United Arab Emirates - Highlights
Glitzy and fast-moving, Dubai is the plastic jewel in the UAE's crown, while Abu Dhabi is more discreet. Emirati culture has not been diluted however: for every mall, there's still a mosque.
Abu Dhabi's Dhow Harbour showcases the importance of shipbuilding in Arab culture, while the Heritage Village, also in Abu Dhabi, recreates Bedouin life. Learn about the development of Arab housing at Sharjah's Archaeological Museum and about Dubai's history at the Dubai Museum, housed in an old fort. See contemporary Middle Eastern art at Dubai's Green Art Gallery.
Dubai's glitzy Burj Al Arab hotel towers like a sail on its own man-made island off the coast, while the Jumeira Mosque provides more serene beauty. The tiny village of Badiyah, about 40km from Fujairah, is home to the UAE's oldest mosque, dating back to 1446. Fujairah itself is an antidote to Dubai, with its ancient forts, watchtowers and coral reefs.
Take the kids to Dubai's Wild Wadi, an Arabian-themed waterpark featuring shipwrecks and slides or teach them about space travel at Children's City. In Sharjah, the Desert Park &Arabian Wildlife Centre is a breeding centre and zoo for endangered Arab species. Many families go snorkelling in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, where Dibba Rock has calm waters and spectacular marine life.
Jumeira Mosque is open to non-Muslims for tours on Thursdays and Sundays. Everyone loves a view, and in Dubai there's a great one from the top of the Emirates Towers. There you'll find Vu's, a modern European restaurant, with a bar above it.
If you're a lady, go out on the town to Kool &the Gang's Ladies Night and enjoy your free drinks on certain nights of the week. Blend into UAE culture by listening to anything by popular sultry Emirati songstress Ahlam.
