TRAVEL
Where will I be staying?
The Sofitel Abu Dhabi is where the hotel participants will be staying for the duration of Reversible. Located near the Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach and the tourist area of Abu Dhabi, Sofitel Hotel has amenities including: a swimming pool, salon, fitness center, ATM and currency exchange, business center and in-room WiFi. All hotel specific questions can be answered on their website directly:
Sofitel Abu Dhabi
Tel +971 2 813 7777
What is the meal plan?
Included in your hotel stay is a breakfast buffet. Lunch (between 12pm-2pm) and dinners (7pm-9pm) will be catered by NYU Abu Dhabi either on-campus or off campus at a designated restaurant. This information will be detailed in the provided programmes.
How will the transportation work?
Transportation between the Sofitel Hotel and NYU Abu Dhabi as well as any external venues, will be pre-arranged through NYUAD’s travel team. Should you wish to take any trips outside of the agenda, we suggest taking a taxi. Sofitel Hotel or the Welcome Center at NYU Abu Dhabi can arrange for a taxi for you. Otherwise, their local number is 600 53 53 53.
What is the Reimbursement Policy?
Reimbursement of Allowable Expenses Policy and Procedures will be sent as a separate document on your arrival to Abu Dhabi.
What is the weather like in Abu Dhabi?
The climate of Abu Dhabi is hot and arid. However, December is the most hospitable time to visit. From November to March, average temperatures range from 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 degrees Fahrenheit) to 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). At this time of year there is very little rainfall and a low 50% humidity rating. The weather is mild and pleasant outside, however inside air conditioning can leave places feeling chilly. If you need any further information, please find weather forecasts here.
What is the dress code?
Abu Dhabi is considered conservative but tolerant when it comes to dress code. Given the diverse nature of the population, one can see many different types of dress in Abu Dhabi (jeans, saris, business suits, dishdashas, and abayas). Visitors are free to wear the same clothes that they would wear at home, but both men and women typically refrain from wearing excessively revealing clothing out of respect for the local culture and customs. For most of the year, lightweight summer clothing is suitable. Warmer clothes are needed during the winter months such as December, especially in the evening.
What is the currency conversion?
The currency of the UAE is the dirham, which is divided into 100 fils. The UAE dirham is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of 3.67 dirham to the dollar. Interested in how much money your local currency is in dirhams? We suggest using XE here.
What timezone is Abu Dhabi?
The UAE is in Greenwich Mean Time plus four hours, or nine hours ahead of New York in Standard Time. During Daylight Savings Time, Abu Dhabi is eight hours ahead of New York. Do also keep in mind the workweek in the UAE is Sunday through Thursday. For information on various time zones, click here.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Please feel free to contact these numbers if you have any questions or concerns:
NYUAD
General Contact Information
Tel: (+971) 2-628-4000 or click here.
Welcome Center
Tel: +971 2-628-4000
E-mail: nyuad@nyu.edu
NIRVANA TRAVEL
Thushara Perera
Senior Travel Consultant
Tel:+971 2 6444511 Ext: 266
Duty Mob:+971 50 8006771
www.ntravel.ae
NYUAD INSTITUTE
Nora Yousif
Programs and Operations Coordinator
New York University Abu Dhabi – Institute
Tel: +971 2 6284000
Email: nora.yousif@nyu.edu
Gila Bessarat-Waels
Manager of Academic Programs
NYU Abu Dhabi INSTITUTE
P.O. Box 129 188, ABU DHABI, UAE
Office: +971 2 628 4025
NYU – FIND (Forming Intersections & Dialogues)
Mo Ogrodnik
Founder
New York University Abu Dhabi – FIND (Forming Intersections & Dialogues) Research Project
Tel: 056-412-0376
Email: mo18@nyu.edu
Bianca Arkeen
Project Coordinator
New York University Abu Dhabi – FIND (Forming Intersections & Dialogues) Research Project
Tel: +971 2 6285333
Email: ba1044@nyu.edu
Alaa Edris
Fellows Producer
New York University Abu Dhabi – FIND (Forming Intersections & Dialogues) Research Project
Tel: +971 2 6285176
Email: aa179@nyu.edu
EMERGENCIES & MEDICAL HELP
From a local phone dial 999 or 998
NYUAD Public Safety
Tel: +971 2 628 7777
Health Center
Tel: +971 2 628 8100
ABOUT NYU ABU DHABI*
How did NYUAD Start?
In the academic year 2005-06, representatives of NYU and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi met and recognized that a partnership between the government of Abu Dhabi — with its goal of establishing world-class educational and cultural institutions in the UAE — and NYU — with its goal of achieving a truly international, global network university — could be furthered through the establishment of NYU Abu Dhabi.
Who attends NYUAD?
