Oman
Saudi ArabiaThe Hafit period begins
Around 3200 BC people began building beehive-shaped stone tombs on the slopes of Jebel Hafeet near today's Al Ain. The period is named after the mountain, and the tombs are part of a World Heritage Site.
Western Asia
United Arab Emirates
Seven emirates between the desert and the warm waters of the Gulf, where pearl divers' villages became glittering cities within a single lifetime.
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Overview
The United Arab Emirates at a glance
The United Arab Emirates sits at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country faces the Persian Gulf, while a short stretch of coast in the east looks out on the Gulf of Oman. Inland, sand dunes roll south into the Empty Quarter, and in the north and east the bare, rocky Hajar Mountains rise along the border with Oman.
It is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Each has its own hereditary ruler, and together the seven rulers form the Federal Supreme Council, which elects the country's president. Abu Dhabi, by far the largest emirate, holds the capital, while Dubai is the biggest city.
Until the 1950s most people here lived from pearl diving, fishing, date farming and herding camels. Oil, found offshore in 1958, paid for roads, schools, hospitals and whole new cities. Today about 11 million people live in the UAE, and most of them come from other countries, above all from South Asia. Visitors come for the skyscrapers of Dubai, the great white mosque of Abu Dhabi, desert camps, mountain drives, museums and warm winter sunshine.
CapitalAbu Dhabi
PopulationAbout 11 million (2024 estimate); only around one in nine are Emirati citizens
Official languageArabic. Emiratis speak their own Gulf dialect, and English is the everyday language of shops and business
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates dirham (AED), divided into 100 fils and pegged to the US dollar
AreaAbout 83,600 km²; the emirate of Abu Dhabi alone covers about 87 percent of it
GovernmentFederation of seven emirates, each led by a hereditary ruler. The seven rulers form the Federal Supreme Council, which elects the president
Highest mountainJebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah. Its summit, about 1,934 m, lies just across the border in Oman; the highest point on the UAE side is about 1,892 m
Longest riverNone. The UAE has no permanent rivers, only wadis, dry valleys that fill with water for a short time after heavy rain
NeighboursSaudi Arabia to the west and south, and Oman to the east. Across the water: Qatar and Iran
Drives on theRight
Calling code+971
The story
A short history of the United Arab Emirates
People have lived along this coast and in its oases for thousands of years, trading copper with Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley and farming dates with the help of underground water channels called falaj. Islam arrived in the 7th century. From the 1820s the coastal sheikhdoms signed a series of treaties with Britain and became known as the Trucial States. After Britain decided to leave the Gulf, six of them formed the United Arab Emirates in December 1971, and Ras Al Khaimah joined on 10 February 1972.
3200 BC 2600 BC The Umm an-Nar culture flourishes
From about 2600 BC to 2000 BC people built large round tombs and towers, such as those at Hili in Al Ain, and traded copper from the Hajar Mountains. Sumerian texts speak of a land called Magan, which covered today's UAE and Oman.
AD 630 Islam reaches the coast
Islam is thought to have reached the region after the Prophet Muhammad sent a letter to the rulers of Oman in 630. Within a few years the peoples of the coast and the oases had become Muslim.
1761 The Qasr Al Hosn watchtower is built
A round watchtower was built on Abu Dhabi island to guard its only freshwater well. It later grew into a fort and palace, Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in the city of Abu Dhabi.
1793 The Al Nahyan move to Abu Dhabi
The ruling family of the Bani Yas tribe moved their residence from the Liwa Oasis in the desert to Abu Dhabi island on the coast, where pearling and fishing offered a living.
1820 The General Maritime Treaty
After British forces attacked Ras Al Khaimah, the rulers of the coast signed a maritime truce with Britain. The treaties that followed gave the area its English name, the Trucial States or Trucial Coast.
1833 The Al Maktoum settle in Dubai
Members of the Al Bu Falasah tribe left Abu Dhabi and settled on the creek at Dubai, led by Maktoum bin Butti and Obeid bin Saeed. The Al Maktoum family has ruled Dubai ever since.
