United Arab Emirates

Area: 83,600 sq km (32,400 sq mi)

Population: 2.3 million

Capital: Abu Dhabi (pop  approx 500,000.)

Government: Federated monarchy

Head of State: President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan

Currency: UAE dirham

Local Time: GMT + 4hrs

Climate
The best time of the year to visit the UAE is between November and April, when the weather is at its best and average daily temperatures are in the 22-30°C (70-85°F) range. From May to September humidity is high and daytime temperatures are commonly around 40°C (105°F) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. 

Geography  
The United Arab Emirates are located on the north-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Bordered by Saudi Arabia in the south and west and by Oman in the east, the northern coast faces Iran across the Persian Gulf with Qatar to the north-west. Formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms including: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain. Abu Dhabi is the largest of the emirates and Ajman the smallest.

Language
Arabic is the official language of the UAE, but English is widely understood. Urdu and Farsi are also commonly spoken in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Visa Requirements.  
Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and British citizens with the rights of abode in the UK, do not require visas to enter the UAE (GCC nationals can stay more or less as long as they like. Brits can stay for a month and can then apply for a visa for a further two months). Israeli nationals and visitors showing evidence of travel to Israel are not permitted to enter the UAE. For other visitors, the types of visa available include: 60-day visit visa (renewable for another 30 days), 30-day tourist visa, six-month multiple-entry visa, or a 14-day entry service permit. 
A residence visa can be issued to the following: an employee at the request of his employer, an investor who has a valid business licence in the UAE or a dependent spouse or child whose resident spouse earns more than AED 5,000 per month. Applicants must pass a medical test prior to issue or renewal of a residence visa, which is valid for up to three years and can be renewed. A work permit can be issued to a prospective employee who has a residence visa, work contract and medical certificate.

Local Laws & Customs
The UAE is probably the most liberal country in the Gulf but it is still an Islamic state and very conservative by Western standards.  Lightweight business clothing is suitable for the office environment, with jackets only being worn for important meetings. Women should wear conservative attire in public places.

 Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE and that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. 

Driving Licenses
Most foreign driver's licences are accepted in the UAE as long as the holder is a citizen of, or resident in, the country which issued the licence.  Car rental companies will issue a temporary UAE licence against your home licence when you rent a car. This rule is only applicable to visitors or those on transit visas