The United Arab Emirates is a country of incredible contrasts. In one trip you can visit futuristic buildings and traditional Bedouin dwellings, relax on snow-white beaches, go sand-surfing on sand dunes and plunge into the bustle of oriental bazaars. The article contains useful information about what to see and taste in the UAE.
Why go
A comfortable vacation at sea is the first reason to travel to the United Arab Emirates. However, there are several other good reasons to travel to the country on the Arabian Peninsula. Here’s what you can do in the UAE while traveling.
Plunge into an Oriental fairy tale. Despite the rapid progress and innovations that are everywhere in the UAE, you can safely come here for the atmosphere of the East. To feel it, go to the ancient neighborhoods of large cities, fishing villages and camps of nomadic tribes in the deserts.
Compare the emirates of the country. There are seven emirates in the UAE, and each has its own flavor. Respectable Abu Dhabi, crowded and futuristic Dubai, provincial Umm al-Quwain or conservative Sharjah – in one vacation it is quite realistic to visit them all and choose the one you like.
Marvel at architectural masterpieces. The record holders in terms of the number of grandiose buildings are Dubai and the capital Abu Dhabi. But in other parts of the country you can also find buildings of the most incredible shapes and sizes.
Appreciate the diversity of landscapes. Hot desert and warm bays of the Indian Ocean – these are the landscapes most often associated with the UAE. However, while traveling around the Emirates, you can find yourself in mangrove forests with shallow lagoons, on the shores of azure lakes and on the tops of mountains.
Where are the UAE
The country is located in the east of the Arabian Peninsula. It has three neighbors: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. The UAE is bounded by the Persian Gulf to the west and the Gulf of Oman to the east.
Most of the country is made up of sandy and rocky deserts, including the Rub al-Khali, which is among the largest on the planet. In the northeast of the Emirates stretches the Hajar mountain range. Its highest mountains are Jebel Jais (1934 meters) and Jebel Hafit (1249 meters). It is believed that the Hajar Mountains are about 70 million years old, and they emerged as a result of the collision of the Arabian and Eurasian plates.
Climate
The UAE is a country with a dry tropical climate. This means that it is very hot most of the time and the dry season is followed by a short wet season.
The coolest months in the UAE are January and February. At this time, the air temperature here is +23…+25˚C, and the water temperature is about +20˚C. In the first month of the year falls the largest amount of precipitation. A couple of times a month there can be both small rains and heavy downpours.
In March and April the air temperature starts to rise to +28…+32°C and the water warms up to +23…+27°C. The sun becomes more and more active, and sandstorms can sometimes occur in the resorts. But in May the high season ends: the air heats up to +38°C, and sometimes it becomes impossible to stay outdoors because of the scorching sun. From June to August, the thermometer columns rise above +40°C.
The heat goes down only at the end of September, and already in October the temperature drops to more comfortable +27…+35°C. In December, the air temperature does not rise above +26°C.
When to go
The best months for beach vacations are October-December and March-April. At this time there is no exhausting heat, and the sea is warm – on average +27°C. However, a vacation in these periods will cost more.
In January and February it will be comfortable to explore the natural and cultural sights of the country: you can walk for a long time without fear of the scorching sun. But the sea is quite cool at this time – only +22°C.
From May to September, the intense heat makes it hard to be outdoors during the day. During these months in the UAE you can concentrate on nightlife or shopping. After sunset, the heat subsides a little, and air conditioners in shopping centers save you from the heat.
Currency
The local money is dirhams and fils. One dirham contains 100 fils. When traveling, it is best to take dollars and exchange them for local currency upon arrival. You can do this in banks or exchange offices located in stores and hotels.
Attractions
The United Emirates cannot boast an abundance of ancient historical monuments. However, in terms of the number of modern architectural masterpieces, the UAE will give a head start to many countries. Below is a list of locations that are definitely worth including in your itinerary.
Burj Khalifa Tower
A building that has held the title of the tallest on the planet for many years. You can see the colossal skyscraper from almost anywhere in Dubai.
