Joining a ship in UAE

[Ares]

Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone has joined a vessel in the UAE before?

I'm joining a ship in a few days there and have no idea what to expect from customs.

I know the rules on no pornographic material and that's not an issue, however what about movies, music and books...do they check to see what you have?

Also are the likely to check my pictures on my camera/laptop/hard drive? I have pics of my gf and I and I don't know if they'll hammer me for being unmarried.

[size4riggerboots]

If the pics of you and your gf could be construed as kinky, they'll class it as p0rn.

[Ares]

No they aren't in the slightest. Just pics of us together

[Lewis]

remember they have different ideas of whats obsecene (SP). We might have no problem with a picture in bikni or short skirt they might disagree. if you have any doubt better safe than sorry and leave them at home.

[YoungMariner]

Honestly, the chances of being checked in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is next to zero. Plenty of Russian hookers around if you want to make your own porn in the hotel. If you haven night there before boarding then plenty of places for a beer.

[GuinnessMan]

Hi folks,

I was wondering if anyone has joined a vessel in the UAE before?

I'm joining a ship in a few days there and have no idea what to expect from customs.

I know the rules on no pornographic material and that's not an issue, however what about movies, music and books...do they check to see what you have?

Also are the likely to check my pictures on my camera/laptop/hard drive? I have pics of my gf and I and I don't know if they'll hammer me for being unmarried.

As someone who's lived there, here are the general rules: -

1) No pills or potions of any kind unless you have a prescription for it and a letter from your doctor. It may be available over the counter here, but it may not there and if they find it you may be invited to spend 4 years there at their leisure. If it something that you simply cannot live without, then ask the agent to take you to a pharmacist on the way to the port. You'll be going down Sheikh Zayed Road, and there several on the way,
2) On the whole, they generally couldn't care less that you have a girlfriend in the UK. Unless you were to shag openly on the street (and people I went to school with did) then they may want to have a word with you. If you've got a picture of the girlfriend in compromising positions, or with her knorks out, then send us some copies but don't go showing it to them as again, you'll spend some time there at their leisure (and they'll probably take a copy too).
3) The legal age for drinking there is 21, and technically, to even buy it in a hotel you need to have a liqour license. If they catch you steaming (and most Taxi drivers will drop you in it) then they WILL charge you with "consuming alcohol" even if bought legally in the hotel. The police there are not as worried about your human rights as ours are. Remember, that you have no rights and the embassy is about as useful as tits on a fish if you get in trouble (plus your company will drop you almost instantly)...
4) Movies, books and Music is actually not a major issue and they generally tend not to care about what is on your hard drive.
5) If you do need some naughty movies then go and speak to your C/O or visit us oily people downstairs or check with the Filipino crew on board. They all tend to have lots...
6) Without knowing what port you're actually joining in, I can't say anymore really as each is different and each operates on their own. If it's Jebel Ali, then it's a fairly easy affair. If it's Fujairah, make sure you have a book to hand as their Immigration folks take forever to do anything
7) On the whole, the folks there are reasonable people, but treat them with respect and they'll be fine with you. When approaching the immigration counters, it always puts you on their right side with a "A-Salaam Alaykum", shortly followed with a "Kayf Hallik" and then a "A-humdillalah" (let them respond first, don't just blurt it all out at once).
8) Make sure you take some Dirhams (local currency) with you. 500 AED should be enough (about ?80) for anything you want to buy or see whilst there. If you know that you have some time before joining the ship, then I recommend going up the Burj Khalifa (big spire) tower. However, book it in advance as it's a quarter of the price of just showing up.
9) Dubai is one of the people trafficking centre's of the Middle East (not that they will say that), so hookers are there in abundance if you know where to go. I actually have little idea where to find them, but I did read in the local newspaper that they advertise on Facebook and one fantastic looking Russian one lives in Business Bay (same building as a friend out there) and if you do decide to dabble, send pictures!

Any other questions, fire away...

[stronglead]

I joined in the UAE and had no problem at all didnt get searched, though the bags where scanned twice at 2 different locations, you are put through on a seamans visa and transported to the port where you "leave" the country again basically with more bag scans it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though my mum was sure I would be locked up for swearing or something lol.

[GuinnessMan]

I joined in the UAE and had no problem at all didnt get searched, though the bags where scanned twice at 2 different locations, you are put through on a seamans visa and transported to the port where you "leave" the country again basically with more bag scans it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though my mum was sure I would be locked up for swearing or something lol.

Swearing? Bloody swearing? Should listen to that lot when the boss wanders off and a plane from India/Pakistan/Bangladesh lands....

[stronglead]

Haha fair enough she just thought I would do something daft and get locked up she worries sometimes

[Ares]

Cheers GuinnessMan - no pics for you though! I'm not expecting to have much time in Dubai as I arrive on the day that my ship is scheduled to leave so I'm guessing it'll be straight to the port once I'm through the airport. I have some medication, which although I can technically live without, would be a big help. I have a prescription with a note on it from my doctor which will hopefully be enough.

I was told to bring USD rather than AED, but I think I'll go with your recommendation of getting AED. Although maybe not as much since I shouldn't be there too long. I'm also joining at Jebel Ali so I'm glad to hear that the officials there make it quite an easy affair.

Stronglead - cheers for the reply. It's put my mind at bit more at ease.

[stronglead]

Yeah your doing what I did well I had to wait for 3 hours in the airport as the other cadet joining the ship went through on his passport, this was because they thought we where on the same flight but we weren't fun times

[GuinnessMan]

Cheers GuinnessMan - no pics for you though! I'm not expecting to have much time in Dubai as I arrive on the day that my ship is scheduled to leave so I'm guessing it'll be straight to the port once I'm through the airport. I have some medication, which although I can technically live without, would be a big help. I have a prescription with a note on it from my doctor which will hopefully be enough.

I was told to bring USD rather than AED, but I think I'll go with your recommendation of getting AED. Although maybe not as much since I shouldn't be there too long. I'm also joining at Jebel Ali so I'm glad to hear that the officials there make it quite an easy affair.

Stronglead - cheers for the reply. It's put my mind at bit more at ease.

No pictures? Honestly, you try to help....

Anywho, no, don't take any USD as the exchange rate between them and AED is crap. 500 AED may sound like a lot, but if you have some shore leave there or the ship is late then it won't last too long.

Jebel Ali officials can be a pain when they want to be, but normally not too bad. It was just a pain the arse for me as a shoreside person based in Dubai having to leave ID card after ID card at each bloody checkpoint! Luckily they give us lots of them....

[Steve]

Anywho, no, don't take any USD as the exchange rate between them and AED is crap.

Dirham is pegged to the dollar, like most petrocurrencies. Apart from the costs of converting, it shouldn't matter whether you have dollars or dirhams.

I just use a cash machine in country.

[GuinnessMan]

Dirham is pegged to the dollar, like most petrocurrencies. Apart from the costs of converting, it shouldn't matter whether you have dollars or dirhams.

I just use a cash machine in country.

Few places out there will want USD, they will prefer you to have AED....

[YoungMariner]

You see, I never had a problem at the checkpoints for Port Rashid GM, although somehow I suspect that was due to the numberplates on our cars and the company we were keeping :-)