Have you ever wondered what will happen toa desert if you "water" it with gold? Do you think this is an allegory? Then go to the United Arab Emirates. A mysterious and beautiful example of what a person is sometimes capable of in his quest for perfection and in the presence of inexhaustible wealth. In no other country will you get more convincing evidence. Now it is impossible to believe that 50 years ago, in the place of modern cities and comfortable resorts, a sultry desert reigned, the only full-fledged inhabitants of which were Bedouins on their camels. Water was more valuable than gold, and there was nothing and no one to fight the sand. Foreign investors believed that investing in the desert was tantamount to throwing money down the drain. But since oil was discovered in the United Arab Emirates, the country has begun to transform before our eyes. As if by magic, the lifeless landscapes gave way to modern cities, cities of contrasts and harmonious juxtapositions of phenomena that at first glance seem incompatible. Snow-white mosques and soaring skyscrapers of business centers. Asphalt highways cutting through yellow sands stretching beyond the horizon, and palm groves of blessed oases. Modest hijabs of eastern women, under which there may well be a dress from the latest Armani collection, and beach dresses of numerous tourists. In a relatively short period of time, the practically lifeless part of the Arabian Peninsula has turned into a dream for any tourist and a fairy tale come true for local residents.
In a strange monastery, or rules of conduct for a tourist
When planning a trip, you mustapply for a visa and health insurance, book a hotel room or get an invitation from a UAE citizen, make a copy of your credit card or a certificate in English that your bank account has enough funds to stay in the country. All these are the usual preparations typical for visiting many countries. But this country has several peculiarities. Despite the fairly loyal attitude towards people of other faiths, the main religion in the country is Islam. Therefore, numerous tourists who have chosen the United Arab Emirates as their holiday destination should remember that there are special rules and norms of behavior that it would be a good idea to study and follow in order to avoid various misunderstandings:
- It is not recommended to walk around the city in a provocative or overly open, transparent clothing.
- Public kisses and hugs are best leftfor more secluded places. For example, for your number. And even more so, no sex on the beach. This completely contradicts moral norms and is punishable by law. There have been cases when too enthusiastic newlyweds were arrested for kissing on the street.
- Foul language is also punishable in any of theemirates, for an indecent gesture can be fined. However, profanity is a clear indicator of the low cultural development of a person, such travelers can develop an unflattering opinion about all tourists in general.
- Communicate with local women carefully. Remember the difference in culture and upbringing. And even more so do not take in head to show signs of attention and make ambiguous hints. When photographing local attractions, keep in mind that some buildings and military facilities are prohibited from taking photographs. And if you want to have a photo of a local resident looking particularly colorful, ask him for permission to shoot. Maximum politeness will help you avoid unnecessary trouble.
- If you are not legally married, if you chooserooms in the hotel you should stay in a room with two separate beds: sex before marriage in this state is prohibited. The same goes for homosexual couples. Homosexuality in the Emirates is prohibited and prosecuted by law.
- Smoking is allowed only in strictly designated places and is unacceptable on the street, so before smoking, think about whether a cigarette is worth a huge fine.
- For violation of traffic rules (for example, crossing the street in the wrong place), a pedestrian must pay a fine of $ 130.
- The use and distribution of drugs -gross violation of the law. Therefore, any person suspected of using drugs or banned from importing drugs into the UAE is subject to arrest. We strongly advise that before you go on vacation, check out the list of drugs that are not allowed to be imported.
Some of the rules look quite strangefor residents of European countries, but you need to respect the laws and moral standards of the country where you are going to spend your vacation. And then you will not have any problems. It is quite difficult to choose which of the Emirates to visit, each of them is a tourist's dream. Remember the catchphrase from the movie that "Greece has everything"? Well, translated into the UAE, it will sound like: "here is everything you could wish for, and a little more of what you could not even dream of." And what is especially valuable for numerous tourists is that a vacation in the United Arab Emirates is good at any time of the year.
