NEW F A C U LT Y AND S T AFF S U R VIV A L GUID E Our vision is to become one of the leading knowledge-based professional educational institutions within the region, dedicated to knowledge- production and sharing for the betterment of all. TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to American University of Ras Al Khaimah 7 Introduction 8 The United Arab Emirates 11 History 13 Archeology 14 United Arab Emirates Culture 20 Religion 21 Arab Hospitality and Customs 24 Education 27 Driver’s License 28 Traffic Rules of the United Arab Emirates 32 Currency 34 Banks and Money Exchanges 35 Accommodations in Ras Al Khaimah 36 Car Rental and / or Car Purchase 38 Visa Process and Emirate ID 40 Marriage and Birth Certificates 41 Home Delivery Services 43 Hotels 51 Household Goods and Electronics 52 Market and Souqs 53 Postal Services 55 Ras AL Khaimah Airport 60 Sports and Recreation 64 Dubai area 70 Sharjah area 74 4 NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE 5 WE LCOME TO THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF RAS AL KHAIMAH American University of Ras Al doors of the Human Resource office are always open to you! We want you to know that we are Khaimah (AURAK) is an institution always available to you and will do everything dedicated to providing students with within our power to support you as you transition a challenging and dynamic academic into your new roles here at AURAK. For your convenience we have created this information experience through its numerous booklet to answer some of the questions which Bachelor’s and Master’s degree may arise during your transition into your new programs taught by its accomplished life here at AURAK. We also understand that some people moving to the U.A.E. may experience and renowned faculty. At AURAK a certain level of culture shock as they are students are offered multiple confronted with various language, religious, and opportunities to grow as leaders as cultural differences. Yet, in spite of this extreme diversity the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) well as participate in competitive continues to receive more and more people from sports with local and international various global communities annually. AURAK’s student clubs. AURAK is a diverse faculty members come from a plethora of different countries and are welcomed here in the U.A.E. campus with students from over 30 Hence, the aim of this guide is to help you make different countries. your transition from your country to the Ras Al Khaimah as easy and painless as we can. Similarly, AURAK hopes to cultivate an environment where diverse faculty members and administrators can grow, develop and flourish individually, as well as collectively. At AURAK we understand that dedication to our discipline and students, as well as our willingness to embrace our differences, is what will help us to grow into a truly dynamic, renowned, educational institution. This may be your first time visiting and/or living in the Middles East, or you may be a native to Ras Al Khaimah. We would like you to know that the NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE 7 The goal of this guide is to provide The information contained within you with assistance during your this booklet is not only practical, transition to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). but also tries to provide insight into We hope that the information the historical and cultural actions provided here within these pages will which have helped to shape current be of help to you, as you coordinate traditional practices and customs. We your housing needs, find a school for hope that this introduction will assist your children, rent or buy a car, etc. you on your new journey in this new This guide will also try to provide place. you with details specific to the INTRODUCTION cultural differences and practices of the U.A.E. Regardless of whether you are moving from another emirate to Ras Al Khaimah or from half way around the world—moving to a new environment can often be a stressful, confusing and difficult life event. By developing this booklet our goal is to provide you with as much information and support as possible to assist with this life changing event. NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE 9 THE UNITED ARAD EMIRATES The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is • The UAE is located in the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula, on the Arabian Gulf, situated in the southeast part of the bordering Oman to the east, and Saudi Arabia Arabian Peninsula. It is a federation to the south. The UAE has a total area of of seven Emirates, comprised of the 82,800 km. Emirates of Abu Dhabi (the Capital, • Ras Al Khaimah, (often referred to as RAK) which represent roughly 80% of the which translated to “head of the tent,” is the country’s territory), Dubai, Ajman, northernmost and the fourth largest of the seven Emirates, with a population of roughly Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), 500,000. Sharjah, and Um Al Quwain. The • Sometimes referred to as the ‘Wild West’ of U.A.E. Federation was established the U.A.E., it is framed by the Hajjar on December 2, 1971, after the Mountains on the east and the Arabian Gulf termination of Great Britain’s on the west. It is bordered on the north by Oman’s Musandam peninsula and on the protectorate of these former Trucial south by the Emirate of Um Al Quwain. States. • Ras Al Khaimah Government’s Department • The current President of the U.A.E. is Sheikh of Tourism’s website, is rapidly reinventing Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, who succeeded itself as the Middle East’s business hub. This his father; the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al is not surprising considering the majestic Nahyan, since 2004. Hajjar Mountains scraping the clouds at 1900 meters, coupled with the lovely Musandam • Islam is the official religion and Arabic is peninsula’s calm blue seas and clean white the official language. However, English is the beaches stretching over 27.7 km. All framed second language. by dramatic desert dunes. • The U.A.E. population is estimated at 9.2 All of these elements fuse seamlessly into the million which includes around 15% U.A.E. beautiful quiet, yet metropolitan emirate known nationals (Emiratis) while the majority of the simply as RAK. population is composed of expatriates. NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE 11 HIS TO RY Archeological excavations reveal that Ras Al 18th century, after the invasions of the Persians, Khaimah’s history extends into antiquity. Portuguese, and the Dutch; RAK eventually became Archeologists have discovered historical evidence part of the Al Qawasim State. It was also once the of advanced civilizations who traded with the center of the naval strength of the southern Gulf Indian sub-continent from this region thousands States. The traditional occupations of this emirate of years ago. Later historical records have shown are mainly fishing, trading, agriculture and industry that the town of Ras Al Khaimah, then known as which accounts for 33 percent of RAK’s GDP. Julfar, belonged to early Muslim Caliphs. In the RAK CITY His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr bin city with a friendly population, which offers Mohammed Al Qasimi, has been ruler since a peaceful and relaxed natural environment, 2010. His son, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin virtually free of pollution. Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, was appointed the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler in 2010. RAK In addition to the local Emiratis, RAK has a diverse expatriate community with people who is divided into two parts by a creek called are representative of every continent. RAK also Khor Ras Al Khaimah. The Old RAK town includes a small, but growing number of people is in the western part bordering the coast who have relocated from Dubai. Recently, there and has some government departments, has been a trend of both expats and U.A.E. markets, residential areas and schools. The nationals, who are “Dubai’d out,” to relocate newer Al Nakheel area is in the eastern part to RAK. Most likely they seek the serenity of of RAK and contains the Emiri Court, other its natural surroundings and the lower cost of government departments, the Ruler’s Office, living, especially the lower property and rental shopping malls, hotels, businesses, hospitals, prices. While some make the fifty-minute to one hour commute to jobs in Dubai via the recently and is where most of the population resides. completed RAK link of the Mohammad Bin Zayed A bridge connects the two parts and roads and Emirates highways. encircle the creek. RAK is a safe, laid-back 12 NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SURVIVAL GUIDE 13 A RCHEO LOGY TOWNS IN RAK EMIRATE The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has an impressive archeological • Al Jazeerah Al Hamra – 20 kms south of RAK City. Location of Al Jazeerah Port, also Mina Al Arab, Al heritage, of historical importance. Archeological data suggest the Hamra village, and Al Murjan Island. presences of settlements throughout antiquity. The Emirate contains • Khor Khuwayr - Industrial area with many cement, gravel and marble companies. Located about each of the four relief features found in the U.A.E.: fertile plains, 25 kilometers north of RAK city also in the same location there are Port Saqr, and the northern mountainous areas, coastal areas, and desert. The interaction of these industrial zone, home for the cement factories, also RAK crusher, and RAK Maritime city.