Administrations and services Abu Dhabi

The newspaper for French-speaking people abroad that allows you to know everything about expatriate life and life abroad. Present in over 65 countries, Abu Dhabi is covered by the Dubai edition and even an application is downloadable. It's quite useful for keeping up with the latest news from the Emirates as they generally echo the latest laws and changes in the country. It is also a relay of all the French organizations present in the country. Reading it daily is a good reflex to adopt when you move to the country.

The reference site of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Office, translated into several languages, including French. Lots of general and practical information on the emirate as a whole, under the following tabs: What to do? Where to go? What to see? Plan your trip, Events and Business. The Events section lets you see at a glance all the Emirate's cultural events: very practical! To find your way around, you can select either the city of Abu Dhabi, the Al Aïn region or the Dhafra region.

The first Paris IV-Sorbonne campus outside of France, the university stands proudly on the island of Reem. As you approach, you will see its beautiful dome reminiscent of those designed by Jacques Lemercier for the Sainte-Ursule Chapel. Sorbonne Abu Dhabi University is very active in all cultural fields: conferences, shows, exhibitions. By registering on its webpage, you can receive the newsletter and invitations to all the events that Sorbonne Abu Dhabi organizes.

Madame Magazine is the first French and English monthly lifestyle magazine for women living on the shores of the Persian Gulf. The magazine gives advice and addresses on culture, gastronomy, hotels, fashion, beauty and luxury. Each year, a guide to the Emirates is also published with all the escapades, cultural information and good tips! It is published in the Emirates and distributed free of charge, and can be downloaded. A magazine that is very much followed by the expatriate community.

Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime are currently blocked in the Emirates. These applications don't work for making phone calls, but for sending text and voice messages. When you try to make a call, you'll hear the person you're talking to, but they won't hear you. Some people counter the security systems by using VPNs, which are strictly forbidden in the United Arab Emirates. Etisalat and Du offer "BOTIM" as a substitute, which works very well. Zoom and Teams also work.

Stamps are fairly easy to find in hotels, but if you want to send a quick letter or something precious, frequent the Emirates Post offices and use the Empost express service.

If you don't see many mailboxes in Abu Dhabi, it's because you have to register with the Post Office to be able to use this old-fashioned service here! Emirates Post is definitely looking to the future. At the counter, you will be able to buy new NFT stamps or even address mail in the space that will be returned stamped!