About the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi,
the capital of the UAE, offers of a wide variety of business and
leisure facilities ranging from the state-if-the-art convention center
(ADNEC) to the magnificent hotels, spas, & golf courses. Very soon,
Abu Dhabi will be home to some of the world’s most famous museums
including the Guggenheim and Louvre.
In Abu Dhabi, you can see
some attractions, such as; the Cultural Foundation – home to the
National Archives, the National Library and the Institution of Culture
and Art (02 619 5349). The fort is part of the Cultural Foundation, and
although it is not open to the public you can wander around the outside
(02 621 5300). The Heritage Village is the closest you will get to
travelling back in time with its displays of Bedouin life. Futaisi
Island (02 666 6601) is famed for its wildlife, including some rare
species, an authentic Arabian fort, an ancient mosque and a mangrove
lagoon.
Al Ain; is the
capital of the eastern region and Abu Dhabi’s second city. Al Ain’s
seven natural oases are now surrounded by tree-lined streets and
beautiful urban parks. The main Al Ain Oasis is home to palm
plantations, many of which are working farms. The Old Prison is also
worth a visit simply for the stunning view of the surrounding town and
oasis. Al Ain’s unique archaeological heritage and history is displayed
at Al Ain Museum, on the edge of the main Al Ain Oasis. The museum has
an interesting collection of photographs along with Bedouin jewellery,
musical instruments, and a reconstruction of a traditional majilis. The
archaeological section houses many of the finds from nearby Hili Gardens
and it’s helpful to visit the museum before heading out to the gardens.
Al Ain is home to the last camel market of its kind in the UAE. The
market is the exciting atmosphere builds up as traders discuss the value
of each animal. Al Ain’s biggest attraction, literally, is Jebel
Hafeet.At 1,180 metres, the views from the top of this mountain are
spectacular. The Green Mubazzarah Park is at the foot of the mountain,
and is home to hot springs, swimming pools and numerous chalets. Al Ain
Zoo is one of the Gulf region’s better and larger zoos, stretching over
400 hectares. It has a special breeding programmed for endangered
species.
About Other Emirates
Dubai is the place that the whole world is talking about. Although it is a
super-busy construction hotspot. Among the cranes and almost completed
high-rises you will find a selection of the world’s most luxurious
hotels, some amazing leisure facilities (an indoor ski slope, with real
snow, to name just one) and several stunning beaches. Dubai is also home
to the Burj Al Arab; the world’s tallest hotel. In Dubai, you can visit
the Gold Souk, Dubai Museum and Bastakiya. Bastakiya is a bustling
market and cultural center of Dubai. The original, old city of Dubai is
just one per cent of the modern city we see today. The district is
filled with traditional courtyard houses and classic wind towers, which
offer a charming glimpse of how Dubai once looked. Take a ride on an
abra before heading to the more modern attractions in Dubai such as the
many malls, Golf Courses and Wild Wadi, a water amusement park.
If you are interested in the history of the UAE, visit Ajman and Sharjah.
You can see the working dhow yards in Ajman (the smallest emirate) and
the famous museums and souks in Sharjah. Sharjah is the only emirate
with territory on both the west and east coasts.
Ras Al Khaimah museum and the beautiful Hajar Mountains. The town is the entry point
to the amazing Mussandam Peninsula in Oman and boasts what is probably
the best scenery in the country.
Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) is a quiet emirate where life has not changed much over the years.
Since the sheltered waters of the large lagoon are popular for water
sports, and UAQ is home to flying clubs, shooting clubs and car racing
associations. The natural mangroves also attract an abundance of local
wildlife.
The area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts, with
craggy mountains perfect for rock climbing, and clear, calm waters
perfect for diving or snorkeling. The main settlements along the coast
begin at Dibba, the starting or finishing point of the stunning drive
through Wadi Bih. Badiyah is home to the oldest mosque in the UAE. Khor
Fakkann (part of Sharjah), has some of the area’s best dive sites just
minutes from the coast, and the Al Hisn Fort in Kalba houses the town’s
museum.
