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The Burj Khalifa rising above the Dubai Fountain lake at sunset

United Arab Emirates · Arabian Peninsula · Hajar Mountains

United Arab Emirates

Glass towers in Dubai, a white marble mosque in Abu Dhabi, red dunes, old forts and mountain roads that climb to cool air: the Emirates pack a lot into a short trip. Winter is the season.

Best months
Nov–Mar
Signature peak
Jebel Jais, 1,934 m
Fly into
Dubai (DXB)
Destinations
30
Explore United Arab Emirates Best time to visit

Destinations in United Arab Emirates

Where to go in United Arab Emirates

12 of 30 destinations · Main season Nov–Mar

The Burj Khalifa rising above the Dubai Fountain lake at sunset Best Nov–Mar

Downtown Dubai, Dubai

Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai

The world's tallest building, rising 828 m above Downtown Dubai beside the Dubai Mall and its nightly fountain show.

10 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
The towers of Dubai Marina rising from the water at dusk Best Nov–Mar

Dubai Marina and JBR, Dubai

Dubai Marina

A man-made canal district of glass towers, a long waterfront walk and a busy beach on the Gulf.

5 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
Aerial view of the Palm Jumeirah fronds with the Atlantis resort and the skyline Best Nov–Mar

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Palm Jumeirah

A palm-shaped artificial island with beach resorts, waterparks and a view of the Dubai skyline from the sea.

3 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
The sail-shaped Burj Al Arab above palm trees and a canal at Madinat Jumeirah Best Nov–Mar

Jumeirah, Dubai

Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach

The sail-shaped hotel on its own island, with the open public beaches of Jumeirah in front and the Madinat Jumeirah souk behind.

3 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
The arched colonnade and domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque lit at night Best Oct–Apr

Abu Dhabi city, Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

A white-marble mosque with 82 domes, four minarets and a mirror-like pool, open to visitors of all faiths.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Cities & landmarks

Stays Flights Tours
The lattice dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi above the water Best Oct–Apr

Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi

An art museum under a vast lacy dome that scatters light like a rain of stars, on the waterfront of Saadiyat Island.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Cities & landmarks

Stays Flights Tours
A four-wheel-drive vehicle on the dunes at sunset in the Dubai desert Best Nov–Mar

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and Al Marmoom, Dubai

Dubai Desert and Al Marmoom

Red-gold dunes and protected desert a short drive from the city, for safaris, camel rides, sunrise balloons and stars.

100 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Desert & dunes · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
A courtyard with a wind tower and a Bedouin tent in the old Al Fahidi quarter Best Nov–Mar

Bur Dubai, Dubai

Al Fahidi and Dubai Creek

Dubai's oldest quarter, with restored wind-tower houses, small museums and wooden abras crossing the creek.

5 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · History & ruins

Stays Flights Tours
Layers of brown mountains and a winding road at Jebel Jais Best Oct–Apr

Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah

Jebel Jais

The highest peak in the UAE, with a mountain road, a record-length zip line and cool air above the desert.

1,934 m · Oct–Apr · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A four-wheel-drive vehicle climbing a huge orange dune at Liwa Best Nov–Mar

Liwa, Abu Dhabi

Liwa Oasis and the Empty Quarter

A crescent of oases at the edge of the Empty Quarter, where some of the highest sand dunes in the world rise out of the desert.

120 m · Nov–Mar · Moderate

Good for: Desert & dunes · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
Sunset over the rock ridges of Jebel Hafeet Best Oct–Apr

Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Jebel Hafeet

The second-highest peak in the UAE, with a famous winding road, sunset views and Bronze Age tombs on its flanks.

1,249 m · Oct–Apr · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
The Sharjah Corniche and the Khalid Lagoon with the city skyline Best Nov–Mar

Sharjah city, Sharjah

Heart of Sharjah

A restored old town of coral-stone houses, souks, museums and a fort, in the UAE's cultural capital.

5 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · History & ruins

Stays Flights Tours

More places in United Arab Emirates

18 more destinations, by region

Dubai · 4 destinations

Open sacks of spices and nuts in the Spice Souk Best Nov–Mar

Deira, Dubai

Deira Souks

The old markets of Deira, where gold, spices and perfumes are sold in crowded lanes beside Dubai Creek.

5 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · Cities & landmarks

Stays Flights Tours
Turquoise water of Hatta Dam below the rocky Hajar Mountains Best Nov–Mar

Hatta, Dubai

Hatta

A small mountain town in the Hajar range, about 130 km from Dubai, with a turquoise dam lake, a heritage village and trails.

300 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Scenic views · Lakes · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
The Dubai skyline seen from the top of the Dubai Frame Best Nov–Mar

Zabeel Park, Dubai

Dubai Frame

A 150 m picture frame with a glass-floored sky bridge between the old city and the new skyline.

10 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours
The ring-shaped Museum of the Future beside towers and palm trees Best Oct–Apr

Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Museum of the Future

A ring-shaped museum covered in Arabic calligraphy, where exhibits explore technology and the future.

10 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours

Abu Dhabi · 7 destinations

The Corniche promenade at sunset with the towers of Abu Dhabi behind Best Nov–Mar

Abu Dhabi city, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Corniche

A long waterfront promenade with a clean public beach, cycle paths and a view of the skyline.