The gleaming 828-meter tower has 163 floors. The original shape of the building is the merit of architect Adrian Smith. When creating the project, he was inspired by the hymenocallis flower, or spider lily: three petals seem to branch out from the central, core part of the building. It took six years to erect the skyscraper, with up to 12,000 workers working on the site every day. For the construction they even invented a unique material – concrete capable of withstanding temperatures of over +50°C.
Now the grandiose high-rise is probably the most famous location in Dubai. Moreover, the Burj Khalifa is among the top ten sights of the planet most often visited by travelers. The main thing for which people come here is the impressive view that opens from the observation decks of the high-rise. The first one is located on the 124th and 125th floors of the building. Here you can see the circular panorama of Dubai and walk above the city on the glass floor. There is another observation deck on the 148th floor with an even more mesmerizing view of Dubai and the desert. This is the highest observation deck in the world.
All platforms will be reached by one of 57 elevators, which are also considered the highest in the world – they rise to a height of 504 meters. And each one reaches speeds of up to 10 meters per second, taking passengers to the top in 35 seconds.
Bastakia
The old district of the city, where it is worth visiting for its oriental flavor and architecture of the XIX century. Almost 150 years ago, Persian traders from the city of Bastak began to actively build up the neighborhood on the shore of Dubai Creek. They built houses of clay and coquina with courtyards in the middle. Each dwelling had a barjil wind tower to help cool the houses in the heat.
In the 1970s, the neighborhood began to fall into disrepair as its residents moved to the new houses of the rapidly expanding city, and some of the buildings were demolished. However, the local authorities still did not allow the complete destruction of historic neighborhoods. About 50 buildings were reconstructed in Bastakia, turning the neighborhood into an open-air museum. Now you can walk along the narrow streets and see the courtyards of mud-brick houses, elegant turrets and wooden shutters on the windows, look in one of the restaurants, art gallery, Coin Museum or House of Calligraphy.
Also in Bastakiya is one of the oldest structures of the emirate – Al-Fahidi Fort. It was erected in 1787, and for a long time it served as a defense structure, residence of the ruler of the city, an armory and a prison. In 1971 the building was renovated and opened the Dubai Museum. However, now it is closed for reconstruction, so you can see the fortress only from the outside.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque
The construction of the grandiose building began in 1996. It was initiated by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the UAE. According to his idea, the grandiose building was to become a symbol of the intertwining of different cultures. However, for the residents of the Emirates, the building also became the main monument to Sheikh Zayed himself – the man who united the Emirates into one country.
The huge architectural complex occupies the territory of 12 hectares, and it can accommodate up to 50 thousand people. At the corners of the complex there are four minarets – each 107 meters high. The mosque has 82 domes, and the height of the largest one is 84 meters!
Inside, there is even more beauty and scope. Marble, gold and precious stones were used to decorate the mosque. The prayer hall is covered with a luxurious carpet, which is recognized as the largest such product made by hand. The 5400 square meter carpet was created by more than a thousand craftsmen for two years. The 12-ton chandelier decorated with gold and crystals is also amazing.
Access to the mosque is open to members of all faiths. Visits for sightseeing purposes are available every day, except Friday, from 9am to 10pm.Before entering, make sure you comply with the dress code. Women must have their entire body covered and their head covered. And men should wear pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Louvre
No, it’s not a mistake. The Emirates has its own Louvre. It exhibits works of art that were loaned to the museum by 17 cultural institutions in France, as well as items about the heritage of the Middle East. It took almost 10 years and hundreds of millions of euros to reach an agreement with France. A separate item of expenditure was the lease of the name: the museum can only be called the Louvre for 30 years.
The Emirates Museum building is a work of art in itself. It was designed by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel. The museum looks like a city within a city: it consists of 56 white buildings in the Arabian style, which are covered by a silver dome. The roof, like a mosaic, is assembled from 7850 elements – sparkling “stars” of different sizes and shapes. Sunlight penetrates through the dome, casting shimmering glints inside the building.
