United Arab Emirates - Get Around

Explore dunes in a 4x4, ride a camel, or zip between malls by taxi.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai both sit on the northern coast, with the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf lapping at their shores. The central and southern regions of the country are sparsely inhabited, with harsh desert dominating the landscape. Towards the north-east, as you head to the border with Oman, the UAE becomes more rugged and mountainous, with a peak of 1,128m at Jabal Adham.

Public transport is rather limited, and hiring a car is pretty much essential if you want to explore beyond your hotel and the malls. Driving is on the right, and traffic can be hair-raising in town, but outside the cities you can expect good, clear roads.

The UAE's official taxis are cheap, safe and metered - but always check that the meter is working. If you have to take an unofficial, unmetered, taxi, always agree on a fare beforehand.

In Dubai, you can take a water taxi across the Creek between 5am and midnight. It's a short trip and takes you from Bur Dubai on the south bank to Deira on the north.

City buses are rarely worth the effort, as taxis are relatively cheap. Long distance buses between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah are more worthwhile, and more comfortable. The journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai takes around an hour and a half by bus.

Camels are not really useful for getting from A to B, unless you're a desert nomad, but desert tours offer a camel ride as part of the package, and it's a fun, if touristy experience.

If you're going to drive your 4x4 into the desert for some dune-riding, always release about half of the air from the tyres first - otherwise you'll sink straight into the sand.

UAE Interact website

See traditional architecture at Sharjah's Heritage Museum, learn about Arabic ship-building at Abu Dhabi's Dhow Harbour, and watch camel races at Dubai's Nad al Sheba Camel Racetrack.