Major Tourist Attractions in UAE

There isn’t any place quite like Dubai anywhere in the Gulf. Renowned for its copious duty free shopping and great nightlife, there is nothing historical about Dubai except its smuggling past. Little wonder that Dubai earns all its revenues from trade and not oil!

Shop till you drop, walk the waterfront, hire an "abra" and take a boat ride along the Creek, enjoy the nightlife, visit the Dubai Museum with its relics of seafaring ancestors and absolutely don't miss the razzle dazzle of the world famous "gold souk" (covered gold market). Dubai is accessible from the capital (Abu Dhabi) by shared taxi and minibus and the distance is 125km. 

Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, is ultra modern with its oldest building merely 30 years old! So if its history you’re looking for, this isn’t exactly the best place. A very oil rich city today, it was a bleak pearling village 40 years ago. Amid the slick skyscrapers, the Al Husn Palace is one of the few buildings over 30 years of age. It is now a document centre and its courtyard and tile work over the main gate are noteworthy. Next to it is the Cultural Foundation which houses Islamic art, old manuscripts and exhibits on local history. The Women’s Craft Centre, 5km south of Abu Dhabi, displays and sells local crafts and traditional weaving.

 A visit to the mosque, dhow wharf and fish market is a great way to absorb local flavour and colour. The old souk on the city’s northern waterfront has a small gold market besides the numerous little stalls selling household ware. The excellent seafood restaurants add that special touch to your trip. 

Al Ain is the main town in the Buraimi Oasis with its sister town, Buraimi, in Oman. You can actually visit Oman from here without the hassle of obtaining a visa. The Oasis is the oldest inhabited town in the UAE with its settlements dating back to the 4th millennium BC. The current ruler of the UAE, Shaikh Zayed was born here and he has lavished funds on Al Ain. The dry heat of the oasis is a welcome change from the humidity elsewhere in summer.

There are a lot of interesting objects on display at the Al Ain Museum and the Eastern fort – Bedouin jewellery, weaponry, musical instruments and the inside of a Bedouin tent. The Buraimi souk is a huge fruit and vegetable market with the Al Hilla Fort in the background. Prowl around the Al Khandaq Fort, check out its courtyard and climb its battlements. The livestock souk and the camel market are well patronised by the residents, but don’t tell us we didn’t warn you of the clinging stench of dung! On Friday mornings in winter, take a trip 20km from Al Ain to see the camel racing contests. Camel Safaris can also be arranged ranging from one-hour trips to an overnight adventure in the desert where you can spend the night in a Bedouin tent. Al Ain is a beautiful 2-hour tree lined drive from Abu Dhabi, accessible by buses and service taxis. Dubai is 2 hours away from Al Ain – a service taxi will take you there.

Sharjah, the third largest emirate in the UAE, has the most interesting architecture in the country – the largest mosque, a miniature Disneyland, an interesting archaeological museum and a Blue Souk. It is a great place to buy Persian carpets. Sharjah is host to a lot of classy international one-day cricket – check out if a match is in progress during your visit.