UAE Travel Guide & Tourism (2024) > United Arab Emirates

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United Arab Emirates Travel Essentials

Ideal Duration: 3-5 days for exploring Dubai or Abu Dhabi; 7-10 days for a more comprehensive visit including other emirates

Currency: Arab Emirate Dirham (AED)

Best Time: October - April (Milder temperatures) Read More

Budget for Food & Drinks (per day in USD): Budget: $15-30
Mid-range: $40-70

Accommodation Cost (per night in USD):
Dorm bed: $15-30
Budget: $50-100
Mid-range: $120-200
Luxury: $250 and above

Getting In United Arab Emirates: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) Read More

Getting Around United Arab Emirates: Taxis, metro, buses, rental cars Read More

"The Centre of Culture and Modernity"

United Arab Emirates Tourism

Once known for its fishing-based economy, today, UAE is much more than vast deserts and ancient forts. Immersed in its rich Emirati culture, the UAE is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world offering touches of modernity with its ever-expanding infrastructure. From its traditional souks to palm-shaped islands, glittering huge malls, luxurious hotels, grand architecture and theme parks, the country offers you a complete package to relax, rejuvenate and be adventurous, all at the same time.

Tourist Places to Visit In United Arab Emirates

4.5

Dubai

16535 Stay options

Packages from $1,698

4.4

Abu Dhabi

859 Stay options

Packages from $2,170

5.0

Sharjah

496 Stay options

5.0

Al Ain

82 Stay options

3.9

Fujairah

91 Stay options

3.6

Ajman

257 Stay options

All Tourist Places In United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates Travel Packages

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4 Days / 3 Nights

Fascinating Dubai Tour Package

$2,359 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

UAE Holiday Package in Dubai and Abu Dhabi - Yas Island Tour

$ 5,426

11% off

$4,813 per adult on twin sharing

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5 Days / 4 Nights

Beautiful Abu Dhabi and Dubai Package - Al Ain Day Tour

$ 3,968

13% off

$3,440 per adult on twin sharing

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7 Days / 6 Nights

Exquisite Dubai & Abu Dhabi Getaway

$ 6,795

9% off

$6,134 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Majestic UAE Tour Package - 5 Nights in Dubai & Abu Dhabi Day Tour

$ 4,813

11% off

$4,247 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Luxurious Dubai and Abu Dhabi Tour - Stay at Yas Viceroy and JW Marriott

$8,777 per adult on twin sharing

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More on United Arab Emirates Travel

Malls in Dubai

Theme Parks in Dubai

Best Beaches in Dubai

Adventure Activities In Dubai

Free Things to do in Dubai

Museums in Dubai

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Top Experiences in United Arab Emirates

Explore the World's Tallest Tower, the Burj Khalifa

Go on a magical Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Desert

Ride the World's Fastest Roller Coaster at Ferrari World

Fly Over Jebel Jais on the World's Longest Zipline

Go Dune Bashing at the Dubai Desert Safari

Take an Abra Ride at Dubai Creek

Skydiving in Dubai

Go Skiing at Ski Dubai, the Worlds Largest Indoor Ski park

Watch a Musical Extravaganza at Dubai Fountain

Shop From Around the World at Global Village

Visit UAE's Largest Festival, The Dubai Shopping Festival

Make a Splash at One of the World's Best Water Park, Wild Wadi

Best time to visit United Arab Emirates

The best time to visit the UAE is between the months of October and February. Temperature at this time of the year is cool, requiring a light jacket or a sweater. However, if you want to vi (Read More)sit beaches, then plan your visit in October, March or April when the weather is hot but in a pleasant way. Months from June to September experience hot and humid weather conditions, which is the time for summer sales and the best time to go diving.

Holidify's opinion on Travel to United Arab Emirates

What's Great?

Great shopping places including traditional markets and modern malls. Rich Emirati culture. Theme and adventure parks. Grand architecture.

What's Not So Great?

Extremely hot summers. Terrible traffic during peak time.

For Whom?

Shopping lovers. People who relish architecture. Adventure enthusiasts. Heritage and culture buffs.

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Exchanging Money in United Arab Emirates

UAE is dotted with offices and banks where currency exchange can be done. Almost all the major banks and hotels handle the currency exchange. Several huge shopping malls and shopping districts houses licensed Bureau de Change. The rate offered by these exchange offices is often better than banks. Bureaux de change located at Dubai Mall and Marina Mall, both in Dubai, or Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi are the recommended ones. One can easily locate ATMs throughout UAE at all shopping complexes, most of the petrol pumps, major supermarkets and the airport.

