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About UAE

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.
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