Abu Dhabi - the luxury of the East
The largest Emirate, Abu Dhabi,is also the richest city on the planet. Under the yellow sands of the desert there is so much oil that all the neighboring emirates combined could not even dream of. For all 50 years that oil has been extracted here, the income from its sales has been divided among all the indigenous residents of Abu Dhabi. There are not many of them, only 420 thousand indigenous Arabs, and the capital of each of them today is 17 million dollars. This figure is breathtaking. But the level of prosperity has not affected the character of the locals. True oriental hospitality, leisurely life, the absence of a desire to compete to see who is the best here - this is what an outside observer will see. All the attractions in Abu Dhabi, both cultural and related to the achievements of modern civilization, are located on Yas Island. Numerous tourists and travelers will not have to cross the endless expanses of the hot desert to admire them. Here are some of them. The Yas Marina Circuit is the venue for the final round of the Formula 1 World Championship. Anyone can drive along the more than five-kilometer track in their free time. The Auto Museum, or to be more precise, the personal collection of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, has more than 200 cars, each of which can be touched and examined with all possible attention. Ferrari World is a tribute to the famous representative of the Italian automobile industry, a real Disney Land for adults, which any representative of the strong half of humanity, regardless of age, will certainly want to visit. Undoubtedly, the most grandiose building in the capital of the United Arab Emirates is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Truly, if there is a standard of Arabian luxury, then it is the mosque. A person who first sees the snow-white domes and numerous turrets of the mosque will easily feel like a hero of Arabian fairy tales. It is not for nothing that the largest carpet and the largest chandelier in the world are located here, which is duly registered in the Guinness Book of Records. The "Gate of the Capital", the unique leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Park, Heritage Square - these are just a few treasures in the crown of the capital of the UAE. In order to describe them all, you will need the eloquence of Scheherazade and 1001 nights. But if you are in Abu Dhabi, try to visit each of them.
Dubai, or snow in the middle of the desert
Despite the fact that the main part of the receiptoil is considered to be the state treasury in the UAE, in recent years a trend has clearly emerged when the profit from the tourism business is approaching the income from black gold. And this is largely due to the Emirate of Dubai. Even the most spoiled tourist will not find anything to complain about. In Dubai, everything possible has been done so that every visitor speaks with delight about their vacation in this truly blessed Mecca for tourists. If you think you know everything about the luxury of the East, go to the Gold Souk. And you will understand that it is difficult to fit kilometers of jewelry, kilograms of precious stones and piles of gold into your understanding of luxury. By the way, it is relatively inexpensive here and of very high standard. The main thing is to stop in time and not spend all your savings. Numerous lovers of sales simply cannot pass by the Dubai Outlet Mall. Fashionistas from all over the world come here at the end of January and the beginning of February to get their hands on clothes from famous brands, because on sale days all this costs “ridiculous” money. Can you imagine a ski resort in the middle of the desert? In Dubai, as in any oriental fairy tale, everything is possible! Of course, the quality of the ski slopes in Dubai Ski is significantly inferior to Courchevel, but it is worth coming here, at least to see for yourself that snow in the desert is not a fairy tale, but a reality. The Spice Market, the famous singing fountain, Burd Al Arab (the only 7-star hotel in the world), Al Mamzar Park and Palm Jumeirah - artificial islands, the Burja Khalifa skyscraper, Dubai Mall with the world's largest aquarium, where you can easily arrange diving with sharks. The list of things to see in Dubai is long. If your goal is a vacation with oriental comfort, go to Dubai.
Fujairah is an oasis of solitude
All for whom the United Arab Emirates isRelaxing on crowded beaches or walking under the "supervision" of numerous skyscrapers, are unlikely to appreciate the beauty and solitude of the emirate of Fujairah. Here you will not see the majestic creations of modern civilization. This is the youngest emirate. It is practically devoid of skyscrapers, but it is the only one washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean. And the unusual landscape of green oases, separated by rocky ridges, resembles a green-haired giant, which someone combed with a fine-toothed comb. Snoopy Island, Shark Island and Martini Rock have long been chosen for their dives by divers from all over the world. Many exotic fish, underwater caves, huge lobsters, sharks, moray eels - this is an incomplete list of what is worthy of attention. They even say that Allah endowed the coast of Fujairah with such a picturesque bottom and a rich underwater world in an attempt to compensate for the lack of oil and gas in this emirate. But those who have ever visited this cozy corner believe that it is a more valuable gift than multi-ton deposits of minerals. If you have never tried lobster, be sure to do it here. Only in the restaurants and eateries of Fujairah can you try real lobster and many other seafood dishes. Ain Al Madhab Gardens, a national park with mineral springs, is located at the very foot of the Al Ain Mountains. It is believed that by plunging into the waters of the springs (there are separate pools for men and women), you can cure many diseases. Lovers of antiquity will not have enough time to explore historical treasures. Fort Fujairah, the ethnographic museum and the Ottoman mosque will tell you about the years of resistance of the Arabs to the expansion of the British.
