Places to Visit in United Arab Emirates
A federation of seven emirates built on a single generation's transformation from pearl-diving coast to skyline superlatives.
The UAE occupies a desert coastline on the Arabian Gulf with an extreme climate: summer (June-September) regularly exceeds 40°C with high humidity, making outdoor activity impractical outside air-conditioned spaces, while winter (November-March) is genuinely pleasant with daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s°C. Dubai, the most internationally visited emirate, is not the national capital (that is Abu Dhabi) but functions as the country's commercial and tourism hub, connected to Abu Dhabi by a roughly 90-minute motorway drive. The country operates on a Friday-Saturday weekend rather than Saturday-Sunday. Dress codes are more relaxed in tourist and commercial zones than the country's conservative reputation suggests, but modest dress is expected in religious sites and more traditional neighbourhoods, and public displays of affection, public intoxication, and photography of government buildings or local residents without consent are genuinely enforced legal matters, not just cultural suggestions.
Capital
Abu Dhabi
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED)
Time zone
UTC+4 (no daylight saving)
Calling code
+971
Best months
Nov – Mar
Visas and entry
Citizens of many countries including the EU, UK, US, Australia, Canada, and Japan receive a visa on arrival or pre-approved visa (typically 30-90 days) depending on nationality. Other nationalities require a sponsored visa arranged in advance, often through the airline or a local sponsor. All visitors should note the UAE's strict laws on public conduct, alcohol consumption (permitted only in licensed venues), and drug possession, which carry severe penalties even for small quantities including prescription medication not declared in advance.
Where to start in United Arab Emirates
The place ranked first in each of our city guides.