232), in the Palm Strip shopping mall on Jumeirah Beach Road, is open from 10am to 10pm. The Coffee Bean (tel. 4/282-4122) offers Internet access at the Aviation Club in Al Garhoud, and is open from 7am to 11pm. WorldNet Internet Café (tel. 4/332-2913) lies in the Holiday Center on Sheikh Zayed Road and is open from 10am to 11pm.

Language -- English is widely spoken in Dubai and most public information is written in English as well as Arabic.

Legal Aid -- If you run into legal trouble, it's a good idea to contact your country's consulate in Dubai or embassy in Abu Dhabi. They will usually have a list of reputable English-speaking lawyers and contact information. U.S. citizens who are arrested should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General for assistance. The U.S. Consul will provide information on the local judicial system and a list of local attorneys. In Dubai, the U.S. Consul can also arrange for U.S. citizen detainees to meet with an ombudsman from the Human Rights Department of the Dubai police headquarters, if the detainee believes he or she is not being treated fairly. Other embassies and consulates offer similar services.

Lost & Found -- For lost and found in Dubai, try contacting Dubai's Tourist Police (tel. 800-4438). Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen, and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa's UAE emergency number is tel. 4/223-6888. American Express cardholders and traveler's check holders should call tel. 4/336-5000. MasterCard holders should call tel. 4/332-2956.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Mail -- UAE mail is reliable and generally takes 6 to 10 days to reach Europe and the U.S., and 8 to 10 days to reach Australia and New Zealand. Letters up to 20 grams cost AED 3 (82¢/40p) to Europe and AED 3.50 (95¢/50p) to the U.S. Stamps are available for purchase in post offices, supermarkets, and some other shops. Red post boxes for outbound mail are easily distinguishable at post offices and outside many supermarkets. The main post office is on Zaabeel Road in Karama, Bur Dubai (tel. 800-5858).

Newspapers & Magazines -- Dubai's major English-language newspapers are Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Emirates Today, and the Gulf Today. Seven Days is an English-language tabloid. Local magazines in English include Inside Out, TimeOut Dubai, What's On, and Connector. These and some foreign newspapers and magazines are available in bookshops and supermarkets.

Passports -- The websites listed provide downloadable passport applications as well as the current fees for processing applications. For an up-to-date, country-by-country listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the "International Travel" tab of the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov.

For Residents of Australia -- You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada -- Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca). Note: Canadian children who travel must have their own passport. However, if you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport remains valid for you and your child until it expires.

For Residents of Ireland -- You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those 17 and under and 66 and older must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 21/494-4700) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of New Zealand -- You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

For Residents of the United Kingdom -- To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-year passport for children 15 and under), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency, or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of the United States -- Whether you're applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information

Police -- The emergency number for police or an ambulance is tel. 999. The Dubai Police can also be reached at tel. 800-4438 (www.dubaipolice.gov.ae).

Taxes -- There's no income or value-added tax (VAT) in Dubai, although a VAT may be coming as soon as 2010. A 10% municipality tax and a 10% service charge are added for hotel and food and beverage bills, but these are usually already incorporated in the price.

Citizens of countries other than those from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are required to pay a departure fee of AED 20 ($5.45/£2.75) payable only in the local currency.

Time -- Dubai is 4 hours ahead of UCT (formerly known as GMT). It does not observe daylight saving time.

Tipping -- Many restaurants include a service charge, which will be clearly identified in your bill; for those that do not, a tip of 10% to 15% is appropriate. Your server is generally not allowed to keep the tip, however, which is instead shared with all the staff. Offer AED 5 ($1.35/70p) for valet parking, unless otherwise specified. A few dirhams per bag is an appropriate tip for hotel bell boys. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped, although people often round up when paying for the fare.

Toilets -- Western-style restrooms are widely available in shopping malls, restaurants, and hotel lobbies. Public toilets on the streets are uncommon.

Useful Phone Numbers -- U.S. Dept. of State Travel Advisory: tel. 202/647-5225 (staffed 24 hr.)

U.S. Passport Agency: tel. 202/647-0518

U.S. Centers for Disease Control International Traveler's Hotline: tel. 404/332-4559

Visas -- Nationals of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (as well as those of a number of other countries) do not require visas to visit the UAE. For more information, visit www.dubaitourism.co.ae.

Water -- Tap water is desalinated from the Arabian Gulf and is safe to drink, but most visitors prefer bottled mineral water, which is offered in most Dubai hotels and restaurants.