1892 The Exclusive Agreement
The rulers agreed to deal with no foreign power except Britain, which in return promised to protect them. The Trucial States became, in effect, a British protectorate while keeping their own rulers.
1958 Oil is found at Umm Shaif
A drilling rig towed from Germany struck oil under Umm Shaif, an old pearl bed in the waters of Abu Dhabi. It was the first commercial oil find on the Trucial Coast, and exports began in 1962.
1968 Britain announces its withdrawal
In January 1968 the British government announced that it would end its treaties with the Gulf sheikhdoms and withdraw its forces by the end of 1971. The rulers began talks about forming a union.
1971 The United Arab Emirates is founded
On 2 December 1971 six emirates, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, formed the United Arab Emirates. The date is celebrated every year as National Day. Bahrain and Qatar, which had taken part in the talks, became separate countries instead.
1972 Ras Al Khaimah joins the union
Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, joined the federation on 10 February 1972, making it the seven emirates of today.
1981 The Gulf Cooperation Council is founded
The UAE was one of the six founding members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Abu Dhabi hosted its first summit in May 1981.
2010 The Burj Khalifa opens
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai opened on 4 January 2010. At 828 m it became the tallest building in the world, a title it still held as of September 2026.
2021 The Hope probe reaches Mars
On 9 February 2021 the UAE's Hope probe, launched from Japan in July 2020, went into orbit around Mars to study its weather and atmosphere.
2025 Faya joins the World Heritage List
UNESCO added the Faya Palaeolandscape in the emirate of Sharjah to its World Heritage List. Stone tools found at Jebel Faya are some of the earliest evidence of modern humans outside Africa.
At the table
What to eat in the United Arab Emirates
Emirati cooking grew out of three ways of life: Bedouin herders with their camel milk and meat, fishermen of the Gulf, and farmers of the date-palm oases. Trade with India, Persia and East Africa brought rice and spices such as cardamom, saffron, turmeric and dried lime, called loomi. A traditional meal is a big shared platter of spiced rice with meat or fish, and a guest is always welcomed with small cups of Arabic coffee and a plate of dates. In the cities you can eat food from almost every country in the world, and Emirati dishes are easiest to find in heritage restaurants and during Ramadan.
RiceRecipe
Machboos
مچبوس
The whole Gulf coast, a favourite for family lunches
Rice cooked in a fragrant stock with chicken, lamb, fish or shrimp, spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric and loomi, the sun-dried lime of the Gulf. It is served on a large platter in the middle of the table.
Machboos is the Gulf name for a dish that Saudis call kabsa; it is often described as a national dish of all the Gulf countries.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken pieces, skin on
- 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
- 2 onions, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 dried limes (loomi), pierced with a knife
- 1 cinnamon stick and 4 cardamom pods
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric and 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon baharat (mixed spice) or a pinch each of black pepper, coriander and cloves
- 400 g basmati rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
- 1 litre hot water or chicken stock
- A handful of fresh coriander, and toasted almonds and raisins to serve (optional)
Method
- Heat the ghee in a large pot and fry the onions until golden. Add the garlic and all the spices and stir for one minute.
- Add the chicken and turn it in the spices for 5 minutes, then add the tomatoes, dried limes and hot water with a little salt.
- Cover and simmer for about 35 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Lift out the chicken and keep it warm; you can brown it under the grill if you like.
- Drain the rice and stir it into the stock, which should cover it by about 1 cm. Cook uncovered until the liquid has sunk into the rice, then cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 20 minutes.
- Pile the rice on a large platter, lay the chicken on top and sprinkle with coriander, almonds and raisins.
Main courseRecipe
Harees
هريس
All of the Emirates, especially in Ramadan, at Eid and at weddings
Whole wheat and meat, usually chicken or lamb, cooked slowly for hours and then beaten until they melt into a smooth, thick porridge. It is served with a spoonful of melted ghee on top.
