Take a handful of space-age skylines, add a measure of glorious beaches, garnish with centuries-old traditions, and you've got the recipe for holidays to the United Arab Emirates.
Occupying the south-east horn of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates – or UAE, for short – is a country made up of seven states, called emirates. Each one tells its own story, but they all share one thing – the climate. This part of the world basks in toasty winters and baking-hot summers.
The runaway winner of the UAE popularity contest is Dubai. It’s down, mostly, to a flashy, futuristic façade – cue the world’s tallest building and a famous manmade island that’s shaped like a palm tree. The country’s capital, Abu Dhabi, comes in a close second, boasting a skyline that’s just as out-of-this-world.
The other five emirates – Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain – often get less attention. But they don’t deserve it. Ras Al Khaimah, for example, puts forward 40 footprint-free kilometres of coast, while Fujairah offers some of the best snorkelling spots along the Persian Gulf.
