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United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Culture
The United Arab Emirates are generally recognized as the most cosmopolitan and "Westernized" of the Middle East countries and the expert population is growing rapidly. In fact, less than 50% of the population of the UAE are Arabs. However, 95% of the population are Muslims and Islam is the official religion. Arabic is the official language although English is widely spoken. Most English-speaking experts find that they can get by with virtually no Arabic, especially those working in the major expert cities (e.g. Dubai).

 However, as in most countries, learning the local language can prove to be a valuable asset and will certainly be appreciated by UAE nationals.
There are some important points which experts should keep in mind. Although alcohol is available to non-Muslims (with the exception of the Emirate of Sharjah where it is forbidden for all) it must never be consumed on the streets or offered to local citizens. Eating, drinking and smoking are also not permitted in public (from sunrise to sunset) during Ramadan, the month of fasting.
Dubai is often recognized as being the most Westernized of UAE cities in terms of both appearance and attitude but some experts suggest that Abu Dhabi is even more so (accommodation is also slightly cheaper in Abu Dhabi). Reports from younger experts are particularly positive about life in these cities. However, some aspects of life remain very different from those in the West. For example, although there is a gay scene in Dubai it is "underground" due to the state's view of homosexuality and arrests by the police are not unknown.
Some people describe the expert community in the UAE as close-knit, others as exclusive. One way of meeting and making expert friends is through the network of cybercafés in the region which are particularly popular with expatriates. Another way is to approach your embassy or consulate which should have lists of both social and

business organizations your own countrymen may be involved in (e.g. the British Business Group and similar organizations hold welcome evenings for new experts).

United Arab Emirates (UAE)- Visas, Residency, Immigration

Visas, Residency, Immigration & Documentation Visas for foreigners are issued by the Naturalization and Immigration Department at the Ministry of Interior (closed Thursday and Friday). It is important to note that your nationality may affect the type of visa you can obtain. More details below...
Visas are not issued to Israeli citizens, those with passports containing an Israeli stamp or those with passports issued less than 6 months previously.
The Cabinet has decided to reduce the visit visa period for citizens of 33 countries who are allowed to enter the UAE without a prior visa to one month non-renewable instead of three months. The Cabinet also decided to impose a charge of Dhs100 per visa to be collected on entry to the UAE through land, seaport and airport entry points.
The decision includes citizens from France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Visit Visa

Citizens of the UK (with right of abode in the UK) will be granted a free of charge visit visa on arrival in the UAE: Passports will be stamped with the visit visa as you pass through Immigration at any airport in the UAE.

 Although the visa may be stamped for 30 days, it entitles the holder to stay in the country for 60 days and may be renewed once for an additional period of 30 days for a fee of Dh500.
Except for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council who do not require a visa and nationalities automatically entitled to visit visas on entry, all other visitors who wish to stay longer than 14 days in the UAE (see Entry Service Permit below) must obtain a visit visa in advance through a sponsor. The sponsor can be your travel agency, your hotel, the company or department with which you are doing business in the UAE, or an individual (eg. a relative or friend resident in the UAE). You can pick up this visit visa on arrival at the airport, but there is a fee of Dh100 plus a Dh10 delivery charge for this service. In order to complete your application, your sponsor will require your date of arrival, flight details, and a photocopy of the first few pages of your passport, which should be valid for at least three months.
A hotel will only provide a visa if you are a guest. For an individual to sponsor a visit visa, he or she must earn over Dh4000 per month and hold a valid residence visa. Your visit visa must be deposited at airport immigration one hour before the arrival of your flight. Note that your airline may require evidence (e.g. a photocopy) before departure that a valid visa awaits you on arrival.
Please note that holders of British Overseas Citizens Passport who do not have the right of abode in the UK do need visas to enter the UAE.

Tourist Visa

This special category of visit visa is available for individual tourists from East and West Europe who are not entitled to be issued with a visa on arrival, as well as visitors from Thailand, South Africa and China. The tourist visa, which must be sponsored by hotels and tour operators, entitles its holder to a 30-day stay and is non-renewable. The fee

is Dh100, with an additional Dh10 for delivery.

Entry Service Permit

An entry service permit (sometimes referred to as a 14-day stay) is available to businessmen and tourists. The permit must be sponsored by a company or commercial establishment or a hotel licensed to operate within the UAE. The visa, which is non-renewable, is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and the duration of stay is 14 days from date of entry, exclusive of arrival and departure days. There is a fee of Dh120 plus Dh10 delivery charge for obtaining an entry service permit. Allow at least two weeks for processing of the permit.

Transit Visa

If you are flying to or from Europe or the United States, to Asia or Africa and passing through UAE airports, you can obtain a special 96-hour transit visa. You must be sponsored by an airline operating in the UAE and you musthave a valid ticket for your onward flight. Your travel documents will be stamped with an entry seal and there is no charge for this visa

Multiple Entry Visa

An option for business visitors who are frequent visitors to the UAE and who have a relationship with a reputable company in the UAE. Valid for six months from date of issue, each visit must not exceed 30 days in total. This visa costs Dh1000. The visitor must enter the UAE on a visit visa and obtain the multiple entry visa while in the country.
German citizens (both tourists and business visitors) may apply to the UAE embassy in Germany for one or two

 year multiple-entry visa. No sponsor is required. The maximum duration of stay should not exceed three months a year. The visa fee is Dh1500.
US citizens may apply to the UAE embassy in the US for one to ten year multiple-entry visas. A sponsor is required and the visa will be granted free of charge. The maximum duration of stay should not exceed six months per visit.

