Introduction
Everything from desert safaris to designer shopping, in true exotic luxury. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. It boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, markets and the renowned duty-free shopping of dazzling Dubai - all packed into a relatively small area.
The UAE is a contradictory place where traditional Bedouin lifestyle meets Western consumerism and big-town bling. But rather than clashing, these disparate influences have produced a unique 21st-century nation that combines the cultures of conservative Islam and the liberal West in one package.
Geography:
The United Arab Emirates occupies part of the northeastern protrusion of the Arabian peninsula and is roughly the size of Portugal. It's bordered by Saudi Arabia in the south and west, and Oman in the east. Its northern coast faces Iran across the Persian Gulf, while Qatar is just 50km (30mi) to the northwest. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi represents 85% of this total; the smallest of the emirates, Ajman, measures only 250 sq km (100 sq mi). Around 80% of the country is somewhat featureless desert, running to the edges of the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world, which occupies southeastern Saudi Arabia. Salt flats mark the UAE's coastal areas, while the northern and eastern sections of the country are green and inviting with striking mountain scenery. Fauna includes the Arabian leopard and ibex, but you're unlikely to see more than camels and goats. In spring and autumn flocks of birds migrating from Central Asia and East Africa can sometimes be seen in the country's north. Outside of the mountainous areas of Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah, much of the UAE's vegetation is the result of the government's 'greenery' programme: even the natural groves of date palms in the Buraimi Oasis on the country's eastern border have been supplemented by acres of grass and trees planted in municipal parks.
Destination Facts
Capital: Abu Dhabi
President: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Government: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Time zone: GMT +4
Area: 83600
Population: 3100000
People: UAE nationals (20%), expat workers - other Arab and Iranian, South Asian, European & East Asian (80%)
Languages: Muslim (96%), Hindu, Christian & other (4%)
Currency: UAE Dirham (Dh)
Major industries: oil, gas, tourism, aviation, re-exports
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Japan, South Korea, India
Country Dialing Code: 971
Getting There
The best time of the year to visit the UAE is between November and April, when the weather is at its coolest. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and about and exploring. Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE; that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is timed by the moon and will start around September for the next couple of years.
Getting there and away
The country's main international airports are in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, though an increasing number of carriers are servicing Sharjah as well. Smaller international airports serve Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Al-Ain. There are daily services to most major European cities from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and also to major Middle Eastern and Gulf cities. There are also connections to the USA, North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia. There's no airport departure tax. There are daily bus services between Dubai and Muscat (in Oman) as well as Abu Dhabi and Muscat. Regular bus services operate between both Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, though there are no bus or taxi services to Qatar. Boats ply between Sharjah and Bandar- é Abbas in Iran; the voyage takes 12 hours each way.
Getting around
Given the short flying time, there is no inter-city air service between the seven emirates. There are now regular bus services between every destination you would wish to visit in the UAE, however, having your own wheels here is a definite advantage. Car rental is only slightly more expensive than in Western countries, and is relatively easy to arrange in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The highways are in excellent shape, it's only the odd errant camel, low-flying Mercedes and sheer boredom brought on by the often-featureless landscape that should trouble you. In the cities (especially in often grid-locked Dubai), however, chaos reigns supreme, self-preservation dictates that you should drive defensively - because no one else is. You drive on the right in the UAE, most of the time, and roundabouts are a test of courage. Only Dubai and Al-Ain have public bus networks useful to travellers. Taxis across the country generally have working meters - if you get in one that doesn't, get out and wait for one that does.
Visa:
Tourist visas are available on arrival in the UAE at approved ports of entry, including all airports and ports, for citizens of most developed countries. These include all Western European countries (except Malta and Cyprus), Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA. Tourist visas are valid for 60 days despite the fact that the stamp on your passport, which is in Arabic, says it is valid for 30 days. No fee is charged for tourist visas.
Weather
From May to September humidity is high and daytime temperatures commonly top 40° C (105° F) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In the eastern coastal cities of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, the climate is slightly less hostile thanks to occasional breezes. Average daily high temperatures drop to the more comfortable 22-30° C (70-85° F) range the rest of the year, with December and January the most comfortable months, though it can be very windy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and very cold in the desert areas around Al-Ain. Rainfall is non-existent between May and October, and negligible for much of the rest of the year.
Places of Interest
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. It boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, markets and the renowned duty-free shopping of dazzling Dubai - all packed into a relatively small area. The UAE is a contradictory place where traditional Bedouin lifestyle meets Western consumerism and big-town bling. But rather than clashing, these disparate influences have produced a unique 21st-century nation that combines the cultures of conservative Islam and the liberal West in one package.
Events
Religious holidays are tied to the Islamic Hijra calendar, so dates vary from year to year. Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (Pilgrimage), Lailat al-Mi'raj (the Ascension of the Prophet), the Prophet's Birthday and the Islamic New Year are the main celebrations. Secular holidays include New Year's Day (1 January) and National Day (1 December).
