To get a visa, you must first telephone or fax the hotel making a reservation and requesting a visa. Normally the hotel will require you to stay from one to three nights. You must also fax the hotel a copy of your passport along with the reason for your visit -- tourism is an acceptable reason -- and your arrival date. Make sure the hotel faxes you a copy of the visa when it is ready or the airline may not allow you to board the flight. The time needed to process a visa usually ranges from two days to three weeks.

Whatever kind of visa you request, it will be deposited at the airport for you to collect upon arrival. Transit visas cost Dh 120 and visit visas Dh 60, but the normal hotel charge for the service is about Dh 180. If your passport shows any sign of travel to Israel, you will be denied entry to the UAE.

Visitors in UAE
One million more passengers used Dubai International Airport last year, a 10.5 per cent increase year-on-year.

A total of 10.7 million passengers passed through the airport in 1999 compared to 9.7 million the previous year. Total aircraft movements were 132,708, a 7.6 per cent increase over 1998. The number of airlines remained at 90, serving 130 destinations.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates, commented: "Passenger movement has been growing steadily over the years, setting Dubai International Airport on the road to joining the world's top 20 airports.

Despite the challenge of operating during the airport's expansion work, the Duty Free posted a 4.4 per cent increase in sales for 1999, with a total turnover of Dh678 million. Projections for 2000 are positive, with the Duty Free scheduled to begin operating from its new 5,400 square metre shopping complex in the new concourse from the second quarter.

The Dubai Cargo Village recorded 10.93 per cent growth in 1999, handling 490,843.12 tonnes of cargo compared to 442,492.65 in 1998. In December the Cargo Village handled 48,764.74 tonnes compared to 40,153.88 tonnes in December 1998, up 21.44 per cent.

While total imports for 1999 registered at 263,356.73 tonnes compared to 239,489.15 tonnes in 1998, showing a growth of 9.97 per cent, exports for 1999 stood at 211, 465.71 tonnes as compared to 190,081.95 tonnes in 1998, a growth of 11.27 per cent.

Trans-shipments totalled 94,323.50 tonnes compared to 78,648.41 tonnes in 1998, up 19.93 per cent. Sea-air freight hit 85,517.796 tonnes compared to 73,870.821 tonnes in 1998, up 15.77 per cent.

The Dubai Airport Free Zone, launched in 1997, has grown rapidly. At the end of last year 72 companies were registered there.

The Airport Free Zone covers 1.2 million square metres which includes 473,000 square metres of apron; 72,000 square metres of pre-built units or light industrial units for rent; 24,000 square metres of public facilities such as banks, restaurants, clinic, shopping area; and 104,000 square metres of land for development.