First-Timer's Guide to the UAE: Essential Travel Tips

A first trip to the UAE is easy to plan: English is everywhere, cities run smoothly and visitors are part of everyday life. A handful of practical details, from plugs to weekends, will make your first days far smoother.

Money and cards

• The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), divided into 100 fils.
• Cards and contactless payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, are accepted almost everywhere in the cities.
• Keep some cash for abras, souk stalls, small cafeterias and tips. ATMs are easy to find in malls and metro stations.
• Check your bank's foreign transaction fees before you go, and carry a backup card in case one is blocked.

Plugs, time and the weekend

• Sockets are mainly Type G, the British-style three-pin plug, at 230 volts. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ.
• The country runs on Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4) all year, with no daylight saving.
• The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Friday is a working day, though life slows around midday prayers.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated rather than expected. In restaurants, check whether a service charge is already on the bill; if not, around 10 per cent is generous for good service. Round up taxi fares, give hotel porters a few dirhams per bag, and tip desert-safari drivers and guides if they've looked after you well.

Apps worth downloading

• Careem and Uber for taxis and private rides.
• The official RTA app for Dubai journey planning, metro routes and Nol card top-ups.
• A maps app for walking routes, public transport and live traffic.
• A translation app for the occasional Arabic-only sign or menu.
• WhatsApp for messaging hotels and tour operators, many of whom use it as their main contact channel.

Messaging apps generally work well, but voice and video calls on some internet calling apps may not work in the UAE, so check before you rely on one for calls home.

Etiquette in brief

• Away from beaches and pools, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
• Keep public affection and loud behaviour to a minimum, and never swear or gesture rudely.
• Ask before photographing people.
• If you visit during Ramadan, avoid eating or drinking in public during fasting hours.

When you land

1. 1Before leaving home, install your HelloSIM eSIM over Wi-Fi so it's ready on your phone.
2. 2After landing, switch the HelloSIM line on, set it as the line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
3. 3Turn data roaming off on your home line to avoid charges from your usual provider.
4. 4Withdraw some dirhams from an airport ATM, and in Dubai, buy a Nol card at the metro station.
5. 5Take an official taxi from the rank or book a ride through an app.
6. 6Drink plenty of water and keep your first afternoon light, as the heat and a long flight take their toll.

Stay connected in the United Arab Emirates

From ride apps to museum tickets and translation, nearly everything in this guide runs on mobile data. A HelloSIM eSIM is data-only, so your own number stays on your usual SIM, and its validity only starts when it first connects to a network in the UAE. If you're combining the Emirates with other countries in the region, a regional plan may suit you better.