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 PALME Middle East is held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road, next to the World Trade Centre. Please click here for more information.
Dubai is extremely busy and failure to reserve your flight and accommodation early may result in them being unavailable. The PALME Middle East travel and accommodation team has arranged special accommodation rates during PALME Middle East 2009, please click here
Or
Contact PALME Middle East Hospitality Desk on telephone +971.4.4072693,
fax +971.4.4072517 or by email hospitality@iirme.com
What you need to know before visiting Dubai:
Culture
Dubai’s culture is firmly rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia. However Dubai is very tolerant of the customs of its visitors and is relatively liberal when it comes to European dress codes and serving alcohol in hotels. Among the most highly prized virtues are courtesy and hospitality, visitors are sure to be charmed by the genuine warmth and friendliness of the people.
Visas
Nationals of the following countries will be issued with a visit visa free of charge and valid for 60 days at the passport control desk upon arrival in the UAE
United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican City, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Leichtenstein, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong or member of all GCC countries.
- people of nationalities not listed are solely responsible for obtaining visas for themselves, their representatives and invitees
- some hotels provide a visa service provided sufficient time is given for the application to be processed, if you are not using our recommended travel agent then please check the costs with your hotel as they may differ.
- passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of departure
- the Organisers are not in a position to sponsor visa applications
- the visit visa does not entitle the visitor to take up permanent work in the UAE
- All Visitors and Exhibitors require a full passport for their visit
Local Time
The UAE is four hours ahead of GMT. There is no summer time saving when clocks are altered.
Climate
Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. May – October are the warmest months with temperatures reaching the high 40’s and high humidity, the rest of the year temperatures fall any where between the mid 20’s - 30’s. Rainfall is infrequent falling mainly in the cooler months around November to March.
Language
The official language of the country is Arabic, although English is the official business language. English is widely used and most road and shop signs, restaurant menus, etc are in both languages.
Food & Drink
Dubai offers pretty much every type of international cuisine imaginable. Whilst restaurants located in hotels are able to offer alcohol and can be expensive, some of the best places to eat are the small street side stands around town, however these restaurants do not serve alcohol.
Shopping
The shopping Capital of the Middle East! Prices are competitive in many products from gold to carpets, textiles or designer labels. The key to shopping here is to bargain where possible since prices, especially in the souks, can drop quite substantially.
The attractive and often imaginatively designed, modern shopping malls in Dubai are one of the highlights of shopping in Dubai and are generally spacious and fully air conditioned. Most international brands and high street shops can be found in the shopping malls.
Most malls have a food court, which offers a variety of types of cuisine. Some malls also have cinemas.
Souks
Souks are the Arabic markets where any kind of goods are bought, sold and exchanged. Over the years, the items on sale have changed dramatically from spices, silks and perfumes to include electronic goods and the latest kitsch consumer trends.
Dubai’s souks are worth a visit for their bustling atmosphere, the eclectic variety of goods and the traditional way of doing business.
Tours & Sightseeing
There are many companies in Dubai offering an exciting variety of city and safari tours. An organised tour can be a great way to discover the UAE. Tours range from a half-day city tour to an overnight safari visiting the desert or mountains and camping in tents.
Most trips require a minimum of four people for the tour to run. It is advisable to book three or four days in advance although in some cases less notice is not a problem.
PALME Middle East travel and accommodation team has negotiated rates for PALME Middle East visitors, please contact the PALME Middle East Hospitality Desk on telephone +971.4.4072693, fax +971.4.4072517 or by email hospitality@iirme.com
Activities
There are numerous activities available to visitors to Dubai including water sports and golf packages.
Nightlife
Dubai has numerous cinemas, cafes, bars, nightclubs and discos to suit all tastes and ages. There are a number of local magazines available from the Newsagents listing details of the above facilities
Location
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