Introduction

The United Arab Emirates is one of the most advanced, relaxed and welcoming of the Gulf States. The seven emirates of this compact and accessible desert nation reveal a fascinating mix of ancient and modern lifestyles.

Visitors can luxuriate in glitzy seaside hotels next to gleaming skyscrapers, whiling away the time with Duty Free shopping and watersports. Or they can head into the desert on the fringes of the aptly named “Empty Quarter” and get a feel for the traditional Bedouin way of life among the endless dunes and shady oases, not to mention seeing the national sport of camel racing.

Dubai is the best-known tourist destination and is a fascinating bustling city where the new millennium meets centuries old Bedouin tradition. Abu Dhabi is by far the largest and most powerful emirate with a modern capital that glories in its thirty years of oil-made wealth. Most of the rest of the territory is desert, only interrupted by the date palm oases of Liwa in the south and Al Ain in the east, fascinating settlements in this inhospitable landscape.

Of the other Emirates Sharjah is the most strictly Muslim and is an atmospheric region, with a slightly archaic feel. The capital is a vibrant centre, with fascinating museums and shopping in its souks. Its Eastern Coast, shared with Fujairah, is great for snorkelling and diving. Ras al-Khaimah, on the Northern Coast, is a green and mountainous emirate, whose capital has retained the feel of an old fishing port.

Dubai

Dubai is inarguably the tourist centre of the UAE. A fascinating city built on the expensive spice and pearl trading routes even before the discovery of oil, it has an almost regal air. Most of the city is surprisingly young, the oldest buildings only date back over the last 200 years, but the old quarters of the city look like living pieces of the desert that stretches away from the city inland.

The best of Dubai is found in the amazing and eclectic souks that litter Deira and the immediate opposite bank of Bur Dubai. The Old Souk transports you back in time, with hawkers and traders selling just about everything you could possibly desire. The dhow trading boats that chug up and down the deepwater creek complete the image.

Meanwhile, Jumeirah beach is a beautiful expanse of golden sand, and the city has an ever growing range of entertainment, nightlife and world class restaurants, all centred on the many international hotels that have sprung up over recent years.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is one of the newest and richest cities in the world. Fifty years ago it was an impoverished pearling and fishing village with a population of a few thousand. The mining of the nearby vast reserves of crude oil (beginning in the 1960s) transformed the ramshackle town into a modern city of gleaming skyscrapers, wide roads and five-star hotels.

Abu Dhabi is perfect if you want a luxury holiday with a private beach, blazing sunshine and watersports. If you’re after genuine Arabic history and culture, you’ll have to look a bit harder – there’s almost no building more than 30 years old and the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants are immigrant workers. The whitewashed walls of the Old Fort, built in the 19th century, are a rare echo of the past. The Cultural Foundation has interesting exhibits of Islamic art and Abu Dhabi history, while the Women’s Craft Centre is a good, if expensive place to buy traditional textiles and crafts.

Desert Safari

A lot of the territory of the UAE is covered with desert, and taking a desert safari, whether an extensive expedition or an afternoon trip, is a fantastic experience.

Once you’re in the desert proper you’ll find a variety of experiences available, from a sedate couple of hours onboard a camel to noisily revving 4-wheel-drive vehicles up and over sand dunes that tower 100m high. Many people find the desert landscape surprisingly varied, and a typical trip may take in scrub grassland and rocky mountains as well as the familiar oceans of sand. Enjoying a Bedouin barbecue far into the desert is a great way to round off a day’s safari.

Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

Ferrari World is a Ferrari themed amusement park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The park is situated under a 200,000 square metres (2,200,000 sq ft) roof making it the largest indoor amusement park in the world. The state-of-the-art rides at the Park provide a unique experience which brings Ferrari’s spirit to a wide audience, exemplified by family friendly attractions such as Speed of Magic, one of the most technically advanced 4-D attractions in the world and the adrenalin pumping Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest roller coaster.

Weather

The United Arab Emirates has a sub-tropical climate on its Northern coasts and an arid desert climate in the interior. Summer temperatures are very high, well over 40°C and into the 50°C range in the summer months.

The best time to visit the territory is from autumn to spring (Nov-Apr). Temperatures at this time are bearable with the weather being warm but not excessively hot. What little rain there is in the Emirates falls almost exclusively during the winter months. Rainfalls can be very heavy but are generally short in duration.

Average Weather Guide:

Temperature in Degrees Centigrade

Rainfall in Millimetres

The tables above are intended as guidelines only.