Located at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates is a young country—formed only 40 years ago—but it has an ancient history, with the area’s first inhabitants settling here more than 7,000 years ago. Ruled successively by the Portuguese, Saudi, and British over the last 5,000 years, the seven emirates, or states, that make up the UAE banded together in 1971 to declare independence.
The UAE capital is Abu Dhabi, and although the region was originally settled 5,000 years ago, this is one of the world’s most modern cities, with high-rise skyscrapers, large shopping malls, tree-lined streets, and many public parks and gardens in which to cool off in the heat of the day. The city’s waterfront district is amazing; with a walkway that runs for several miles, and beaches scattered along its length, it’s a popular place for tourists and locals alike to gather, especially when the temperature cools in the evenings.
The city of Dubai is just as modern and impressive as Abu Dhabi, and it’s much more of a tourist town, which means there’s more to see, do, and be amazed by within the city. There are bustling shopping districts, like Satwa and the historic Gold Souk, a literally dazzling market where large amounts of high-quality gold are bought and sold. There are many modern shopping malls too, many of which are overwhelmingly large—including The Dubai Mall, containing more than 1,200 shops. There are many things to see and do outside the city too, from desert day-trips, to relaxing on sun-soaked beaches, or hot-air ballooning to see the city and desert from above. One of the more unusual things you can do in Dubai—and most other large cities—is see the weekend camel races that are held during the winter months. Camel racing as a sport is just as popular here as horse racing is in other parts of the world, and there are several locations near the city where races are held.
The UAE is hot throughout much of the year, with average city temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius from June through to September, and in the high teens and low 20s between October and March. With plenty of sunshine and low rainfall all year round, it’s generally more comfortable to visit during the cooler months.
Located at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates is a young country—formed only 40 years ago—but it has an ancient history, with the area’s first inhabitants settling here more than 7,000 years ago. Ruled successively by the Portuguese, Saudi, and British over the last 5,000 years, the seven emirates, or states, that make up the UAE banded together in 1971 to declare independence.
The UAE capital is Abu Dhabi, and although the region was originally settled 5,000 years ago, this is one of the world’s most modern cities, with high-rise skyscrapers, large shopping malls, tree-lined streets, and many public parks and gardens in which to cool off in the heat of the day. The city’s waterfront district is amazing; with a walkway that runs for several miles, and beaches scattered along its length, it’s a popular place for tourists and locals alike to gather, especially when the temperature cools in the evenings.
The city of Dubai is just as modern and impressive as Abu Dhabi, and it’s much more of a tourist town, which means there’s more to see, do, and be amazed by within the city. There are bustling shopping districts, like Satwa and the historic Gold Souk, a literally dazzling market where large amounts of high-quality gold are bought and sold. There are many modern shopping malls too, many of which are overwhelmingly large—including The Dubai Mall, containing more than 1,200 shops. There are many things to see and do outside the city too, from desert day-trips, to relaxing on sun-soaked beaches, or hot-air ballooning to see the city and desert from above. One of the more unusual things you can do in Dubai—and most other large cities—is see the weekend camel races that are held during the winter months. Camel racing as a sport is just as popular here as horse racing is in other parts of the world, and there are several locations near the city where races are held.
The UAE is hot throughout much of the year, with average city temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius from June through to September, and in the high teens and low 20s between October and March. With plenty of sunshine and low rainfall all year round, it’s generally more comfortable to visit during the cooler months.
