United Arab Emirates
Asia · 18 specs
Direct Answer
The United Arab Emirates (AE / ARE / 784) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using BS 1363 (Type G) fused sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the UAE Dirham (AED, د.إ), country calling code is +971, emergency dispatch is 999 (Police) / 998 (Ambulance) / 997 (Fire), and paper standard is UAE.S ISO 216 A4.
Source: MoIAT / DEWA / TDRA / ISO 3166-1 / Emirates Post · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | United Arab Emirates ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | الإمارات العربية المتحدة (Al-Imārāt) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | AE |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | ARE |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 784 UN M49 (Code 142) |
| Country Calling Code | +971 TDRA (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .ae (.امارات) .aeDA Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | UAE Emirate Specific Plates (DXB, AUH, SHJ) |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | UAE Dirham (AED, د.إ / DHS) 100 Fils (3.6725:1 Peg with USD) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz DEWA / SEWA / ADDC Standards |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type G (BS 1363 / UAE.S standard) 13 A / 230 V (fused) |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Federal Traffic Law |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) MoIAT Metrology Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | UAE.S ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 999 (Police) / 998 (Ambulance) / 997 (Civil Defence Fire) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | Makani Geographic Address (10-Digit Geo-Coordinate) Dubai Makani / Emirates Post P.O. Box |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+4 (GST–Gulf Standard Time) No DST |
The 2022 Global Working Week Realignment (Monday–Friday)
On January 1, 2022, the UAE became the first Arab nation to transition its official public and financial working week from Sunday–Thursday to a 4.5-day Monday–Friday working week (with Friday afternoon reserved for Muslim congregational prayers).
- Rationale: Harmonized commercial and banking transactions directly with European, Asian, and American global financial markets.
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type G (BS 1363 / UAE.S standard). Uses standard British Type G 3-pin rectangular blade plugs with internal fuse protection and child safety shutters.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +971. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 999 (Police) / 998 (Ambulance) / 997 (Civil Defence Fire). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the UAE Dirham (AED, د.إ / DHS).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize UAE.S ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+4 (GST–Gulf Standard Time).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes Makani Geographic Address (10-Digit Geo-Coordinate).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → United Arab Emirates.