Useful tips Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and others. Which emirate to choose? Sharjah or Fujairah: which is better Ras al Khaimah or Fujairah what to choose

You did the right thing.

The UAE is a small state in Southeast Asia, located on the Arabian Peninsula, washed by the azure waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs. There are only 7 emirates in the UAE, but each emirate has its own merits and can open up a whole world to tourists, from ancient Arabia with its Bedouin settlements and old markets in the desert or mountains to giant skyscrapers and ultra-modern projects.

The flight takes about 5 hours. Each state has an airport, but international flights mainly land in the emirates of, and. At passport control you must show a visa, which is issued 5 to 2 days before the trip, and undergo a retinal scan. And your vacation begins...

I would like to immediately warn tourists about observing rules of decency in this country: appear in public in modest clothing, do not show personal feelings or behave provocatively in public.

Firstly, this shopper's paradise. Even if you do not consider yourself a “shopaholic,” the desire to purchase beautiful, high-quality items at competitive prices is hardly alien to you. Wherever you stay, almost every hotel will take you to the largest shopping centers in Sharjah or Dubai. The largest is Mall of the Emirates, there is everything and everyone, for any request and for any budget: from world-famous mid-range stores to boutiques of the world's leading designers. Dubai Outlet Mall, a shopping center that reached its peak of popularity during the financial crisis, here you can buy everything that was recently sold in the best stores and boutiques of the city at dumping prices. The new Dubai Mall is so huge that it is simply impossible to explore it in one go! The only French department store in the region, Galleries Lafayette, is located here. For entertainment lovers, there is the largest aquarium, an underwater zoo, an ice skating rink and a children's center.

Secondly, if you want to enjoy holiday on the Persian Gulf coast, there is a huge selection of hotels from luxurious 5* on the palm tree to more budget ones in . For those planning a family vacation, I would like to recommend the emirate of Fujairah, which is washed by the Gulf of Oman of the Indian Ocean: wide sandy beaches, nice large areas, and many hotels operate on an All inclusive system, which Russian tourists really like.

Fujairah

Of all the Emirates, I would highlight the emirate. These are picturesque landscapes, gentle sea, mountains and coral reefs.

Dubai

As for hotels in the emirate. If we want to save on a tour and the purpose of the trip is shopping, in this case there are many options from 2* hotels to 4* and 5* hotels. Although even cheap hotels in the UAE are quite comfortable, living conditions vary markedly, and if possible, it is better not to skimp and stay in good 3-4* hotels. Such as , . Among the high-level 5* hotels for beach and family holidays, I can highlight - it is located on the west coast of the Palm Jumeirah island. The hotel's interior is in Turkish style, numerous columns are covered with gold leaf, there is a theater, a cinema, a night club, many a la carte restaurants, it is located on the first line from the sea, for SPA lovers there is an excellent Talise Ottoman Spa center, separate men's and women's sections, saunas and steam rooms, snow room, hydrotherapy rooms with bathtubs, floating beds and Vichy showers and much more.

Turkish chain of high-level hotels. Modern hotel design and architecture define the style of the RIXOS hotel. The complex has several restaurants, bars, and recreation areas with stunning views of the Persian Gulf. Guests can take advantage of the free shuttle service to the shopping centre, or take the Rixos Water Taxi into the city. For younger guests, the resort has a children's club called Rixy Club, where a child's personal RIXOS passport is issued upon check-in. Many free services, such as: Cinema on the beach, Yoga, Pilates, aqua aerobics, Step, Zumba, Fitness, Aerobics, Sauna, Steam room, Jacuzzi, Turkish hammam, Beach volleyball, etc.

A huge hotel located in the center of the “crown” of the palm island. The hotel is definitely family friendly. This is its own thematic water park and entertainment center with boutiques and shops, one of the world's largest artificial marine ecosystems, inhabited by 65 thousand marine animals, a unique underwater labyrinth, walking through which you can see the ruins of the sunken Atlantis. Lots of restaurants, a nightclub, a huge water park. The only negative of the hotel is the beach.

Finally, it must be said that the UAE is suitable for almost every tourist. There you can find chic shopping and good beaches. Here you can find budget hotels and magnificent palaces. But, finding yourself far from home, it is worth remembering that each country has its own amazing characteristics, morals and customs. Without knowing about them, and also not sufficiently fluent in foreign languages, it is better not to go on a “solo voyage”. I will be happy to advise on hotels and share my impressions with you. Enjoy your stay in the UAE and see you at the office.

The import of narcotic substances into the country is prohibited, including cadeine-containing drugs (painkillers), so carefully check your first aid kits and take a prescription from a doctor for your medications in order to avoid problems (prison), although this happens very rarely, customs for European tourists almost doesn't seem to find fault.

It is also prohibited to drink alcohol in public places, with the exception of special places with a license for alcohol, and it is also prohibited to be intoxicated, that is, you can drink legally, but you cannot get drunk. There is a complete prohibition in the emirate of Sharjah! In the country, intimate relationships outside of marriage are also illegal within the country, as well as kissing in public places, even with spouses, i.e. if you come to relax with your significant other, with whom you are not officially married, behave decently, don’t get into trouble and everything will be ok, since no one conducts such a hunt on purpose, but there was a case here recently, a waiter at a hotel raped a drunken British tourist who was vacationing there with her fiancé, so of course he was imprisoned, but the victim and her fiancé also had problems with the law due to the fact that they were in an intimate relationship in the UAE and of course they cannot be imprisoned for being intoxicated steel, but I think they spoiled their nerves, but such cases are not so frequent and then are discussed in the press for months. By the way, most rapes happen to drunk women, since this is the easiest victim. If you go to dirty places, do not accept drinks from strangers, girls are often given something. According to 2010 data, 2 million women live in the UAE and 6! millions of men, most of whom are guest workers from third world countries, who work for years and do not have access to women (by law, only the worker who can provide for her can bring a wife) so girls, be careful, the UAE is a very safe country for normal people, but if a person is characterized by victimized behavior, then... well, you understand. There is an article for swearing and the middle finger, as well as for even verbal harassment of a woman. By the way, the UAE ranks first in the world in the number of arrests of British tourists! I am writing all this not to scare, but, so to speak, for preventive purposes. Recently, with the number of guest workers and illegal immigrants, street crime has also increased, the detection rate is simply higher, since the country is small and there are cameras everywhere. Be careful when withdrawing money from ATMs, do not buy anything on the street with your own hands, etc. Gone are the days when you didn’t have to lock your car; the same patterns of crimes involving puncturing a tire and stealing a bag from a car have appeared. Of course, most serious crimes occur within ethnic groups, but you still need to relax on vacation, but not yawn. In general, if any situations arise, both medical and criminal in nature, call 999 (the call is free).