Harees is so closely tied to Ramadan that many Emirati families cook a big pot of it for the evening meal that breaks the fast.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g whole wheat grains (or pearled wheat), soaked overnight
- 500 g lamb or chicken on the bone
- 1.5 litres water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Salt to taste
- 3 tablespoons ghee, melted, to serve
- A pinch of ground cinnamon or cumin to serve (optional)
Method
- Drain the wheat. Put the meat, wheat, water and cinnamon stick in a large heavy pot and bring to the boil, skimming off any foam.
- Cover and cook on a very low heat for 3 to 4 hours, stirring from time to time and adding hot water if it gets too thick, until the wheat is very soft.
- Take out the bones and the cinnamon stick. Beat the mixture hard with a wooden spoon, or use a hand blender in short bursts, until it becomes a smooth, sticky porridge.
- Season with salt, spoon into bowls, make a hollow in the middle and pour in the melted ghee. Sprinkle with cinnamon or cumin if you like.
Main course
Thareed
ثريد
Across the Emirates, a classic dish in Ramadan
A stew of meat, potatoes, marrow and other vegetables in a spiced tomato broth, ladled over thin pieces of regag bread that soak up the sauce.
Thareed is an ancient dish: versions of bread soaked in meat broth are mentioned in early Islamic writings.
PastaRecipe
Balaleet
بلاليط
The Gulf coast, a favourite for breakfast
Thin vermicelli noodles cooked with sugar, cardamom, rose water and saffron, served with a thin omelette laid over the top. The mix of sweet noodles and savoury egg is the whole point.
Balaleet is often the first meal of the day at Eid al-Fitr, the festival that ends Ramadan.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 200 g thin vermicelli, broken into short pieces
- 2 tablespoons ghee or butter
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- A pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon rose water
- 4 eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt and turmeric
- 1 tablespoon oil for the omelette
Method
- Cook the vermicelli in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, until just soft, and drain well.
- Melt the ghee in a pan, add the sugar and cardamom and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the vermicelli, the saffron water and the rose water, and toss over a low heat for 3 minutes.
- In a separate pan, heat the oil and cook the beaten eggs as a thin omelette until fully set, with no runny egg left.
- Put the sweet vermicelli on a plate and lay the omelette on top. Serve warm.
DessertRecipe
Luqaimat
لقيمات
All of the Emirates, at every gathering and in Ramadan
Small balls of yeast batter, flavoured with cardamom and saffron, deep-fried until crisp and golden outside and soft inside, then drizzled with date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
The name means 'little bites'. Similar fried dough balls go back to recipes written down in the 13th century.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 250 g plain flour
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 teaspoon dried yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- A pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm water
- About 300 ml warm water
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- Date syrup or honey, and sesame seeds, to serve
Method
- Mix the flour, cornflour, yeast, sugar, cardamom and a pinch of salt. Stir in the saffron water and enough warm water to make a thick, smooth batter, a little thicker than pancake batter.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for about an hour, until it has doubled and is full of bubbles.
- Heat the oil to about 170 °C in a deep pan, filling it no more than a third full. Drop in small spoonfuls of batter, a few at a time, and fry, turning them, until golden all over.
- Lift them out onto kitchen paper, drizzle with date syrup and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Eat them warm.
Snack
Khanfaroosh
خنفروش
The Gulf coast, served with tea at family gatherings
Small golden cakes made from eggs, flour, sugar, saffron and cardamom, sometimes with a little rose water. They are fried in oil until puffed and crisp at the edges.
Khanfaroosh is made all along the Gulf coast, and each family tends to have its own mix of spices.
DrinkRecipe
Arabic coffee (gahwa)
قهوة
The whole Arabian Peninsula; poured for guests in every Emirati home
Lightly roasted coffee boiled with cardamom, and sometimes saffron, served without sugar from a tall pot called a dallah into tiny cups without handles. It is almost always offered with dates.
In 2015 UNESCO listed Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity, as intangible cultural heritage, nominated by the UAE together with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 600 ml water
- 3 tablespoons lightly roasted Arabic coffee, ground
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- A few saffron threads (optional)
- Dates to serve
Method
- Bring the water to the boil in a small pot, stir in the coffee and let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
- Take it off the heat for a minute so the grounds settle, then add the cardamom and saffron and simmer for 2 minutes more.
