The Facts:
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: UAE Dirham
Time Zone: GMT + 4
www.dubaitourism.ae
Introduction:
Dubai, hailed the pearl in the Arabian Gulf with its dizzying opulence, super charged shopping opportunities and grand hotel complexes - Burj Al Arab steals all the thunder as the world's most luxurious hotel - might well be the main draw card but there's a little bit more to the United Arab Emirates and its seven sheikdoms. There's a kaleidoscope of contradiction without doubt and that's part of its appeal. This is still an Islamic state after all, women cover themselves, alcohol is only served to non-muslim visitors and the muezzin's call to prayer floats across its cities. For many visitors their experience of UEA can easily amount to a simple stopover and a heady whirl of designer outlets, azure seas and flowing cocktails. But there are the craggy Hajar mountains, Dhow cruises, Abu Dhabi's elegant corniche, Bedouin barbecues, and dusty villages to explore. Meet the Bedu, a nomadic tribe of desert dwellers as you 4-wheel drive through majestic red dunes and you couldn't seem further away.
Where To Go:
The UAE is a federation of seven states (emirates) - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain, formed in 1971 after independence from Britain. Ito the southeast it flanks the Arabian Peninsula and to the southwest the Persian Gulf, and borders Oman and Saudi Arabia.
What To Eat & Drink:
- Hummus is a chickpea and sesame paste.
- Tabbouleh is bulghur wheat with mint and parsley.
- Koussa mashi are stuffed courgettes.
- Ghuzi is roast lamb with rice and nuts.
- Makbous is spicy lamb with rice.
- Seafood with spicy rice is also popular.
- All the emirates, with the exception of Sharjah, permit the consumption of alcohol by non-Muslims. It is illegal to drink alcohol in the street or to buy it for a UAE citizen.
Unmissable United Arab Emirates:
6 things you really should do in the United Arab Emirates
1. Back a horse
Plan to be in Dubai for the World Cup a huge event in the horseracing calendar.
www.dubaiworldcup.com
2. Go afloat
Let the world slip by on a traditional Dhow boat cruise along the Abu Dhabi Corniche or Dubai waterfront.
www.dosomethingdifferent.com
3. Feel the wheel
Get out and try some 4-wheel driving desert style. An abundance of wilderness dunes and out of the way routes make UEA an ideal place to get off the beaten track. You can even stay overnight in traditional Bedu tents.
4. Slip down a slope
Whilst UEA may well offer nearly year round sunshine one of its latest attractions is the ingenious 'skiing in the desert' facility. This is the country's first indoor ski resort, spanning 22,500 sq meters and features real snow. There's even a restaurant halfway up.
5. Get up a creek with a paddle
Explore Khor Kalba by canoe, the oldest mangrove forest of this part of Arabia. The most southern tip of UAE's Indian Ocean coastline ends in this extensive mangrove marsh.
www.desertrangers.com
6. Take in the view
Whether you choose to stay, or simply soak up the view, see the world's tallest hotel, the Burj Al Arab, in Dubai. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire. One of its restaurants, Al Muntaha is located 200 metres above the Persian Gulf and supported by a full cantilever that extends 27 metres (from either side of the mast, accessed by a panoramic elevator).
www.burj-al-arab.com
