United Arab Emirates

In just over 50 years, the UAE’s seven emirates have undergone an astounding transformation from arid desert towns to the most forward-looking cities. The largest, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are known for their ultramodern architecture, glitzy restaurants, and art powerhouses like the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Across the country, though, you’ll also find Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman beaches with white sand and warm water safe for swimming; preserved structures like the small, mud-brick 15th-century Al Bidyah Mosque in Fujairah and Dubai’s Emirati-style Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 of coral and mud bricks; and Bedouin traditions such as falconry alive and well.

the sheikh zayed grand mosque in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Katerina Kerdi/Unsplash

Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to the United Arab Emirates.

Related Guides
Read Before You Go
When the temperatures drop, Dubai comes out to play. Read on for the latest destination news in the City of Gold.
Hotels
Afar’s picks for the 25 best new hotels in the world.
Dubai has plenty of hotels to choose from, but these will truly connect you to the emirate and its culture.
AFAR’s picks for the 31 best new hotels in the world.
Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, talks about the hospitality boom in the Middle East—and the evolution of Ras Al Khaimah into a luxury travel destination.
Sleeping with the fishes takes on a whole new meaning at these villas and suites under the sea.
Sparkling waters, otherworldly sand dunes, and palm-shaded oases await near Abu Dhabi’s most exciting hotels.
When the iconic Raffles Singapore opened in 1887, it quickly became a glittery haven for well-heeled travelers, and later, a go-to brand for discerning globetrotters.
The retired “Queen Elizabeth 2,” permanently moored in Mina Rashid, has debuted as a 224-room floating resort.
They’ll be home to family-friendly resorts, the Middle East’s first Cirque du Soleil show, and a marine park.
These hotels know how to make an entrance.
Resources to help plan your trip
Dubai-based airline Emirates has just introduced a new fare type.
At 1.65 million square feet, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is the largest indoor theme park in the world.
Motorists on the 100-mph superhighway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi can tune in to a radio-guided art gallery.
After a decade in the making, the UAE outpost of the renowned Paris museum opened to the public on November 11, 2017.
Taxis in Dubai are about to look a whole lot different.
Three residents give us the local color.
Maximilian Büsser, founder of the avant-garde Swiss watch brand MB&F, reveals the true Dubai—much more than just shopping malls.
It’s a better time than ever to learn about the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
It consists of multiple sections, and even has an indoor-outdoor roller coaster.
Photographer and writer Annapurna Mellor on connecting with people, taking photos, and traveling with a purpose.
AFAR co-founder Joe Diaz attended AFAR Experiences Dubai and realized much of what he thought he knew about the city was wrong.
What Doesn’t Make the News About the Middle East
Sign up for our newsletter
Join more than a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.