United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a country in the middle-east and often referred to as Emirates. The country is located at the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula. Neighbouring countries are Oman and Saudi Arabia. The emirates is formed by seven emirates: Abu Dhabi (the capital emirate), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwein.

Abu Dhabi is the capital city but Dubai is the largest city in the emirates. Abu Dhabi used to be a fishermen village in 1948. Before the oil reserves were found the most important industry was pearl diving. Today the capital city is a green oases on an island in the Persian Gulf. Sheikh Zayed II bin Khalifa Al Nahyan was president of the emirates from 1971 until 2004. He transformed the emirates. A harbour, airport and a network of roads were constructed. Water and electricity services were expanded. Hospitals, schools, social housing, bridges, mosques and skyscrapers were built at a rapid pace.

Interesting places to visit

Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a popular sight to visit in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the most visited buildings in the emirates. The mosque can seat 40.000 people. The mosque is popular among tourists and you probably saw a few pictures on Instagram.

Corniche is the 7km long beach boulevard in Abu Dhabi. In the evening Corniche is the ideal place to go for stroll or to go jogging. Visit the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village when you are interested in the history and culture of the city. At the small ateliers artisans such as ceramists, weavers, furniture makers and glass blowers are at work.

Visit the Kempinski Emirates Palace Hotel. It used to be the palace for the government and cost 1,5 billion euros. Today it is a prestigious hotel and is located within a 85ha park. The building is an impressive example of luxurious Arabian architecture. It is said the palace has over 1000 Swarovski chandeliers, 150 elevators and over 2000 staff members.

On the other side of the road are the Etihad towers. The five futuristic architectural towers houses offices, apartments and the Avenue shopping mall. The highest tower is Tower 2. On the 74^th floor is the Observation Deck. From here you can admire the Abu Dhabi skyline from a height of 300 meters.

In 2017 the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened it’s doors. The objects at the museum go back to the prehistoric time and come from different cultures and religions. It’s a mix of eastern and western cultures and history. An early Quran, a gothic Bible and a Torah from Yemen are displayed next to each other. There are object from Ancient Egypt, a-self portrait of van Gogh, works from Jordaens, Mondriaan and Caillebotte.

Dubai

In the Netherlands Dubai became known because of the manmade archipelago Palm Jumeirah. Two Dutch specialist companies constructed the archipelago. They also created The World. Dubai is a city of superlatives: the largest building in the world; Burj Khalifa, the largest shopping mall; Dubai Mall and the most chic hotel in the world; Burj Al Arab. Read the article modern and historical highlights in Dubai to find out the must-see places in Dubai.

Festivals

The Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and don’t have a fixed date:

Prophet’s Birthday
Ramadan is the Muslim holy month of fasting.
The end of the Ramadan is Eid-al-Fitr. It is celebrated for one or three days depending on country and culture. It is forbidden to fast on the Day of Eid. A specific prayer is used for this day.
Eid al-Adha
Islamic New Year

National holidays in the UAE have set dates:

New Year’s: January 1^st.
Commemoration Day: November 30^th
National Day: December 2^nd

Personal Travel Guide

Do you need help setting up an itinerary or are you looking for unique places to stay? I can help you planning your holiday or business trip. Read the services page to know more or send me a message via the contact form. Let me know what your interest are and your expectations. I’m looking forward to assist you.

Practical info

Currency: UAE dirham (AED)

ATM: Most restaurants and shops accept credit cards. Euro’s and American Dollars can be exchanged at hotels, banks and exchange offices. At most places you can use your debit card as well (maestro).

Languages: Arabic

Religion: Islam

Capital city: Abu Dhabi

Visa: Read more about the types of visa for the United Arab Emirates.

Local SIM Card: Guess what? You get a free SIM- card from the immigration officer when you arrive at Dubai International airport. You only need to upload the card with credit. Are you staying in Dubai for a while? The best provider is Etisalat with the best network coverage in the emirate. Du offers affordable plans for tourists.

Country Code: +971

Time: UTC + 4:00 (United Arab Emirates Standard Time)

Official Tourism Website: Visit the official Tourism Board website of Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Practical info: Are you planning a trip and you need some practical info? Read the ultimate planning guide when you are going for a long term journey or download the packing list. I share tips about setting up a travel budget. Or find out the best travel apps to use.

Sustainable travel: I have written a few articles about sustainable travel. I give tips about how to make your trip more sustainable and how to fly more sustainable. I believe even the smallest effort can help.

Public Transport

Metro

Dubai has a metro system operating with two different lines, red and green. Some of the cabins are designated for women and children only. Dubai is a large city and the service area of the metro is limited.

Taxi

The easiest way to go around in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is by taxi. Every taxi has a meter. If the taxi doesn’t have a meter my advise is to take another one. Within the UAE it’s possible to share a taxi for longer distances between the emirates. They often start in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The shared taxi’s leave when the car or mini-bus is full. The prices are the same as taking a bus.

Buses

Between the larger cities are fast express buses. Between the emirates you can take a bus between 6am and 12am. For more information about buses visit the website of the Roads and Transport Authority.

Best time to go

The most pleasant months to visit the UAE are from October to April. The best months are between November and March. The winter months are pleasant, warm and sunny. The average temperature is 26 °C during the day. The evenings are around 15°C . The summers are extremely hot and humid. During the Ramadan many shops and restaurants are closed or open later.