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United Arab Emirates اﻹﻣﺎرات اﻟﻌرﺑﯾﺔ اﻟﻣﺗﺣدة

United Arab Emirates اﻹﻣﺎرات اﻟﻌرﺑﯾﺔ اﻟﻣﺗﺣدة

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United Arab Emirates اإلمارات العربية المتحدة

Includes  Why Go? Dubai ...... 308 For most people, the means just one ...... 332 place: Dubai, the sci-fi-esque city of iconic skyscrapers, palm- Ras Al Khaimah . . . . . 341 shaped islands, city-sized malls, indoor ski slopes and palatial ...... 345 beach resorts. But beyond the glitter awaits a diverse mosaic of six more emirates, each with its own character and allure. ...... 365 An hour’s drive south, oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the UAE capi- Fujairah City...... 374 tal, is positioning itself as a hub of culture, sport and leisure. Dibba ...... 379 Beyond looms the vast Al Gharbia region, which is dominat- ed by the northern reaches of the Rub’ Al Khali . Its magical silence is interrupted only by the whisper of shifting rolling towards . North of Dubai, Sharjah does art and heritage best, while Best Places for tiny Ajman and Umm Al Quwain provide glimpses of life Culture in the pre-oil days, and Ras Al Khaimah snuggles against ¨¨Sheikh Zayed Grand the mighty Hajar Mountains. For the best swimming and Mosque (p351) diving, though, head across the range to Fujairah to frolic in the clear waters of the Gulf of Oman. ¨¨Sharjah Heritage Museum (p332) ¨¨Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding When to Go (p313) UAE ¨¨Deira Souqs (p311) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 45/113 1/25 ¨¨Sharjah Museum of Islamic 36/97 0.8/20 Civilisation (p333) 27/80 0.6/15

18/64 0.4/10

Best Places for 9/90 0.2/5 Nature 0/32 0 J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Liwa (p370) ¨¨Sir Bani (p372) Nov–Mar Moder- Mar–May & Oct Jun–Sep Hot and ate temps, higher Hot days, balmy humid, steep hotel ¨¨Al Ain Zoo (p366) room rates, major nights, good for discounts; life ¨¨East Coast (p375) festivals and beach vacations; moves indoors; ¨¨Jebel Jais Mountain Road events; good for desert camping summer sales; (p342) outdoor activities. still OK. good for diving.  United Arab Emirates 305

971 Dh2.62 Dh9.74 Dh3.95 Dh12.10 Dh9.53 Dh1 Dh0.97 Dh5.59 Dh3.67 (www. GSM %

9.5 million 9.5 Arabic UAE dirham UAE (www.zomato.

A$1 BD1 €1 KD1 OR1 QR1 SR1 £1 US$1 Abu Dhabi Abu ATMs are None required for for required None User-generated User-generated Zomato UAE Ministry ofUAE Planet Lonely Country Code Language Population Visas Capital Currency phones Mobile Money ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Australia Bahrain Euro Euro zone Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Saudi Arabia UK USA 45 nationalities 45 network is widespread is network restaurant reviews around around reviews restaurant the UAE. com) ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ For current rates exchange For see www.xe.com. Resources (www.uaeinteract.com) Exchange Rates At a Glance Fast Facts lonelyplanet.com/uae) Destination info, hotel hotel info, Destination booking and forum. Covers just about every every about just Covers aspect of life in the UAE. Information Culture & (Dh) common in urban areas - - - , - Her Ferrari . Central Central ouk Al Bahar Al ouk S , then head up then head , Al Qasba Al . The next day, take take day, next The . ) or chicken mixed with , zoom around around zoom , maleh Big Bus tour Bus Big at sunset (book ahead), take a spin take (book ahead), at sunset and have dinner in and have . For total contrast, dip into the desert the desert dip into contrast, total For . Dubai Fountain Dubai s Food & DrinkFood ie , stocking up on souvenirs at the souvenirs up on stocking , Salt-cured fish ( fish Salt-cured A casserole of spice-laced rice and boiled meat ar Vermicelli blends with sugar syrup, saffron, syrup, sugar with blends Vermicelli Dubai MallDubai r Mutton-flavoured broth with bread; popular at at popular bread; with broth Mutton-flavoured and learn about the new Cultural District on Cultural about the new and learn Ground wheat and lamb slow cooked until creamy Burj Khalifa and enjoying dinner in bubbly and enjoying Stuffed whole roasted lamb on a bed of spiced rice. e n i aadiyat Islandaadiyat heikh Zayed Grand Mosque next to face a huge , magical silence and plenty of of and plenty silence magical dune, a huge face to next up with a Wrap trip. on an overnight preferably camels, sites. heritage Unesco-recognised Ain and its Al in day around around with a view of the of with a view jah before heading south to Abu Dhabi to marvel at the marvel Abu Dhabi to to south heading jah before S S itage Area Week One Shar retro and one in Dubai in futuristic days Spend two If you’re in the UAE just on a short layover, base yourself yourself base layover, just on a short in the UAE If you’re one checking Spend day area. Dubai in the Downtown on a sights the iconic off It to the the to a cab to Sharjah for a glimpse into the past in the the past into a glimpse Sharjah for to a cab Souq World Two Days Makbous Khuzi Madrooba Fareed Hareis Balaleet ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ rosewater and sauteed onions in this rich breakfast staple. ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Restaurants servingRestaurants but, thank food used to be rare Emirati this is changing. do getchance, try a If you these typ fully, ical dishes, and don’t miss out on the succulent local dates! Essential The sky’s the limit when it comes to spending money it comes to limit when the in the The sky’s expenses example down, for to keep possible but it’s UAE, hotel, where a midrange for glitzy five-stars the by forgoing standard to Dh600. A glass of can be had for Dh400 doubles but will costbeer or wine respectively, around Dh30 or Dh50, meal for can geta nice two-course you stick to water, if you costs just to go Dh4. Museums and a shwarma around Dh70, but expectare free or cheap, guided Dh200 and up for to pay other big attractions. parks and to water tours and admission Daily Costs raw bread dough until thick. (usually lamb) or fish garnished with nuts, raisins and fried onions. Ramadan. bit like(a porridge); sometimes called the ‘national dish’.

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