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Home / Features / Dubai - City of Merchants

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Dubai - City of Merchants

One of the seven emirates which constitute the United Arab Emirates - is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinctive blend of modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new. Known in the region as the \city of merchants’, Dubai has, for generations, welcomed seafarers and traders to its shores. Today, this tradition of courtesy and hospitality lives on. The streets are clean and safe and travelers are sure to be charmed by the city’s warmth and friendliness. Dubai is referred to as ’shoppers paradise’ and without doubt, of its many attractions shopping is the greatest one. Being an open port with low import duties, Dubai’s retail prices are reasonable and the product range is vast. Items range from designer clothes and hi-tech electronics to ethnic Bedouin jewellery. Shoppers have the choice of buying from elegant shopping malls, boutiques or ethnic souks. Dubai has something for everyone - from the holidaymaker simply seeking a relaxing break away from the clouds and crowds, to the active tourist looking for a new and exciting experience. The city has superb facilities for sports, shopping, dining and entertainment and is well equipped to cater for the diverse needs of individual travelers, families or incentive groups. Climate The UAE has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular. Falling mainly in winter, it amounts to some 13 centimeters a year. Temperatures range from a low of about 10 degrees Celsius to a high of 48 degrees Celsius. The mean daily maximum is 24 degrees in January rising to 44 degrees in July. Culture Only about 20% of Dubai’s population is from local Emiratis; expatriates come from all over the world and large communities of Iranians, Brits, Pakistanis, Indians and Philippines call the city home. Arabic is the official language, but English is the language of business and most often used. Urdu, Farsi and Malayalam are also useful. Although there’s little in the way of a national cuisine in the UAE - the Bedouin diet catered more to sustenance than to decadence - the city’s tradition of trade and long-standing commitment to multiculturalism has nurtured a centuries-old love of international edibles. Geography The United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprise the seven member states of Abu Dhabi, the capital city, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. The total area of the country is about 83,600 square kilometers, much of it in Abu Dhabi emirate. Dubai, with an area of 3,885 square kilometers, is the second largest emirate. Situated on the banks of the Dubai Creek, a natural inlet from the Gulf which divides the city into the Deira district to its north and Bur Dubai on its south, the city ranks as the UAE’s most important port and commercial centre. Labour Laws Administered by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Labour Law in the UAE is loosely based on the International Labour Organization’s model. UAE Law No. 8 of 1980, as amended by Law No. 12 of 1986 (the "Labour Law") governs most aspects of employer/employee relations, such as hours of work, leave, termination rights, medical benefits and repatriation. The Labour Law is protective of employees in general and overrides conflicting contractual provisions agreed under another jurisdiction, unless they are beneficial to the employee. The Ministry issues a model form of labour contract in Arabic which is widely used, but other forms of contract are enforceable, provided they comply with the Labour Law. End of contract gratuities are set at 21 days pay for every year of the first five years of service and 30 days for every year thereafter. Total gratuity should not exceed two years’ wages. Employees are entitled to pro-rated amounts for service periods less than a full year, provided they have completed one year in continuous service. The normal maximum working hours are eight per day or 48 per week. However, these hours may be increased to nine daily for people working in the retail trade, hotels, restaurants and other such establishments. Similarly, daily working hours may be reduced for difficult or dangerous jobs. Many businesses work on a two shift system (for example, 8am - 1pm and 4pm - 7pm). As in all Muslim countries, Friday is the weekly day of rest. In practice, commercial and professional firms work 40-45 hours a week and government ministries about 35. The weekend for office workers has traditionally been Thursday afternoon and Friday, but a number of organisations have changed over to a five day week with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, normal working hours are reduced by two hours per day.

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