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Travel to United Arab Emirates

     The United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupy a triangle of land and sea on Arabia's eastern flank. It is closely situated to the entrance of the Persian Gulf with extensive coastlines on its west and north facing shores, together with easterly coastline bordering the Arabian Sea.

Capital: Abu Dhabi

Location: The United Arab Emirates (also the UAE or the Emirates) is a Middle Eastern country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, comprising seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajmān, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. UAE borders Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Climate: The climate of the UAE generally is hot and dry. The hottest months are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach above 48°C on the coastal plain. In the Al Hajar al Gharbi Mountains, temperatures are considerably cooler, a result of increased altitude. Average minimum temperatures in January and February are between 10°C and 14°C. During the late summer months, a humid southeastern wind known as the sharqi makes the coastal region especially unpleasant. The average annual rainfall in the coastal area is fewer than 120 millimeters, but in some mountainous areas annual rainfall often reaches 350 millimeters. Rain in the coastal region falls in short, torrential bursts during the summer months, sometimes resulting in floods in ordinarily dry wadi beds.

Terrain: It is a flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; with mountains in the east. Desert land covers over 90% of the country.

Language: Arabic

Currency: Dirham (AED)

Time zone: GMT +4

Internet TLD: .ae

Calling code: +971

Travel agents are beginning to promote the UAE as the hyped 'land of contrasts'. There is some truth in the cliché, for it boasts mountains, beaches, deserts, oases, camel racing, Bedouin markets and the legendary duty free shopping of Dubai, all packed into a relatively small area. If you only visit one country in the Gulf, the UAE is your best choice: it has the most relaxed entry regulations in the region, the best tourist infrastructure and it is extremely accessible to independent budget travellers.

From the world-class hotels and shopping of the big cities to the more laid-back atmosphere of the smaller Emirates, including the cities of Fujairah and Al Ain, the UAE really does live up to its name of a 'world of contrasts'.

More facts about United Arab Emirates:
United Arab Emirates, country profile

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