3 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
The pink-sandstone facade and domes of Emirates Palace Best Oct–Apr

West Corniche, Abu Dhabi

Emirates Palace

A huge sand-coloured palace hotel with gold-leaf domes, gardens and a private beach on the Abu Dhabi waterfront.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
The white watchtower and walls of Qasr Al Hosn with modern towers behind Best Oct–Apr

Abu Dhabi city, Abu Dhabi

Qasr Al Hosn

The white watchtower fort where Abu Dhabi began, restored as a museum of the city's history.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: History & ruins · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours
Aerial view of Yas Island and its waterfront Best Oct–Apr

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Yas Island

A leisure island with theme parks, a water park, a beach and the Formula 1 circuit.

3 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Cities & landmarks · Beaches & coast

Stays Flights Tours
A stone water channel running between date palms in Al Ain Oasis Best Oct–Apr

Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Al Ain Oasis

A shady palm garden in the middle of the city, watered by an ancient system of underground channels.

270 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Villages & culture · History & ruins

Stays Flights Tours
The round tower of Al Jahili Fort beside a tree Best Oct–Apr

Al Ain, Abu Dhabi

Al Jahili Fort

A sand-coloured fort with round towers, built in 1891 by Sheikh Zayed the First, with a gallery of early photographs of the region.

270 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: History & ruins · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours

Ras Al Khaimah · 1 destination

Dhayah Fort on its rocky hill below the Hajar Mountains Best Oct–Apr

Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah

Dhayah Fort

A 16th-century fort on a rocky hill above date palms, the only hill fort in the UAE, with a climb of several hundred steps.

60 m · Oct–Apr · Moderate

Good for: History & ruins · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours

Sharjah · 2 destinations

A round stone tomb in the desert at Mleiha with mountains behind Best Nov–Mar

Mleiha, Sharjah

Mleiha and Fossil Rock

An archaeological centre and desert park in central Sharjah, with ancient tombs, a rock of fossils and dark skies for stargazing.

150 m · Nov–Mar · Easy

Good for: Desert & dunes · History & ruins

Stays Flights Tours
Green water in a rocky cove on the east coast near Khor Fakkan Best Oct–Apr

Khor Fakkan, Sharjah

Khor Fakkan

A relaxed Gulf of Oman beach town beneath the Hajar Mountains, with a public beach, a dam and green parks.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Beaches & coast · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours

Fujairah · 4 destinations

Fujairah Fort and its towers under a blue sky Best Oct–Apr

Fujairah city, Fujairah

Fujairah Fort

One of the oldest forts in the UAE, a mud-brick stronghold on a hill above the old town of Fujairah.

30 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: History & ruins · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours
The small domed Al Bidyah Mosque below a rocky hill and watchtower Best Oct–Apr

Al Bidyah, Fujairah

Al Bidyah Mosque

A tiny mud-brick mosque with four domes, usually described as the oldest mosque in the UAE, beneath a rocky hill by the sea.

10 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: History & ruins · Villages & culture

Stays Flights Tours
A rocky wadi between steep mountain walls Best Nov–Mar

Wadi Wurayah, Fujairah

Wadi Wurayah National Park

The UAE's first mountain national park, with permanent pools, a waterfall and rare wildlife in the Hajar Mountains.

200 m · Nov–Mar · Moderate

Good for: Scenic views · Trekking

Stays Flights Tours
A curved beach and bay below mountains at Dibba Best Oct–Apr

Dibba, Fujairah

Dibba

A tri-border coastal town where the Hajar Mountains meet the Gulf of Oman, with beaches, diving and boat trips.

5 m · Oct–Apr · Easy

Good for: Beaches & coast · Scenic views

Stays Flights Tours

Filter all 30 United Arab Emirates guides by level and interest

About United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates at a glance

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the south-east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the best known, with record-breaking towers, huge malls and museums, but the country also has old forts and oases, red sand dunes, mangroves and the Hajar Mountains, which rise to 1,934 m at Jebel Jais, the highest point.

Most visitors base themselves in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and make day trips: a desert safari, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the old souks, or a drive over the mountains to the east coast. Distances are short and roads are good, so it is easy to see several places in a week, and public transport and ride-hailing services work well in the cities.

November to March is the best time, with warm, sunny days and cool evenings. Summers are extremely hot and humid, with daytime highs often above 40°C, so outdoor plans move to the early morning and after dark. Customs are conservative compared with many countries, so dress modestly in public places and respect local rules and the holy month of Ramadan.

Getting there

Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) are major international hubs with direct flights from most regions, and Sharjah (SHJ), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) and Fujairah (FJR) have smaller airports. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are about 1.5 hours apart by road, and long-distance buses link the emirates.

Getting around

Taxis and ride-hailing services are plentiful and fairly priced in the cities, and Dubai has a metro and tram. A rental car is the easiest way to reach the mountains, the east coast and Liwa, with good roads, though traffic is heavy at peak times and driving rules are strict. Desert drives need a guide or an experienced driver.

Entry and safety

Rules depend on your passport: many nationalities can enter without a visa or receive one on arrival, while others need to apply in advance. Check the official UAE government portal before you travel, and carry a passport valid for at least six months.

The UAE is generally considered very safe, but laws are strict on public behaviour, alcohol, drugs, drones and photographing people without permission, and penalties can be severe. Summer heat is dangerous, so drink water and avoid the sun in the middle of the day. Take out travel insurance, and check your government's travel advice.

Official sources

Last reviewed October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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Where to stay in United Arab Emirates

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