The United Arab Emirates or UAE is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula and borders Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south. It also shares sea borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north. Although known for being luxurious and very expensive, it is also possible to visit on a budget. View my tips for visiting the UAE and plan your trip today.
Essential Travel Resources
These are my favourite companies to use when I travel.
• Search cheap flights with Skyscanner.
• Find the best deals on hotels on Booking.com.
• Find the best sightseeing tours & attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Climate & Best Time to Visit
The climate of the UAE is hot and dry with the hottest months being July and August when the average maximum temperature can reach 40 °C. In the mountainous regions of Al Hajar the temperature tends to be a lot lower due to the altitude. Average winter temperatures between January and February are between 10 and 14°C.
In the late summer months a humid south-western wind called the Sharqi hits the country making conditions blistering hot. Rainfall is low right across the country; you are more likely to get caught in a sandstorm than a rain shower.
Some years are totally dry and in these years it is only the formation of dew that enables wildlife to survive. When rain does come to the country it is often in short, torrential bursts that sometimes results in floods in normally dry wadi dry beds. A very real danger in the UAE is the occasionally violent and disruptive sandstorms, which can severely reduce visibility, cause breathing difficulties and clog up machinery.
Visas & Entering the UAE
The movement of foreigners is tightly regulated in the UAE and the issuing of visas and permits is subject to a strict series of bureaucratic procedures. There are some circumstances when a Visa is not required but it all depends on where you from and for how long you wish to stay in the country.
The citizens of some nations will be exempt from needing one if they plan on being in the country for only 30 days. This period can be extended to 90 days but approval from the authorities must be granted first. Citizens of most European nations, the USA, Australia and the UK fall under this category. For UK citizens your passport must make it clear that you are a British citizen before you are allowed access.
Whilst in the country all visitors must adhere to a strict set of rules. You must have a valid return ticket to your home country in your possession, have a passport with a minimum of three months remaining and those wishing to stay on longer need six months left on their passport. You must always have a form of ID in your possession as the authorities often carry out spot checks. If in the country for work you should carry ID and an appropriate residency Visa.
Best Places to Visit
The UAE is a federation made up of seven emirate states. These states were once independent sheikdoms. They are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Qaiwain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The total area of the country is approximately 83,600 square kilometres. Unusually the exact size of the country is unknown to a border dispute with Qatar.
These are some of the most popular destinations for foreigners that should be included in your itineary.
The city of Dubai is named after the emirate of Dubai in which it resides. The emirate is located southeast of the Persian Gulf and has the largest population in the UAE. The city was formally established in 1833 and benefited greatly from its location. It became an important trade route and today is the heart of business in the nation. Dubai has attracted the world’s attention through its wealth and construction projects. Dubai is one the costliest city to live in surpassing London and is the most expensive city in the Middle East.
The city of Abu Dhabi is the second largest city in the UAE and the nation’s capital. The emirate in which it resides is the largest in the country and has a population of 621,000. The city is the heart of government and home to the UAE President and ruling Abu Dhabi ruling family. The city is the country’s industrial and political heartland as well as a major cultural and commercial centre.
Culture & Important Things to Know
The UAE is an Arab nation and therefore has many customs that could be regarded as strange to Westerners. As an Expat you need to be aware of the nation’s social customs and be aware of what you’re expected to do and not to do. Arabs tend to be understanding and unlikely to take offence for social blunders, provided they stem from ignorance and not malice.
Unlike in the West where everyone is free to practise whatever faith they wish or follow their own customs, in Arab nations this is not the case, freedom of expression is frowned upon. It’s important to remember that you’re a foreigner and you must therefore adapt to the customs and social behaviour of the region – not the other way round. In addition to actions and behaviour which are regarded as criminal, there are certain unwritten rules that you must observe in order not to offend the locals.
Greetings
The most common greeting in the Gulf is Salam alaykum (‘Peace be upon you’), to which the correct reply is Wa alaykum as-salam (‘And upon you be peace’).
Things to Remember
Although Alcohol is available to non-Muslims (accept the emirate of Sharjah where it is forbidden), it must never be drunk on the street or offered to the locals. Eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed on the street during the month of fasting called Ramadan.
You should always accept food and drink when it is offered but be sure that you must always use your right hand for drinking and eating, as the left hand is used for toilet purposes and is regarded as unclean.
After handshaking, it’s customary to enquire after the other person’s health and other matters, and you should expect similar enquiries to be directed at you. Don’t enquire after the health of the female members of an Arab’s family, however, but restrict your questions to those regarding the family in general or the sons as this could lead to deeply offending the man of the house.
Dress code
Arabs frown on clothes which reveal the shoulders, arms and legs, and any woman dressing provocatively will be regarded as being of ‘easy virtue’ or perhaps even as a prostitute. In the home, however, when not entertaining close friends or relatives, Arab women often adopt western dress, particularly younger women, and there are no restrictions on the way foreign women may dress in private.
Most Arab women dress according to religious custom, which means that they must cover most of the body, from head to foot. The traditional black over garment is ankle length with long sleeves and a high neckline, and the hair is covered. Some Arab women are totally covered, including their face and hands, especially Saudis and those with strictly religious husbands. Western women must always dress conservatively and in some areas must cover their hair.
Food and Drink
Here are some of the top eats and treats that the UAE has to offer.
Falafel
Falafels are popular in many Middle Eastern countries and have become a common street food in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. To make falafel chickpeas (or fava beans) are ground with a blend of spices before being shaped and deep fried. Usually they’re then topped with pickled vegetables, salads and sauces and served wrapped in a roti-like flatbread.
Shawarma
This is more a style of food preparation than a dish in its own right but it’s hugely popular in the UAE. If a meat is cooked in the shawarma style then strips of the meat and strips of fat are tightly layered or stacked on a skewer (goat, lamb and chicken are typical meats used). The skewer rotates next to a heat source and the meat gradually roasts on all sides. Cooked meat is shaved off the skewer and served in a Roti with salad. This process is now used to create kebabs all over the world!
Al Khabeesah
Popular desserts in the UAE tend to be very sweet and this popular offering is no exception. Flour is heated in a pan until it turns brown. Once browned, rose water, ghee (a type of clarified butter), cardamom and sugar are added. The mixture is cooked out for a little longer then served. Other Arab nations have their own versions of this pudding but the roasted flour gives Al Khabeesah its unique, crumbly texture.
Tabouli
This classic UAE dish not only tastes good but is good for you. Tabouli salad is made by mixing together fresh vibrant ingredients like mint, bulgur wheat, parsley, tomato, olive oil and lemon juice and serving them in a large lettuce leaf. In some areas tabouli is additionally seasoned with allspice and cinnamon.
Luqaimat
These are the UAE version of dumplings. A fermented batter is portioned into small blobs and deep fried. Once cooked and crispy the Luqaimat are drizzled with a sweet syrup (date syrup is a common pairing). Despite the deep frying element there’s even a diet named after these tasty little bites!
Khuzi
This is definitely a dish for a meat lover. Khuzi is a show-stopping dish often served in larger restaurants. A whole lamb is stuffed, roasted and served up on a bed of cooked rice mixed with spices, vegetables and nuts. Perfect for a celebratory feast, but not the sort of meal you’d typically cook at home!
Al Khanfaroosh
This is another sweet dish and one which has a similar flavour to Al Khabeesah. It’s made of several of the same ingredients as the former desert but has a very different texture. Flour is combined with yeast, egg, rose water, saffron, sugar and cardamom. The mixture is left to rest so that the flavours can infuse. After that it’s divided into pieces and fried in ghee. Some recipes call for the flour to be replaced with finely ground rice.