1. We are planning to spend a week or two in UAE. What city do you recommend?

If you are looking for the great choice of hotels it has to be definitely Dubai, where you can find almost 400 quality hotels and hotel-apartments and they are continuing to grow, with new openings and more hotels planned for the future, with the massive Palm Islands project slated to bring another influx of luxury options to the tourists.

Dubai city life offer s a wide spectrum of attraction: world famous hotels along white beaches, water sport facilities, aqua parks, comfortable shopping in numerous luxurious malls, heritage and cultural  places, sightseeing tours and safaris, dynamic night life in plenty of clubs and bars with the most modern music and DJ’s, lavish restaurants with worldwide  cuisines. If you prefer to spend your holidays in quiet and faraway from urban environment, you can choose from several beach hotels in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima and other emirates.

2. How can tourists get entry visa and are there any restrictions?

The UAE Immigration authority rules: entry visas are required for all nationals with the exception of British citizens born in Britain and the nationals of GCC and other nations in the list:

Apply for tourist visa we require the following data:

1. Name, patronymic, surname

2. Nationality

3. Gender

4. Date of birth

5. Passport number

6. Date of issue and expiry

The passport must be valid at least for 3 month to get approval from the Immigration.  Once you arrived you can stay in the Country not more then 30 days. From the date of issue to the date of arrival visa is valid not more then 60 days. Once we applied, visa fee is not refundable. Officially there are no restrictions to the age and gender of the tourists.

All the ladies even below 30 years old can be granted the entry visa. But rarely The Immigration can refuse to open the visa due to security reason (sometimes young ladies from former soviet republics can fall to this category) or when the person or his namesake is in the “black list”.

All issued visa are “on-line”. It means that upon arrival the tourist should have only a copy to be shown at passport control.

3. What are the Marhaba, Diamond Marhaba and Ahlan services?

Offering a warm welcome to Dubai, Marhaba Services extends a range of facilities to arriving passengers to ease their progress through the Airport, whether the Normal Service or the Diamond Service.

Marhaba
 

Arrival: Standard Meet and Assist: A Warm welcome just before the tunnel in Arrivals. Welcome pack offered at the Arrival gate which includes an airport map, for ready reference. Hand baggage trolleys are available on demand to passengers, at no extra charge.

Buggy Car Transfer. Marhaba passengers have priority use of the buggy cars inside the terminal for rapid transit.

Speedy immigration clearance through our dedicated Passport Control Counter, Porters can be arranged if required,
@ AED10 (2, 7$) for up to 3 pieces of baggage.

Escort through the baggage concourse and customs
in the unlikely event of lost baggage, assistance is provided with the mislaid baggage procedure and with keeping the receiving party advised of the reason for the delay.

Escorting passenger to the receiving party or hotel representative, as required, at the Arrivals Meeting Point.
 

Apart from all the above features of the standard Meet and Greet,
Marhaba Diamond Service includes:
Personalized escort by a Marhaba staff from the air-sleeve (telegangway) until outside the terminal handing over to the receiving party. Complimentary Porter Services.
Provision of special hand baggage trolleys.
Buggy car ride through the tunnel.
Speedy clearance through passport control.
Hand-over to the receiving party.
 

Departure:

Normal Service: Be assured of a warm welcome and a fond farewell upon departures.
Complimentary Tele-check-in
Marhaba Meeting (Departure Check-In) Lounge located near row no. 9 at the Departures Terminal 1, the lounge can be used by passengers to relax while waiting for check-in formalities to be completed by their assigned Marhaba team member.
Hand baggage trolleys are available on demand for passengers, at no extra charge
Speedy immigrations clearance through our dedicated Passport Control Counter.
Buggy Car Transfer. Marhaba passengers have priority use of the buggy cars inside the 300 meter tunnel for rapid transfer to the Sheikh Rashid Terminal.
Porter Services. Porters can be arranged, if required, @ AED 10(2.7$) for up to 3 pieces of baggage on one trolley.

Diamond Service: Our premium Meet and Greet service ensures a relaxed departure.
Personalized escort by a Marhaba Services Agent from outside the departures up to the designated boarding gates of your flight.
Complimentary Pre Check-In service whereby on your arrival to the airport, express flight check-in and baggage acceptance shall be carried.
Marhaba Meeting (Departure Check-in) Lounge to process the check-in formalities, while you relax with light refreshments and a selection of reading materials.
Hand Baggage Trolleys
Buggy Car transfer to Sheikh Rashid Terminal and your boarding gates from the lounge.
Complimentary provision of the Marhaba Lounge

Ahlan 

Arrival only:

Standard meet & greet services

-Meet and greet on arrival
-Refreshments and relaxation at the Ahlan Lounge
-Assistance with Immigration formalities
-Assistance during  Duty-Free shopping

Premium meet & greet services

-Meet and greet on arrival
-Refreshments and relaxation at the Ahlan Lounge
-Assistance with Immigration formalities
-Assistance during  Duty-Free shopping
-Assistance of porter throughout
 

Await Premium services

This package intended for family and friends who wish to await arrival of passengers in the Ahlan Lounge. This package is inclusive of:

-Standard meet and greet
-Airport entry passes- access to the Ahlan Lounge only
-Valet parking
-Refreshments at the Ahlan Lounge

4. Why should we take individual transfer?

We advise to all the tourists to book an individual transfer on the route:  airport –hotel –airport. First of all it is comfortable, no waist time; free to go at any time you wish, cost effective. Rather then long waiting for other tourists to come out from the terminal to use the same group bus. Moreover on the day of departure the vehicle will pick you up from the hotel at the time convenient to you.

Transfer rate starts from 28 $ per vehicle (one way)

Click here to download transfer rates of 2005 - 2006

5. What is the Majlis VIP Lounge ?

Passengers using the Majlis  facility get specialized and personalized service in separate Majlis Lounge building, situated on the right side of Dubai International Airport.. Full service from catering to shower facilities, private office to dedicated entrance and exits available. The arrived passengers are taken from the private jet or from ordinary flight by special bus, sedan or limousine, whichever is requested for.

The Al Majlis provides special immigration and baggage clearance facilities while the passengers relaxing in cozy atmosphere, treated with drinks and snacks. 

6. Do the tourists have to leave deposits in hotels?

At the time of check-out, the unspent amount of your deposit will be refunded to you in local currency.

Amount of the deposit can vary from a hotel to a hotel.

7. Why do the tourists have to check out at 12 :00, but their flight departs at 23 00? Or why they have to wait check-in time at 13:00 -14:00 if they arrived at 06:00?

All the hotels have strict policy of check–in and check-out time. It is no way can be connected with their flight time-table. Tourists should book hotel accordingly. Sometimes hotels can give late check-out or early check-in at extra cost

(half- day charges applied) 

8. I have heard that it is not allowed to bring alcohol to UAE and you can not buy it in the country at all.

You are allowed to bring to UAE: 2,000 cigarettes; 400 cigars; 2 kg tobacco; alcohol (For non-Muslim adults only) - 2 liters of spirits and 2 liters of wine (Actually if you are European nobody will count your bottles, custom officers usually are not so strict); perfume – a reasonable amount. Almost all over the Emirates, except Sharjah, alcohol is available in all bars, clubs and many of the restaurants.

9. I have heard that it is intolerably hot climate throughout the year. If I decide to travel what dress should I wear? Do I have to wear abaya or yashmak?

Temperature varies from month to month. The climate is sub tropical, arid, sunshine and blue skies most of the year. Infrequent rainfall can be expected during the winter. Temperatures range from a low in January (at night)of about 10.5C/50 F to a high in August (day) of 48C/118 F. No, you do not have to wear local dress. Feel free to dress what you like but try not to hurt local Muslim tradition. Dress should not be too open, transparent or shocking.

10. Can I hire a car in UAE. What license do I need?

Self-drive cars are widely available in numerous car rental companies. To hire a car you should provide your national driving license, original passport or copy, credit card with sufficient amount. Before taking a car –check technical condition and scratches on the car body. Later you might be blame for that. Be careful while you are using the car – park only in designated areas, buy a parking ticket (1-2 dirham per hour) from the machines alone the streets and put it on the dashboard. Free parking is from 13 00 to 16 00 and all day during Fridays and Public Holidays. If you exceed the speed limit you can be shot by automatic radar. When you are returning car back, be sure to pay your fines, but not somebody else’s. If car rental keeper insists on clearing fines after one week or one month – just refuse and take your deposit back after paying fines on the spot without any delay. Driving after consuming alcohol is a crime.

Rental charges start from 20$ per day (24 hrs)

Parking fines start from 40$

Speed exceeding fine starts from 70$

11. UAE is a Muslim country. Hence how to behave myself to avoid any problems?

Islam is the official religion of the UAE. Other religions are respected.Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques.

Normal photography is acceptable, but photographing Muslim women is likely to cause offence. Kissing, hugging and other feelings you want to express to your partner are not allowed in public areas and cars. For ladies to be topless on the beach is prohibited. It is not allowed to consume liquors in public places such as parks, streets, open beaches, cars etc. You can be arrested for harassing ladies,for abusing and fighting people.

12. What is Ramadan? Can we eat , drink and smoke, go for shopping?