The Emirates Louvre has about 600 exhibits: from Paleolithic stone tools to Impressionist paintings. Among the most valuable works in the painting halls are Da Vinci’s “Beautiful Ferronniere”, Monet’s “Saint-Lazare Station” and Van Gogh’s self-portrait. You can also see paintings by Titian, Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Kandinsky and other famous painters.
Rub al-Khali
This is the largest desert on the Arabian Peninsula – its area is 650 thousand km², which is almost 90% of the entire territory of the UAE. Most of Rub al-Khali is covered with orange-red sand, which in some places forms barchans up to 300 meters high.
The Arabian Desert is on the list of the hottest places on the planet. In July and August, the air here heats up to +50°C, and in January it cools down to only +24°C. Perhaps that is why Rub al-Khali is translated from Arabic as “empty quarter” – only Bedouins and their camels, who are accustomed to the local climate, can survive in the desert, which occupies almost a quarter of the Arabian Peninsula.
Despite the heat, this area attracts millions of people. Travelers come here to see the red dunes stretching to the horizon. You can ride a camel, off-road vehicle or buggy in the desert, or go hot air ballooning or sandboarding – conquering the dunes on a board similar to a snowboard.It is worth visiting the Bedouins, the masters of the desert. You can even spend the night in their camp to see Rub al-Khali after sunset. At sunset, the sandy ocean is colored maroon, and after dark, billions of bright stars appear in the sky, which can be viewed for hours in absolute silence.
Mount Jebel Jais
It is located in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and is recognized as the highest in the country. Jebel Jais rises to 1,934 meters and is part of the Hajar Mountains, which stretch for 700 kilometers in the east of the Emirates.
Both fans of extreme entertainment and connoisseurs of picturesque scenery come to Ras Al Khaimah to climb the peak. For the former, the mountain has six hiking routes with a total length of 16 kilometers. On one of the slopes at a height of 120 meters there is even a kilometer-long via ferrata – a path equipped with a safety rope on steep cliffs for lovers of mountaineering. But the most famous and extreme entertainment on the mountain is flying over the deep canyon on a ziplane, the longest in the world. Its length is 2800 meters! The traveler flies this distance in three minutes at a speed of almost 150 km/h.
Lovers of contemplative walks will appreciate the beautiful views from the park at an altitude of 1,250 meters. There are seven observation platforms equipped with binoculars. The park’s seven observation platforms are equipped with binoculars, allowing you to see even the most remote cliffs and gorges of the Hajar Mountains.
Entertainment
Amusement parks, oceanariums and water parks – this is just a small part of places where you can go in for vivid emotionsthe UAE .
Adults and children alike will love Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. There are several locations for family vacations here. For example, Waterworld water park with one of the world’s steepest slides with the height of a 10-storey building. Or the five-story SeaWorld oceanarium with nine thematic zones. In the “Arctic” zone you can see sea otters and walruses, as well as look into a model of a polar station. And in the “Tropical Ocean” zone you can admire flamingos, toucans, parrots and other tropical birds.
Another center of attraction on Yas Island is the Ferrari World amusement park, designed in the style of Formula 1. Here you can tickle your nerves on the roller coaster, where carts fly along the rails at a speed of 120 km/h! Or you can visit the car museum and go on a virtual tour of the engineering plant.
Dubai is not inferior to the capital of the state in terms of entertainment. Be sure to visit the main shopping center of the city – Dubai Mall. People come here not only for shopping. Here is a giant suspended aquarium, where live 140 species of marine life. On the first floor there is a year-round ice skating rink, and next to the shopping center there are famous singing fountains. A show with light effects and music can be seen every evening.
Outside the cities in the UAE, you won’t be bored either. You can go on a jeep safari through the desert or go on a water trip and then scuba dive into the depths of the sea.
Transportation
The easiest way for a traveler without a car to get around will be in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
There are many bus routes in Dubai, and there is also a metro, which consists of two branches. The trains have different carriages: for women with children, standard (for men and women) and superior comfort. The latter have expensive finishes, comfortable leather upholstered chairs and large panoramic windows. However, traveling in them will cost more.