- Let it stand for a few minutes, then pour the clear coffee into a flask or dallah, leaving the grounds behind.
- Serve a small amount in each little cup, with dates on the side.
DrinkRecipe
Karak chai
شاي كرك
From the Indian subcontinent; now sold at cafeterias across the Emirates
Black tea boiled hard with milk, sugar and cardamom until strong and creamy. Karak means 'hard' or 'strong'. It came to the Gulf from the Indian subcontinent and is now sold in small cups at cafeterias everywhere.
See the recipe
Ingredients
- 300 ml water
- 2 heaped teaspoons strong loose black tea
- 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 150 ml evaporated milk or whole milk
- 2 to 3 teaspoons sugar
- A few saffron threads (optional)
Method
- Bring the water to the boil with the cardamom and the tea, and let it boil for 3 minutes until very dark.
- Add the milk, sugar and saffron and bring back to the boil. Let it rise up the pot, lower the heat, and repeat two or three times.
- Strain into small cups and drink hot.
Snack
Dates
تمر
The oases of Al Ain and Liwa, and farms across the country
Soft, sticky dates from local palms, served with coffee to every guest and eaten to break the fast in Ramadan. The UAE grows many varieties, such as khalas, khenaizi and lulu.
Date seeds found at Bronze Age sites show that people in the region have grown date palms for more than 4,000 years.
Drink
Camel milk
حليب النوق
Bedouin tradition; now sold in supermarkets across the Emirates
Slightly salty, rich milk that once kept desert families alive. Today you can buy it fresh in supermarkets, and also as flavoured milk, ice cream and chocolate.
Camel milk was a staple of the Bedouin diet together with dates and Arabic coffee.
Snack
Shawarma
شاورما
From the Levant; the favourite quick meal of the Emirates
Thin slices of spiced chicken or lamb carved from a turning spit and rolled in flatbread with garlic sauce, pickles and chips. Small cafeterias sell it late into the night.
Shawarma is not Emirati in origin, but it is so popular that almost every neighbourhood has a shawarma stand.
Dessert
Dubai chocolate
شوكولاتة دبي
Created in Dubai in 2021
A thick milk chocolate bar filled with pistachio and tahini cream and crunchy shreds of kadayif pastry, the flavours of the dessert knafeh.
A small Dubai chocolatier first sold the bar in 2022; videos on social media made it famous around the world in 2024.
Table manners
- When you visit an Emirati home you will be offered Arabic coffee and dates. Take and return the small cup with your right hand. Your host will keep refilling it until you gently shake the cup as you hand it back.
- Eat with your right hand, especially when eating from a shared platter.
- Traditional meals are often eaten sitting on the floor around a large platter, taking food from the part in front of you.
- Use only your right hand to pass things, shake hands or hand over a business card; the left hand is considered unclean.
- Pork is not served in most places, and alcohol is served only in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars, never in the emirate of Sharjah.
Cities
11 cities to know
Almost all the big towns lie on the coast of the Persian Gulf, where Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman grew from small fishing and pearling villages. Fujairah and Khor Fakkan face the Gulf of Oman on the other side of the mountains, while Al Ain and Liwa grew around desert oases.
Abu Dhabi Capital
Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Persian Gulf coast
The capital, built mostly on an island in the Gulf. Its name means 'father of the gazelle'. Planned wide avenues, a long seafront promenade and new museums on Saadiyat Island stand beside the old fort of Qasr Al Hosn.
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- The Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in the city
Dubai
Emirate of Dubai, Persian Gulf coast
The largest city, with about 4 million people as of 2025, most of them from abroad. It grew around Dubai Creek as a trading port and is now a world hub for business, travel and shopping.
- The Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Creek and its abra water taxis
- Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest
Sharjah
Emirate of Sharjah, Persian Gulf coast
The third-largest city, joined to Dubai by a continuous stretch of suburbs. It is the most conservative emirate, known for its museums, restored heritage quarter and lagoons.
