Asia · Western Asia
The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, transformed within a few decades from small desert trading towns into one of the world's most dynamic regions. Dubai and Abu Dhabi impress with skyscrapers, artificial islands, and luxury hotels that feel like a glimpse of the future, while Bedouin traditions, souks, and desert life remain part of everyday culture. The country's appeal lies in this contrast, where ultramodern and traditional exist almost side by side.
In Dubai, alongside the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world, and the Dubai Mall, it's worth visiting the old quarter of Al Fahidi and the banks of Dubai Creek, where traditional dhow boats still cross the water. In Abu Dhabi, the marble domes of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi stand out, while Sharjah, the country's cultural capital, offers numerous museums and a well-preserved historic old town.
The red sand dunes around areas like the Liwa Oasis offer classic desert adventures, from jeep safaris to camel rides and overnight camping under the stars. The eastern reaches of the Hajar Mountains, near Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah, are suited to both diving and mountain hiking. Local cuisine blends Arab, Persian, and Indian influences, and alongside dates, saffron, and fresh seafood, it's worth trying traditional Arabic coffee and shisha at a local café.
The Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) constitute a serial property that testifies to sedentary human occupation of a desert region since the Neolithic period with vestiges of many prehistoric cultures. Remarkable vestiges in the property include circular stone tombs (ca 2500 B.C.), wells and a wide range of adobe constructions: residential buildings, towers, palaces and administrative buildings. Hili moreover features one of the oldest examples of the sophisticated aflaj irrigation system which dates back to the Iron Age. The property provides important testimony to the transition of cultures in the region from hunting and gathering to sedentarization.
Located between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, the property preserves evidence of human occupation from the Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods (210,000–6,000 years ago). Archaeological layers reveal how hunter-gatherers and pastoralists adapted to extreme climates, alternating between arid and rainy periods every 20,000 years. Beyond subsistence activities, early human groups utilized the site's geomorphological features for resource extraction. With diverse water sources and raw materials, Faya provides valuable insights into human resilience in hyper-arid environments.
Data: UNESCO WHC · CC BY-SA 4.0
Most international borders are relatively simple lines on a map. However, there are places around the world where history, royal marriages, land swaps, and colonial agreements have created truly astonishing boundaries. Here are a few places that every geography enthusiast should visit at least once.
The capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
The area of United Arab Emirates is 83,600 km².
The population of United Arab Emirates is 10,986,400.
The currency of United Arab Emirates is United Arab Emirates dirham (AED).
The official language of United Arab Emirates: Arabic.
United Arab Emirates: Right-hand traffic.
Yes, United Arab Emirates is a member of the United Nations.