United Arab Emirates - Prepare

Bring floaty sarongs for the beach, a wide-brimmed hat for the desert, modest clothing for around town, and an empty suitcase for all your shopping.

Flex your credit card during the Abu Dhabi Shopping Festival and Dubai Shopping Festival in March. Also in March, mix with high society at the Dubai World Cup horse-racing event. Take the kids to the Dubai Summer Surprises festival (Jun-Aug), for entertainment in the city's malls. Rev your motor on your way to October's Desert Challenge, the second biggest motor sport event in the Middle East. Crane your neck at the biennial Dubai Air Show, which in November 2005 showcased the new Airbus A380.

New Year's Day, Mount Arafat Day (11 Jan), Al Hijrah - Islamic New Year (Jan), Eid al-Adha - Feast of Sacrifice, celebrating the last day of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (Dec/Jan), Ras al-Sana (Feb), Mawlid al-Nabi (May), Accession of HH Sheik Zayed (6 Aug), Ascension of the Prophet (Sep), Eid al-Fitr - Festival of the Breaking of the Fast (Oct), National Day (2 Dec). Based on the lunar calendar, Islamic holidays move forward approximately 11 days every Western year.

Summers in the UAE are fiercely hot and humid, easily reaching the 40s in July and August. Winters (Dec-Feb) are cooler and more pleasant, with daytime averages in the mid-20s. Nights in the desert can be very cold, dropping below 5ºC. Rainfall is sparse, and usually only comes during the winter months.

220/240V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.

+971 (national).

Dirham (Dhs) is the currency.

GMT +4.

UAE Interact website

If offered coffee in somebody's home, shake your cup gently left to right a few times to indicate when you've had enough. When entertaining, your offers of food and drink will be politely refused at first. Don't give up – it is the custom to refuse several times before accepting.