- The Museum of Islamic Civilization
- The restored Heart of Sharjah quarter
- The Faya Palaeolandscape inland, a World Heritage Site
Al Ain
Emirate of Abu Dhabi, inland on the border with Oman
The 'Garden City' of the Emirates, an oasis town of palm groves, parks and forts next to the Omani town of Al Buraimi. It has the highest share of Emirati citizens of any city in the country.
- The Al Ain Oasis and its falaj channels
- The Cultural Sites of Al Ain, the country's first World Heritage Site
- The drive up Jebel Hafeet
Ajman
Emirate of Ajman, Persian Gulf coast
The capital of Ajman, the smallest of the seven emirates, with only about 259 km². It lies on the coast just north of Sharjah, surrounded on land by the emirate of Sharjah, and in the 1820s a British survey praised its sheltered backwater.
- The smallest emirate
- The Ajman Museum in the old fort
- Beaches close to Dubai and Sharjah
Umm Al Quwain
Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, Persian Gulf coast
A quiet town on a sandy peninsula between the sea and a lagoon of mangroves. The economy is based on fishing and tourism, and on nearby Siniyah Island archaeologists found the oldest known pearling town in the Gulf.
- Mangroves and lagoons
- Siniyah Island
- Fishing
Ras Al Khaimah
Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, far north
The capital of the northernmost emirate, lying between the sea and the Hajar Mountains. Near it stood Julfar, a busy medieval port famous for its pearls.
- Jebel Jais and its mountain road
- A record-breaking zip line
- The ruins of Julfar
Fujairah
Emirate of Fujairah, Gulf of Oman coast
The only emirate capital on the east coast, facing the Gulf of Oman at the foot of the Hajar Mountains. It is an industrial and commercial hub with a busy port.
- Fujairah Fort
- Diving and snorkelling
- Mountains close to the sea
Khor Fakkan
Emirate of Sharjah, Gulf of Oman coast
A town in a bay ringed by mountains on the east coast. It belongs to the emirate of Sharjah, even though it lies on the other side of the country from the city of Sharjah.
- Its sweeping bay and beach
- One of the country's major container ports
- Mountain hiking trails
Hatta
Emirate of Dubai, inland exclave in the Hajar Mountains
A mountain town that belongs to Dubai but is cut off from the rest of the emirate, about 134 km east of the city. Families from the coast have long come here to escape the summer heat.
- The Hatta Heritage Village
- Kayaking on the Hatta Dam lake
- Mountain biking and hiking
Liwa
Al Dhafra, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on the edge of the Empty Quarter
A crescent of oasis villages and date farms among towering sand dunes in the far south. It is the homeland of the Bani Yas tribe, from which the ruling families of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai descend.
- The Moreeb Dune, about 300 m high
- Date farms
- Desert festivals and camel races
Landmarks
Places everyone should see once
Dubai
The Burj Khalifa
A needle-like skyscraper of glass and steel, 828 m tall, which opened in 2010. As of September 2026 it is the tallest building in the world. Observation decks near the top look out over the desert and the sea, and at its foot the Dubai Fountain dances to music every evening.
Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
The country's largest mosque, built of white marble and finished in 2007, with 82 domes, more than 1,000 columns, gold-plated chandeliers and one of the largest hand-knotted carpets in the world. The founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, is buried in its courtyard. Visitors of all faiths are welcome outside prayer times, in modest dress.
Abu Dhabi
The Louvre Abu Dhabi
An art museum on Saadiyat Island, opened in 2017 under an agreement with France. The architect Jean Nouvel covered its white buildings with a vast, seemingly floating dome of patterned metal that lets sunlight filter through, like light through palm leaves.
Abu Dhabi
Qasr Al Hosn
Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building, begun in 1761 as a watchtower guarding the island's only freshwater well. It grew into the ruler's palace and seat of government until 1966, and reopened in 2018 as a museum of the city's history.
Dubai
Al Fahidi Fort and Dubai Creek
The heart of old Dubai. Al Fahidi Fort, built in 1787, is the oldest building in Dubai; as of September 2026 it is closed for restoration and due to reopen with a new Dubai Museum. The lanes of the Al Fahidi quarter next to it are lined with houses cooled by wind towers. For a small fare you can cross the creek in an abra, a wooden water taxi, to the spice and gold souks of Deira.