Documents

To obtain a visa from a UAE embassy, you will need the following:

- Passport
- 2 photographs
- Duplicate application form
- Letter or fax from the sponsor in the UAE to the embassy concerned
- A letter from the applicant’s company plus photocopy

Residence permits

Once a foreigner has obtained a work permit both they and cohabiting relatives may apply for a residence permit. Generally speaking if you have work and good qualifications this will be granted. A residence permit is useful for a number of reasons, not least of which is the ability to register with a doctor.
Becoming a citizen of UAE, no matter how long you have lived there, is extremely difficult.

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS

Abu Dhabi
Saeed bin Tahnoon St.
Abu Dhabi
Tel: 02 4462244

Dubai
Department of Naturalization and Residency,Trade Centre Road, near Bur Dubai Police Station
Tel: 04 3980000

Sharjah
Department for Naturalization and Residence, near General Post Office
Tel: 06 5726777

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Social Security
The 1977 Social Security law entitles certain groups within United Arab Emirates society to financial support, amongst which are the disabled, the elderly, those on a limited income, widows, unmarried women, divorced women, women separated from their husbands and those married to foreign nationals.
UAE nationals enjoy free education from kindergarten to university. However, this is not an option available to expert children.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Banking
Banking hours are usually 8am to 12pm, Saturday to Thursday.
You may only open a bank account once you have residency so check the facilities available with your existing account to see if they will meet your needs in the meantime. Alternatively, you may consider opening an offshore account.
 

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Taxation
Always seek professional advice on taxation issues.
Personal income is not subject to taxation in the United Arab Emirates (however, note that the citizens of some countries - most notably the US - are liable to taxation on their worldwide income). Most Emirates charge a municipal tax on the annual rental for residential properties. Entertainment (including hotels and restaurants) is also taxed.
A number of tax-free trade areas exist aimed at stimulating commercial activities.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Buying Property
The United Arab Emirates are experiencing something of a property boom at the moment, most notably in Dubai. In fact, there are currently more building construction cranes per square foot in Dubai than anywhere else in the world! It used to be the case that foreigners were not permitted to purchase property anywhere within the United Arab Emirates.

 However, in Dubai it has now become possible for foreigners to buy in a few new developments. Lenders often do not consider individual properties but will only lend on specific developments. Furthermore it can be difficult for non-residents to obtain a mortgage as there are only a few banks who will consider lending to non-GCC non-residents (it is not unknown for non-residents to put down a deposit on a property only to find that they are unable to obtain finance for the rest of the purchase price.) Also keep in mind that many lenders will only lend up to 70% of the launch price of the property and buyers may be expected to put down a deposit of around 50-60% of the property's market value.
Building standards are acceptable (by UK standards) and villas are spacious and well equipped.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Renting Property
Apartment complexes and villas are popular with experts and generally of high quality with impressive facilities (swimming pools, satellite TV, etc.) Apartments are usually rented unfurnished.
Rental prices can vary greatly from emirate to emirate (and also within emirates), the highest rental prices generally being found in Abu Dhabi. To give some idea of prices in Dubai the average rental cost of a villa in the exclusive Jumeirah area is around 3000 UKP per month. In the Emirates Lakes area (popular with experts) a little further out of Dubai prices are little cheaper, although properties are less luxurious. In the up and coming Mirdif area, on the edge of the desert, properties are more affordable although they do lie under the main airport flight path. If you want to rent a villa, rather than an apartment, be aware that many contracts are for at least a year and it may be necessary to pay the entire year's rent in advance.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)- Transportation and Driving
The most popular form of transport in the United Arab Emirates is the car which most experts view as a necessity (although public transport buses can be found in some emirates). Traveling by bicycle is extremely unusual.
Holders of a permanent residence permit and a driving license from the following countries may obtain a UAE driving license immediately (after producing their original license):
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden.Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA.
Otherwise, a UAE driving license can be obtained by passing the local driving test. The form to get a UAE license must be completed in Arabic and you will be required to undergo an eye test. You must have a driving license before you can purchase a car.
Vehicles are subject to 4% import duty and must meet safety and emissions standards before being registered. If you are on a visit visa you may use a UK license to drive a hire car although many experts have reported that vehicle leasing/renting in the UAE is expensive.
At petrol (gas) stations in the UAE an employee will usually fill your tank, you then pay him for the petrol.
Front seat drivers and passengers are required by law to wear seatbelts. If your vehicle is pulled over by the police then you will be expected to get out of your car and speak to them, rather than waiting for them to approach you.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Employment
A local work permit must be obtained before commencing employment. Usual working hours in the commercial sector were 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm from Saturday to Wednesday (with Thursday being a half day) but some companies are now moving to a 5 day, Sunday to Thursday, working week. Although often seen as the home of high earners, it is certainly NOT true that all jobs in the UAE pay more than in other countries.

 You are strongly advised to investigate remuneration rates for your own industry when considering a move. As in most countries, the major employment agencies have websites where CVs may be submitted either speculatively or for particular vacancies.
In a move announced in October 2004, all expatriate workers in UAE will be fingerprinted before they are provided jobs in order to prevent certain types of fraud (such as medical certificates being obtained for persons other than those for whom visas have been issued).