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This page is all about DUBAI ... hope your enjoy this and get a better understanding of our stay here in Dubai ... also visit 'LIVING IN DUBAI'  & 'WORKING IN DUBAI'

SEPTEMBER 2006 (Out of the Connector - your monthly guide to the UAE) ~ Mark Atkinson provides a few insights about this cosmopolitan and fast changing city.

Relocating anywher always brings with it a certain amount of apprehension.  While anyone moving to Dubai will discover an ultra modern and rapidly growing city with everything to offer, it may still be something of a culture shock. 

Dubai is the world's most rapidly growing city.  Its success story has long been considered a model of vision turned into reality throughout the Middle East and its international profile is fast escalating, both as a highly desireable tourist destimation and business hub.  Dubai's infrastructure has as much to offer as any western city.  At the same time there are some significant cultural differences that may take some adjusting to.  This article aims to provide some essential information for anyone moving, or thinking of moving to Dubai.

The UAE is a federation consisting of seven emirates:  Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujeirah.  This alliance was originally formed in 1971 in order to provide a stonger Middle Eastern presence as a united federation, than would be possible to attain as individual emirates.  Prior to that, crude oil was first discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1958 and in Dubai in 1966.  Before then, the UAE's industry base was primarily pearl diving, fishing, camel breeding and trading with neighbouring states.

Dubai's political power base rests supremely with the ruling Maktoum family, which, in the absence of democracy, remains unchallenged.  The other emirates follow a similar political system, but each has its own ruling family.

Since the UAE's inception, its rate of development has been phenomenal, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Aerial photographs of both these emirates in the early 1970s show a largely barren desert landscape peppered with modest buildings and virtually no infrastructure in terms of road systems and utilities.

Today, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are leading business centres with highly sophisticated infrastructures, both economic and social.  With the absence of corporation tax and with strong incentives provided for foreign companies,  including 100% repatriation of earnings and, in some cases, 100% ownership rights, and impressive growth continues across a diverse range of both local businesses and international corporations.  Indeed, Dubai is generally known as the Middle East's regional headquarters for many of the world's largest multinational companies.

Dubai's meteoric rise can be attributed to the original vision - and vision is an entirely appropriate word - of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, also known as the 'Father of Dubai'.  This vision has been continued by his four sons, in particular HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vise President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the economy and putting the city on the global map continue to emerge, usually with great success.

But realising the vision has meant importing a great deal of knowledge, experience and most of all, manual labour from overseas.  As a result, Dubai has an extremely multicultural society.  The city's indigenous population is only 20% of a total of approximately one million (of a total UAE population of around four million).  The remaining 80% from the Indian Subcontinent (the largest majority), Southeast Asia and other Arab states.  Many companies claim a cultural mix of over 20 nationalities.  So saying, the atmosphere between the many ethnic groups is generally relaxed and harmonious.

Dubai is an Islamic city and the majority of the population is Muslim.  Friday is the holy day - the equivalent of Sunday in the west - and the weekend is Friday and Saturday.  Dubai also celebrates Islamic - not western - holidays.  Dubai is very tolerant of other religions however, and there are a number of Christian churches and a Hindu temple in the city.

While there are no restrictions on dress - it is not necessary for expatriate women to completely cover the arms and legs for example - one should respect Islamic tradition and dress appropriately.  Kissing in public or other public displays of affection between the opposite sexes is also frowned upon and should be avoided.  So saying, it is perfectly acceptable to wear a bikini on the beach.

Many other aspects of western life that are restricted in some other Muslim states can be found in Dubai.  Cinemas, often of extremely high quality, show the majority of new mainstream releases, although content can sometimes be censored before they reach Dubai's cinema screens.

Internet connection are also extremely good and broadband is available, but websites that may contravene Islamic law are also strictly censored.  This can mean that the censorship proxy may block sites from time to time, even when they do not contain suspect content.

The majority of television channels are Arabic.  The one English-speaking channel is also censored for content.  The main source of English-speaking television is through satellite, and although selection of content is controlled to a minor extent, programming is extremely varied and movies are generally uncensored.

Alcoholic beverages are also freely available for non-Muslims, although public establishments that have licenses to serve alcohol are generally confined to bars within hotels.  There are also a number of outlets where you can purchase liquor for consumption in the home.  But in order to do so you need to apply for a liquor permit.  This procedure is fairly straightforward, but once again, available only to non-Muslims.

Dubai has a zero limit on drink and driving.  The penalty if caught is likely to be a short jail term followed by deportation.  With metered taxis as plentiful and cheap as they are, there is no real excuse to drive if you want to have a drink.

The standard of taxi driving however is variable.  Taxi drivers often drive at breakneck speed as a significant part of their salary is based on commission,  their taxis are metered not by time but per kilometre, and they might spend a considerable portion of each day sitting in heavy traffic.  But you don't necessarily have to spend your entire journey gripping the edge of your seat.  Most taxi drivers will oblige if you politely ask them to slow down.

There is also a bus system, used mainly by the large number of workers from South East Asia and the Subcontinent.  The first stage of a 70-kilometre long metro train system that will service a large part of the city is also planned to open in 2009.

With regard to your own driving, while the general standard of driving is appalling, do not be tempted to use rude hand gestures or expletives, no matter how frustrated you may be.  Such behaviour carries a much larger degree of insult than in the west and could land you in a lot of trouble, not to mention a night or two in the local jail.

The above point does not only concern driving.  It is a general one.  As an expatriate, you have few rights.  You are considered as a guest in the country and should abide by the cultural rules.  While there has been some preliminary talk about the formation of labour unions, there is no real freedom of speech and no pressure groups.  So be respectful and mind how you go.

A major part of Dubai's vision has been its drive to diversify from an oil-based economy.  Today, while crude oil and gas make up around 30% of the UAE's total GDP, Dubai's figure is nearer to 7%.  Tourism is now a fast growing industry in the city with hotels and ambitious tourist developments emerging at a furious rate.  The incentive provided to foreign companies over the past few years have also made Dubai a highly desirable place to do business, which has also accelerated the city's diversification drive.

But is comes at a price.  Many residents refer to Dubai as a large building site, and true enough, it is hard to find anywhere in the city that isn't cordoned off in one-way or another with bollards, barrier tape and traffic diversion systems.  This is also why such an overwhelmingly large percentage of the population are from the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, imported as cheap labour to construct the scores of new developments in the city.  It has been reported that a quarter of the world's cranes are currently deployed on development projects in Dubai.

Like so many other oil-based economics (with 10% of the world's oil reserves, Abu Dhabi is the world's third largest oil producer), the UAE currency, the dirham, is pegged to the US dollar and the dirham's rate of exchange is dependant on the dollar's strength.  Currently for example, with the dollar being so weak against both sterling and the euro, you stand to lose significantly by changing dirhams into pounds or euros, whereas exchanges the other way round will be strongly in your favour.

With such a large expatriate population, there are strict regulations to living and working as foreigner in Dubai.  To begin with, all expatriates need a residence visa.  If you are working, you are required to have an employment visa.  Spouses and children who are not working will typically be 'sponsored' on a residence visa by the member of the the household in employment, which enables them to legally reside in the country, but not to work.

In the majority of cases, the 'sponsoring' member of the family will be the man, as there are very few professions where a woman can sponsor her husband.  Both partners can be in full time employment and sponsored by their respectivce companies however.

The topic of both residence and visit visas will be covered in more detail in 'WORKING IN DUBAI'.