Dubai
The Palm Jumeirah
Artificial islands shaped like a palm tree, with a trunk, fronds and a curving outer crescent, built from sand and rock dredged from the sea from 2001 onwards. More than 25,000 people live on it, among hotels, villas and beaches.
Al Ain
The Al Ain Oasis
More than 147,000 date palms of about 100 varieties grow in this shady oasis in the middle of Al Ain, watered by falaj, ancient channels that carry water from underground. Shaded paths lead through the groves, and it is part of the Cultural Sites of Al Ain World Heritage Site.
UNESCO World Heritage
Near Al Ain
Jebel Hafeet
A lone limestone mountain rising steeply from the desert just south of Al Ain, on the border with Oman. A road with 60 bends climbs 11.7 km and about 1,200 m to the top. At its foot lie the 5,000-year-old Hafit tombs, part of the Cultural Sites of Al Ain World Heritage Site.
Near Ras Al Khaimah
Jebel Jais
The highest mountain in the UAE, north of Ras Al Khaimah. A 36 km road hairpins up its bare slopes to viewing platforms and a zip line that was the world's longest when it opened in 2018. Its true summit lies just across the border in Oman.
Near Fujairah
Al Bidya Mosque
A small mosque of mud and stone with four low domes, in a village about 35 km north of Fujairah. It is usually dated to the 15th century and is often described as the oldest surviving mosque in the country.
Fun facts
Things you might not know
- 01
As of September 2026 the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 828 m tall, is the tallest building in the world. It was called Burj Dubai until the day it opened in 2010.
- 02
Snow was recorded in the UAE for the first time on 28 December 2004, on the Jebel Jais mountains in Ras Al Khaimah.
- 03
Abu Dhabi means 'father of the gazelle' in Arabic. The emirate of Abu Dhabi covers about 87 percent of the whole country.
- 04
On 9 February 2021 the UAE's Hope probe went into orbit around Mars, making the UAE the first Arab country to reach the planet.
- 05
Only about 11 percent of the people living in the UAE are Emirati citizens; most residents come from other countries, above all from South Asia.
- 06
In 2024 Dubai International Airport was the world's busiest airport for international passengers, with more than 92 million travellers.
- 07
As of 2026 the UAE has three World Heritage Sites: the Cultural Sites of Al Ain (2011), the Faya Palaeolandscape in Sharjah (2025) and Wadi Wurayah, a mountain valley in Fujairah with waterfalls and rare wildlife (2026).
- 08
The Dubai Metro opened on 9 September 2009, at 9 minutes and 9 seconds past 9 in the evening. Its trains have no drivers.
- 09
Falconry is a treasured Emirati tradition. In 2010 UNESCO listed it as intangible cultural heritage, nominated by the UAE together with ten other countries.
- 10
Around 1907, at the height of the pearl trade, about 4,500 pearling boats worked from ports around the Gulf, employing more than 74,000 people.
- 11
Hatta is part of Dubai, yet to get there from the city you drive about 134 km inland into the mountains. Several emirates own such separate pieces of land, called exclaves.
- 12
On Sir Bani Yas Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi, archaeologists found a Christian monastery and church from around the 7th century.
- 13
The Palm Jumeirah was built from sand dredged from the sea floor and rock, and seen from the air it really does look like a palm tree.
Emirati Arabic words
20 words to start with
Arabic is written from right to left; each word is shown in simple Latin letters with the Arabic script in brackets. 'Kh' sounds like the ch in Scottish 'loch', and in the Gulf the letter qaf is often said as a hard 'g', so qahwa (coffee) becomes gahwa Pronunciation is written the way it sounds; the capital letters show where the stress goes. Audio is coming soon.