Be sure to take out good health insurance, medicine in the country is free only for locals, and even those go to Europe and Asia for treatment, since the quality of medical workers in the UAE is simply... well, terrible! More or less in private clinics, but standard insurance with coverage of 10-20 thousand dollars is not enough, God forbid, even for the state! Plus, be sure to insure liability if you rent a car, since in the event of an accident due to your fault, you will not be released from prison until you pay your relatives “hard-earned” money. Of course, I am describing extreme cases, according to statistics, this happens to tourists very rarely, this is not Thailand or Egypt, but again it is better to play it safe, pay an extra 500 rubles for insurance and rest in peace. Although there are no normal insurance companies in Russia, I personally prefer the British one. Personally, I apply for the British bupa, it costs about $60, but it has good coverage and good ratings, although thank God I have never used it, so I can’t say how they solve problems, but they are definitely better than Russian ones.

If you plan to actively use your mobile, it is better to buy a local SIM card, I recommend the operator DU, because if you use the Internet, Etisalat blocks almost everything! Local communication is much cheaper than a tourist SIM card; there is a special SIM card for tourists for 3 months. Look for DU counters and departments in almost any mall (shopping center), as well as at airports, you will need a passport and visa. A SIM card for tourists costs about 400 rubles for 90 days (it is possible to extend it for another 90 days for ~170 rubles) and you already have about 170 rubles in your account. An SMS to any country, including Russia, will cost 5 rubles; I don’t know exactly when making a call, but about 20-30 rubles per minute (per-second billing applies). In the UAE, of course, it’s only a penny, but sometimes you need a phone, call the hotel, call a taxi, etc.

I’ve had a permanent SIM card for many years, the tariffs seem to be almost the same as a tourist SIM card, maybe a little cheaper, the malls have free Wi-Fi, but to connect, they sometimes ask for a local mobile number.

You can travel between the emirates either by taxi (the most expensive Dubai taxi) or by bus. A taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai airport will cost about 2000-2500 rubles, from Dubai more expensive. The same number, for example, between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, between Fujairah and Dubai. A bus between any emirates costs 170-200 rubles, comfortable with air conditioning, but without toilets. Driving between the emirates is an hour or three maximum. They have been threatening to build a railway for several years now, but have not started yet.

What's cheaper in the UAE? Food! Especially in restaurants! In addition, it is of much higher quality than in Moscow. The portions are large, you can easily order one dish for two. And in supermarkets there are very good ready-made dishes, especially in carrefour, the main thing is that everything is really fresh, even raw fish does not stink. Also, clothes and jewelry are cheaper, but equipment is cheaper in Moscow! Really! Yandex Market can help you. I also advise you to take a closer look at local perfumes, they have very stable prices, from 300 rubles to several thousand, they are sold in any mall, by the way, in the market and in small shops, the Egyptians will sell them to you at exorbitant prices! also buy bakhur, it’s a “perfume” for the home, which is burnt on charcoal. You should also not go to the UAE during Ramadan, since during the daytime it is prohibited to eat and drink in public places, even in your car.

So, now a little about specific emirates:

Abu Dhabi (AD):

The capital of the UAE, but in terms of tourism the city is less developed than Dubai. There are fewer hotels, although the city itself is larger, and there are even fewer good ones, the quality of service is poor, the same is true in stores, the workers are less friendly and in general the service is so-so. But restaurants are cheaper and prices are in malls: what is supposedly sold in Dubai Mall at a big discount, in Abu Dhabi Marina Mall the same price is regular. It is better to choose a hotel closer to the Corniche, as this is the best place in the city in terms of tourism, there is a very good beach, many cafes, Lulu Island, the best mall in Abu Dhabi (Marina Mall), Heritage village, yacht club, etc. Also be sure to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the main thing is to choose the time between prayers, since tourists are not allowed inside during prayers, but you can walk around the courtyard and take pictures of the mosque from the outside. They also give out abayas and sheilas for women and konduras for men for the duration of the visit. It's very very beautiful there! In Abu Dhabi there are buses around the city, but it seems not very often, taxis are also a problem. It also happened that I couldn’t find a taxi for an hour or two! So ideally, rent a car. You can also visit the recently opened water park and Ferrari World on Yas Island, but I don’t recommend staying there, since it is very far from the city and there is not a single store (supermarket) on the entire island, and you can’t even find a taxi there morning and evening time is problematic even near hotels (i.e. they simply aren’t there), but walking around the island itself is simply not realistic at any time!!! It's generally quite deserted and boring.

In any case, there is simply nothing for a tourist to do in Abu Dhabi for more than 2-3 days. By the way, there is no open sea, that is, when swimming you will see the coast around and all sorts of artificial islands. Abu Dhabi itself is a very green city, there are many trees and flowers that smell great!

Abu Dhabi is a very safe city, much safer than Dubai, since workers are not allowed to walk around the city in the evening, they are also prohibited from wearing clothes on the beach. They came there to look at tourists, since they haven’t seen women for years, it’s very disgusting. There are more problems with this in Dubai.

