Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest tower ever built, located at Downtown, Burj Dubai.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the Middle East. The UAE shares its borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman. Abu Dhabi is the capital city of UAE. The nation achieved independence from Britain on 2 December, 1971. UAE is a conglomeration of seven emirates namely Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras-al-Khaimah, Dubai, Umm al-Quwain, and Fujairah. Arabic is the official language of United Arab Emirates. English, Hindi, Urdu, and Persian are also widely spoken languages in UAE.
One may visit UAE anytime between the months of November and April. Any other time of the year would be uncomfortable for the visitors because of the intense heat. If you happen to be at UAE during the month of Ramadan, be careful about observing the restrictions imposed during this time of the year. The major airports of UAE are Dubai International Airport, Sharjah International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport. Don’t try to get to UAE by bus or car if you are planning for a long UAE holiday. Visitors entering UAE by land can stay for only 2 days and are required to leave by that time. The best way to travel within the UAE is by car.
Map of United Arab Emirates
Getting In and Around
This country in the Middle East is not very difficult to access, especially with so many modes available to access. Apart from flights other feasible options to get into this country are cars and boat services. The country has no network of rails to access this country. The close and neighboring countries of UAE can have a ready access to this country with the help of cars and boats, but for the distant travelers, flights are the best option.
Airways
The airways are the best way to reach the country. The visitors can fly safely to this country by choosing from a host of airlines available and drop at the international airports scattered throughout the country. You can board the flights to the United Arab Emirates and you will surely land in some of the best airports in the country like, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport, Dubai International Airport, Dubai World Central International Airport, Sharjah International Airport, etc., from most of the countries. You must know that unless you belong to South America, you can avail a number of quality flights like, Air France, Air India, Aeroflot (Moscow), British Airways, Cameroon Airlines, China Airlines, EgyptAir, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Iraqi Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, etc.
United Arab Emirates boasts of having a good network of flights operating in all the major parts of the country. Its official airlines like Emirates, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways offer good connectivity to all the important cities like, Abu Dhabi – Ajman, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, etc. The fares may not be cheaper, but it provides a comfortable journey across the country. You can count on the service and hospitality of these airlines. The swift and hinderless journey around the country is possible with the help of a large number of domestic airlines available. You will find some impeccable service from all the airports located around the country.
Bus
Reaching here is also possible by availing buses. The bus service between Dubai and Muscat in Oman, operates regularly and transports people between these two countries. Buses also operate daily between Dubai or Abu Dhabi and Oman. They also serve the people of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Owing to the fantastic conditions of the Highways, roads are always accessible and provide a smooth journey for these neighboring countries. The visitors from these countries can always have the privilege of hiring a car and drive in this country. The roads are mostly safe and offers unhindered traveling.
For roaming around the country, the buses are a convenient option. You will find public bus services run by the Dubai Municipality. There are three types of bus passes. Besides, Intercity bus service operates within Dubai. There is also an Inter-emirate travel can be taken from Dubai only.
Boats
Though the scope is far more limited as compared to flights, buses and cars, yet the boats are also a fine way of reaching United Arab Emirates. Boats maintain a link between Sharjah and Bandar-é Abbas in Iran; which takes 12 hours. The tourists can easily ride on to the bigger boats or Dhows, which travel as far as Tanzania and India. Apart from these, there are no notable modes of transportation which can reach you to this country.
United Arab Emirates is also gifted with the boat service operating efficiently in most of the part. The water taxi has grown quite popular. You will be able to ride them at the meeting point of Al Sabkha and Bani Yas Roads on the Deira side of the creek. The boat services, may have a limited destination, but are quite cheap and efficient. It also gives you the chance to discover this country in a different way. If you have enough time you can venture by traveling in these boats.
Taxi
You will be able to get into some Taxis, which are in are plenty and comparatively cheap. Though some of the cream colored taxis are official and metered, most other taxis in Dubai do not have meters and its better to negotiate the fare before you ride them. The taxis are quite a comfortable way of touring across the country. Dubai Transport, Cars Taxi, and Golden Taxi are some of the popular taxi operators in the country.
Cars
The cars are considered a popular mode of transport. Most of the tourists prefer to hire cars and enjoy a smooth ride along the smooth and broad roads of the country. The cars can be hired in some of the renowned places like Europcar, Hertz, Patriot, etc. If you are willing to buy a car, you can assure yourself of getting both new and second-hand cars worthy of your money. A valid international driving license, your national driving license, two photographs, and your passport must be submitted by the car hire company, henceforth they will issue UAE driving license.
Leisure
Entertainment in United Arab Emirates is a surely a bliss in disguise. The country has innumerable elements of entertaining people and is nothing less than a brim-filled excitement. The tourist are sure to spend some fun -filled days as the country displays some great architectures, sights, and many other wonders of the world. The country has amusement parks, beaches, museums, rock pools, creeks, forts, souks (markets), etc., which are worth admiring. When it comes to entertainment, the visitors will be flooded with various options. The hunger to see more and witness some elegant structures will be mostly satisfied once you venture into this country. Jumeirah Beach, H.H. Sheikh Saeed House, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort, Hatta Rock Pools, Wild Wadi Waterpark, Godolphin Gallery, Bastakiya, etc., are the treasure upon which the visitors can count on.
If you visit Abu Dhabi, you will get to see a lot of greenery everywhere. You will also see some lovely fountains, swathes of neon light, and spectacular sculptures. Cultural events in Abu Dhabi are really worth witnessing. Throughout the year, this city hosts a number of events which reflects the culture of the country. A variety of entertainment options are found in the capital city of Dubai. Don’t dare to miss out the Bastakiya District (has many historic buildings),Burj al-Arab hotel(a 5-star deluxe hotel, with a unique shape of a boat’s sail),Gold Souq in Deira (can be described as a startling place to visit, where the streets are filled with open display of gold), Mall of the Emirates (the world’s largest indoor ski slope), The Dubai Mall, etc.
Entertainment is not confined to these two cities only. The emirates of Sharjah also provide some form of leisure as you can spend some best moments by staying at the beach resorts. The Heritage District of Sharjah city is known for the Sharjah Fort Museum and Islamic Museum, where ancient grandeur is still preserved. The people can go for Jet Skiing in the Khalid Lagoon. The lovers of water sports can watch the F1 Boat Races, which takes place on the man-made island in the Buhaira Corniche sometime around December. Jebel Hafeet, the second tallest mountain in the United Arab Emirates (1350 m), gives you the privilege of getting spectacular views during the sunset. If you visit the Camel Souq in the Meyzad area, you will witness that hundreds of camels are brought together to buy and sell. Al Ain Oasis, the biggest oasis in the region has thousands of date palms. You can simply walk along the roads which run through the oasis. Here you can spend a wonderful evening, sipping coffee in the cafes located in the center.
Camel race track at Al Labsa is where a number of camels race. You can be an exciting spectator among others. The sandy Islands of Umm Al Quwain are surrounded by dense mangrove forests. These beautiful islands are separated by a series of creeks. The place provides enough opportunities for water-skiing, wind surfing, kayaking, and jet-skiing. The water parks and aquariums are also worth visiting. Before you visit this country, be prepared to spend a good amount in buying things as the country is famous for shopping. Be there in Dubai to have a unique shopping experience, especially during the annual shopping festival, from mid-January to mid-February.
Places to see
Here are some of the tourist attractions in UAE:
- Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai
- Dubai Museum, Dubai
- The Emirates Golf Club, Dubai
- Arabian Wildlife Center, Sharjah
- Al-Hosn Palace, Abu Dhabi
Check out: Our ExtensiveTravelogue on Dubai