Fujairah is the
youngest of the seven emirates and is the only city on the east coast.
The fort overlooking the town is around 300 years old and with
others forts and watchtowers in the surrounding hills; the area has an air of mystery and charm.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN UAE
The
UAE has earned its reputation as a world travel destination by its
commitment to providing the best in accommodations and amenities in a
federation that is filled with a variety of geography and a fascinating
history. It might be impossible to be bored on a trip to the UAE.
1. Attend a Camel Race: After banning the use of young children as camel jockeys in recent
years the UAE now employs older jockeys and in some places, robots. In
Abu Dhabi, the Al Wathba race track uses robot jockeys who actually wear
little uniforms and whose whipping motion is remote controlled by the
camel owners. The owners travel a parallel track in cars and operate the
remote controls from there. In the UAE, only the wealthiest people can
afford top racing camels and the staff required for their upkeep.
2. Visit Sharjah, the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World.” The city of Sharjar is not only the cultural capital of the UAE, but in
1998 it was named by UNESCO as the Cultural Capital of the Arab World.
The ruler of Sharjah headed up a long term commitment to developing the
cultural institutions there, including museums, mosques, and other
cultural destinations. Sharjah is also a great place to partake of
Emirati cuisine.
3. Visit the mountains and the Gulf of
Oman in Fujairah. Fujairah is a more “old fashioned” part of the UAE,
with the culture still involved in traditional sea-based activities like
fishing. The eastern coast of the UAE has not had the white-hot
economic growth of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but it is well worth seeing for
its more traditional culture, mountains, beaches, and traditional crafts
like the creation of palm frond canoes.
4. Shop at the Gold Souk in Dubai. This is located in the Deira area and has more than 300 dealers in
jewelry, primarily gold jewelry, though some of the larger shops do have
other types of jewelry. The UAE’s free trade policies resulted in a
great increase in gold trade. Dubai’s trade in gold and precious jewels
represents about one-fourth of the emirate’s non-oil trade. Much of the
gold is supplied by Switzerland, and India is the largest buyer of gold
from the UAE.
5. Visit an archaeological dig site. Though there are many, perhaps the most convenient for most visitors to
the UAE is the Jumeirah Archaeological Site in Dubai. It is surrounded
by the most modern of construction, and yet it has yielded numerous
amazing archaeological treasures. The site of the Jumeirah
archaeological dig used to be a caravan route between Oman and Iraq.
6. Shop Dubai Duty Free. For some people, duty free shopping in itself is enough of a reason to
travel to the UAE. The Duty Free shopping in Dubai International Airport
is enormous, shiny, and enticing. Besides shopping, there are often
raffles for things like luxury automobiles, and sometimes large cash
prizes are given away.
7. Attend a cricket match. The UAE has large numbers of expatriate workers from India and
Pakistan, two countries that love the game of cricket. There are large
cricket stadiums in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai.
8. Visit the Al Ain National Museum. Located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Al Ain National Museum was
opened in 1971. This museum is updated often with archaeological
artifacts, and is worth a visit.
9. Go skiing. You read that correctly. You can go snow skiing in Dubai. Located adjacent to the Mall of the
Emirates, Ski Dubai is an indoor ski facility that has real snow
year-round. You can rent clothing and equipment right there. One of the
runs is the world’s first “black” run (for advanced skiers) located
indoors. There are also a quarter pipes so snowboarders can practice
their tricks.
10. Go to Dreamland Water Park. Located in Umm al-Quwain, Dreamland Water Park is the largest in the
UAE and one of the largest in the world. This makes a good day trip or
overnight trip for those staying in Dubai. This water park has
everything, including a salt pool in which you can float, like the Dead
Sea. There are also numerous slides, a lazy river, family rafts, and
even a Go-Kart track. Adults may like to enjoy the huge Jacuzzi or the
spa-like Pool Bar where they can relax in comfort. Dreamland has seven
restaurants and fast food outlets as well, plus a video arcade for when
it’s time to retreat from the hot sun for awhile.