In the capital Abu Dhabi, the most common form of public transportation is buses. There are also several routes of rail-free streetcars and boats in the city. In Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah you can get to different places by bus and cab. But in Fujairah you can move only by cab – there are no municipal buses there.
Buses run between the emirates. This is a very comfortable form of transportation: air-conditioners work inside, there is free Wi-Fi and charging stations for gadgets. The buses depart from the city bus stations and run throughout the day: from six in the morning to one o’clock in the morning.
Cuisine
The peculiarity of UAE cooking is the wide use of spices and seasonings. They are added in large quantities to almost all dishes. Most often they are coriander, cinnamon, sesame, ginger, chili pepper and curry. The second distinctive feature of Emirati cooking is that many dishes are cooked in one pot. This tradition is connected with the arid climate: cooking in such a pot required less water and fuel – wood, which is in short supply here.
The local diet is based on vegetables, cereals, legumes and meat. There are many dishes made of eggplant, bulgur and lentils, chicken, goat and lamb. Also on the table will always be bread in the form of pita or flatbread, eaten with hummus or laban (thick yogurt with spices). Dates are served before the main courses as an appetizer and then for dessert.
Coffee occupies a special place in the UAE cuisine. It is prepared in a special dalla coffee pot, and cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and saffron are added to the drink. Strong and fragrant coffee is usually drunk from small cups without handles. Tea is no less popular. Cardamom and mint are added to it, and it is served with dates.
When traveling around the country, don’t miss the opportunity to try the most famous Emirati dishes. Here are some of them.
Mansaf. Finely chopped lamb mixed with bulgur to which spices and dried yogurt or tahini are added. Mansaf is placed on flatbread and sprinkled with herbs. Sometimes the dish is prepared with fish instead of meat.
Fatoush. It is a salad of dried or toasted bread slices with vegetables and pomegranate grains. It is usually served as an appetizer.
Machbu. A dish similar to pilaf. It is made of yellow basmati rice and lamb, which is marinated in a mixture of spices and then stewed with tomatoes and dried lime. The rice is added at the very end, after which the dish is simmered over low heat for some time.
Musakhan. It is made of chicken: chicken pieces are fried with onions and sumac and then baked in pita bread. The dish is flavored with pine nuts and lemon juice.
Balalit. An Emirati dessert made of fried small noodles. It is put in an omelette envelope and poured with sweet cardamom sauce. Balalit is usually served for breakfast.
Souvenirs
One of the symbols of the country is unusual fragrances that are associated with the East: thick, rich, sweet. In the Emirates, perfumes are made on the basis of agarwood, sandalwood, amber and musk oils. You can buy ready-made perfume with spicy and tart odor in a store or ask a master to make a composition according to your taste.
In addition to perfume, you can also buy scarves made of fine cashmere wool, a traditional women’s abaya dress or a coffee set – a vessel with a long dalla spout and small finjan cups – as a souvenir of your trip to the UAE. And to the set – a package of coffee with spices.
Few people leave the UAE without sweet souvenirs. The most famous local delicacy is dates. The sweet fruits are stuffed with almonds, covered with chocolate or drenched with honey – the result is a sugary-sweet but very tasty dessert.
It is worth buying traditional halva, sherbet, baklava and rahat-lukum. And for those who like fashionable trends – the famous “Dubai chocolate”. The sweet bars are filled with pistachio paste, tahini and fried kadaif dough. The bloggers who popularly recommend this candy are not lying: it is really very tasty!
The shopping list would be incomplete without spices and camel milk products. Flavorful spices can be bought at the market, but cheese, yogurt or cheese is better to look for in supermarkets.
Conclusion
A trip to the United Arab Emirates can offer much more than beach vacations and shopping. The eastern country will give you a lot of new impressions – all you need to do is to make the best route. Experienced guides who know everything about local traditions and the specialties of each location will help you do it.