The student body of NYU Abu Dhabi — representing some 100 countries across six continents — is of diverse national, linguistic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Does NYU Abu Dhabi have a library?
Yes. NYU Abu Dhabi has a state-of-the-art library with over 40,000 books, 4,000 DVDs, 1,200 online databases and access to over 1 million e-books. The NYUAD Library uses innovative technology, provides space for group study and team projects, and provides access to the NYU Bobst Library’s collection of 4 million books. The Library has special collections included first and early editions of Shakespeare plays in translation, rare books on Arab history, maps, films, and more. Please feel free to visit them on the 3rd Floor in the C2 (Main) Building, their hours are 8am to Midnight on the weekdays.
NYU Abu Dhabi
Our base homepage can provide you with more information about NYU Abu Dhabi, our cirriculum, students & faculty, and other basic information here.
NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute
The NYUAD Institute is a center of advanced research, scholarly and creative activity, and public workshops. Institute programs facilitate discussion between academics, students, professionals, and leaders from the UAE and from around the world. They are also primary supporters of FIND (Forming Intersections & Dialogues) and Reversible.
NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center
The Arts Center comprises an expansive complex of performance venues, technical resources and educational facilities. The NYUAD Arts Center presents distinguished professional artists from around the world, student, faculty, and community productions. As a vibrant laboratory for performance that both presents and develops work, the NYUAD Arts Center fosters a dynamic relationship between the arts, scholarship, and community.
NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery
The Art Gallery presents museum-quality exhibitions of art and culture across historical and contemporary topics, with a special emphasis on subjects of both regional concern and international significance. Its curatorial platform supports scholarly and experimental installations, artist’s projects, and landmark exhibitions.
*Taken from the NYUAD website.
ABOUT THE UAE
Abu Dhabi*
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. It occupies nearly 87 percent of the country’s total landmass and includes the capital — the city of Abu Dhabi — and a second major city named Al Ain, located near the emirate’s border with Oman. According to the 2005 census, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is home to over 1.3 million people, the majority of whom are expatriates.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi holds 9 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and almost 5 percent of the world’s proven supplies of natural gas. However, the government of Abu Dhabi is overseeing an ambitious strategy to diversify the local economy over the next two to three decades to ensure that the emirate continues to grow in a balanced and sustainable way.
From the government’s perspective, significant and ongoing investment in education is central to the successful achievement of all of its social and economic objectives, and the establishment of NYU Abu Dhabi is an important element in that effort. Among the UAE national population, there are currently more women than men enrolled in higher education.
Established in 1971, the UAE is a federation with two separate levels of government. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is also the president of the country.The official religion of the UAE is Islam, although other religions are respected and practiced freely.
What does Abu Dhabi mean in Arabic?*
Abu Dhabi translates literally to “father of the gazelle,” in reference to an indigenous type of deer said to have inhabited the area. To this day, a particular species of native Arabian gazelle is referred to as “dhabi” in Arabic.
Visit Abu Dhabi
For basic tourist information regarding the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, click here.
Sharjah Art Foundation
Sharjah Art Foundation brings a broad range of contemporary art and cultural programmes to the communities of Sharjah, the UAE and the region. Since 2009 SAF has built on the history of cultural collaboration and exchange that began with the first Sharjah Biennial in 1993. Working with local and international partners, we create opportunities for artists and artistic production through our core initiatives that include the Sharjah Biennial, the annual March Meeting, residencies, production grants, commissions, exhibitions, research, publications and a growing collection. Our education and public programmes focus on building recognition of the central role art can play in the life of a community by promoting public learning and a participatory approach to art. Sharjah Art Foundation is funded by the Department of Culture and Information, Government of Sharjah.
THINGS TO DO
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center (SZGMC) was established in 2008 issued by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, Minister of Presidential Affairs. It combines Mamulk, Ottonman and Fatimid styles full of ornamentation, multi-colored marble, columns and carpet that transform the Mosque into an artistic masterpiece of traditional Islamic design. For more information about tour timings:
Corniche Beach
The beach stretch extends almost 9 km. There are several green gardens lining the corniche and it is a popular spot for residents to walk and have picnics in.
Saadiyat Cultural District
Interested in The Guggenheim, The Louvre or National Museum? Visit the site for more information regarding exhibits and workshops at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
The Falcon Hospital is the first public institution in the UAE providing comprehensive veterinary health care services exclusively for falcons. Established by Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and opened on the 3rd of October, 199, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has become the largest falcon hospital in the UAE and in the world with a patient influx of more than 67,000 patients in the first fourteen years of existence. For more information about tours:
Madinat Zayed Mall
With more than 70 jewelry stores that offer traditional and contemporary gold, diamond and pearl jewelry from across the globe, the Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre is a true jewel in the cityscape. It also showcases the Madinat Zayed Gold Centre, the only Gold Centre in Abu Dhabi.