Greetings
- marhaba (مرحبا)MAR-ha-bahello
- hala (هلا)HA-lahi, welcome (a warm Gulf greeting)
- shukran (شكرا)SHOOK-ranthank you
Everyday
- na'am (نعم)NA-amyes
- la (لا)LAAno
- yalla (يلا)YAL-lacome on, let's go
Food and drink
- gahwa (قهوة)GAH-wacoffee, especially Arabic coffee
- shai (شاي)SHAItea
- tamr (تمر)TAMRdates
- khubz (خبز)KHOOBZbread
- maay (ماي)MAA-eewater
Places
- souq (سوق)SOOKmarket
- majlis (مجلس)MAJ-lissitting room where guests are received; also a council
- masjid (مسجد)MAS-jidmosque
- barjeel (برجيل)bar-JEELwind tower, a traditional way of cooling a house
Desert and sea
- bahr (بحر)BAHRsea
- wadi (وادي)WAA-deevalley or dry riverbed
- abra (عبرة)AB-rasmall wooden boat used as a water taxi on Dubai Creek
Clothing
- kandura (كندورة)kan-DOO-rathe long white robe worn by Emirati men
- abaya (عباية)a-BAA-yathe long black cloak worn by many Emirati women
Say it like a local
Useful phrases
Some phrases change with the person you speak to: 'shlonak' is for a man and 'shlonich' for a woman. Almost everyone in the UAE also speaks English, but a few words of Arabic are warmly received
As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم)
as-sa-LAA-moo a-LAY-koom
Peace be upon you (hello)
The polite greeting for anyone, at any time; you will hear it even if you are not a Muslim
Wa alaykum as-salam (وعليكم السلام)
wa a-LAY-koom as-sa-LAAM
And upon you be peace (the reply)
Answering 'as-salamu alaykum'
Ahlan wa sahlan (أهلا وسهلا)
AH-lan wa SAH-lan
Welcome
Said by hosts and shopkeepers as you arrive
Sabah al-khair (صباح الخير)
sa-BAAH al-KHAIR
Good morning
Greeting someone in the morning
Masa al-khair (مساء الخير)
ma-SAA al-KHAIR
Good evening
Greeting someone in the afternoon or evening
Shlonak? (شلونك)
SHLOH-nak
How are you? (to a man; to a woman: shlonich)
Asking after someone, the Emirati way
Zain, al-hamdulillah (زين، الحمد لله)
ZAIN, al-HAM-doo-lil-lah
Fine, thank God
The usual answer to 'how are you?'
Shukran jazeelan (شكرا جزيلا)
SHOOK-ran ja-ZEE-lan
Thank you very much
Thanking someone warmly
Afwan (عفوا)
AF-wan
You're welcome; also excuse me
Replying to thanks, or getting past someone
Min fadlak (من فضلك)
min FAD-lak
Please (to a man; to a woman: min fadlich)
Asking for something politely
Inshallah (إن شاء الله)
in-SHAA-al-lah
God willing
Said about anything planned for the future, from a meeting to a trip
Mashallah (ما شاء الله)
maa-SHAA-al-lah
What God has willed (how wonderful)
Admiring something beautiful, such as a child, a home or a new car
Bikam hatha? (بكم هذا)
BI-kam HAA-tha
How much is this?
Shopping in the souq
Ma afham (ما أفهم)
ma AF-ham
I don't understand
When the Arabic gets too fast
Titkallam ingleezi? (تتكلم إنجليزي)
tit-KAL-lam in-GLEE-zee
Do you speak English?
Before switching to English
Wain al-hammam? (وين الحمام)
WAIN al-ham-MAAM
Where is the toilet?
In a restaurant, mall or museum
Ma'a as-salama (مع السلامة)
MA-a as-sa-LAA-ma
Goodbye (go in safety)
Leaving a shop or a home
Yalla (يلا)
YAL-la
Come on, let's go
Heard everywhere, from taxi drivers to grandparents
Local tips
Before you go
Check the official travel advice first
In 2026 the UAE was hit by drone and missile attacks during the war involving Iran. As of September 2026, British government advice warns of a risk of further attacks and says flights and airspace in the region can be disrupted at short notice. Before and during your trip, check your own government's official travel advice for the UAE.
