Middle East · Destination guide
City, beach and resort scale, with direct flying and very polished hospitality.
Where to go
Choose it if you want the widest spread of hotels and neighbourhoods, a beach within walking distance of restaurants, and the most to fill a short stopover.
A global city with beach resorts, family attractions and easy stopover logic.
Explore DubaiThe capital's island city, greener and less frantic than Dubai, with a long corniche of public beaches, parks and cycle paths facing the Gulf. Hotels range from towers along the corniche to beach resorts on its edges, and the Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan are a taxi ride away. Evenings are quieter than in Dubai, which suits some visitors and bores others.
A low-rise island of wide, pale beaches, where hawksbill turtles nest on protected stretches and a cultural district is growing around the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The resorts are spacious and calm, and the sea shelves gently. There is no town to wander, so after dark you stay in the resorts, and anything beyond the island needs a taxi.
Abu Dhabi's leisure island, built around four big theme parks, a marina and the Formula One circuit, with mostly mid-range hotels linked to the parks by shuttle buses. It is made for a family week of rides, and handy for the airport. It has little character of its own, though, and the beaches are limited compared with Saadiyat.
The northernmost emirate, where large beach resorts line the reclaimed Al Marjan Island and the coast towards Al Hamra, with the Hajar mountains rising behind. Rooms usually cost less than in Dubai for similar space, and there is little to walk to, so all inclusive works. A big casino resort is under construction on Al Marjan, so we check each hotel's outlook before booking.
The country's other coastline, facing the Gulf of Oman, where a few beach resorts at Al Aqah sit between bare mountains and a sea with better snorkelling than the Gulf side. Fishing villages and mountain roads make good short outings. Hotel choice is small, the sand is darker and coarser, and a day in Dubai means a long drive across the country.
Is it right for you?
A strong fit for
Families, stopovers, luxury and winter sun.
We would think twice for
Travellers wanting culture-first holidays with independent wandering, because the Emirates are built around hotels, malls and experiences, and their heritage corners are the garnish rather than the meal.
What we would want you to know
The hotel location decides whether the trip feels like city or resort.
We’ve been here
Our own time in the Emirates has been spent in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and the east coast we rely on research and enquiry work, and that is exactly why we lay the emirates side by side before assuming Dubai is the answer: for plenty of families, a calmer and cheaper emirate suits the week better.
Weather and seasons
All seven emirates share one calendar. November to March brings warm, dry days, with Abu Dhabi's January afternoons averaging about 25°C, while August climbs to around 43°C with coastal humidity that makes it feel hotter still; inland Al Ain is drier but hotter by day. October and April are hot shoulders, good for swimming in a sea near 31°C but tiring for sightseeing. Winter mornings sometimes bring thick fog that delays flights, and spring winds can lift sand into haze. Ramadan moves about eleven days earlier each year, falling in February and early March in 2027; hotels stay open, days are quieter, and the Eid holidays that follow fill resorts with visitors from across the Gulf.
Worth timing a trip around
The anniversary of the union of the emirates in 1971, celebrated with flags on every building, fireworks, parades and a long weekend, when beach resorts fill with residents.
Usually the final race of the Formula One season, run from dusk into darkness at Yas Marina, with concerts afterwards. Hotel prices on Yas and across the city jump that week, so unless the race is your reason to travel, we steer you to another week.
A winter-long heritage festival at Al Wathba outside Abu Dhabi, with pavilions of crafts and food from around the world, parades, and fireworks on the biggest nights. It comes alive after dark.
