The Arab Emirates is a fairy-tale country that beckons tourists with exotic entertainment, futuristic urban landscapes in the middle of the desert and unique oriental flavor. We will tell you what else this state can surprise you with.
To OAE one goes to be amazed and impressed by the combination of the incongruous: desert and ocean, Eastern and Western cultures, tradition and modernity. Well, we've gathered for you all the most interesting activities to try out in the Emirates.
1. Go to a hockey game
Hockey in the middle of the desert? Not even that is possible in the Emirates! So if you find yourself in Dubai, don't miss out and check out the Dubai Mall to see how the country's Olympic team trains in the sport. And if you're lucky, you might be able to catch one of the team's games.
2. Ride the subway
What's the big deal about an ordinary subway? Well, it's not so ordinary. The Dubai Metro has become popular with tourists because it is not underground, as a subway should be, but on the surface, making it very convenient to use as transportation for sightseeing! And who wouldn't want to ride the subway without a driver?
3. To plunge into the depths of the sea
Explore the underwater world and its inhabitants in the world's largest aquarium, which is located in guess where? That's right, in Dubai's Dubai Mall! You can walk along the transparent observation tunnel, watching predatory sharks and graceful stingrays swim over your head. But if you like adrenaline, you can venture underwater to get up close and personal with all this wildlife (from $25).
4.Who admire the beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque
One of the undisputed jewels in the crown of the UAE is the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The majestic yet graceful building is among the largest mosques in the world, and its beauty is breathtaking: slender minarets, white domes and marvelous gilded ornaments on the walls of the halls and in the courtyard - it's a place where you can forget about time from such beauty. The mosque is open to the public every day except Friday, and the best time to visit is at sunset or when it is darkest, when the mosque is most beautifully lit.
5. About going to the races
Want to join the ranks of the powerful and feel like a true aristocrat? Then don't waste any time - the Dubai World Cup is just what you need! Tribal horses, exorbitant stakes, exquisite ladies and no less exquisite gentlemen - everything here breathes luxury. Plus a hefty dose of excitement and the chance to win the spectator prize for the most original hat!
Where: Meydan Hippodrome.
When: annually on the last Saturday of March.
How much: a ticket to the race costs between $6 and $1,000.
6.Lounging on the beaches of Fujairah
The beach area of Fujairah Al Akka stretches for 50 kilometers along the coast of the Gulf of Oman (Indian Ocean). It is worth coming here not only for a beautiful tan: scooter riding, diving, racing on the sand on quad bikes - you will not be bored! But the main thing is the views. The vast expanse of ocean, golden sand and the Hajar range, the only mountains in the country, are something to remember back home!
The most popular beaches include Sandy Beach (with courses for beginner divers), Dibba Al Fujairah, known for its crystal clear waters, and Korfakan, ideal for those seeking privacy and quiet.
7. To hike in the mountains....
To be precise, you can climb a mountain in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah. The mountain is called Al Jais, and you don't have to be a professional mountaineer to climb it. You can drive to the viewpoint at the summit (about 500 meters away) and from there you can enjoy the magnificent view of the rocky mountains, coastline and Persian Gulf as much as you like.
8.To visit the bird islands
Where? In the emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain. Al Siniyah Island is a nature reserve, and you'll want to come here to see flocks of graceful pink flamingos, herons and other waterfowl, as well as beautiful mangroves. The second island, Al Shar'ah, has long been favored by birds of all kinds, so there's plenty of flying fauna to see here.
9. To visit the homeland of the sheikhs
Don't think, you won't have to wander around some palace looking at portraits of former overlords. Instead, we suggest you head to the desert oasis of Liwa, where the ruling dynasties of the modern sheikhs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi trace their ancestry back to the Beni Yaz tribe.
With sand dunes changing from gold to red, date palms and freshwater pools, there's nowhere else you can feel time stand still.
The Liwa Oasis can be reached by car from Abu Dhabi in about a couple of hours.
10. Depart for Ajman.
Yes, Ajman is the smallest and one of the most conventionally poor emirates in the country. So what? But it more than pays for itself in the atmosphere of coziness and friendliness, and there are plenty of interesting places to visit. For example, you can go to the National History Museum, which is located in the building of an ancient fort to see with your own eyes a stunning collection of weapons, manuscripts and artifacts. And definitely visit the Ajman shipyard, where to this day, using ancient technology to make sailing boats "dhow" - the symbol of the Emirate. And realize that in the Emirates, too, you can find a corner of almost provincial peace and quiet.
