Talk:United Arab Emirates Voyage Tips and guide

In this article and many of the sub articles for particular emirates, eg. Dubai, sometimes the prices are listed as AED and sometimes as dhs. Perhaps this should be standardized to avoid confusion.

I made a change to the licensing requirements for alcohol. Only Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ajman require a license, the other emirates do not.

Is some clarification needed? Don't wish to seem over-alarming, but...

Discussion (in part) states that a notarized prescription is crucial for certain kinds of meds. Yet, in the U.S. nearly all attending physicians (APs) (or their support staff) call-in prescriptions, or they issue scripts that are "robo-signed" by secure/certified computers for the patient to take to a servicing pharmacy. Pharmacies are required by law to keep the originals but do print extensive labels (on bottle and in-hand) providing all essential information. They can only offer (perhaps) a photocopy of the script to the patient...which cannot be notarized.

If the pharmacy documents/labels are inadequate for AED entry, getting AP scripts notarized here would require (by law) that each AP (for seniors, there may be several) to hand-sign each script in front of a notary (typically some distance away). If each AP had the time (highly unlikely), the billable cost for him/her to go to a notary could easily reach $150 or so...not covered by any insurance, e.g., health, travel. Because other discussion indicates AED Customs officials thoroughly inspect in-coming luggage (also for those en route elsewhere?), could someone confirm or clarify the current terminology?

If correct, a huge number of travelers (especially senior citizens) need to be forewarned rather forcefully about the medications they carry while traveling to or through the AED. They may have to avoid such travel altogether.

Believe such a general warning (with links to facts for specific countries) would apply widely (already exists?). Needs to be publicized, and worthy of reference by many WV articles. Thankfully, Singapore and Japan (hopefully others) provide electronic means to obtain needed permission with far less trouble or cost (noted in their articles). Best regards, Hennejohn (talk) 17:58, 10 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

Below is a proposed infobox to let readers know which formatting conventions to use in Wikivoyage articles. Do you agree with these proposals? If you have direct knowledge of what is most commonly used in the country, please let us know. Ground Zero (talk) 20:00, 6 December 2019 (UTC)Reply

Moved to the top of this article. Ground Zero (talk) 13:06, 28 December 2019 (UTC)Reply

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:

• Abu Dabi.png

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 23:05, 8 January 2020 (UTC)Reply

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion:

• Louvre Abu Dhabi, plaza (from balcony).jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 03:22, 4 May 2020 (UTC)Reply

I have previously created an alternative banner for this article (which was initially created for the parallel article at the Hebrew Wikivoyage, but I decided to suggest we'll use it here at the English Wikivoyage article as well). Which banner do you prefer that we'll use on the top of this article? ויקיג'אנקי (talk) 13:31, 13 March 2021 (UTC)Reply

Swept in from the pub

I know that our policy is to be travel positive, but wv:be fair also includes calling a spade a spade and it is a bit ridiculous how the wording of the UAE article (well I tried to work on it a bit, but it's far from done) is basically fawning over the Emirs... I fear if I alone were to take the hatchet to it, I might fall into the other extreme, so please lend me a hand in striking a balance. Hobbitschuster (talk) 13:08, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

Your edits seem fair to me. I'm not really an expert on the Emirates, however.--ThunderingTyphoons! (talk) 17:15, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

The article looks much better to me. The other thing about the UAE is that their military, along with Saudi Arabia's, has conducted indiscriminate bombings of Yemen for years and made it well-nigh impossible for food and medical aid to be distributed to the sick, malnourished people there. However, that's the kind of thing we would usually avoid mentioning in the travel guides to the countries whose governments are responsible, although it is briefly mentioned (though without naming the UAE) in the Yemen guide. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:47, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

Sure, now it looks less like propaganda. I will say though that the U.S. is hardly innocent when it comes to human rights issues though, despite the common impression that the U.S. is the gold standard when it comes to human rights; they actually tightened sanctions on Iran while they were struggling to deal with COVID-19 and as a result, medical supplies cannot get into Iran. And I'm going to leave you with a quote from Singapore's former ambassador to the UN Kishore Mahbubani. "Anybody who believes in the term benevolent great power is an idiot.". The dog2 (talk) 21:19, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

Why are you bringing up the U.S. in this discussion? Who the hell ever said the U.S. is innocent? For God's sake! Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:22, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

I mean, not only is that irrelevant to the discussion, but the U.S. government is complicit in the indiscriminate bombings I mentioned by supplying arms, logistical support and intelligence to the Saudi and Emirati regimes. It's just really, really annoying when you decide to engage in straw-man arguments. Ikan Kekek (talk) 21:27, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