And in Abu Dhabi, in Marina Mall, on the very top level, there is my favorite restaurant. I’ve been going there for many years and still haven’t found a better one. It's called Hatam, it's an Iranian restaurant with amazingly delicious food, with the most delicious bread, but with always sullen waiters. But the kebab there is the best and also seafood. And the prices are very reasonable, although there is a chain of these restaurants all over the country, but for some reason I like this one better. Probably a kg of shish kebab of different types costs about 350 rubles!!! This is not counting the side dish, etc., but a huge dish for three of probably seafood, about 800 rubles! In general, for two we had the maximum bill of 1100-1200 rubles, taking into account fruit cocktails and huge plates of lobster and shrimp. You can’t eat like that in Dubai.

Also in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is the oasis city of Al Ain - this is the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed, one of the founders of the country. There is no sea, but there are mountains, a zoo, and a beautiful garden with flowers. And also a mountain with an observation deck over the city. From the city of Abu Dhabi and also from Dubai it takes an hour and a half to two hours by car, Al Ain is located on the border with Oman. There is a problem with hotels there, but if you have the opportunity to go on a one-day excursion, do not refuse. If you want to go to the desert for a couple of days and live there in comfort, then I recommend the Liwa desert, there are literally 3 hotels there of different price categories, the best is Qasr Al Sarab, almost all my local friends regularly come there for a couple of days rest, but again it takes 2-3 hours to get there from Abu Dhabi by car. Further than to Dubai, but it is simply stunningly beautiful there. Google to the rescue.

Sharjah:

The city of Sharjah is closely adjacent to Dubai; it is the only emirate where 100% dry law applies. Previously, everyone went to Sharjah for cheap equipment, now in Moscow it is much cheaper, hotels in Sharjah are also cheaper, but their level is far behind those in Dubai, and taxis charge an additional fee for crossing the border between Dubai and Sharjah, so even if you will save on a hotel, you will spend more money on a taxi, although if you rent a car in Sharjah, then maybe there will be some benefit. By the way, those who like long walks, and short ones too, don’t even think about walking, the roads here are just ugly, there are almost no pedestrian crossings and cars at the zebra crossing won’t be allowed to pass, in other emirates the drivers are somehow more cultured. What is worth visiting: Central market (central souk), be sure to walk with your camera, especially in the evening along the Corniche, on both sides of the bay, although I was never able to cross to the other side on foot, although I spent two hours on the hike. If you have children, be sure to visit the Al Qasba area, it’s fun with children, you can also ride the Ferris wheel there, although they ride quickly and quickly and in 5 circles, I was hysterical, I thought they just forgot about me, and I’m also afraid of heights and the cabin swings there. In general, it’s fun. Visit the Sharjah Museum and Aquarium. The largest mall in Sharjah is the Mega Mall, but compared to the ones in Dubai, it’s not very good. I drove through all the malls in less than a couple of hours, but I was not impressed. But in the center there are a lot of, as I call them, shit shops, something like a fixed price, where everything, for example, is from 1 to 10 dirhams (~ 8-80 rubles), so it’s very good there to buy souvenirs, all sorts of magnets and other crap that you can find in souvenir shops in the markets they sell for many times more. Taking a taxi in Sharjah is also a little more difficult than in Dubai, but it is cheaper and, to be honest, the taxi drivers there are the most educated and pleasant, or I came across them, they spoke normal English, there were more Arabs than any Pakistanis. By the way, Sharjah has a fairly high crime rate for the UAE. But in general, it’s certainly calm there, I walked until late, no problems, although in the UAE I dress like a local, gasters are afraid to pester me, but many of my European friends complain

Ajman:

A small and very comfortable emirate. From the center of Sharjah it takes literally 15 minutes by taxi and is very cheap in terms of money. It’s better to settle near the Corniche, of course, although it’s a 15-20 minute walk from the city center to the beach. There are no middle class hotels in Ajman, either cheap or very expensive for Ajman. For the first time in my life, I lived in a hotel for 50 dollars a night, on a quiet street 5-7 minutes walk from the sea with Pakistani guys on bikes, chickens and mangy cats in garbage dumps, but what’s surprising is that I liked it SOOO much! The first day I lived in a hotel right by the sea, it was more expensive, but the level... in general, it’s better to walk 5 minutes, but for 50 dollars I got a perfectly clean room with free internet, 1 bedroom, 1 living room with a balcony and 1 kitchen The beach in Ajman is quite large, but I was there in winter, it was not very well maintained, although the sand is beautiful, I don’t know what it’s like there during the swimming season. People even from Dubai come to the Corniche in the evening, it’s full of people. There are fast foods and at the end of the Corniche there is an average Arabic restaurant where lovers can smoke hookah. Across the road from the Corniche there are also several seafood restaurants and even a "Russian". There are also many small cafes throughout the city with very large portions and very low prices. What I loved about Ajman is that you can walk almost anywhere in the city, the roads are good, drivers always yield at crossings and there are many traffic lights. There's also an amazing museum there! It is much better than Dubai!!! Entrance costs a penny, and you have a whole old fort with a bunch of doors at your disposal, open it, go inside and enjoy very interesting dioramas and photographs. I was actually the only visitor there, it even became scary. In general, for me Ajman has become a place of rest from the bustle of the city, but you shouldn’t expect much from it, even my local friends laugh at me for my irrational love for Ajman.

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).

The northernmost emirate, there was even snow in the mountains a couple of times in winter. From Dubai it takes about 3 hours by car. The city itself is quite large, there are several very good beach hotels, but you need to go there in warm weather, since it is impossible to swim there in winter, in other than that, just like everywhere else in the UAE, unless of course you are a walrus. The situation with the roads there is the same as in Sharjah, it’s not particularly good, drivers don’t let you through at the few crossings, and besides, everything is located very far from each other, taxis can also become a problem, there aren’t that many of them. I was there for a foray, literally 1 day, in one day I managed to visit the Manar mall, by the way, there is a very nice park with benches behind the mall. I also really liked Corniche, although there is no view there in the evening, but it is very comfortable to walk, there are clean public toilets every ~200 meters! (there is no other Corniche like this in the UAE!, only JBR in Dubai, but this is not a Corniche), benches are everywhere! There is a very good restaurant in the center, which is in the form of a tower, but the places there are on the street, fenced off from each other by greenery. It's very nice to have dinner by the water. There is also a pearl museum on the Corniche. But overall there is not much to do there.

