Things To Know Before Travelling To Abu Dhabi

Ensure Your Medications Are Permitted

The drug laws enforced in the UAE are very strict, and even if your medications are completely legal in your home country, the chances are they are prohibited within the borders of the UAE. Due to their zero-tolerance drug laws, you need to ensure that your prescribed medications are permitted in the country, as you’ll be put through thorough searches upon arrival at the UAE airport. Preparing for this is simple, as a quick check over the UAE consulate or embassy website will provide you with information on this. For extra peace of mind though, bring a doctor’s note with you to Abu Dhabi.

You Won’t Need To Speak Fluent Arabic

When visiting Abu Dhabi, you’ll be pleased to know that many tourist attractions will be surrounded by English-speaking Arabs. 4 or 5-star hotels have staff who are fluent in English due to the large influx of tourists. Furthermore, several Arabs also speak Russian, German and Chinese, so you can rest assured that you won’t have to spend days trying to learn the language just for a week’s stay. Of course, we’d always recommend learning the odd word and phrase for Arabic-speaking locals, such as shukran for ‘thank you’ to show common courtesy.

Modes Of Transport

When it comes to public transport in Abu Dhabi, undeniably the most popular mode for tourists would be taxis and are usually fairly inexpensive, thanks to their cheaper petrol prices. When in Abu Dhabi, you’ll notice that taxis come in numerous different colours, and this is because they offer different services. A silver taxi is part of the largest fleet and will be authorized by a taxi company. Alternatively, you may see a white and gold taxi, and these are much older than the silver, and while they’re also equipped with fare meters, the driver is often happy to negotiate the price in advance.

Be Culturally Aware

The UAE is very particular about their culture, and as a tourist, you’re expected to comply with their laws and religions. As a result, you’ll need to ditch your Western clothing and opt for something more culturally appropriate, wearing modest attire. Moreover, PDA is strictly forbidden in Abu Dhabi, so you’ll need to put public intimacy on hold throughout your stay. You could find yourself imprisoned for anything more than holding hands in public, and it’s also illegal to stay in the same hotel room with someone of the opposite sex. Therefore, before booking and scheduling out your holiday, keep these factors in mind in order to make your stay at Abu Dhabi a stress-free one.

Staying in Abu Dhabi is an incredible experience and one that certainly won’t be forgotten for years together.