Language · 11 published
Country guide
The United Arab Emirates has been one country since 2 December 1971, when seven emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah — federated. It covers 83,600 km² and held 11,027,129 people in 2024, of whom about 11 per cent are Emirati citizens; the rest came to work, and that shapes the food, the languages and the shape of a week more than any monument does. Abu Dhabi is the capital and Dubai the largest city, close enough to treat as one base. The northern emirates beyond them are quieter and far less built.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · Tim Reckmann from Hamm, Deutschland · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photograph · Валерий Дед · CC BY 3.0
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
30 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
برج خليفة
Burj Khalifa is the 828-metre tower that Emaar opened in Downtown Dubai on 4 January 2010, and what a visitor actually buys a ticket to is a small part of it.
دبي مول
Dubai Mall stands on Financial Centre Road in Downtown Dubai, at the foot of Burj Khalifa, and its operator Emaar describes it as the most visited retail and lifestyle destination in the world, welcoming over 100 million visitors a year.
نافورة دبي
The Dubai Fountain is a choreographed water and light show staged on the Burj Lake, the artificial lake that lies between the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar in Downtown Dubai.
Deira Gold Souk
Deira Gold Souk is an open-air jewellery market in Al Ras, at the northern end of Deira, a few hundred metres back from the Dubai Creek waterfront.
حي الفهيدي التاريخي
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood stands on the Bur Dubai bank of Dubai Creek, a few streets of low coral-stone houses left standing while the rest of the city went vertical.
Deira Clocktower is a prominent roundabout monument located in the Deira district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
قصر الوطن
Qasr Al Watan is a working presidential palace in Abu Dhabi that opened to public visitors in 2019. Its name means “Palace of the Nation,” and the attraction combines national symbolism with ceremonial architecture and cultural interpretation.
دبي باركس
Dubai Parks and Resorts is a large integrated leisure destination in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It encompasses multiple theme parks and entertainment zones within one complex.
موقع ساروق الحديد الأثري
Saruq Al Hadid Archaeological Site is an important archaeological location in Dubai emirate. Finds from the site connect it with ancient metallurgy, craft production and trade.
سوق دبي للمنسوجات
Dubai Textile Souk, known locally as سوق دبي للمنسوجات, is a traditional market located in the Bur Dubai district near the Dubai Creek.
موقع جميرا الأثري
Jumeirah Archaeological Site is a place of archaeological and historical interest in Dubai’s Jumeirah area. It represents evidence of past human activity and settlement within a district now known for modern urban development.
موقع الصفوح الأثري
Al Sufouh Archaeological Site is a heritage location in western Dubai, in the Al Sufouh area near the coastline between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
حصن الفهيدي
Al Fahidi Fort, known locally as حصن الفهيدي, stands as Dubai's oldest existing building. Constructed in 1787, this coral-stone and mortar fortification served defensive purposes before later uses as a palace, garrison, and prison.
Al Ahmadiya School is a historic educational institution in Dubai, representing the emirate's early commitment to formal schooling. Established in the early twentieth century, it served as a pioneering centre of learning during a transformative period in the region's development.
Al-Oshoosh Archeological Site
Al-Ashoosh, locally known as the Al-Oshoosh Archeological Site, is an archaeological location in the Dubai emirate.
Maqta Fort
Maqta Fort, also known locally as Qal'at al-Maqta, is a compact historic defensive structure beside the Maqta crossing between Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland.
بحيرات القدرة
Al Qudra Lakes is a man-made desert oasis in Dubai’s Dubailand area, where interconnected bodies of water sit among open arid plains.
Al Seef Dubai is a waterfront destination along Dubai Creek, developed as a mixed-use leisure and retail precinct. The area blends contemporary architecture with design elements evoking traditional Emirati heritage.
Al Shandagah Watch Tower is a historic defensive structure in Dubai’s Al Shandagah area. It represents the watchtowers that helped protect coastal settlements and monitor movement along the Arabian Gulf.
Al Sufouh Umm an-Nar Tomb is a Bronze Age burial monument in Dubai’s Al Sufouh area. The tomb belongs to the Umm an-Nar cultural tradition, which flourished in the third millennium BCE around the Arabian Gulf.
Aura Skypool is an elevated pool venue located in Dubai, positioned high above the city with panoramic views across the skyline and surrounding waters. The attraction functions as a swimming and leisure destination combining pool access with observation-level vantage points.
AYA is an immersive visitor attraction in Dubai, designed around experience-led entertainment rather than a conventional museum collection. The name identifies a contemporary stop within the city’s large portfolio of leisure destinations.
Bluewaters Island is a man-made island development off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. It is primarily known as the location of Ain Dubai, one of the world's largest observation wheels.
حي دبي للتصميم
Dubai Design District, known locally as حي دبي للتصميم, is a purpose-built creative quarter in Dubai dedicated to design, fashion, and arts.
The Founder's Memorial is a permanent national tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the United Arab Emirates. Located on Abu Dhabi Corniche, the memorial encompasses a landscaped public park and cultural destination.
Heritage House is a cultural attraction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It forms part of the city's efforts to preserve and present traditional Emirati architecture and domestic life.
Wahat Al Karama
Wahat Al Karama is a war memorial and monument site in Abu Dhabi, situated opposite Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Its name translates to Oasis of Dignity.
Observation Deck at 300 is the enclosed level-74 viewpoint inside Tower 2 of Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers.
Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi's oldest building, the ancestral home of the Al Nahyan family and the symbolic centre from which the city developed.
Surf Abu Dhabi is a controlled-wave surf venue on Hudayriyat Island, built around a bookable surf basin rather than an open beach break.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
Six to eight days is enough for roughly four days in Dubai and two or three in Abu Dhabi. Sharjah can be a separate museum day, while Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah requires dedicated road time rather than being treated as a quick urban extension.
UAE entry permission depends on nationality and may be arranged in advance or granted under a nationality-specific rule. Confirm the current position through the federal ICP service or the responsible UAE embassy, especially for a stopover itinerary.
Dubai combines metro, tram, buses, and marine transport; Abu Dhabi relies more heavily on buses and taxis. Travel between emirates remains road-based, so allow for an intercity bus, taxi, or rental car rather than expecting a passenger train.
November through March gives the most practical outdoor hours for this Dubai-Abu Dhabi route. In hotter months, schedule waterfront and heritage districts early or late and reserve the middle of the day for indoor museums.
The United Arab Emirates uses the dirham (AED). Cards are widely useful in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but retain an AED backup for smaller fares or deposits and check which currency a card terminal proposes.
Police in the UAE can be reached on 999 and ambulance services on 998. Type G sockets supply 230 V; tap-water guidance is not recorded here, so ask the accommodation for the building-specific position.
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