How to get to United Arab Emirates

By | May 4, 2022

Overview

United Arab Emirates is a country in Asia according to programingplease. With its man-made islands, opulent hotels and highly recognizable buildings, the United Arab Emirates has always been an attention-grabbing travel destination, offering visitors a fascinating blend of Islamic culture and modernity. In the past few decades, the world has watched spellbound as emirate billionaires built one exceptional project after the other, including e.g. B. heard the Burj al-Arab, reminiscent of a sail. For a long time it seemed as if nothing would stop the rapid development of the state on the Persian Gulf, until the last global economic crisis was also felt here, from which especially Dubai suffered. The capital Abu Dhabi was largely spared and is developing more and more into the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. While the crisis has affected many international markets, it also means that now is the ideal moment to visit the Emirates and explore its deserted deserts, indulge in luxury and spa hotels, use your credit card in a designer boutique to use or to dine elegantly in a gourmet restaurant. In addition to the admittedly gorgeous Abu Dhabi or Dubai, the other emirates are also worth seeing, for example coastal Fujairah, which offers first-class snorkeling and diving conditions, or Ras-al-Khamiah with its excellent off-road tracks and hiking routes in the wild Hajar -Mountains.

Getting there

Arriving by plane

The state airline Etihad Airways (EY) flies non-stop from Munich, Frankfurt/M., Dusseldorf, Geneva and Zurich to Abu Dhabi. Emirates (EK) flies to Dubai from Frankfurt/M., Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Vienna and Zurich. Gulf Air (GF) operates worldwide and flies non-stop from Frankfurt/M. to Bahrain. Qatar Airways (QR) flies non-stop from Munich to Doha, Qatar. Lufthansa (LH) connects with direct flights Frankfurt/M. with Abu Dhabi and Dubai and Munich with Abu Dhabi. Swiss (LX) offers direct flights from Zurich to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Flydubai (FZ) connects Salzburg with Dubai. Air Arabia (G9) connects Vienna with Sharjah.

Flight times

Frankfurt – Abu Dhabi: 6 hours 20 minutes; Vienna – Dubai: 5 hrs 35 mins; Zurich – Dubai: 6 hours 10 minutes

Departure fee

Dubai Airport: Passenger Service Charge: 75 AED or 18 €; Passenger Security & Safety Charge: €1; Passenger Facility Surcharge: €9. Abu Dhabi: Airport Service Fee: AED 35 or €9 for each departing passenger and for each transit passenger. This does not apply to transit passengers who fly on with the same flight number. Other Emirates: Airport Fee: AED 30 or €7 per passenger.

Arrival by car

Good road links to the United Arab Emirates from Saudi Arabia and Oman. The United Arab Emirates can be reached overland from Europe via the Trans-Arabian Motorway. Long-distance bus: SAPTCO offers bus connections between Dubai and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, among others. Buses also run between Abu Dhabi and Muscat (Oman) via Dubai. Tolls: Dubai has toll roads and bridges. The toll is recorded electronically via a chip on a sticker on the windscreen. Documents: National driving license with additional translation must be presented when renting a vehicle. It is recommended that you also carry an international driving license with you.

Arrival by train

Rail transport is under construction. There are no rail connections to neighboring countries.

Arrival by ship

The major international ports are Jebel Ali, Rashid and Mina Zayed (Abu Dhabi), Khalid (Sharjah), Khor Fakkan in Sharjah, Saqr (Ras al-Khaimah) and Fujairah and the Dubai Cruise Terminal. Cruise ships call at the Emirates. There are passenger and cargo connections to the USA, the Far East, Australia and Europe.

Cruise ships

The shipping company Aida calls at Dubai and Abu Dhabi on its cruises. Costa offers Dubai and Fujairah.

Ferry provider

Ferries operated by the Iranian shipping company Valfajr Shipping Co. connect Sharjah and Bandar-é-Abbas (Iran).

Transportation

Traveling by plane

There are no scheduled flights within the United Arab Emirates. However, various small airlines offer charter flights.

Traveling by car/bus

There are good, paved roads in the United Arab Emirates. Main routes are between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Dhaid, and between Dubai, the northern states and the interior. Traffic jams are common in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during rush hours. Tolls: Dubai has toll roads and bridges. The toll (salik) is recorded electronically via a sticker on the windscreen with a chip. The sticker can be purchased from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Petrol stations are open 24 hours a day.

Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic

Right

Condition of the roads

The roads are paved, well developed and maintained.

Road classification

The road system includes so-called – Emirate or E roads: connecting roads between the emirates, marked with an E and a number (blue sign, orange writing); – D-Streets: Streets in Dubai city marked with a D and a number (green sign, yellow writing); – Main roads: roads that go around towns or places in towns, marked with names and a 3-digit number; Streets in towns with names and a 2-digit number.

How to get to United Arab Emirates