Useful Information

Emergency services:
Fire 997
Ambulance 998 / 999
Police 999

Other useful number:
Directory enquiries 181
Operator assistance 100
Time 140
Airport enquiries 2066666

UAE dialing codes:
Abu Dhabi 02 Sharjah 06
Al Ain 03 Ras Al Khaimah 07
Dubai / Jebel Ali 04 Fujeirah 09

Useful books:

Dubai Explorer Guide: A great guidebook to answer just about everything you need to know in Dubai. Underwater Explorer for divers and Off-road Explorer for 4-wheel drive enthusiasts are also available. Published annually.

Connector Informative: Monthly booklet with useful ‘green pages’ – where to find classes from aerobics to pottery. Also informing of hotels special offers available, etc.

Whats On / Time Out: Monthly magazines giving information of the months events, up-and-coming concerts, etc.

White goods:

Kitchen appliances are relatively low cost in Dubai. A wide variety can be found at Carrefour in the City Centre or Jumbo Electronics. Ensure that your purchases come with a warranty. Second hand appliances are advertised on notice boards outside most large supermarkets.

Household help:

In order to employ a full-time housemaid, you need to arrange sponsorship for her, which costs Dhs 5,000/- per annum. It is illegal to share a maid with another household. Alternatively, there are a number of maid services, which drop off and collect. The standard rate is Dhs 20 -25 per hour.

Home Help: Tel. 3555100
Molly Maid: Tel. 3988877

Pest Control:

Should you find your home invaded with creatures, one of the following companies may be able to assist you: Jumeriah Pest Control Tel. 3964721 Ridapest Tel. 3437663

Pets & vets:

Cats and dogs must be vaccinated regularly and wear a Municipality ID disc on its collar. If a dog is found roaming the streets without a disc it may be taken away and terminated. Many unwanted pets end up at K9 friends so if you are thinking of buying a pet, pay them a visit (Tel. 3474611).

During vacation periods there are kennels to look after your pet:
The Doghouse Tel. 3471807 Dubai Kennels & Cattery Tel. 2851646

For poorly pets:

Veterinary Hospital Tel. 3442498
Jumeirah Veterinary Clinic Tel. 2942276

Schools & Nurseries:

All schools and nurseries are fee paying for expatriates, with fees being high. There is a wide variety to choose from, with standards of teaching usually high. Most schools have excellent facilities and offer a variety of extracurricular activities.

School inspections are regularly made by The Ministry of Education to ensure rules and regulations are being upheld. School uniforms are usually mandatory. Nurseries and pre-schools (babies – 4 ½ years) usually run for 4 hours in the mornings with fees ranging from Dhs 3,000 – 12,000 per annum.

Primary schools (4½ – 11 years) run from 8.00 – 13.00 with fees from Dhs 10,000 – 20,000 per annum and secondary schools (11 – 18 years) run from 8.00 – 15.00 with fees from Dh 15,000 – 45,000. Although there are a few universities students usually return to their home country to continue further education.

Recommendations of other parents will probably provide you with the necessary information to make your selection.

Shop till you drop:

Dubai is a shoppers paradise with the shopping festival month (DSF) bringing a huge number of visitors (and lots of congestion on the roads). Everything can be found in Dubai, from gold to carpets to designer clothes. There are a number of shopping malls where you will find everything under one roof. City Centre, Mercato, Bur Juman and Wafi centre are the largest and most popular.

Gold: The gold souk in Deira must be paid a visit, offering something to suit everyone! A popular gift for those back home is their name written in Arabic on a gold chain.

Furniture & furnishings: Lots to choice from whatever your taste, from modern outlets like The One and Ikea, to beautiful Indian, wooden and wrought iron furniture at Khans and Marina Gulf Trading.

Clothes: Thousands of shops to chose from, whatever your taste! A very popular pastime amongst the women of Dubai is having clothes made. Most tailors, popular area being Satwa, will copy or create anything you desire. With the many material shops offering beautiful, low cost, fabrics you are able to design your own unique creation.

Bargaining: Comes part and parcel of living in Dubai with the exception of International chain stores. Purchases of jewellery, Persian carpets, electronic goods and Arabic gifts are the perfect places to exercise your skills of persuasion.

Activities:

The great climate enables sport enthusiasts and explorers ample opportunities for outdoor activities, from all types of water sports to some more typically Middle Eastern activities!

Wadi & dune bashing… A four wheel drive can take you to parts of the desert rarely explored, and is great fun. A ‘wadi’ is a dried out riverbed which has been created by rushing floodwater through the rocks.