Fujairah:

Located on the shores of the Gulf of Oman of the Indian Ocean, around Mt. It is also quite cool there in winter. This is such a provincial emirate, they say the first and so far only one was built literally in 2012. From the point of view of a beach holiday, I would not recommend this place, only if you go to a hotel with its own beach, since the public one is simply ugly, and besides, there are all sorts of bad things in the sea, such as jellyfish and various terrible fish, but for fishing it’s trump spot There is a yacht club on the Corniche, where it seems there is such a service (fishing). City hotels are quite good, I liked the Coral and Concorde (I already wrote a review about it). In the city center, right next to KFC, there is an excellent Lebanese restaurant AL Meshawar, on the first floor there is more of a cafe with hookahs, on the second there is a non-smoking room and a more relaxed one. Very good service, delicious food and reasonable prices. This is the best restaurant in the city, not counting hotel ones. I walked to the fort, but didn’t get to the museum, although it’s nearby, nothing special, you can’t go into the fort itself, but you can climb the hill and take pictures of the surroundings, from there you have a good view of both the mountains and the city. Surprisingly, there are taxis in the city, but only when they are not needed, although this is always the case for me. But the Corniche in the city of Fujairah can rightfully be called the worst in the UAE! Firstly, the air there is terrible, it’s like you’re walking along the sea, and the air is like in a cement factory, 2.5 miserable dusty shops all over the Corniche, not one cafe or restaurant, I just saw on a holiday in the evening they were selling some kind of fast food from a trailer. Although theoretically there should be a restaurant in the yacht club, it’s not marked in any way and I didn’t want to break into the closed gate either. In principle, there is nothing special to do there, although a new pier has been built, but it is somewhere outside the city, although whatever it is, the town is quite small. And in Fujairah there is the oldest mosque in the UAE, but it is also located far outside the city and I strongly do not advise single girls to go there unaccompanied, just the other day my friend took his sisters there, so even he felt uneasy from the hungry looks of migrant workers at women, and covered from head to toe, he even began to fear for his life and the honor of his sisters: P, it’s just, as they say, in the middle of nowhere, there are only mountains around and no civilization. But it is very beautiful and worth a visit if possible. By car from Dubai to Fujairah it takes an hour to an hour and a half.

In general, I hope that this review was useful for someone, I wrote it for several hours, the Emirates is a wonderful country that I sincerely love. The cleanest, most beautiful and one of the safest, the main thing is not to forget about precautions and plan your vacation in advance, read carefully reviews about the hotel before booking, take out good insurance, and in general follow the rules of the country you are visiting, then You will have only positive impressions of your vacation and you will probably want to come back again and again.

All the photos were taken by me at different times, since the photo very much combined them into collages.

Some more tips for traveling to any country:

I print out sheets with my address and phone numbers and put them in the inner and outer pockets of my suitcase, since all, even the best airlines, have luggage linings, and thus increase the chances of it being found as quickly as possible, you can also write contacts on the bottom of the suitcase with indelible paint or somehow mark your suitcase, especially if it is not noticeable. Also, don’t spare money and pack it in film at the airport, thanks to this my suitcase looks like new even after 4 years! By the way, there is insurance that includes the loss or delay of a suitcase.

Even before your trip, download several applications to your smartphone - guidebooks or other useful applications of the country or city where you are traveling, for example, tripadvisor, foursqare, foodspotting, zomato...

Also in the google maps program, you can download individual sections of the map offline, for example, Abu Dhabi with its surroundings takes only about 10 MB!

There is no oil off the coast of Ras al-Khaimah. Accordingly, there are no huge skyscrapers here, like in Dubai, people live much more modestly.

Of course, fishing and agriculture are no longer the main ones in the emirate’s economy.

In 1920, iron ore was found in the local mountains, and industrial development began. The first cement production plant in the UAE was opened here, and the emirate is still a leader in this field. The company RAS Ceramics is famous; they produce high quality tableware.

Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) is the first and largest pharmaceutical company in the Persian Gulf. Falcon Technologies International (FTI) specializes in DVD and BlueRay production. Innovative Composite Engineering was founded in 2012 and specializes in high-tech equipment.

Active construction is underway in Ras Al Khaimah; commercial and residential real estate in the emirate is in great demand, including among foreign investors. New shopping centers are being built, and the Ice Land water park opened in 2010.

And, of course, local authorities are very actively stimulating the development of tourism. New hotels, new entertainment for tourists, new infrastructure facilities - all this awaits us in the future.

Ras Al Khaimah aims to become one of the top tourist destinations in the UAE. The potential for this is huge, there are 50 kilometers of almost empty coastline.

Dozens of companies open in Ras Al Khaimah every year. Doing business here is very profitable, because companies do not pay any taxes or duties. By the way, individuals also do not pay taxes. The emirate has a Free Trade Zone, it is called RAKEZ (RAK Economic Zone). Here it is allowed to open companies with 100% foreign authorized capital.

What to see and do for tourists

This is one of the prides of the emirate. It is located in the eastern part of the city, in the Al Jazeera area. There are 30 slides and a huge number of pools. Fun is guaranteed for children and adults, although there are no record-breaking or very extreme rides here, as in water parks in Dubai.

The water park is stylized under the theme “beyond the Arctic Circle” - snow, ice, penguins, polar bears and the like. On hot summer days, when the temperature is close to +40, this ambiance is even refreshing.

Opening hours: from 10-00 to 18-00.

Ticket price: For an adult (height from 1.2 meters) – 175 dirhams. For children from 0.8 to 1.2 meters tall - 110 dirhams, children up to 0.8 meters tall - free.