Ajman - in cramped, yes, no offense
Ajman is the least developed by tourists and, at the same time,time, the smallest emirate. Those who like to be a pioneer will undoubtedly find their charm in this almost virgin corner. Here are mineral springs of the purest water, which supplies the whole country, and water in the desert is valued no less than black gold. Horse racing fans will have the opportunity to see with their own eyes what camel racing is. Quite an exotic spectacle. Arabs, despite the apparent swagger and composure, are a gambling people. Divers will also find something to do. The coastal strip of Ajman is not inferior to Fujairah in the richness of the underwater world. Along it, beaches stretch for almost 600 kilometers. The famous shipyards and the museum of sailing ships from the time of Sinbad the Sailor: in Ajman you will have the opportunity not only to see these luxurious ships with your own eyes, but also to ride them. All that remains is to imagine yourself with a curved sabre in your hand and in gold-embroidered clothing – a fascinating excursion into the past!
Umm Al Quwain - rest, accessible to all
This emirate can be called, without any dissent,a dream of any tourist. The thing is that a vacation here is available to anyone, regardless of the size of the wallet. Unlike large Dubai and Abu Dhabi, designed for tourists with wealth, Umm Al Quwain has quite democratic prices. But, despite this, the level of service is very high. If you are just going to relax, then you will undoubtedly make the right choice by going here. The coast here is no less picturesque. And isolation from the rest of the country has allowed to preserve all the wealth of the original culture, almost without changing the usual way of life of the local population. You can see with your own eyes how numerous fishermen's boats go for their catch every day. Cozy cafes and restaurants will replace noisy bars for lovers of quiet secluded relaxation. And the excursion program will delight you with an abundance of historical values. You can talk about the beaches of Umm Al Quwain for hours, as well as about the diversity of flora and fauna; but in order to get a true idea of them, you need to visit here at least once.
Sharjah - the fusion of ages
The most orthodox of all the emirates.Here you will not only not see any alcohol in the shops and on the bars, but you will also be punished if you try to bring it with you. What can you do? This is the price for the opportunity to visit this emirate. Sharjah has a rich history. It is called the architectural capital of the emirates. Early trade with Persia began from these shores. Which, undoubtedly, is reflected in numerous historical monuments. But do not think that all architectural monuments here belong to the past. In Sharjah, historical monuments and high-rise buildings of modern times are intricately intertwined. Thus, on the Government Square rises the Monument to Progress, symbolizing respect for the laws of Allah and the desire for progressive development. The only thing that is worth noting is the religious orientation of most of the monuments. By the way, numerous bazaars (and their buildings are also architectural monuments) are the richest in the Emirates.
Ras Al Khaimah - a holiday worthy of the queen
It is the northernmost of all seven emirates, oneof the greenest and most beautiful places for recreation. Ras al-Khaimah is a blooming oasis between the sea and the mountains. An unusually mild climate, gentle sun and exotic dishes of Arabic cuisine - this is what, in addition to sightseeing, attracts tourists. Currently, archaeological excavations are actively carried out in the emirate. According to the legend that tourists hear when they get to Ras al-Khaimah, the Queen of Sheba herself chose its lands for her vacation, following Solomon. So, you can imagine how many centuries this emirate is. If you wish, you can go on an excursion and see the excavations of the ancient city of Julfar, which was once the center of the pearl trade. Pearls have long been gone here, but the country is flourishing today. In the western, old part of the capital of the emirate, there is the National Museum. Here you can also immerse yourself in the world of antiquities, see objects of ancient life, bronze and ancient jewelry, fragments of ancient amphorae, vessels for burning incense. And another undoubted asset of this place is the hot healing springs of Hatta. The water flows directly from the springs into the pool for taking baths. At the very beginning of our article, we said that the United Arab Emirates is a real Klondike for those who understand a lot about rest. And any, even the shortest trip, can enrich you with a set of such vivid impressions and emotions that cannot be bought even for gold. We recommend reading:
