United
Arab Emirates Travel Guide
 The United Arab Emirates on the southeastern
tip of the Arabian Peninsula is a bit of an anathema
in the Middle East. This union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms
was formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf
in 1971, and today it is a modern, trend-setting
conglomeration of high-rise cities with state-of-the-art
tourist infrastructure, magnificent beaches and a paradise
of duty free shopping. Unlike other Arab states the
UAE actually courts and encourages tourists, constantly
adding and upgrading events and attractions to complement
its renown as the shopping capital of the world.
The sun always shines on the UAE and its gleaming
cities, the most popular of which is cosmopolitan,
wealthy Dubai, which is characterised by a ten-mile
long (16km) deep creek that forms a natural harbour.
In Dubai resides the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, which
makes the city a must for shop-a-holics. A major attraction
is the annual Dubai Shopping Festival.
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and one of the
most modern cities in the world. Visitors revel in
large gardens and parks, green boulevards, sophisticated
high-rise buildings, modern communication services
and transport, international luxury hotels, rich shopping
malls and cultural centres. The city's airport ranks
as one of the finest in the world.
Just in case travellers forget they are actually in
Arabia, the UAE also offers a host of experiences and
attractions that utilise it's historic Bedouin heritage,
including camel treks, henna tattoos, desert stargazing,
4x4 trips through sand dunes and cruises aboard a dhow.
Hundreds of tour companies offer a variety of excursions
and adventure packages to suit all tastes and persuasions. |
