Comprised of little more than sand dunes, crumbling forts, and fishing villages a century ago, the United Arab Emirates(UAE) has grown into a show-stopping, headline-grabbing destination which offers an intriguing blend of traditional Islamic culture and rampant consumerism.
Think
of the United Arab Emirates and you visualise luxurious modern cities, high
class hotels and fantastic shopping.
There
are seven emirates in this desert nation which provide a fascinating mix of
modern and ancient lifestyles.
Travellers
revel in the luxurious, glamorous seaside hotels. They marvel at the gleaming
skyscrapers while indulging in a spot of Duty Free shopping. For the more
energetic visitor there are numerous water sports to keep you entertained.
Away
from the bustle of the cities is the desert area (or ‘Empty Quarter’) where you
can get a taste of the traditional Bedouin lifestyle amongst the sand dunes. Or
you can watch the national sport of camel racing.
Probably
the best known of the UAE destinations is Dubai. Here the
new millennium meets the age old Bedouin tradition. This incredible tourism
hotspot is world renowned for its superb shopping-rich cultural life.
The UAE’s capital is Abu
Dhabi. It is a modern, sleek city located on an island and connected to the
mainland by two bridges. Of the
other emirates Sharjah is the
most strictly Muslim. It is an atmospheric region whose capital is a vibrant
centre packed with fascinating museums and shopping in its souks. Its Eastern
Coast is great for snorkelling and diving. In contrast Ras al-Khaimah, on the Northern Coast, is a green and mountainous
emirate, whose capital has retained the feel of an old fishing port.
The
currency in the UAE is the UAE Dirham. Most hotels will exchange foreign
currency plus banks and commercial money changers. American Express, Diners
Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted as are traveller’s cheques.
However, to avoid additional exchange rate charges you are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars for
Sterling.
ATMs
are available to withdraw local currency but you will be charged by your bank
for using them per transaction.
A DAZZLING ABU DHABI DESERT SAFARI