Tourists are taken to the Ice Land water park even from Dubai and Sharjah, since the ticket price is very low; it is more profitable to take tourists 100 kilometers by bus than to pay for very expensive tickets to Dubai water parks.

This is an abandoned village, also called an “Arab ghost town.” Once upon a time, sailors, fishermen and pearl traders lived here. At the beginning of the 20th century, the pearl trade almost ceased and people left the city.

The city seemed to freeze. Here the fortress, market, mosques and many houses remained intact. The buildings are traditional in style, many made of coral stone. In Al Jazeera Al Ghamra you can see how the people of the UAE lived before the start of oil production.

This place is unique in the United Arab Emirates, because it is not a reconstruction, but a real untouched old Arab city.

Hadjar Mountains

They are located in the east of the emirate. It will be interesting for both mountain hikers and real climbers.

The highest peak in the United Arab Emirates is located in Ras al-Khaimah, it is called Jebel Jais, height – 1911 meters. There is an observation deck just below the top. There is a commercial via ferrata track for climbers, and a downhill zipline for daredevils.

Daya Fort and Village

The fort in the village of Daya was the last bastion of Arab defense when attacked by the British in the 19th century. Now the fort and the village have been turned into a big tourist attraction.

Near the village of Daya, tourists see the burial grounds of the ancient culture of Umm an-Nar, which are already 5 thousand years old. There is a “heritage village” where you can see a reconstruction of the traditional way of life of the Gulf Arabs. You can climb the hill to see the fort and have a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

The “Stairway to Heaven track” is also located here. This is a mountain trail with many ledges. The place is very interesting, but very dangerous, it is easy to trip, and the path is not fenced.

Old Town and National Museum

The Old Town is home to a market (souk), an ancient mosque and a fisherman's pier where tourists are shown the manufacturing process of traditional Arab dhows.

But the main attraction of the Old City is Al-Hisn Fort, the former residence of the emirs of Ras al-Khaimah of the Al-Qasimi dynasty. The same pirate leaders whom the British defeated in the 19th century still rule the emirate to this day.

The fort had a police station and a prison, and in 1987 the National Museum of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah was founded. Here you can see ancient household items, dishes, clothing, weapons, valuable archaeological finds and much more.

Ticket price: 5 dirhams per adult, children are admitted free.

Opening hours: from 10-00 to 17-00 from September to May; from 8-00 to 12-00 and from 14-00 to 17-00 in June, July and August. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.

Shopping centers and markets

There are four main shopping centers in the emirate: Manar Mall, RAK Mall, Al Hamra Mall and Safeer Mall. The most popular among tourists is Manar Mall, where there are about 120 shops, a children's entertainment center and a cinema.

In addition to shopping centers, you can find entire shopping areas in the city. In the Old Town there is the Old Market (Old Souq) where people sell in small shops, as is customary in the Arab tradition. Al-Nakhil is called “little India”; it is not a market, but a whole area of the city, where there are many small shops with Indian goods.

What else

And in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah there is a camel racing track, a karting track, golf courses and Saqr Park, where you can not only walk among the greenery, but also ride on rides, electric cars, and play video games.

Tourists can enjoy jeep safaris into the desert, hot air balloon rides, ATV rides, diving and fishing.

For those who want to improve their health, Ras Al Khaimah has hot mineral springs with water at a temperature of 40 degrees. Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort & Spa has three springs right on its premises.

All the attractions of the emirate cannot be listed on this page; we have named only the main ones.

Have a good holiday in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, and read our interesting articles about the United Arab Emirates ( links below).

13066 January 19, 2016

The great strategist Ostap Bender, if he had changed his mind about his beloved “white pants” Rio, would invariably be delighted with the United Arab Emirates - after all, the lion’s share of his four hundred relatively honest ways of taking money (exclusively from tourists and strictly within the law) is implemented here ). Judge for yourself: hotels located either on man-made islands or directly above the Formula 1 track - once again. Indoor ski resorts with penguins in the Arabian Desert and Middle Eastern heat - two. Shopping festivals with discounts of up to 90% and a million US dollar raffle, coupled with dozens of shopping malls - three. The ability to steer all vehicles known to mankind - from sleek camels to Ferrari cars - is four. And finally, five - just a very high-quality beach holiday in an atmosphere of fabulous comfort. For an appropriate price, of course.

But there are already 7 emirates in the UAE, and a tourist, thirsty for relaxation, sits in front of us alone. Where to send a traveler, so as to take into account all his needs? Let's try to figure it out together.

	Abu Dhabi	Ajman	Dubai	Ras al Khaimah	Umm Al Quwain	Fujairah	Sharjah
Prices	high	average	very high	average	below average	average	average
Service level	5	5	5	5	3	5	4
Hotel quality	5	4	5	4	3	4	4
Beach quality	4	4	4	4	4	5	4
Purity of the sea	4	5	4	5	4	5	5
How to cope with the heat	average	easily	average	average	hard	average	average
Alcohol for tourists	in hotels	on sale	in hotels	on sale	on sale	on sale	prohibited
Shopping	4	2	5	3	2	2	4
Choice of entertainment	5	3	5	3	1	2	3
Night life	4	2	5	2	1	1	1
Excursion girl	5	3	5	4	3	3	4
Business tourism	5	3	5	3	3	3	4
Youth recreation	3	3	4	3	1	2	3
Vacation with children	4	4	5	5	4	5	5
Leisure	4	3	4	4	4	4	3

Abu Dhabi

The largest and richest emirate, Abu Dhabi ranks second after Dubai in the number of entertainment and shopping centers and first in the number of cultural attractions. So, for lovers of excursions, this is a real haven. This is where the capital of the UAE is located - the city of Abu Dhabi. The emirate is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, most of it is occupied by desert, in which the lush oasis of Liwa shines, and the coast is framed by a scattering of small islands. It is important to take into account that there is a prohibition law in the emirate; alcohol can only be purchased in hotels. In addition, smoking is prohibited here in any public places (including beaches).

