Essential Information For Studying in Dubai

Telephone

• Calls to the United Arab Emirates and Dubai
  
  The country code for the United Arab Emirates is 971, while the emirate code for Dubai is 04. Mobile phone numbers begin with 050, 056 (Etisalat) or 055 (du).
  
  When calling from overseas drop the 0 from the Dubai and mobile codes.
  
  To call a fixed line phone number in Dubai from abroad, dial the international access code for your country and then 971 4 xxx xxxx  - e.g. from the UK 00-971-4-xxx-xxxx.
  
  To call a mobile telephone number in Dubai from abroad, dial the international access code, then 971, then the operator prefix (50, 55, 56) – e.g. from the UK 00-971-50-xxx-xxxx.
  
  
• Calls from the United Arab Emirates and Dubai
  
  To call overseas from Dubai, dial 00 followed by country code, city code and the number (e.g. for the UK 00-44-xxxx-xxxxxx).
  
  
• Mobile Phones
  
  Visitors with mobile phones should have no problem roaming in Dubai. Visitors intending making a few calls may find it more economical to purchase a local SIM card from one of the two local phone companies; Etisalat or du.
  
  To buy a SIM card visitors must be over 18 and present their passport and valid visa.
  
  
• Phone Directories
  
  Both local telephone companies produce a Yellow Pages directory. Online versions can be found at:
  
  
  1. Du
     
  2. Etisalat
  
  

Internet

• Du
  Du offers a network of WiFi hotspots around Dubai. They can be found in shopping, malls, cafes, and restaurants throughout the city, in places such as, Starbucks coffee shops. Du wireless broadband connections are available on the Dubai Metro, at both stations and on trains.
  
  Please note that a WiFi enabled device (mobile telephone, laptop etc.), is required to access the service. Customers can pay for the service using with a credit card or Du WoW recharge card.
  
  
• Etisalat
  
  Etisalat offers wireless internet access at various places around the city.
  
  
• Free WiFi
  
  Caffe Nero offers free wireless internet access at its coffee houses in Dubai. Locations where service is provided, includes The Dubai Mall, Dubai Festival City, and the Dubai Marina Mall. Free wireless internet access is also available throughout Dubai International Airport and at many hotels.

Mass Media

• Newspapers
  
  International newspapers and magazines can be found in bookshops, supermarkets and hotels.
  
  Local English-language newspapers include, 7 Days, The Khaleej XPRESS – free weekly newspaper, Gulf News, Gulf Today, Time Out Dubai.
  
  
• Radio
  
  English language local radio stations include, Radio 1 (104.1 FM) , Radio 2 (99.3 FM, Dubai 92 (92.0 FM) , Channel 4 FM (104.8 FM), Dubai Eye (103.8 FM), Virgin Radio (104.4 FM).
  
  
• Television - Cable & Satellite TV
  
  There are a few free local TV channels in Dubai but generally there are packages offered by a satellite provider such as Orbit Showtime. Cable TV services are also offered by E-Vision and du

Emergency Numbers

• Ambulance - 998
• Fire – 997
• Police – 999
• Tourist Police – 800 4438
• Directory Enquiries (Etisalat) – 181
• Directory Enquiries (du) – 199

Lost or Stolen Credit Cards

• Immediate Action:
  
  A lost or stolen bank card or credit card should be reported to the nearest Police Station to the place in which the theft happened.
  
  To locate the nearest police station see Yellow Pages, Dubai.
  
  For national police contact information, visit the website of Dubai Police.
  
  
• Contact Card Holding Company:
  
  In the event of a lost or stolen debit or credit card in Dubai, contact the card holding company, with the account number as soon as possible.
  

• MasterCard International    Tel: 04 313 8888
• American Express    Tel: 04 336 5000
• Diners Club      Tel: 04 3498200
• Visa     Tel: 04 331 9690
• HSBC    Tel: 800 4420
• Citibank    Tel: 800 4000
• Emirates Bank International    Tel: 800 4080
• Mashreq Bank    Tel: 800 4010
• Standard Chartered Bank    Tel: 04 352 0455

Lost or Stolen Mobile Telephones

• SIM Card and IMEI:
  
  Any mobile cellular telephone comes with:
  
  
  1. a SIM Card with number. This is the telephone number for the phone. Access can be protected by personalizing the card with a 4 digit PIN number.
     
