Dubai Communication

Postal Services
Postal services in Dubai are operated by the General Postal Authority (GPA) which was established under Federal Law No. 4 of 1985. Letters take an average of one to two days to reach destinations in Dubai and two to three days to reach destinations in other emirates. The mail is not, however, delivered directly to the addressee, but is delivered to post office boxes instead. It is essential therefore for any business setting up in Dubai to obtain a post office box at the earliest opportunity, as per procedure outlined below.
The GPA provides a range of services such as Al Mumtaz post and ordinary, registered postal drafts. Mumtaz post is an express or priority mail service for overseas mail.

Procedure
The procedure for obtaining a post office box is straightforward.

The application form (which is available at any post office) should be completed and signed by the applicant's sponsor. Where the sponsor is a company, the company stamp should appear on the form.
The application form should then be submitted to the post office together with the appropriate fee and the following documentsIf the applicant is a business
The application is renewable annually for a fee (currently Dh.150).
Two copies of the business's trade license
The original trade license for presentation only.
If the applicant is an individual
The application is renewable annually for a fee (currently Dh.150).
Two copies of the applicant's passport (including the page containing the residence visa)
2 passport photographs
Appropriate fee (currently Dh.110).

Courier Services

All the major courier services operate fast, inexpensive and efficient services in Dubai and are used by many business for the delivery of letters and packages within Dubai and the Emirates/overseas.

Telecommunication
Telecommunications in Dubai are operated by the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) which was founded in September 1976.

Procedure
Telephone services can be obtained by submitting an application form to Etisalat together with the following documents:

Business premises lines:
Copy of the passport of the manager including the residence visa page (non-GCC applicants only)
Copy of the local sponsor / authorized nominee's passport and Khulasat al Qaid
Copy of tenancy agreement
Copy of valid trade license
The number of any working telephone at the same premises (or the nearest one)
The application form for business lines must be signed by the partner, sponsor or an authorized nominee. In the case of newly formed companies, Etisalat will accept the initial approval issues by the DED. Such approval will allow a new business venture to obtain a fax and / or telephone line before the business actually obtains its trade license from the DED.

Residence lines:
Passport copy including the residence visa page or naturalization identification(with the exception of GCC nationals)
Copy of tenancy agreement.
The number of any working telephone at the same premises (or the nearest one).
A letter of guarantee from a guardian or parent where the applicant is.
A telephone will be installed within one week if a junction box is available. Line rentals are charged at Dh.45 per quarter, payable in advance.

Telephone bills are issued monthly and must be paid within fourteen days. If a line is disconnected for failure to pay on time, a fee of Dh.50 must be paid to restore the service. All local telephone calls and faxes within Dubai are free except for those made from public phone booths.

Etisalat offers all the service a modern business may need including mobile phones, paging services and Internet.

Those who have GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) handsets and are visiting the UAE or are UAE residents and want to control their phone bills can benefit from Etisalat's prepaid GSM SIM Card "Speak Easy" services. Etisalat will provide a SIM card, which is inserted into a GSM handset or mobile phone allowing both international and local calls to be made for up to Dh.300. The SIM card is valid for one month from the date of issue but can be recharged for a future month and is available from the Etisalat sales counter, or through authorized Rent-A-Car companies at the Dubai and Abu Dhabi International Airports.

Further information on telecommunication services available in Dubai can be obtained from Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, P.O. Box 1150, Dubai, UAE or telephone No. 04-2228111.

Directory inquiries in Arabic and English respectively can be made by dialing 181 and 180.