0 1 Table of Contents Hiring 2 Expense Reimbursement & Travel Arrangements 2-3 Entry/Exit Requirements 3-4 Passport & Visa Preparing to Go 4-5 What to Bring, Medications, Money, Register with U.S. Dept. of State Housing 6 Arrival in Dubai 6 Getting Around 7-9 Communication 9-10 Safety & Security 10-11 Health & Wellness 12-13 On Call International Insurance 12-13 Medical Emergencies 13-14 Life in Dubai 15-16 Other Information 16-18 Electricity, Water, Tipping, Money/Banking, Dress, Deaf Culture Contacts 18-19 2 Travel Guide to Dubai for Faculty & Staff Congratulations on your upcoming assignment in Dubai! If this is your first visit to Dubai, you are about to experience one of the premier destinations in the world. Dubai is known for the amazing architecture and design of its modern buildings, culturally diverse population, and one-of-a-kind tourist attractions. Whether you are a faculty member teaching a course, faculty/staff leading a short-term study abroad program, or an access services provider, we hope this guide will assist you as you prepare for your overseas experience. Hiring Global Delivery Corp. (GDC) is a third You’ll receive a teaching or working party RIT entity whose role is to manage contract, direct deposit, computer the business aspects of RIT’s global account request (RIT employees will not campuses. In most cases, RIT faculty need to complete a computer account and staff conducting RIT business in request), tax, and other hiring forms. Croatia are required for visa purposes to Anna Lombard ([email protected]) in the ​ ​ work under a GDC contract. Your GDC RIT-GDC office will work with you to contract may outline travel policies or complete all hiring paperwork. procedures that differ from typical RIT travel policies. E xpense Reimbursement & Travel Arrangements local laws in Dubai. We will provide The terms of your contract will detail all of instructions for saving receipts, organizing the compensation elements. Some travel costs, and emailing receipts for expenses costs such as per diem, flights, local charged to the study abroad pro card. transportation, lodging, etc. may be When you return, you will work with your covered via RIT/student program fees or designated contact in this section to eligible for reimbursement. submit a travel expense report to receive Please refer to RIT travel policies here: any qualified reimbursement. https://www.rit.edu/fa/controller/content/ travel-policies-procedures-manual If your program is ending close to the end of the fiscal year (July 1) we will work with We will schedule a meeting with you to you to ensure all documentation is help you fully understand your budget, submitted by the deadlines. how to pay for travel costs, and review the 3 After you return from your trip, please email scanned copies of all your receipts or mail your receipts and documentation to your main contact listed in this section. These main RIT contacts will work with you to make your travel logistical arrangements and assist with your expense reimbursement: If you are faculty or staff: ​ If you are an interpreter: Donika Demiri ​ Judy Ferguson Global Village, Bldg. 400, Rm. 2075 [email protected] [email protected] (585) 475-7109 (585) 475-7113 If you are a captionist: Andrea Buscemi ​ Wendy Eldridge Global Village, Bldg. 400, Rm. 2075 [email protected] [email protected] (585) 475-6821 (585) 475-6557 E ntry / Exit Requirements Passport imports of such materials are checked at A valid U.S. passport is required for U.S. customs. citizens. It is required that the passport Visa expiration date is at least 6 months after A valid passport is required. For stays of your return date. less than 30 days, U.S. citizens holding a valid passport may obtain a visitor’s Customs visa at the port of entry for no fee. For a Customs clearance in the UAE is fast stay longer than 90 days, it is important and efficient. No customs duties will be to coordinate the visa process with applied to personal belongings. Maureen Shannon However, since the UAE is an Islamic ([email protected]) in the RIT ​ ​ country, religious propaganda, Global office who will assist you in potentially offensive printed matter, obtaining the correct visa. CDs, videos, or films should not be brought into the country. All personal 4 Long Term Visa For Stays Over 90 Days ​ Following is a list of required documents for your long-term visa. RIT Global will forward your documents to RIT Dubai and RIT Dubai will submit your visa application on your behalf. 1. Visa application (provided by RIT 3. Passport photo in .jpg format. Global). 4. Proof of medical insurance. 