     
  2. an IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity). This is the mobile telephone's unique identification number.
     

• Contact of Service Provider:
  
  In the event of mobile phone loss or theft, contact the appropriate service provider below:
  
  
  1. Emirates Telecommunication Corporation - Etisalat    Tel: 800 101
     
     
  2. Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company - Du    Tel: 055 5678 155
     
  
  If the mobile is lost or stolen, call the service provider and give them the IMEI number. The service will be suspended and the phone may be traced. When reporting the theft to the police, give them the IMEI number.

Customs Regulations

On entering Dubai at the airport visitors may be subject to a check by customs officers. Given below are some of the stipulated guidelines:

Following items can be brought free of duty to Dubai:

• Gifts with a value not exceeding AED 3,000.
• 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 500g of loose tobacco.
• 4 litres of alcohol, or 2 cartons of beer (1 carton = 24 cans, each not exceeding 355 ml).
  

Following items of personal luggage are exempt from duty, provided it is of a personal and not commercial nature:

• Up to AED 40,000 in cash and travelers cheques provided the passenger is 18 or over.
• Personal belongings, cameras, radios, CD and DVD players, projectors, telescopes, mobile phones, computers, baby strollers, portable music equipment, sports equipment.
  

Following are some items that must be declared to Dubai Customs on arrival, as non-declaration of these is a punishable offense:

• Cash (or equivalents) above AED 40,000 or $US 10,000.
• Skins of endangered animals subject to the CITES Convention.
• Books, films, DVD's, CD's, photographs.
• Gifts with a value of more than AED 3,000.
• Fireworks, explosives, weapons, ammunition, knives, swords, self-defence equipment.
• Any Medicines.
• Plants, trees, soil.
• Narcotics.

Currency Exchange

• The Currency
  
  The name of the currency in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates is the dirham (AED or Arab Emirate Dirham – also abbreviated to DH or Dhs). There are 100 fils in a dirham.
  
  Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Dhs. The value of the note is indicated on one side in Arabic and the other in English.
  
  The dirham dollar exchange rate is fixed at a rate of 3.67 AED to 1 USD (or 1 dirham equals 0.272 US dollars). Currencies such as the euro, pound, and rupee are not fixed to the dollar, so their exchange rate with the dirham fluctuates from day to day.
  
  1 Indian rupee (INR) = 0.073938089075688 dirham (AED)

• Changing Money
  
  There are banks and money exchanges and all over the city where foreign currency can be exchanged. Common locations include shopping malls and supermarkets. Money exchanges usually offer better rates than banks.
  
  List of Money Exchanges in Dubai
  

• Al Rajhi Exchange-  Phone:[+971]04 2653330; Address:PO Box 81618, Dubai
• Asia Exchange Centre- Phone:[+971]04 2287761; Address:PO Box 13861
• City Exchange- Phone:[+971]04 3937868; Address:PO Box 29395, Bur Dubai
• Dubai Exchange Centre- Phone:[+971]04 2246943; Address:PO Box 844
• Emirates India International Exchange- Phone:[+971]04 2232261; Address:PO Box 7190 Dubai, Nasser Sq., Near HSBC Bank
• Habib Exchange Co LLC- Phone:[+971]04 3535436; Address:Al Falah Road, Bur Dubai, PO Box 31386
• Harib Exchange Co LLC- Phone:[+971]04 3378845; Address:PO Box 6356
• Jumana Exchange- Phone:[+971]04 2233388; Address:PO Box 277
• Khalil Exchange Co LLC- Phone:[+971]04 2253888; Address:PO Box 27987
• Ravandi Money Exchange- Phone:[+971]04 2265353; Address:PO Box 43886
• UAE Exchange- Phone:[+971]02 6105555, 04 3535350; Address:PO Box 170, Level 02, Al Sayegh Centre, Sh. Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi

Banks and Banking

Banks in Dubai

Local Banks

• National Bank of Dubai
• Dubai Islamic Bank
• Emirates Banking Group
• Mashreq Bank

Multinational Banks

• Citi Bank
• Barclays Bank
• ABN-Amro
• HSBC
• Standard Charted Bank
• Lloyds TSB

How to open an account?