For around ten days, Sharjah's mosques, forts and public buildings become screens for light and music shows each evening, easy to combine with a stay in Dubai.
| Month | High | Low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°C | 17°C | 21°C | 0 mm |
| February | 26°C | 18°C | 21°C | 9 mm |
| March | 30°C | 20°C | 22°C | 9 mm |
| April | 35°C | 24°C | 25°C | 3 mm |
| May | 39°C | 27°C | 29°C | 1 mm |
| June | 41°C | 30°C | 32°C | 0 mm |
| July | 43°C | 32°C | 33°C | 0 mm |
| August | 43°C | 32°C | 34°C | 0 mm |
| September | 41°C | 30°C | 33°C | 0 mm |
| October | 36°C | 27°C | 31°C | 0 mm |
| November | 31°C | 23°C | 28°C | 0 mm |
| December | 27°C | 19°C | 24°C | 3 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Al Bateen Executive, 10 km away at 5 m. Rainfall is from the GPCC rain-gauge analysis (Deutscher Wetterdienst) for 2010 to 2019 and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it. Sea temperatures: NOAA OISST, 1991 to 2020.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°C | 14°C | 0 mm |
| February | 27°C | 15°C | 9 mm |
| March | 32°C | 19°C | 6 mm |
| April | 36°C | 23°C | 7 mm |
| May | 41°C | 27°C | 1 mm |
| June | 44°C | 30°C | 0 mm |
| July | 44°C | 32°C | 0 mm |
| August | 44°C | 31°C | 5 mm |
| September | 41°C | 29°C | 0 mm |
| October | 37°C | 25°C | 1 mm |
| November | 31°C | 21°C | 0 mm |
| December | 27°C | 16°C | 0 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Buraimi (Aut), 5 km away at 299 m. Rainfall is from the GPCC rain-gauge analysis (Deutscher Wetterdienst) for 2010 to 2019 and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it.
Things to do
A vast mosque of white marble, domes and reflecting pools, with an enormous hand-knotted carpet and chandeliers of coloured crystal. Everyone must cover arms and legs, and women need a headscarf. Visit in late afternoon to watch the marble change colour as the sun goes down.
Jean Nouvel's museum sits under a latticed dome that scatters light like sun through palm leaves, with galleries that set objects from different civilisations side by side. Allow three hours and save it for the afternoon heat; it is closed on Mondays.
The working presidential palace, opened to visitors, with a great domed hall, a library of manuscripts and gifts from visiting heads of state. A light show plays on the façade after dark, so an afternoon visit can run on into dusk.
Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. World and SeaWorld sit a short shuttle ride apart, and three of the four are largely indoors, the answer to a hot afternoon. Multi-park passes suit families staying several days, and ride height limits are worth checking before you go.
The country's highest mountain road climbs through bare Hajar peaks in Ras Al Khaimah to viewpoints, a very long zipline and a toboggan run. The top is far cooler than the coast, and cold enough for a coat on winter mornings.
Sharjah, next door to Dubai, has put its money into heritage rather than towers: the Museum of Islamic Civilization, restored merchants' houses and an old covered souk. The emirate is dry and its dress rules are stricter, so wear loose clothes that reach the elbow and knee.
The inland garden city on the Omani border, where shaded paths wind through a UNESCO-listed palm oasis still watered by ancient channels. Finish with the drive up Jebel Hafeet for sunset. It is a full day's round trip from Dubai, and far easier from Abu Dhabi.
A rocky islet off Al Aqah, named for its likeness to the cartoon dog asleep on his kennel, where reef fish and the odd turtle gather in water often clearer than on the Gulf side. Calm mornings are best, and a boat from the beach saves a long swim.
Abu Dhabi's mangrove channels, close to the city centre, shelter herons, crabs and shoals of small fish, and are best explored by kayak or paddleboard at high tide. Go early and wear a hat, since there is no shade on the water.
Food and drink
The Emirati family dish: rice cooked with chicken, lamb or fish, dried loomi limes and baharat spices, served on a shared platter. Hotel buffets rarely do it justice, so seek out an Emirati restaurant.
Crisp fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup and sesame seeds, sold hot at markets and festivals and a fixture of Ramadan evenings.
Arabic coffee, lightly roasted and spiced with cardamom and sometimes saffron, poured into small cups without handles, with dates on the side. Shake the cup gently from side to side when you have had enough.
