The city, that
developed itself from a small village of fishermen on the Dubai Channel,
presents itself nowadays as a fascinating metropolis that faces the Persian
Gulf. The characteristic skyscrapers and the gigantic malls astonish every
visitor. If, on one side, it is becoming the point of reference of the modern
architecture lovers, on the other side, it still preserves a traditional soul
like Bastakyia, the old district of the
city, the only one that conserves the wind towers, like the famous Spices Souk
and the Al-Fahid Fort. To enjoy a nice view of the city it is recommendable to
take one of the famous local water taxis, called “Abras”, to cross the Dubai
Channel. In Jumeirag is found the majestic Mosque, one of the best examples of
the modern Islamic architecture in the Middle East and it is maybe the most
photographed building of the whole city. The mosque is entirely composed of
stone in the Fatimida medieval style. Between the modern wonders stand out some
of the most famous resorts in the world, like the Burj Al Arab, with the
unmistakable sail shape, Palm Islands, a complex of artificial islands created
to host the luxury tourism, the hotels and the princely residences that face
the Dubai navy. In conclusion the wonder sense will be satisfied with the two
popular attractions of this continuously renewing city: the Burj Khlifa, the
spectacular highest tower in the world and the Ski Dubai, a ski station! It is
found in the inside of the gigantic Mall of Emirates.
The name of
the city means “Gazelle’s father” and coincides with the Emirate of the same
name, the largest one among the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the capital
of the country even though it is less populated than Dubai (1.596.263 people).
The main attraction is the corniche, the seafront pointed with public parks and
fountains, that extends for almost six kilometers along the coast, very
appreciated both from tourists and residents, to have walks in the evenings.
Other interesting places are The Great Mosque of the Zayed sheik and the Heritage
Village, that offers a glance over the life and the history of the Emirate
before the petrol era. The malls and the hotels like the famous Emirated Palace
are splendid. Abu Dhabi gains its fame also thanks to the Formula 1, hosting a
Grand Prix and a thematic park dedicated to the Ferraris, that became one of
the main touristic attractions.
Al Ain,
421.948 inhabitants, it is the fourth largest city of the country and is found
at the border with the Oman. Situated on the Hajjar mountains, it is one of the
oldest cities of the United Arab Emirates. Some of its oasis and archeological
sites have been inserted in the list of the World Heritage of UNESCO. The oasi
of Al Ain has been an important stage for all the caravans, that followed the
old commercial routes through the Saudi Arabia. Here there is the camel market,
the biggest one of the United Arab Emirates. You should see the Al Ain Palace,
that has been transformed nowadays into a museum and that was once the
residence of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, the
Jahli Fort, one of the biggest castles of Al Ain and the best example of local
Islamic military architecture.
Founded in
3000 b.C. it is the oldest city of the UAE and is considered the cultural
capital of the country, known as “the Pearl of the Gulf”. The place we
recommend visiting are the Re Faisal Mosque, the restructured fort, once the
residence of the Royal Family, and the Sharjah Heritage Museum that guards the
tradition and the culture of the Emirates. You can’t miss the colored Souk Al
Arsa.
This beautiful
city beach has been signed with the prestigious blue flag. It is divided into
the part for families and singles (paid admission) and the public beach (free).
There are protection barriers at 40 m from the beach and assistant services for
bathers.
It is the
most popular beach in Dubai, also known as the Russian Beach because of the
great presence of Russian tourists. White sand, the best equipment, there are
also cycle and jogging lanes.
The reserve
occupies 225 m2 and presents the typical inner desert ecosystem:
over 57 plant species, 120 bird ones and 43 mammals and reptiles. During these
last years the effort to create a protected environment for the desert flora
and fauna has been multiplied.
1240 m
tall, it is the highest peak in the UAE. On the top of it what dominates the
landscape are Al Ain and the boundary with Oman. You can climb up to the top by
foot or by car following a 14-km path.
Irrigated
with the traditional “falaj” channels, also used near the Oman, it extends for
1200 hectares and hosts over 47.000 date plants. There are various marked paths
in the inside that you can easily follow by foot.
