Abu Dhabi & the Wider Emirates

There’s more to the UAE than the champagne-fuelled clubs and Ferraris of Dubai. Our Middle-East specialists have explored romantic deserts and the museums of Abu Dhabi, lounged on empty beaches on both its coastlines, and played on jaw-dropping golf courses, all in search of the best off-the-well-travelled path experiences in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi

A green and pleasant city, Abu Dhabi has developed at a more relaxed pace than its sister emirate, Dubai. It retains a distinct Emirati feel with lots of cultures to go along with its ultra-luxury hotels, F1 races and famous entertainment attractions like Ferrari World.

There’s a real focus on art in the city with a number of world-class galleries and more in the pipeline including a Guggenheim and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Sport is big in Abu Dhabi too, particularly golf, with some of the world’s most beautiful desert courses nearby.

Ras Al Khaimah

In the far north of the peninsula, Ras Al Khaimah borders Oman’s legendary Musandam region, sharing a similar flair for spectacular geography. Backed by the rolling peaks of the Hajar Mountains and blessed with golden beaches, ‘RAK’ is one of the best places to go ‘off-radar’ in the UAE.

It’s the adventure capital of the UAE and standard tours will include visiting evocative sun-baked desert forts, traversing huge rolling dunes and relaxing at lush oasis springs. RAK also provides a mighty setting for a handful of the region’s premier golf courses.

Fujairah

East of Dubai, sleepy Fujairah offers beautiful beach scenes the rival of Oman’s Gulf coast. Its laid-back vibe lends itself to lazy beach days and some of the most luxurious hotels in the UAE provide accommodation here. Perfect for enjoying a little R&R after visiting Abu Dhabi or Dubai.