Are you about to land in the UAE? While you may be excited to arrive in the country and explore all of its attractions, you may also be concerned about how you will establish yourself in a new country.
Whether you are visiting the UAE as a tourist or intend to live there, here are the top five things you should do to settle in.
1. Download the Al Hosn app
While the UAE has recently relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, with masks no longer required in most public places, you must still conform to certain guidelines, such as having a ‘Green Pass’ on the Al Hosn app. Both residents and visitors can use the app. You can update your COVID-19 vaccine or test records as a visitor by following these steps:
- You will have the option to sign in as a visitor when you download the app.
- Press the ‘Next’ button.
- Enter your passport number, nationality, and phone number. This can also be an international phone number. However, you must ensure that the mobile number you provide is the same as the one you will give to the immigration officer at the airport when you arrive in the UAE.
- Review your information and press the continue button.
- Enter the six-digit OTP (one-time password) that was sent to your mobile device as verification.
- After arriving in the UAE, verify your profile.
2. Get a UAE SIM card
Etisalat, du, and Virgin Mobile are the UAE’s three major telecom service providers. You can buy a SIM card from any of these service providers at kiosks located in the arrival areas of international airports in the UAE. If you don’t have time to pick up the SIM card at the airport, simply go to a nearby mall after you’ve settled in and look for an Etisalat, du, or Virgin mobile store to purchase the SIM card.
3. Convert some money into dirhams
While most places accept international credit cards, having some dirhams in your wallet can come in handy. Simply go to a money exchange near the airport or your hotel or place of residence to convert your home currency to dirhams. Click here for the most recent exchange rate. https://gulfnews.com/gold-forex
4. Get a Nol card or public transport card
In Dubai, you can easily get around by bus, Metro, tram, or water transport such as abras. To use public transportation, you must first purchase a Nol card. However, this card is not only required when using public transportation in Dubai; it is also useful as an alternative mode of payment when taking a taxi or shopping for groceries.
The Hafilat card is required in Abu Dhabi, while the Sayer card is required in Sharjah. If you are visiting Ajman and wish to take public transportation, you must use the Masaar card.
5. Download a public transport/taxi app
Finally, it is recommended that you download travel-related apps in order to get settled in the UAE.
In Dubai, you can download the S’hail app for public transportation, which is managed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). You can download the Darbi app in Abu Dhabi, which is managed by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). Both of these apps will show you all of the public transportation options for the route you want to take.
Download the ‘Careem’ or ‘Uber’ apps to book taxis for taxi services in Dubai.
You can download the ‘Abu Dhabi Taxi’ app in Abu Dhabi.
All of the above apps are available for both Apple and Android devices.
You can also hail a free taxi on the road in any Emirate.
