To a greater extent than in the past, the modern United Arab Emirates (UAE) functions as a confederation rather than a single nation. The seven emirates make up a country that is roughly the size of Austria, but there is a world of difference between them.
What Makes the United Arab Emirates So Appealing
The majority of tourists from abroad flock to the glittering city of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE’s) most cosmopolitan and interesting destination, which boasts a wide range of attractions, from the ancient souks in the city center to the breathtaking Burj Khalifa and the world-famous Burj al Arab.
Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest of the seven statelets, controls national politics. It comprises over 85% of the UAE and generates well over 90% of the country’s total oil income. Although the city has struggled to break out of Dubai’s shadow, visitors will reward with sights like the grandiose Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the forthcoming Saadiyat Island Cultural District, which will include five museums created by renowned architects. The inland city of Al Ain, with its winding oases and historic forts, is also well worth a visit.
The Most Important Cities in the UAE
Sharjah, located just south of Dubai, is a much more subdued city with a number of interesting museums and historic sites, such as the excellent Islamic Museum and the fascinating Heritage District.
The little emirate of Ajman, to the north of Sharjah, considered for its stunning fort and ancient boatbuilding yards, whereas Umm al Qaiwain, with its dusty town and mangrove-fringed shoreline, appears to have practically forgotten by the modern world. With its dusty town and mangrove-lined coastline, Umm al Qaiwain seems to have mostly forgotten by the contemporary world.
The city of Umm al Qaiwain located in the United Arab Emirates. Ras al Khaimah is a city in the northern United Arab Emirates that protected by the Hajar Mountains. Several various kinds of industrial and agricultural enterprises centered in the city of Ras al Khaimah, which some people sometimes abbreviate as RAK.
Fujairah, on the east coast, is one of the most visually appealing emirates because of its long sandy beachfront and the rocky peaks of the Hajar mountains, which provide a captivating natural contrast to the bustling towns of one of Arabia’s most dynamic and multifaceted nations.
United Arab Emirates Cuisine and Beverages
Whatever your budget, you will be able to get delicious food in Dubai. For those who are willing to spend a pretty penny, the city is home to a wide variety of fine dining establishments, many of which are endorsed by well-known chefs from across the world and serve up exquisite dishes in breathtaking settings. In addition to the many expensive restaurants, there are many inexpensive ones, ranging from the ubiquitous shwarma stalls and kebab cafés to the cheap and cheerful curry houses.
Dubai is a great place to try a wide variety of Middle Eastern (sometimes referred to as “Lebanese”) dishes, with restaurants all over the city offering their own unique spins on regional favorites. These restaurants typically offer a wide selection of traditional mezze and succulent grilled meats, as well as a variety of shisha (water pipes).
With so many different kinds of people living in Dubai, it makes sense that there would be a lot of different kinds of food there as well. Dubai’s large subcontinental population served by a wide range of restaurants that serve food from all over the world, including Italian, Iranian, Thai, Japanese, and Chinese food, and, most notably, Indian food served in the city center’s many cheap but often surprisingly good curry houses.
Brunch on a Friday
For Dubai, see Dubai. Friday brunch is a highlight of the weekly social calendar among the city’s Western ex-pat community – a bit like the British Sunday lunch, only with a lot more drink. Restaurants across the city open for brunch from around noon, frequently with all-you-can-eat (and occasionally drink) offerings that attract hordes of partying ex-pats letting off steam at the end of the long working week. Visit wtimeoutdubai.com for the most up-to-date deals in Time Out Dubai.
To imbibe in Dubai
You won’t go thirsty in Dubai, and the large number of drinking spots nestled away all across the city attests to the astonishing degree to which this Muslim city has accommodated western preferences. Whether you want to lounge on cushions in alfresco Arabian-themed venues or sip champagne in sleek, contemporary cocktail bars, the best bars in Dubai capture Dubai at its most enchanting and magnificent.
The city’s various waterfront establishments, including some that offer sweeping coastal or creekside panoramas, typically have a superlative view as an added bonus. A lot less chic than the city’s bars, but usually a bit cheaper, are the English-style pubs that can be found in most of the major hotels. These pubs take on the classic English design of faux-wooden paneling and a wall of televisions displaying current sporting events.
Alcohol is rather Expensive in Dubai
Alcohol is expensive in Dubai because of the government’s high taxation rate. A glass of wine will run you about 40 dh, while a simple cocktail will set you back approximately 50 dh. A pint of beer would cost you back between 30 and 35 dh in a pub (more in a bar, if draught beer is available, which it often isn’t). Watching for happy hours and discounts is one way to (somewhat) reduce bar tabs in the city.