A breakfast of sweet vermicelli scented with saffron, cardamom and rose water, topped with a thin omelette. The mix of sweet and savoury surprises most first-timers.
Slightly salty and lighter than cow's milk, sold fresh in supermarkets and turned into chocolate, ice cream and lattes in the malls.
Shape of the trip
Nights 1 and 2
The Grand Mosque in late afternoon as the marble turns gold, Qasr Al Watan the next morning, and an evening walk or cycle along the corniche once the heat has gone.
Nights 3 and 4
Beach mornings and the Louvre Abu Dhabi in the afternoon heat, with an early paddle through the mangroves on whichever day the tide suits.
Nights 5 to 7
A driver takes you north past Dubai to a beach resort for three slower days, with one day up Jebel Jais for the views and the zipline, taking a warm layer for the top.
An idea to react to, not a fixed package. We shape the real thing around your dates, your pace and what the flights are doing that season.
Money
Each emirate sits on its own price ladder. Ras Al Khaimah's beach resorts usually undercut Dubai's for the same space, and all inclusive makes sense there because there is little outside the hotel, whereas in Abu Dhabi the theme park tickets on Yas Island are the cost that grows fastest for a family. Extra money is best spent on a private driver for the days between emirates, which saves hours over coach excursions, and on a room with a usable balcony, since winter evenings outdoors are much of the appeal.
Flights and transfers
Direct flights run year-round from Manchester and the London airports, and the Gulf's position makes it the natural stopover on routes to Asia and Australia. A two or three night Emirates break on the way out is one of the easiest upgrades to a long-haul trip that exists.
Flights from UK airports
Route check September 2026. Some routes are seasonal and schedules change, so we confirm the live options when we quote.
Practical details
4 hours ahead of the UK in winter, 3 hours in summer
UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar
Arabic; English is widely spoken
Type G, the same three-pin plug as the UK, 230V
On the right
Desalinated and safe by official standards, but bottled water is the norm
Not compulsory; about 10 percent in restaurants without a service charge, and small tips for drivers and porters
Entry for British passport holders
Visa. A free visitor visa is stamped on arrival, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Nothing to apply for in advance.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months after you arrive.
Summarised from the FCDO travel advice on gov.uk, checked 29 September 2026. Rules change: read the current entry requirements and the full travel advice before you go.
Questions we get asked
Choose Abu Dhabi for a calmer pace, the Grand Mosque and the Louvre, and Yas Island's theme parks. Choose Dubai for the biggest range of hotels, livelier evenings and districts where the beach and the restaurants sit side by side. They are close enough to combine, and three nights in each makes a good week.
Beachwear belongs by the pool and on the sand, so cover up when you leave them. In malls, souks and old quarters, clothes that reach the elbow and knee are expected, and some malls put up signs asking for it. Mosques require arms and legs covered for everyone and a headscarf for women, and Sharjah is stricter than its neighbours.
Yes, as long as it is in a licensed venue, which covers most hotels and many restaurants and bars in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Sharjah is dry. Drinking in public places, being drunk in the street and any drink-driving are offences the police take seriously, so take a taxi.
Calmer than people expect, and often cheaper. Hotels, pools and many restaurants carry on serving visitors by day, but eating, drinking or smoking in public view is best avoided, and entertainment is toned down. After sunset the mood lifts, with iftar meals in hotels and tents. The Eid holiday that follows is busy and dear.
Yes, if you want a resort week rather than a city break. The beach hotels are large and usually cheaper than Dubai's, the sea is calm and shallow, and Jebel Jais gives you a day in the mountains. Outside the resorts there is little to walk to, and building work on Al Marjan Island affects some views.
Yes. Fast motorways link them all, and a taxi or private driver is the simplest way to move between hotels. Intercity buses connect Dubai with Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, cheap and air-conditioned but slow at peak times. Hiring a car is straightforward, but speed cameras are everywhere and fines are steep.
Photographs
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