Everything from desert safaris to designer shopping, in true exotic luxury. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. It boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, markets and the renowned duty-free shopping of dazzling Dubai - all packed into a relatively small area.
The UAE is a contradictory place where traditional Bedouin lifestyle meets Western consumerism and big-town bling. But rather than clashing, these disparate influences have produced a unique 21st-century nation that combines the cultures of conservative Islam and the liberal West in one package.
Geography:
The United Arab Emirates occupies part of the northeastern protrusion of the Arabian peninsula and is roughly the size of Portugal. It's bordered by Saudi Arabia in the south and west, and Oman in the east. Its northern coast faces Iran across the Persian Gulf, while Qatar is just 50km (30mi) to the northwest. The seven emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi represents 85% of this total; the smallest of the emirates, Ajman, measures only 250 sq km (100 sq mi). Around 80% of the country is somewhat featureless desert, running to the edges of the Empty Quarter, the largest sand desert in the world, which occupies southeastern Saudi Arabia. Salt flats mark the UAE's coastal areas, while the northern and eastern sections of the country are green and inviting with striking mountain scenery. Fauna includes the Arabian leopard and ibex, but you're unlikely to see more than camels and goats. In spring and autumn flocks of birds migrating from Central Asia and East Africa can sometimes be seen in the country's north. Outside of the mountainous areas of Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah, much of the UAE's vegetation is the result of the government's 'greenery' programme: even the natural groves of date palms in the Buraimi Oasis on the country's eastern border have been supplemented by acres of grass and trees planted in municipal parks.
Destination Facts
Capital: Abu Dhabi
President: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Government: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Time zone: GMT +4
Area: 83600
Population: 3100000
People: UAE nationals (20%), expat workers - other Arab and Iranian, South Asian, European & East Asian (80%)
Languages: Muslim (96%), Hindu, Christian & other (4%)
Currency: UAE Dirham (Dh)
Major industries: oil, gas, tourism, aviation, re-exports
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Japan, South Korea, India
Country Dialing Code: 971
Getting There
The best time of the year to visit the UAE is between November and April, when the weather is at its coolest. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and about and exploring. Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE; that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is timed by the moon and will start around September for the next couple of years.
Getting there and away
The country's main international airports are in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, though an increasing number of carriers are servicing Sharjah as well. Smaller international airports serve Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Al-Ain. There are daily services to most major European cities from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and also to major Middle Eastern and Gulf cities. There are also connections to the USA, North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and Australia. There's no airport departure tax. There are daily bus services between Dubai and Muscat (in Oman) as well as Abu Dhabi and Muscat. Regular bus services operate between both Dubai and Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, though there are no bus or taxi services to Qatar. Boats ply between Sharjah and Bandar- é Abbas in Iran; the voyage takes 12 hours each way.
Getting around
Given the short flying time, there is no inter-city air service between the seven emirates. There are now regular bus services between every destination you would wish to visit in the UAE, however, having your own wheels here is a definite advantage. Car rental is only slightly more expensive than in Western countries, and is relatively easy to arrange in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The highways are in excellent shape, it's only the odd errant camel, low-flying Mercedes and sheer boredom brought on by the often-featureless landscape that should trouble you. In the cities (especially in often grid-locked Dubai), however, chaos reigns supreme, self-preservation dictates that you should drive defensively - because no one else is. You drive on the right in the UAE, most of the time, and roundabouts are a test of courage. Only Dubai and Al-Ain have public bus networks useful to travellers. Taxis across the country generally have working meters - if you get in one that doesn't, get out and wait for one that does.
Visa:
Tourist visas are available on arrival in the UAE at approved ports of entry, including all airports and ports, for citizens of most developed countries. These include all Western European countries (except Malta and Cyprus), Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA. Tourist visas are valid for 60 days despite the fact that the stamp on your passport, which is in Arabic, says it is valid for 30 days. No fee is charged for tourist visas.
Weather
From May to September humidity is high and daytime temperatures commonly top 40° C (105° F) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In the eastern coastal cities of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, the climate is slightly less hostile thanks to occasional breezes. Average daily high temperatures drop to the more comfortable 22-30° C (70-85° F) range the rest of the year, with December and January the most comfortable months, though it can be very windy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and very cold in the desert areas around Al-Ain. Rainfall is non-existent between May and October, and negligible for much of the rest of the year.
Places of Interest
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms, formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971. It boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, markets and the renowned duty-free shopping of dazzling Dubai - all packed into a relatively small area. The UAE is a contradictory place where traditional Bedouin lifestyle meets Western consumerism and big-town bling. But rather than clashing, these disparate influences have produced a unique 21st-century nation that combines the cultures of conservative Islam and the liberal West in one package.
Events
Religious holidays are tied to the Islamic Hijra calendar, so dates vary from year to year. Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (Pilgrimage), Lailat al-Mi'raj (the Ascension of the Prophet), the Prophet's Birthday and the Islamic New Year are the main celebrations. Secular holidays include New Year's Day (1 January) and National Day (1 December).
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