Typically, bars don’t open until 6 or 7 p.m. and stay open until 1 or 2 a.m., whereas pubs are open from noon until 2 a.m. and some establishments don’t stop serving alcohol until 2 or 4 p.m. (although they may stay open for food and soft drinks). The more club-like DJ bars often require a minimum spend in exchange for getting you a table, although the more upscale watering holes in the city generally accept reservations (phone numbers for relevant businesses are mentioned). Don’t be surprised if you’re turned away from more high-brow watering holes because you’re wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
Girls’ Night Out
Ladies’ nights have become a tradition in Dubai. These are promotions aimed at attracting female customers on often slow weeknights (typically a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) in bars and clubs across the city by offering free drinks, food, and other perks to female patrons. Keep in mind that any time a woman goes first, a man with romantic aspirations must follow suit. If you want to know what’s happening in Dubai right now, pick up a copy of Time Out Dubai.
Dubai Hotel Accommodations
Further, Dubai is home to a wide variety of hotels, many of which cater exclusively to those with deep pockets. There is a good variety of mid-range options, however, nothing that would appeal to those on a tight budget.
The city is home to some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including the contemporary Burj al Arab and more classically Arabian palaces like Al Qasr and the One&Only Royal Mirage. All of Dubai’s finest hotels offer outlandish opulence as a matter of course, with suites that are both spacious and luxurious, spas that will make you feel like royalty, and bars and beaches that are both visually stunning and utterly exclusive. The best hotels are like mini-destinations in and of themselves; they’re like little islands of luxury where you may spend days at a time without feeling the slightest want to leave.
There are a number of high-quality hotels located in strategic beachfront locations in Umm Suqeim, Dubai Marina, and around the Palm, however, due to the region’s severe lack of beachfront lodging, the best options tend to fill up months in advance during the peak winter season. There are also a number of excellent high-end establishments strewn across the downtown area, Sheikh Zayed Road, and Downtown Dubai.
Celebrations and vacations in the UAE
Despite Dubai’s image as the “country that culture forgot,” the city holds a variety of internationally renowned cultural events each year, including festivals for film, music, and the visual arts.
What is the Best Time to Go?
January/February
Spring Shopping Festival in Dubai A single January or February month. A shopping festival? Only in Dubai, and perhaps only in Dubai would it have been so successful. During the festival, stores across the city offer deep discounts—sometimes as much as 75%—and entertainment for kids to keep them occupied while their parents go on marathon shopping trips. Events also take place at the Global Village in Dubailand (wglobalvillage. ae; open Nov-mid April), which features a wide variety of international pavilions showcasing arts and crafts from countries all over the world, as well as live performances of world music, dance, and other forms of international expression.
The Dubai Media City Amphitheatre hosts some of the best jazz and pop performances in the region and beyond. Sting, James Blunt, Santana, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Olly Murs are just a few of the more recent performers to take part.
A list of things to do in Dubai
Despite the harsh weather, Dubai (and neighboring Abu Dhabi) hosts world-class sporting events every year, such as the Dubai World Cup, the world’s wealthiest horse race, and major tennis and rugby tournaments. In addition to the DP World Tour Championship, the concluding event of the European Tour season, the city also plays host to two other prestigious golf tournaments. If you’re looking to get some exercise, you can choose from a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as world-class diving, a wide variety of watersports, a wide variety of desert activities, and a fantastic selection of golf courses. Ski Dubai and the Dubai Ice Rink offer indoor alternatives to the scorching desert sun.
Riding a bike in Dubai
Cycling has never pushed in Dubai since it more associated with low-income subcontinental laborers riding the wrong way down the one-way streets of Bur Dubai than with ex-pat lovers seeking fresh air and exercise. Poor subcontinental workers going the wrong way on Bur Dubai’s one-way streets are the image the government has of cyclists, at least. Because there are so many one-way streets in Bur Dubai, this is the case.
Adventures in the Desert and Hiking
There are several tour companies in the city that will take you on different “safaris” across the desert and mountains, but the majority of these excursions include little more than driving shotgun through the desolate countryside, which is a somewhat unfavorable stereotype. The majority of local tour operators provide camel safaris, which are a physically more taxing alternative that occasionally incorporates sandboarding. You may even try your hand at quad riding or dune-buggy around the dunes if you’re seeking an adrenaline rush.
Activities involving water, such as diving and swimming
Although there are no natural reefs in the area and the marine environment offshore has severely harmed by construction, there are a few wreck dives within a reasonable distance of the coast. It is, however, only a couple of hours’ drive away from the world-class diving locations off the Fujairah coast of the United Arab Emirates and the Musandam peninsula of Oman.