Get approval for your medicines
Some ordinary medicines, including certain painkillers with codeine, are controlled in the UAE. As of September 2026 you must apply online to the UAE Ministry of Health before you fly to bring in any medicine the UAE classes as narcotic, psychotropic, controlled or semi-controlled. Visitors may bring at most three months' supply of ordinary medicine, and only one month's supply of a medicine that needs approval. Bringing controlled medicines without approval can lead to prosecution.
Alcohol only in licensed places
As of 2026 alcohol is sold in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars, and the legal age is 21. Drinking or being drunk in a public place is illegal everywhere, and the emirate of Sharjah bans alcohol altogether. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Dress modestly in public
In shopping malls and other public places, women are advised to cover their shoulders and knees, and swimwear should be worn only on beaches and at pools. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque asks all visitors to wear long, loose, ankle-length clothes, and women must also cover their hair with a headscarf.
Be thoughtful during Ramadan
During the holy month of Ramadan most Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public in the daytime, loud music and dancing may cause offence. Opening hours change, and the evenings, with their iftar meals, are lively and welcoming.
Ask before taking photos
Do not photograph people, especially women, without their permission, and never take pictures of government buildings, military sites or airports. Swearing and rude gestures, including online, are criminal offences.
Travel in the cool season
The best months to visit are November to March, when days are warm and sunny. In July and August the temperature on the coast often climbs above 45 °C, so plan outdoor visits for early morning or evening and drink plenty of water.
Emergency numbers
The emergency numbers are 999 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire service. Only cross roads at marked crossings; crossing anywhere else is illegal and can be fined.
Sources (63)
- United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia)
- History of the United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia)
- Trucial States (Wikipedia)
- Jebel Jais (Wikipedia)
- United Arab Emirates dirham (Wikipedia)
- Left- and right-hand traffic (Wikipedia)
- Emirati Arabic (Wikipedia)
- Liwa Oasis (Wikipedia)
- Qasr Al Hosn (Wikipedia)
- Emirates Mars Mission (Wikipedia)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: United Arab Emirates
- Emirati cuisine (Wikipedia)
- Kabsa, also called machboos (Wikipedia)
- Harees (Wikipedia)
- Tharid (Wikipedia)
- Balaleet (Wikipedia)
- Lokma, called luqaimat in the Gulf (Wikipedia)
- Arabic coffee (Wikipedia)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity
- Masala chai, including karak (Wikipedia)
- Camel milk (Wikipedia)
- Shawarma (Wikipedia)
- Dubai chocolate (Wikipedia)
- Date palm (Wikipedia)
- Khaleej Times: Chabab, Regag and Luqaimat, Emirati dishes to try
- SBS Food: Cardamom and saffron cakes (khanfaroush)
- Wikivoyage: United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi (Wikipedia)
- Dubai (Wikipedia)
- Sharjah (Wikipedia)
- Al Ain (Wikipedia)
- Ajman (Wikipedia)
- Ras Al Khaimah (Wikipedia)
- Fujairah (Wikipedia)
- Umm Al Quwain (Wikipedia)
- Khor Fakkan (Wikipedia)
- Hatta, United Arab Emirates (Wikipedia)
- Burj Khalifa (Wikipedia)
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Wikipedia)
- Louvre Abu Dhabi (Wikipedia)
- Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort (Wikipedia)
- Dubai Creek (Wikipedia)
- Abra (boat) (Wikipedia)
- Palm Jumeirah (Wikipedia)
- Al Ain Oasis (Wikipedia)
- Jebel Hafeet (Wikipedia)
- Al Bidya Mosque (Wikipedia)
- Falconry (Wikipedia)
- Dubai Metro (Wikipedia)
- Wadi Wurayah (Wikipedia)
- Wikivoyage: Arabic phrasebook
- Majlis (Wikipedia)
- Windcatcher (Wikipedia)
- Thawb, called kandura in the UAE (Wikipedia)
- Abaya (Wikipedia)
- Souk (Wikipedia)
- Wadi (Wikipedia)
- GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice (updated 24 July 2026)
- GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice, safety and security
- GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice, entry requirements
- GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice, getting help
- Euronews: Dubai's oldest building, Al Fahidi Fort, set to reopen with new museum (18 September 2026)
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre: visitor FAQs
