What To See

The ‘Pearl of the Arabian Gulf' grew up as a seafaring settlement along either side of the Deira Creek, a natural harbor for dhow traders, pearl divers and fishermen. Today Dubai is known as one of the most progressive and innovative destinations in the world, and Dubai's thriving tourist industry is based on genuine hospitality, seemingly endless sights and activities, guaranteed sunshine, a clean and safe environment, magnificent cuisine, bargain shopping and superb sporting facilities.

The Emirate offers a wide variety of sporting events, festivals and scenery within a very small area. In one day's time, you can experience rugged mountains and ever-changing sand dunes, sandy beaches and lush green mangrove stands, dusty villages and ancient houses with wind-towers to luxurious residential districts and time-honored colorful souks to ultra-modern shopping malls. From the timeless mystery of the desert to the cacophony of the souks, Dubai offers a mind-boggling array of attractions for you to experience.

Dubai is famous for architecturally pushing the envelope, its constantly changing skyline and the hustle-bustle of commerce on the world's stage. You'll soon realize that it's also a city of walled villas, serene mosques, and revered historical sites. This balancing act of cultures is set between beautiful azure seas with white sand beaches and the ever-changing desert. There is no destination that has all that Dubai has to offer.

The idyllic setting of pristine beaches, spectacular sand dunes and verdant oases set the stage for this Emirate known around the world for massive oil reserves, cosmopolitan city-life, majestic mosques and towering minarets. Take all that and combine it with the Arabic hospitality and mystique, and Abu Dhabi is an excellent destination for both the novice and the experienced traveler.

The name Abu Dhabi, implies "Father of the Gazelle", and Sheikh Zayed, the ruler of the Emirate and President of the UAE, has devoted land and other resources to build reserves to protect not only the gazelle but many endangered species at the Sir Bani Yas Island Wildlife Reserve. There are a number of significant cultural sites to give you a view into what life was like for the Bedouins that have populated the area for centuries. The famous Liwa oasis is home to some of the most spectacular sand dunes in the world and gateway to the legendary Rub Al-Khali (Empty Quarter), a vast and notorious expanse of desert extending through Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The stunning Garden City of Al Ain is a charming desert oasis town and former caravan stop. The city is built on a huge fertile plain and ringed by reddish-golden sand dunes and blessed with substantial groundwater resources, which make it a rich agricultural area. The largest camel market in the UAE is one of the must-see offerings of Al Ain, along with Al Ain National Museum and the Al Ain Zoo & Aquarium, which houses one of Arabia's largest collections of both common and rare animals. Just outside town at Hili lies an important archaeological dig, known as the Hili Tombs, dating back 5000 years.

The Emirate of Sharjah is geographically contiguous with Dubai and has a proud and rich heritage and the commitment to preserve it. The Heritage District of Sharjah city is dominated by the Sharjah Fort Museum and the Islamic Museum, both worthy of a visit. The Emirate is also renowned for its commitment to art and culture and offers over twenty museums and art galleries. Sharjah is unique among the Emirates in that it has coastline on both the West and East coast of the peninsula and they offer many ways to enjoy their beautiful waters. On the West Coast fishing, jet-skiing, beach combing and boating aras well as diving in clear waters with beautiful underwater scenery of coral reefs and tropical fish in abundance.

The Emirate of Fujairah is rich in history and a paradise for many water sports. The Fujairah Fort and Al Bidya Mosque from the 1600s have been carefully restored and are a prime example of their time, but they're the new kids on the block. Archaeological excavations have shown that man's presence in the region dates back to the Iron Age. After a morning of exploring the area's desert past, spend the afternoon in the crystal waters of the harbor which has rich and varied marine life and ideal conditions for all levels of divers seeing moray eels, dolphins many other species. Big game fishing is also a great alternative. If you prefer land adventures there's challenging rock climbing, or off-road driving through desert and boulder strewn wadis to give you an ‘active' taste of Fujairah.

The Hatta Heritage Village, within the Emirate of Dubai, provides a fascinating glimpse into the UAE's historical past, which can be traced back 2000 - 3000 years. It consists of 30 buildings, each differing in size, interior layout and building materials used. Great care was taken to use the same materials as those used when originally built such as mud, hay, sandalwood and palm fronds. Each of the buildings has an exhibition theme, such as social living, and traditional handcrafts. One of the houses is a restaurant decorated in the area's traditional style and serving authentic Arabic food; and there's a Children's area with traditional games and recreation. Several heritage festivals are held through out the year.