As the other commentators said, your edits seem pretty fair. The UAE is definitely an interesting place to try strike the balance for -- I don't think I can think of anything quite as sui generis as it in tourism. Vaticidalprophet (talk) 21:55, 22 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

"Who the hell ever said the U.S. is innocent?" - Was the US ever innocent. To me the only innocent country is New Zealand. Since the British ever discovered it. TravelAroundOz (talk) 10:13, 23 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

The British and white New Zealanders have been a lot less violent toward the Maori than British and post-colonial(?) whites have been toward the Australian Aborigines, Native Americans, etc., but if you really think there's no history of conflict in New Zealand, I suggest you read w:Māori people. I think there's no point in searching for "innocent" countries, but of course some abuses are more severe than others. Ikan Kekek (talk) 11:29, 23 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

Not only that; but slavery did exist here; where people were brought from Pacific Countries. I know; there was conflict but not as bad as how Aboriginals were treated. TravelAroundOz (talk) 07:57, 24 February 2021 (UTC)Reply

I was asked to discuss some omissions I made.

I came to this article to read about actual visiting the United Arab Emirates and the article is just filled with politicized statements about how workers are exploited and racist stereotypes such as Arabs being slave masters. This sounds appropriate for Wikipedia to discuss about human rights, not for a wikivoyage..

Nonetheless, the article is completely written like an opinionated statement in the culture section about how the Arabs had slavery integral to society, and how westerns in the UAE broadcast an image of modernity while actually this country just abuses workers. If this is not racist I'm it sure what is, and I'm disappointed that "administrators" on this wiki even allow such strong racist stereotypes to be in the wiki itself. But apparently removing this is racist on my behalf.

This article is horribly written like a politicized statement from an activist. And where it's not it's written like an advertisment "fabulous deserts" and "awe inspiring wadis" and what not. Sounds like written like a brochure lol. What a horrible article, shame.

Call me a racist, you can keep your activism on this page, and it's false cringy advertisement of "fabulous deserts" and "awe inspiring waterfalls". Enjoy it's horribleness. 2605:8D80:543:428A:E041:711D:9DB1:5CB2 01:00, 20 December 2022 (UTC)Reply

Are you trying to claim that workers are not abused in the UAE? That's a statement that's either true or not true. It is not a stereotype. As for slavery, note South (United States of America). Is that article racist against whites for making the statements it makes? All of us are happy for you to change anything that is not fair or accurate, but simply removing remarks about the well-known abuse of foreign workers does not improve your credibility as someone who's motivated to improve information for travelers - who include people coming to countries to work. Ikan Kekek (talk) 02:16, 20 December 2022 (UTC)Reply

By the way, you should read previous discussions like the thread immediately above this one. Ikan Kekek (talk) 02:18, 20 December 2022 (UTC)Reply

About leaving human rights to Wikipedia: I think a main reason to travel is to learn about cultures and societies that are unlike your own. For that, it is very good to know something about what to expect, in particular about things that may not be what they look like. Human rights issues are often such things. The tourist brochure may be quiet on them, not to upset the tourist and make them feel bad about staying in that five-star hotel, but we have no such reason to.

And yes: welcome to edit the section to become more well-informed and balanced.

–LPfi (talk) 10:01, 20 December 2022 (UTC)Reply

I was reading the bottom of respect section, and I found this:

"Don't tell locals that the UAE is part of Saudi Arabia. Don't compare it to Bahrain, Oman or Qatar either."

Would anyone explain on why it is considered disrespectful to consider UAE as if it was part of Saudi Arabia? I know that the local are proud of their own nation and country declared. And this applies to other countries with respect sections as well, such as not acting nor pretending as if San Marino is part of Italy, Monaco part of France, Andorra as part of Spain, Lesotho as part of South Africa, Hong Kong part of China instead of Special Administrative Region, and Lichtenstein as part of Switzerland or Austria. This would include the North America and Oceania, since Canadians are not Americans despite the historical and cultural ties, as seen on respect section and New Zealanders not being Australians, since that could lead to not earning friends in NZ or Kiwis in general. Are there any differences between Saudi Arabia and UAE when it comes to identity? 2601:205:C001:EA0:1CF1:8896:2148:E291 07:00, 5 August 2024 (UTC)Reply

Thanks for pointing that out. I have removed it, and some other nonsense and repetition in that section. Ground Zero (talk) 14:02, 5 August 2024 (UTC)Reply