Things to do in United Arab Emirates

Six emirates federated on 2 December 1971. Ras Al Khaimah joined ten weeks later, in February 1972. That is why the union has seven members and a single founding date.

The whole country is smaller than Portugal. Most of it is a day trip from most of the rest. Tours in the United Arab Emirates are priced on that assumption.

The seven, and how far apart they are

Abu Dhabi is by far the largest — roughly 67,000 square kilometres. It holds the capital. Dubai is an hour and a half up the road, and the other five sit inside a ninety-minute radius of it.

• Abu Dhabi. The capital, the museums of Saadiyat, the parks of Yas, and the Liwa dunes in the far south. Its oasis city Al Ain joined the UNESCO list in 2011.
• Dubai. The tower coast, the old trading creek, and the airport most people fly into.
• Sharjah. Pressed against Dubai, heavy on museums, and completely dry.
• Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. Small, low-rise and cheap, forty minutes up the coast from Dubai.
• Ras Al Khaimah. The Hajar mountains, and dunes close to the hotels.
• Fujairah. The far side of those mountains, facing the Gulf of Oman. This is the diving coast.

What actually gets booked

The desert safari is the country default, and it runs from all seven. Dune driving, a camp, dinner, camels, a show. What changes between emirates is the price, not the format.

After that come city sightseeing, boats, and the built attractions this country does better than anywhere. Transfers are their own category.

A group seat is cheap. It is shared, and tied to someone else's clock. Privately the same day costs several times more.

Practical

• Season. The best time to visit is November to March: warm, dry and fully booked. June to September sits above 40C, and outdoor attractions move to the evening.
• Money. The dirham is pegged to the dollar at 3.6725, and five per cent VAT is normally inside the price shown.
• Tipping. Around ten per cent, often already on the bill as a service charge.
• Alcohol. Served in licensed hotels and restaurants, not at all in Sharjah, never in public.
• The week. The federal weekend has been Saturday and Sunday since January 2022. Sharjah's government also takes Friday.
• Dress. Relaxed at beaches and pools, covered shoulders and knees elsewhere, headscarf at mosques.
• Trains. Etihad Rail has started carrying passengers, Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in an hour and three quarters, and is still opening stations.
• Ramadan. The dates move back eleven days a year. Restaurants close in daylight and camps run later.