Beaches

The beaches in Abu Dhabi are covered with fine white sand, the entry into the sea is smooth, but in some places there are steep, deep places. Most hotels on the coast have their own beaches. It is worth considering that the beaches of hotels located on the islands extend into the open sea, so sea disturbances are possible here. In the city, all the beaches open onto the channel between the mainland and the islands, so the water surface is always calm. Not all hotels have direct access to the beach - there is an embankment along the coast.

Hotel base

Most of the hotels in Abu Dhabi are 4* categories. 5-star hotels, as a rule, belong to well-known global chains and are designed for discerning tourists. There are also hotels of lower categories (1-3*), but these are mainly urban accommodation facilities.

pros

Clean and well-groomed streets, well-developed infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi is the greenest city in the UAE: there is a lot of vegetation and places to hide from the scorching desert sun.
The air temperature in the city is several degrees lower than outside it.
A large number of shopping centers, markets and shops: a haven for shopping lovers.
Low prices for services, goods and everything related to oil (car rental, gasoline, taxis, travel on public transport).
Most of the hotels are located on the coast in close proximity to the coastline.
In general, life in Abu Dhabi is more relaxed and relaxed than in Dubai.

Minuses

Most of the hotels are 4*. There are much fewer “fives” here, and “kopecks” and “threes” are located in the business district and are considered urban.
The public transport network is aimed only at local residents; tourists will have to travel by taxi.
City beaches in Abu Dhabi are somewhat better than those at hotels.
The strait that separates the city from the rest of the emirate and the large number of plants make the air in Abu Dhabi very humid, which can make it difficult for tourists to tolerate the heat.

Ajman

Ajman is the smallest of the emirates, located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. It began to develop as a tourist center quite recently, but mainly those who work in neighboring emirates live here. In addition, this is the poorest emirate; no oil fields have been discovered here, which is why construction is proceeding extremely slowly. At the moment there are only about 10 hotels here, which is guaranteed to appeal to lovers of a calm, measured holiday. In addition, you can improve your health here: in the town of Masfut there are mineral springs famous throughout the Gulf countries, but there are no hotels near them. The main entertainments of the region are innocent - camel racing and dhow boat rides, which have been taking place here since time immemorial. But you can forget about night dancing in laser smoke.

Beaches

The beaches of Ajman are sandy, wide and uncrowded. The entry into the sea is smooth, the depth is shallow.

Hotel base

Most of the hotels are “three rubles”. The resort has only two 5-star hotels, one of them belongs to the Kempinski chain. There are also several 2* and 4* hotels.

pros

The city has retained its originality and has not yet turned into a faceless metropolis.
There is no “prohibition”: in the Holeinthewall store you can buy any foreign-made alcohol.
Lower prices than Dubai and Sharjah.
Sharjah with its developed infrastructure is only 10 km from Ajman.
A large amount of vegetation.
Low prices in shopping centers - Ajman has the most budget shopping in the UAE.

Minuses

You can only travel outside the city by taxi: there is no intercity bus service in Ajman.
The entertainment infrastructure is poorly developed; clubs and restaurants are available mainly on hotel premises. The only reasonable option is to go to neighboring Sharjah or Dubai.
The Ajman coastline stretches for only 16 km, so the choice of beach hotels here is very limited.

Dubai

Dubai is the most vibrant and democratic emirate, the second largest after Abu Dhabi. Located on the shores of the Persian Gulf between Abu Dhabi (in the south) and Sharjah (in the north). This is the most famous of the emirates, the most party-loving and Europeanized. Here, in general, everything is the best: expensive hotels, tall buildings, large shopping centers, international events... and prices for all this luxury.

Beaches

All beaches in Dubai are sandy with a very gentle slope into the sea. The best of them are the beaches of Jumeirah, with a wide strip of white sand and good infrastructure. Hotels, as a rule, have their own sections of the beach, but for an additional fee, many of them can be accessed by anyone - such open beaches are usually located at a distance from the hotel itself, so as not to disturb guests. In addition, there are two beach parks in Jumeirah: Al Mamzar Park and Jumeirah Beach Park, fully provided with the necessary infrastructure: restaurants, bars, shops, parking, sun loungers with umbrellas and other attributes. The city's beaches are very popular with locals, so they get very crowded at the end of the week. It is worth keeping in mind that some public beaches have days when only women and children are allowed to enter.

Hotel base

Dubai is famous, first of all, for its expensive hotels, which seem to compete with each other in pretentiousness and luxury. There are practically no hotels below 3*, but there are above 5* according to the unofficial classification. However, there are many budget options among them.

pros

Rich nightlife, a wide variety of entertainment, not only for adults, but also for children.
Low trade duties and, as a result, low prices in numerous shopping malls.
The most loyal of the emirates: the attitude towards traditional Islamic rules of behavior is not as demanding as in other emirates. In addition, you can freely buy alcoholic drinks here.

Minuses

Accommodation prices are higher than in neighboring emirates.
Most of the hotels are city hotels, however, almost all of them organize a transfer to the nearest beach.
The cuisine in the city's restaurants, regardless of their specificity, has a clear Arabic flavor. More or less authentic non-Arab dishes can only be tasted in hotels.

Ras al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost and greenest emirate. Thanks to the fertile soils, a large number of trees grow here. In the town of Hutt there are mineral hot springs and a balneological center.

One of the main attractions is the Ice Land water park, designed in the shape of an ice country. Here is the world's largest artificial waterfall, whose height is more than 35 m.

Beaches

The beaches in Ras al Khaimah are covered with golden sand, the coastline is quite wide, and the entrance to the sea is gentle. There are many water sports centers on the beaches, but this is not the best region for diving and snorkeling.

Hotel base

There are quite a few hotels in Ras al Khaimah, but all categories are represented: you can choose from a low-star city hotel to a luxurious five-star complex.

pros

A large number of historical attractions.
Milder and cooler climate than other emirates; plenty of greenery.
The presence of hotels of all categories - everyone can choose a place according to their taste and income. Most of the hotels are located on the coast.

