Travel and Health

This is a non-residential symposium. Hotel accommodation is not included in your registration fee. 

SPE has negotiated a discounted room rate with Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel for this symposium that you can take advantage of. Discounted room rates are subject to hotel room availability. 

• Rooms are available for booking at the below discounted rate from 20 to 22 February 2023. If you require additional nights, kindly contact the hotel (hotel contact is listed below).
• Special rate AED 1800 (Single Occupancy) and AED 1850 (Double Occupancy) inclusive of breakfast.
• Rates are inclusive of 4% Municipality Fee, 5% VAT, 6% Tourism Fees, 10% Service Charge and exclusive AED 15 municipality room fee per room per night. 
• Rooms are subject to availability.
• For reservations, please click the following LINK or contact the Hotel at Etihadtowers.Reservations@ConradHotels.com
• Kindly book on or before 19 January 2022  to avail the discounted room rate.

SPE Middle East, Africa, and South Asia will assist in providing a visa invitation letter, upon request in writing, to confirmed registrants after receiving full payment of registration fees. It is the course attendee's responsibility to obtain their own visa. SPE cannot issue the visa nor can we guarantee it will be obtained.

For more information on a UAE visa, please visit the websites:

• https://www.abudhabiairport.ae/en/passenger-guide/arrival/visa-requirements
• https://www.etihad.com/en-ae/fly-etihad/visas.

Local taxis and Uber service are available and reliable to use from/to the airport.  

The Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel  is offering below transport service, for booking please contact Etihadtowers.Concierge@ConradHotels.com

From/to Abu Dhabi International Airport

• Semi Luxury sedan (can accommodate 2 people + 2 baggage): AED 280 Per way
• Luxury Mini-Van (can accommodate 5 people + 5 baggage): AED 370 Per way

From/to Dubai International Airport

• Semi Luxury sedan (can accommodate 2 people + 2 baggage): AED 630 Per way
• Luxury Mini-Van (can accommodate 5 people + 5 baggage): AED 945 Per way
• Kindly note that transportation rates are inclusive of taxes and service fees, that can be added to room account.

• The Hotel is offering PCR testing with the below details:
  • Cost: Normal PCR Test—result in 24 hours at AED 150.00 per person.
  • Express PCR Test—result in 6-8 hours at AED 400.00 per person.
  • For Booking, you can directly contact the hotel concierge team at Etihadtowers.Concierge@ConradHotels.com.
  • Required documents for the test: Email, mobile number, passport copy, or Emirates ID.
  • Payment can be collected by Cash or Credit card directly by the nurse.

Do I need to do a PCR test before leaving Abu Dhabi?

• Those intending to travel outside Abu Dhabi, UAE, please check the requirements of the country you are travelling to. Travel regulations change frequently.
• For more information about departing from Abu Dhabi, go to the Etihad update website.

• Register Online: As part of our safe and contactless initiatives, all attendees will need to register online. Your badge can be collected from the registration desk.
• Check if applying for a visa in advance is required. Click this link for full details.
• Book your hotel accommodation
• For updated Abu Dhabi entry procedures, please visit: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip

• SPE Event Standard Safety Guidelines
  SPE adheres to the safety regulations issued by local authorities in UAE. Those measures are subject to change in alignment with UAE Authorities. Read more about SPE's event safety guidelines.

Ticketing and Registration Process
Due to strict health and safety protocol, there will be no registration and ticket sales on-site at the event. Admission is strictly by advance registration only. 

Are face masks mandatory?
No, wearing a face mask is optional at all times. 

Will there be sanitisers across the venue?
Yes, sanitiser stations will be readily available across the venue.

Do I need to be vaccinated to attend an Event in Abu Dhabi?
No, The Department Culture and Tourism (DCT) in Abu Dhabi announced that you do not need to be vaccinated to attend any type of business event. Hence, you will not require to be vaccinated to attend an event in Abu Dhabi. However, this rule may differ for visiting a number of public places such as malls, retail outlets, museums, cultural centre, etc.

Do I need to do a PCR test before leaving Abu Dhabi?

• Those intending to travel outside Abu Dhabi, UAE, please check the requirements of the country you are travelling to. Travel regulations change frequently.
• For more information about departing from Abu Dhabi, go to the Etihad update website.

History of the Area:
The seven independent emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah came together to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the year 1971. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE.

Weather:
The U.A.E enjoys 365 days of warm sunshine, with cooler evenings and occasional showers in the months between November to March.

Time Zone:
The UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT (+4 GMT)

Economy:  
The UAE is one of the world's wealthiest countries, with a GDP of US $54 billion (2000), and has the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world. While oil and gas production form its foundation, Dubai is increasingly broadening its economic activity to include: real estate, tourism, trading and manufacturing.

Currency:
The official currency of the UAE is the Arab Emirates Dirham (AED or DHS.). Each Dirham is divided into 100 fils and is held constant against the US Dollar at an average of 3.67. All banks operate from 8.00am to 1.00pm, Sunday through Thursday and 8.00am to 12.00pm on Saturdays. Currency exchange houses are open until late in the evening. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Electricity:
The standard electricity supply is 220/240 volts. American appliances may need a transformer.

Dress:
As in all Middle Eastern countries, respect for the local customs and sensibilities is recommended. Short, revealing or tight clothing can be worn, but it will attract attention. Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed in the evening for the winter months. Please be sure to take some sort of jacket or sweater as February can get chilly in the evenings, also hotels and restaurants can be cold due to the air conditioning.

Language:
While Arabic is the official language, English is very widely spoken, especially in business. Given the large size of the expatriate population, several other languages are also used in everyday life, headed by Hindi, Urdu and Farsi.