2. Scanned copy of passport. This can be a long process so we appreciate your prompt turnaround of contracts and other documents. Maureen Shannon will assist you and answer questions on this process. P reparing to Go Faculty leading short term programs and access services providers will be invited to attend a training session where we will cover culture shock, student health, and wellness, emergency preparedness, etc. What to Bring medicines you need in your carry-on Pack an extra set of passport photos luggage. along with a photocopy of your passport’s information page in order to Put your name, address, and telephone make the replacement of your passport numbers on the inside and outside of easier in the event that it is lost or each piece of luggage. Use covered stolen. It is a good idea to email a copy luggage tags to avoid casual of your passport’s photo page to observation of your identity or yourself so you have access to it even if nationality. the hard copy gets lost. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any 5 and provide the names of all of the Medications countries that you will visit as part of If you are planning to bring any your program. It is also important to prescriptions or medications into the notify your credit and debit card country, it is important that you check to company, if different from your bank. see if your medication is allowed or if it is on the restricted medication list. The What to Leave Behind U.S. Embassy in the UAE has You should make copies of your information on their website at: passport, driver’s license, airline tickets, https://ae.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen- travel itinerary, any bank cards that you services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/ plan to bring with you and leave the We encourage you to contact the copies at home with a family member or Medical Office at the UAE Embassy in friend. the U.S. for more accurate information on medications: Register with the State http://www.uae-embassy.org/embassy/ Department contact-us. It is a good idea to register your travel ​ with the U.S. Department of State so To avoid problems when passing that you can be contacted in case of a through customs, keep medicines in family emergency or a crisis in the area their original, labeled containers. Bring in which you are traveling. Travel copies of your prescriptions and the registration is a free service provided by generic names for the drugs. If your the State Department (for U.S. citizens) medication is not allowed in the country and is easily accessed online at you will be visiting, ask your health-care https://travelregistration.state.gov provider to write a letter on office stationery stating the medication has Other Resources been prescribed for you. Faculty teaching in Dubai or leading a faculty-led program can find more Contact Your Bank/Credit Card resources on our website at Companies https://www.rit.edu/global/lead-faculty- Make sure to notify your bank that you led-program/before-you-go. ​ will be traveling, the dates of your trip, 6 H ousing responsible to pay for your hotel bill. RIT Dubai will assist you by selecting a Your department will reimburse you hotel or apartment for your stay in after you return from your trip. Please Dubai. save your receipts for reimbursement. Faculty and staff on short term assignments will stay at hotels near the For longer assignments, you would stay in furnished apartments near the RIT RIT Dubai campus (Flora Creek located Dubai campus. RIT Dubai will handle in Deira City Center; Radisson or the housing paperwork with the landlord. Premier Inn located in Dubai Silicon Oasis). Per RIT’s travel policy, you are A rrival in Dubai Upon your arrival at Dubai International RIT Dubai will send their driver to meet Airport, you will proceed to Passport you at the airport and transport you to control where your U.S. passport will be your housing. RIT Dubai will also stamped with a 30-day visitor’s entrance arrange for hotel pick-up if you are visa (no other documentation is needed) staying at a hotel. If you decide to take a if you are on a short term assignment. taxi, which is a reimbursable expense, taxi fare from the Dubai airport to Dubai For long-term assignments, you will Silicon Oasis is approximately $19.07 to receive a PDF of your visa prior to $32.70 USD (70 – 120 AED). departure which you will then present at the immigration desk at the airport. RIT Dubai is located in the center of the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), a business You will then go to the baggage claim park consisting of over 900 different ​ area. After you have collected your companies, many of whom are partner bags, exit the airport through the institutions with RIT Dubai.