A glamorous and glitzy country in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a place that every traveler longs to visit once in their lifetime.
The place’s impeccably blended traditional culture and modernization makes it one of the richest urban cities in the world.
Home to a host of tourist attractions along with skyscraping constructions and action-packed activities to do such as sandboarding in the Dubai desert, Formula 1 racing at Yas Marina Circuit, ziplining at Jebel Jais, kayaking at Hatta , and much more.
The UAE is an ideal place to spend your family holidays. Here is a list of the best things to do on a visit to this Arab nation.
1) Visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
A visit to Sheikh Zayed Grand Museum or Grand Mosque will leave you in awe as you marvel at the stunning architectural design of the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth in the world. The Grand Mosque is the resting place of the first president of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The mosque displays design elements inspired by Morocco, Turkey, and Egypt. The majestic structure has 1096 exterior columns, 82 white marble columns, with floral inlays decorated with semi-precious stones such as red agate, lapis lazuli, jasper, mother-of-pearl, and Swarovski crystal chandeliers of 24 carats.
The mosque’s largest haunted carpet in one of the prayer halls is a major attraction.
2) Take a Desert Safari Dubai Tour
Among the things to do in the UAE, the desert safari tour is something you cannot miss during a visit to Dubai. the desert safari it’s a fun filled experience where you go basking on the dunes in a 4×4 land cruiser, sand boarding, camel riding, or quad bike.
Witness the beauty of the sunset while standing on the summit of a dune and drowning in views of the beautiful surroundings. Then arrive at a Bedouin tent in the desert to enjoy a scrumptious BBQ dinner while watching live performances by belly dancers and Tanoura dancers.
Enjoy the activities like painting henna tattoos and clicking photos in traditional clothes.
3) Get Active in Hatta
The Hajar Mountain village of Hatta is a prime base for travelers wishing to experience a slice of the UAE’s Hajar Mountain scenery. While the coast swelters in summer, the temperatures here in the mountains, although still hot, tend to be pleasant rather than humid, making Hatta a popular weekend getaway for Dubai locals.
The turquoise waters of the vast Hatta Dam, surrounded by rolling mountain slopes, are the main tourist attraction, and many people are here mainly to kayak or boat on the lake.
If you’re looking for more activities, Hatta is home to several hiking and mountain biking trails across the surrounding wadis and mountain slopes, many with phenomenal views of the Hajar Mountains along the way. Because of this, it has become a major destination in the UAE for adventure travel and nature-based trips.
4) Enjoy the Excitement at Ferrari World
Ferrari World is the first Ferrari theme Park in the Middle East. Located on Yas Island, thrilling rides, state-of-the-art simulators, electric go-karts, and live shows under the bright red roof of Ferrari World are one of the best things to do in the UAE.
This park houses the largest Ferrari shop where you can buy your favorite Ferrari memorabilia. Many Italian and multi-cuisine restaurants serve authentic dishes such as Espresso Rosso, Mamma Rosella, Officers Food Quarters, Cavallino sala, and many more.
A trip to FerrariWorld can be completed by driving the Formula Rossa on the world’s tallest rollercoaster; The Flying Aces on the tallest rollercoaster; and the FioranoGTChallenge which gives you a Formula 1 racing experience[alFerrariWorldsetkuninkompletaming[ajrmajsuqil-FormulaRossal-aktarrollercoastervelo/ifid-dinja;TheFlyingAcesl-ogħlarollercoaster;ul-FioranoGTChallengelitagħtikesperjenzata’tlielaqtal-Formula1
5) Go to the top of Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa, which is 2700 feet high, is the tallest tower in the world. With two observation decks, nine luxury hotels, multiple restaurants, and a Las Vegas-inspired fountain, this architectural wonder should definitely be on your bucket list when planning a trip to the UAE.
Watch the Dubai fountain musical show while enjoying dinner at the At.mosphere. You can get the best views of the Dubai skyline from the “At the Top” observation decks on levels 124 and 125.
6) Skydive at Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Jumeirah Islands in Dubai is a favorite place to visit for adventure seekers. And skydiving is one of the unique experiences that one can have here.
Get an adrenaline rush by dropping from a plane at a distance of 13,000 feet while free falling at a speed of 120 miles per hour. The tranquil views of the beautiful Palm islands as you sit in your parachute over the Arabian Gulf are like the icing on the cake.
There are professionals available who will be available to guide you every step of the way.
7) Fish in the Soks
Shopping in the UAE can be an exhilarating experience, with several world-class malls offering high-end brands.
But for a different experience visit the souks or traditional markets in Dubai. While you are tempted to buy the gold bars and shiny jewelery from the Gold Souk, the aromas of the fragrances lead you to the Perfume Souk, where you can buy perfumes and attars made using ancient techniques.
There is the Spice Souk to buy saffron, nuts, dates, and authentic spices used in traditional Arabic dishes. Visit the Textile Souk to buy premium quality silk, cotton fabrics and unstitched dresses.
8) Admire the Collections at the Louvre Abu Dhabi
The most spectacular museum in the Middle East, Louvre Abu Dhabi, located on Saadiyat Island, traces the history of mankind’s artistic achievements from the Neolithic Age to the present day.
The museum houses works of art, artefacts, and masterpieces ranging from prehistoric works to contemporary art with paintings by Picasso and the architecture of the museum with its galleries under a vast silver dome, is a place that a must visit for art lovers.
Some of the masterpieces in the Louvre Museum are ‘Self Portrait’ by Vincent Van Gogh, ‘La Gare Saint Lazare’ by Claude Monet, ‘La Belle Ferronniere’ by Leonardo Da Vinci, and ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’ of Jacques Louis David among others.
The museum has a Children’s Museum spread over two floors which consists of several interactive workshops for the little ones.
The United Arab Emirates is a place full of endless opportunities that make for a perfect vacation. With a country home to so many attractions and abundant things to experience, you will want to keep visiting this wonderful country again and again.