Opening a bank account in Dubai is easy. However, requirements are different from bank to bank. To open a current or checking account, you have to be a resident. However, some banks allow non-UAE residents to open saving accounts. For instance, HSBC and Emirates banks. With bank accounts customers are given an ATM card which can be used to withdraw cash when in Dubai. Some banks set a minimum account/balance limit.

Documents Required:

• Copy of the customer's passport
• Visit visa
• Proof of address
• Bank card from another bank in their country of residence
• Some banks will also ask for a letter of recommendation from a current UAE resident

Opening Hours:

Most banks are open six days a week from 08:00 to 14:00 and close on Fridays. Bank branches inside malls are usually open from 10:00 to 21:00 every day.

Procedure:

Carry the above mentioned documents to your nearest bank or to the bank of your choice.

Some common financial words in Arabic:

• bank (bank)
• maktab Sarraaf (currency exchange office)
• si'r aS-Sarf (exchange rate)
• Sarraaf (cashier)
• shiik siyaaHii (traveler's check)
• biTaaqat i'timaan (credit card)
• Hisaab (account)
• Hisaab jaarin (checking account)
• Hisaab tawfiir (savings account)
• fuluus, nuquud (cash)
• shiik (check)
• iiSaal (receipt)

Some Common Financial Phrases in Arabic:

• maa huwa si'r aS-Sarf? (What is the exchange rate?)
• uriid duulaaraat, min faDlik. (I would like dollars, please.)
• uriid an aftaH Hisaab. (I would like to open an account.)
• bikam haadhaa fii-duulaaraat? (How much is that in dollars?)

Dubai Police Stations Numbers

• Dubai Police Inquire    TOLL FREE: 8007777; Tel. No. 04 2292222
• General Police HQ     04 2229222
• Traffic & Licensing     04 2292222
• Port Police Station     04 3459999
• Al Qusais Police Station     04 2631111
• Hatta Police Station     04 8521111
• Al Rashidiya Police Station     04 2853000
• Naif Police Station     04 2286999
• Al Muraqqabat Police Station     04 2660555
• Jabal Ali Police Station    04 8816111
• Al Rafa'a Police Station    04 3937777
• Bur Dubai Police Station     04 3981111
• Nad Al Shiba Police Station     04 3363535

Health Care in Dubai

List of major hospitals and medical centers in UAE:

Private Hospitals

• Al Zahra (Sharjah) 06-5619999
• American Hospital (Not covered by ADNIC) 04-3367777
• Wellcare Hospital 04-2827788
  

Public Hospitals

• Al Wasl ( Maternity, Children, Burns) 04-3341111
• Dubai Hospital (General) 04-2714444
• Rashid  Hospital (Road accidents, General, Trauma) 04-3371111

Conveyance in Dubai

Taxis

• Cars Taxi- 800-4825
• Dubai Taxi- 04-2080808
• Golden Taxi-04-3365444
• National Taxi- 04-3366611

Airport

• Dubai International Airport- 04-2245555
• Flight Enquiry- 04-2166666

Dubai Flights

• Dubai International Airport    04- 224-5555
• Dubai Airport Flight Information Voice Portal    04- 216 6666
• Flight Enquiry    04-224-5777
• Emirates    04-2144444
• Flydubai    04-3010800

Embassy in Dubai

• Embassy of India
  P.O. Box 4090
  Abu Dhabi
  United Arab Emirates
  Tel : +9712 4492700
  Fax: +9712 4444685/ +9712 4447768
  Email:ambassador@indembassyuae.org
  hoc@indembassyuae.org
  
  
• Consulate General India
  Telephone +971(4)-3971222
  Fax +971(4)-3970453