Minuses

Despite the absence of Prohibition, the nightlife here is very sparse, there are almost no clubs and discos.

Umm Al Quwain

Umm Al Quwain is a small emirate 50 km from Dubai. Focused on a relaxing family holiday and a variety of sports. In particular, the famous riding academy is located here and spectacular sporting competitions are held. The entire coast of the emirate is indented with lagoons, so the water in the sea is very calm. By the way, here is one of the largest water parks in the Middle East, Dreamland.

Beaches

The beaches of the emirate are located in secluded bays. There are few waves, golden fine sand and a gentle entrance to the sea, so the beaches of Umm al-Quwain are perfect for swimming for children.

Hotel base

In Umm al-Quwain, about a dozen hotels welcome tourists, all of them have a 3-4* category, there are no “five” hotels here. The most interesting are Umm Al Quwain Beach 4*, built near the water park, and Flamingo Beach Resort 3* - an excellent option for lovers of sea fishing.

pros

There is an opportunity to look at the original life of UAE citizens.
A very quiet emirate, there is no city noise and bustle like in Dubai or Sharjah.
A large number of historical and architectural monuments.
Dubai's vibrant city life is just 50 km away.

Minuses

Poor nightlife.
Intercity transport does not reach the city itself, so it is better to use a taxi.
There are very few hotels, most of them are “three rubles” (and not of the best quality).

Fujairah

Fujairah is the only emirate located on the Indian Ocean. The climate here is milder, and the nature is more diverse: in addition to the desert landscapes familiar to the UAE, there are rocks, hills and waterfalls, and also healing sulfur springs.

This emirate is a favorite holiday destination for Arabs themselves thanks to its beaches.

Beaches

Fujairah's beaches are considered the best in the UAE. All of them are covered with fine golden sand, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and the bottom at depth will be appreciated by lovers of diving and snorkeling.

Hotel base

The main feature of Fujairah is that all the hotels are located far from each other.

pros

There are many shopping centers, as well as a traditional Friday market where you can buy national souvenirs.
Wide range of diving opportunities.
Many historical attractions.

Minuses

Dusty roads make it better to take a taxi to your final destination over walking.
Shorter daylight hours than in other emirates: most of Fujairah's territory is occupied by mountains, and the coast faces strictly east.

Sharjah

Sharjah is the third largest emirate of the UAE, located next to Dubai on the shores of two gulfs: the Persian and Oman.

This is the strictest emirate in terms of rules: there is a strict “prohibition” law, there are no hookah cafes, nightclubs, and any revealing outfits are strictly prohibited. At the same time, Sharjah is the cultural center of the UAE: there are many museums, libraries, architectural monuments and other attractions, as well as shops and authentic Arab markets. So tourists, even in the absence of “forbidden” entertainment, will not be bored.

Beaches

Sharjah hotels are located on private beaches, but there are also well-equipped urban areas. There is fine white sand everywhere and a gentle entrance to the sea. There are several coastal areas with their own characteristics: Corniche (Al-Cornish) - located in the southwest of the city, in a small lagoon surrounded by rows of palm trees. There are several dive clubs here. However, it is worth considering that the sea off the coast of the Corniche beach is not the calmest: there are always small waves and sometimes undercurrents arise. Coral Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the city. Located next to the hotel of the same name on the northeast coast. The beach in Al Khan Lagoon is more suitable for a relaxing holiday: there is not such an abundance of water activities as on other beaches. On the other hand, it is quite crowded as it is popular with locals. At the same time, Al Khan is considered the safest beach in the emirate.

It is important to warn tourists about Sharjah's strict rules regarding clothing: even on hotel grounds it is not recommended to appear in too revealing a swimsuit, not to mention the city's public beaches, where you should come in the most modest clothes.

Hotel base

There are few hotels in Sharjah, most of them are located on the coast, they all have their own well-groomed beaches, but some, located closer to the city center, are separated from them by an embankment. The category of most hotels is 3-4*.

pros

Prices are lower than in Dubai, and thanks to the proximity of these two cities (only about an hour's drive), tourists can diversify a relaxing holiday in Sharjah with nightlife and shopping in Dubai.
Good opportunities for shopping and water sports.

Minuses

There is no public transport, all movements around the city are carried out on foot or by taxi.
Strict “prohibition” and complete absence of nightlife.

We thank the tour operators for their help in preparing the material: Russian Express, PEGAS Touristik, Tez tour, Natalie Tours.

All have hotels and beaches, shops and restaurants, entertainment for tourists (in some places there are few, such as in Ras Al Khaimah, in others - in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, there are more, recreation is more varied). And now how do you order to choose a place to relax?

Let's listen to what our compatriots, who recently returned from the UAE and gathered in a small cozy cafe over a cup of tea, say:

Marina: We really enjoyed our holiday in Sharjah! Quiet, calm, no drunken compatriots. We specifically chose this emirate, and it didn’t cost much. I really liked the Lu-Lu Hotel (), it’s on the coast - we swam in the morning, then slept in the afternoon, went to Dubai, walked around the malls, but it was difficult to find a taxi back. A one-way trip cost us 40-60 dirhams. Sometimes we traveled profitably - we shared half and half with our neighbors. And living in Dubai was too expensive for us. Sharjah and Dubai are close, you can swim and relax in Sharjah, and go to Dubai for entertainment, walks, and shopping. There are also shopping centers in Sharjah, but in Dubai we also went to markets and malls, and bought a lot of things in Nasser Square. I really like Sharjah, which is strict, calm and inexpensive.

Vlad: Come on, Sharjah! Boring! Also, these strict laws of theirs are only suitable for families who are not going to leave the beach. The sea is the same everywhere, except Fujairah. Diving fans come to Fujairah. I wouldn't choose Sharjah. Dubai is awesome! My friend and I, although we didn’t relax in a beach hotel (they are too expensive and luxurious), there are no words of delight, just emotions! We went to the sea by bus or taxi. But we wandered around the city, went on excursions a couple of times, smoked hookah, and also ran through the malls and markets. The jeep safari was very impressive. Skyscrapers, speed, the very atmosphere for the young and hot!

