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United Arab Emirates,
The rest of the Emirates
The rest of the Emirates: -
The Desert: A spectacular and varied wilderness of magnificent red dunes and stark mountains with pockets of green oases. It is possible to meet the nomadic Bedu folk, whose hospitality is famous, and to watch camel races at dawn.
Excursions: Includes visits to Bedu villages and to the stunning white sand dunes at Awir, where there is a national park. There is a selection of ‘safari’ holidays available.
The East Coast: This impressive stretch of lush coastline makes a dramatic change after the desert, with steep mountains, unspoilt sandy bays and beaches, ancient fortresses and date palm groves sloping down to the edge of the Indian Ocean with its host of marine life. Scuba diving and snorkelling are very popular here and many forms of watersports are available at the hotels.
Excursions: Includes visits to the resorts of Dibba and Fujairah, where there is a museum, a Necropolis, an old fort and, nearby, many small mountain villages.
The Northern Emirates: This region has undergone a dramatic transformation since the discovery of natural gas in 1980 and there has been a considerable amount of expansion in the commercial sector. Sharjah is an excellent shopping centre, with its new souk containing hundreds of shops. There is also an ancient fort and heritage museum.
Excursions: Include visits to Ras al-Khaimah, where there is an old seaport with spectacular views over the coast and the Hajar Mountains; and also visits to the Dhaid and Khatt oases, the latter with mineral springs. There are also trips available to the natural harbour at Dibba and the beautiful Khor Kalba, one of the most famous shell beaches in the world. The archaeological site at Mileiha (in Sharjah itself) dates back to the 4th century BC; 80-million-year-old fossils are to be seen here. Other archaeological sites include Dur at Umm al-Qaiwain where Hellenic ruins can be seen (210-100 BC), the Drabhaniya ruins in Ras al-Khaimah and the Zaura ruins in Ajman. Important resort areas are Khor Fakkan, which has excellent beaches and watersports facilities and Khalid Lagoon (an aquatic park with several islands and a miniature theme park).
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