Asia · The Gulf, West Asia

United Arab Emirates

Capital · Abu Dhabi

Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Mosque — plus Deira's souks and East African canteens.

🇦🇪Abu Dhabi
The essentials

United Arab Emirates at a glance

Capital
Abu Dhabi
Region
The Gulf, West Asia
Currency
Dirham (AED)
Languages
Arabic · English
Dialling code
+971
Plan around it

Public holidays & key dates in United Arab Emirates

Dates shift year to year where a holiday follows a lunar or religious calendar. Check locally before you book flights or count on offices being open.

Jan 1New Year's Day
VariesEid al-Fitr date varies date variesMulti-day feast ending Ramadan
VariesEid al-Adha & Arafat Day date varies date variesThe Gulf's biggest holiday block
VariesIslamic New Year date varies date varies
VariesProphet Muhammad's Birthday date varies date varies
Dec 2–3UAE National DayFireworks and flyovers
Getting in

Visas for African passports

Entry rules for United Arab Emirates differ sharply depending on which African passport you hold — visa-free for some nationalities, e-visa for others, embassy application for the rest.

The AfricAsia Passport Index checks every African passport against this destination, with the current route and a plain-language note on what officers ask for.

Check your passport →
On the ground

Ask before you land

Rent, agents, hospitals, halal and African groceries, church and mosque, where people actually meet on a Sunday — the answers live with the people already there.

The United Arab Emirates channel in the Hub is free, open, and moderated by members who live in the country.

Open the United Arab Emirates channel →