We went on an excursion to Abu Dhabi, and living there was also not very good. Business center. One visit is enough. Other emirates are definitely boring. Just lie on the beaches. It’s clear that all the emirates are nearby, one after the other, getting to any of them is not a problem. But I choose Dubai! There s fun.

Sveta: I wonder if anyone chooses Fujairah? We were in both Dubai and Sharjah, and we liked it both there and there. Sharjah - beaches, few people, white sand under your feet. From Carlton (our hotel, quite decent) there was a free bus to Dubai and Sharjah, several times a day. Dubai - dynamics, luxury, shopping, an atmosphere of modern oriental luxury... And in Fujairah, as I was told, there are stones at the bottom of the sea and on the beach, some kind of sea urchins, in general, people are almost swimming in their shoes.

Only if I had to choose between a city hotel in Dubai or a beach hotel in Sharjah, I would choose Sharjah. To Dubai - on an excursion, otherwise traveling to the beach by bus, and even time-consuming, is very tiring.

Vlad: I haven’t heard much about Fujairah, just that it’s a bit boring compared to Dubai. I also have friends who love a quiet holiday, so they constantly relax in Ajman. They really like it there - it’s beautiful, calm, half an hour’s drive from Dubai. There are few tourists. And I love it when there are a lot of people, you can’t see enough of it. That's life!

Lena: Listen to what I tell you. There is no friend for taste and color, as they say, each emirate is good in its own way. If you are going to the UAE for the first time, it is better to choose Dubai. The attitude towards tourists is the most loyal, plus all these miracles, the metro, shops on every corner and so on. Hookah. The hotels are gorgeous, the beaches. There is a lot of entertainment and relative freedom for travelers. And civilization in general. Then, having gained experience, you can live in other emirates.

Fujairah - for divers. On the shores of the Gulf of Oman there is a great variety of all kinds of underwater living creatures and, in general, a diversity of the aquatic world. Fujairah is more expensive than Ajman or Sharjah. And the hotels there are more luxurious.

Sharjah is a relaxing holiday with excellent beaches and historical monuments. And everything is cheaper there compared to Dubai (hotels, food, taxis).

Umm al-Quwain is a camel race, Dreamland water park.

Abu Dhabi - how can you not go to the main emirate of the country and take a walk around the capital? Palaces, oases, monuments, mosques, fountains - beauty!

Ajman - economical holiday.

Many people also like Ras Al Khaimah; it is an emirate for a “lazy” holiday. There are few tourists there, mostly locals. 50 minutes drive from Dubai.

The last time we were in the UAE, we lived in Dubai for three days, and then the rest of the days in Sharjah and Ajman. The vacation was great!

Vlad: Oh how! Lena dotted all the i's! Exactly, draw conclusions:

Abu Dhabi- capital. Petrodollars, which by and large do not concern us, luxury and all that. But this is a business center where it is better to go on an excursion than to live there. Beautiful - skyscrapers, fountains, architecture. They also have a hotel, the Emirates Palace - it’s so luxurious that you wouldn’t even dream of it. By the way, there is a machine that sells gold - you can bring a gold bar as a souvenir. From the observation deck of the Hilton Hotel you can see a beautiful view and also understand that you need to choose another place to relax. (In my opinion).

Dubai. Oh, this is just great! Nothing compares to this emirate and its capital! A beautiful city, many flowers, skyscrapers, shops, a metro without a driver, ideal beaches, golf, a hippodrome, water parks, boat excursions, belly dancing, hookah, camels, jeep safari, and what not! Life is in full swing and presents all the beauty and joy, just catch the delight! For the first time, definitely go to Dubai! (I choose it all other times, however). Although, of course, expensive.

Sharjah. Pillar of Islam. Close to Dubai, but what a difference! Not a drop of alcohol, the strictest adherence to the rules and prohibition. I also heard that Sharjah is the only place where punishment by caning remains. This is unlikely to threaten our tourists, but the laws will have to be strictly observed, along with other residents. However, oriental architecture, sunny, quiet beaches and this same prohibition law attract almost half of the tourists to Sharjah. There are also markets - vegetable, fish, gold... there are many markets, about 10. Museums, including the museum of antique cars, aviation, and the maritime museum. The boys will have fun! Shopping centers. And Dubai is here, nearby. And there are also some good savings.

Ajman. He is small, the smallest of the seven. For a relatively inexpensive holiday. Beautiful nature. The hotels are good, the beaches are excellent. It is popular among tourists and the population of Sharjah - those for whom prohibition is a burden. Here, alcohol lovers can breathe easier, although wine is also not sold on every corner and no one walks around drunk. An excellent equestrian center for horseback riding enthusiasts, there are also diving centers, several museums, and camel racing.

Umm Al Quwain. There are few hotels and few attractions here. But on the island nearby live pink flamingos. Crab hunting in the evenings is a form of entertainment for tourists, and you can try more than thirty varieties of dates while in Umm al-Quwain. Racing and shooting clubs, a flying club, marine entertainment, a couple of museums. There are good restaurants and the DreamLand water park.

Ras Al Khaimah. Many people like to relax here. Activities include camel racing, a flying club, shooting and golf clubs, and sailing. You can visit a pearl farm (very interesting!) and tombs, visit. There are also hot springs in the town of The Khatt (southern part of the emirate).

Fujairah. Chic scuba diving and low prices on everyday items. The underwater world includes corals, moray eels, butterfly fish, parrot fish and sometimes sharks. The water is not very clear. Picturesque places, hot springs, just like everywhere else, there are shops and oriental shops. And many more go to Fujairah to watch a bullfight - an unforgettable spectacle for those with nerves of iron.

Well, that seems to be all. I think everyone will find a vacation to their liking in the Emirates according to their budget and preferences. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more expensive and more fun, while other emirates are quieter, more modest and cheaper.

And everyone agreed with Vlad.