Nightlife in United Arab Emirates

Except Sharjah, every other emirate in UAE has a different flavour of nightlife to offer. Where Dubai offer one of the most diverse and lively nightlife in the entire country, Abu Dhabi is just next in line. Each emirate is lined with some of the fancy brand names with large number of pubs, bars, discos and clubs to choose from. However, most of these places are located inside the hotels where alcohol is allowed to serve. Most of the nightclubs close down between 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM whereas there are few late night nightclubs that close down by maximum 3:00 AM. 25 years is the minimum age to enjoy the rocking nightlife in Dubai whereas 18 years for Abu Dhabi.

Shopping in United Arab Emirates

Shopping is considered as the favourite pastime of the people of the UAE. Dubai serves as the top destination for the activity, especially with its city sized shopping malls along with the traditional souks or markets, followed by Abu Dhabi. Dubai Shopping Festival is the star attraction of UAE when it comes to shopping. Leather goods, gold, silver, clothing like silk pashminas, spices, coffee, old maps of the local area and trinkets are the popular items to look out for.

Festivals of United Arab Emirates

Festivals of UAE are all about highlighting their culture all around. A great effort has been made by the UAE government in last 10 years towards elaborating their festivals to give a boost to their tourism. Abu Dhabi International Jazz Festival, Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates World Series of Horse Race, International Film Festival Dubai and National Day Festival are some of the major ones one should not miss.

Hygiene in United Arab Emirates

It is advisable to take vaccinations against polio, measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria and tuberculosis when planning a visit to this region. Although big cities and towns have high hygiene standards, take care while travelling smaller desert towns as no strict hygiene restrictions are enforced there. Be careful while indulging in the meat dishes; particularly spit cooked shawarma (kebab) meat that is usually sitting in the hot summer sun for hours.

Customs of United Arab Emirates

As a tourist, one is expected to respect the general culture and etiquettes. Foreigners are free to practice their religion and dress in liberal manner. If you are a lone female traveller, try not to be too forward with your approach. Public display of affection or noisy behaviour in public is not accepted according to the culture. Arabs are very particular about their dress code, which is followed almost similarly throughout United Arab Emirates. Men usually wear dishdasha or kandura, a white full-length shirtdress, which is worn with a white or red checked headdress, known as a ghutrah. For women, there is black abaya, a loose long robe to cover their usual clothes along with a headscarf known as sheyla. Tipping is also widely practiced in UAE but it is not obligator. In general, 10 - 15 % of the bill is given as tip at bars or restaurants depending on how you like the service. AED 5 - 10 for valet parking and bellboy is also usual.

Tips for visiting United Arab Emirates

1. Make sure to carry essentials such as Sunglasses, sandals, sunscreen lotion as summers are extreme and temperature in winter barely drops below 20 deg C.
2. In the case of taxis, which are not metered, fix the rate before beginning the trip.
3. Taxi drivers tend to drive a little rash, so be prepared for a risky ride.
4. Make sure you dress appropriately and not expose too much skin, which is not acceptable in their culture.
5. Drinking and driving are not at all accepted here and is a punishable offence.
6. Some commonly used painkillers in many countries such as codeine are illegal narcotics in the UAE. Make sure you have a prescription in case you are carrying any such medicines or else you might land in jail.
7. Drinking alcohol in public places (streets) and buying it from a UAE citizen is illegal.

Food of United Arab Emirates

Rice, fish and meat has always been the traditional food of Emirates with seafood being their staple diet for centuries. However, lamb and mutton are the more favoured protein as compared to pork or beef. Baklava is a sweet flaky dessert that is a must try. One can find special Arabic coffee (black coffee) throughout UAE along with another regional drink - Ayran (an energizing yogurt drink).

Regions in United Arab Emirates

The UAE, or simply Emirates, is a federation that comprises of seven emirates namely: Abu Dhabi (the capital of the UAE), Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain, each adorned with a unique quality of its own. Apart from being an oil-based economy, the country invites its visitors to the glittering skylines and palm-shaped islands of Dubai; immersed in the culture and oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the mystical charm of heritage and art at Sharjah and to glimpse at the pure Emirati culture at Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Quwain. A visit to Fujairah will take you to the most beautiful beaches and rising Hajar Mountains.

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FAQs on United Arab Emirates

How to reach United Arab Emirates from India?

UAE is home to the Emirates National Airlines, which connects the country with many cities located in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. IndoGo, Jet Airways, Air India, SpiceJet, Air India Express, Gulf Air and Flydubai are the other options available to travel to India from UAE. One can also board a direct flight from several Indian cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore, Hyderabad, and much more to travel to the UAE.

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