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Things to Do in United Arab Emirates
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in United Arab Emirates
Things to do in United Arab Emirates include ascending Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower at 828 meters, discovering the artificial Palm Jumeirah island crafted to resemble a palm tree, and touring the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which spans 22,412 square meters and accommodates more than 40,000 worshippers. These attractions highlight the UAE's impressive scale and architectural vision.
1. Burj Khalifa
Dubai
Shining marble and detailed mosaics present Islamic art on a grand scale. Stroll through wide courtyards, capture photos of domes and chandeliers, and join complimentary guided tours.
Quick facts: Rising to astounding heights, the structure provides breathtaking views that extend over 50 kilometers on a clear day. At night, its exterior lights up in a captivating light display, attracting viewers from miles away.
Highlights: The tower boasts a specially crafted spire soaring 828 meters tall, ranking it as the tallest human-made structure worldwide. Each evening, an advanced LED light performance choreographed with music animates its curved facade, producing a stunning spectacle visible from afar.
2. Palm Jumeirah
Dubai
Global art beneath a striking perforated dome, worthwhile for both collections and architecture. Explore sun-filled galleries by the sea and view pieces from ancient times to modern day.
Quick facts: Imagine residing on an island shaped like a palm tree, stretching into the sea with luxurious hotels and beautiful villas along its fronds. You can enjoy the sunset over the Persian Gulf while dining at one of the many waterfront restaurants, each blending lavish comfort with spectacular views.
Highlights: Construction used an incredible 94 million cubic meters of sand and 7 million tons of rock to form this palm-shaped island, making it visible from space. At night, the golden lights from the upscale resorts and the glowing fronds create a magical scene resembling a lit palm tree in the Persian Gulf.
3. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi
An awe-inspiring marble sanctuary worth a visit. Experience expansive white halls, sparkling chandeliers, and calm reflective pools.
Quick facts: Enormous white marble halls and 82 domes give the site a peaceful, airy magnificence that surprises many first-time visitors. At night, the reflections in the surrounding pools cause the architecture to sparkle like a field full of lanterns.
Highlights: Visitors often spend time admiring the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet, covering about 5,627 square meters of the main prayer hall, meticulously crafted by around 1,200 artisans over two years. Huge chandeliers adorned with millions of crystals and trimmed with 24-carat gold emit warm, jewel-like light that dances across the marble columns.
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4. Louvre Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
View art beneath a glowing dome of light. Roam through galleries, water courts, and enjoy views of the skyline.
Quick facts: Louvre Abu Dhabi sits under a massive, latticed dome that filters sunlight into a 'rain of light' effect throughout the galleries. Its collection connects art from various periods and regions, featuring loans from over 13 French museums and hundreds of rotating artworks.
Highlights: A striking 180-meter dome designed by Jean Nouvel uses seven layers of geometric perforations to cast intricate light patterns that change throughout the day. The galleries spread over water and shaded courtyards, where visitors often watch wooden dhows sailing by, framed by reflective pools.
5. Jebel Jais
Ras Al Khaimah
High mountain roads and sweeping views create a refreshing getaway. Try a 2.8 km zipline or stay for sunrise to enjoy cinematic cliff-top vistas.
Quick facts: A rugged mountain road climbs to around 1,934 meters, offering much cooler air and clearer skies than the lowlands. An adrenaline-pumping zipline stretches about 2.83 kilometers, soaring across a deep rocky wadi at speeds nearing 120 kilometers per hour.
Highlights: The early morning light turns the limestone cliffs warm copper hues, while the wind carries sharp, fragrant notes of desert rosemary and crushed sage. Thrill-seekers can ride a 2.83-kilometer zipline at speeds of roughly 120 kilometers per hour, floating above a dramatic drop that raises the heart rate.
6. Fujairah Fort
Fujairah
Old ramparts and rooftop views reward inquisitive travelers. Expect sun-warmed stone, sea air, and wide mountain-to-sea views.
Quick facts: Thick stone walls and towering battlements stand at the center of an old town, providing an authentic sense of life in a coastal emirate. Visitors frequently spot cannon platforms and narrow slit windows that show how defenders kept watch over the sea and mountains.
Highlights: Rooftop ramparts offer panoramic views in three directions: sun-warmed stone beneath, salty breezes overhead, and rugged mountains beyond the old town. Local guides point out a narrow, curved stair where defenders once listened for signals at dawn, a passage so echoing that speaking softly is necessary.
7. Al Jahili Fort
Al Ain
Discover a restored desert fortress filled with palm-scented courtyards. Climb shaded towers and see moving Wilfred Thesiger photographs.
Quick facts: Thick mud-brick walls and round watchtowers create a picturesque silhouette against shady date palms, offering unexpected cool shade in each courtyard. A memorial plaque notes that Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa commissioned the construction in 1891, while a gallery on site celebrates explorer Wilfred Thesiger’s desert photography.
Highlights: Step into a sunlit central courtyard where carved wooden doors, shaded colonnades, and palm tree shadows create a cinematic setting for quiet exploration. A dedicated gallery displays rare photographs and maps related to Wilfred Thesiger’s Arabian expeditions, linking the site to real explorers and named routes.
8. Al Noor Mosque
Sharjah
Beautiful waterfront mosque, ideal for sunset photographs. Admire ornate Ottoman-style domes, detailed calligraphy, and mirror-like lagoon reflections.
Quick facts: A striking white mosque stands beside a calm lagoon, its Ottoman-inspired domes and slender minarets reflecting like a painting in the golden light. Friendly guided tours welcome non-Muslim visitors, offering insights into architectural motifs, Arabic calligraphy, and prayer traditions.
Highlights: Arrive at sunset to see the warm light washing over the white stone, while the lagoon mirrors arches and minarets perfectly for dramatic photographs. Guided tours last about 45 minutes, with local guides highlighting Ottoman-style features and the symbolism behind key decorative panels.
9. Ajman Museum
Ajman
A visit worth making for compact, lived-in coastal history. Look for rooftop views, cannon shadows, and personal pearl-diving tales.
Quick facts: Thick coral-stone walls and wind towers stand silhouetted against the sea, hinting at a history shaped by pearl diving and dhow trade. Inside, narrow rooms display traditional garments and restored naval tools, providing a surprisingly intimate view of coastal everyday life.
Highlights: Climb to the rooftop at golden hour to spot weathered cannons and a fleet of wooden dhows gliding along the creek, a favorite scene for photographers. A dimly lit gallery holds a pearl-diving ledger with over 100 handwritten names, along with heavy lead weights and woven nose clips that carry faint smells of salt and oil.
10. Umm Al Quwain Fort
Umm Al Quwain
Discover coastal defenses and everyday maritime life. Climb a watchtower, see original cannon marks, and wander small galleries.
Quick facts: A finger-thick cannonball remains embedded in the outer wall, a gritty reminder of coastal disputes. Low whitewashed rooms and carved wooden doors now house an intimate local museum recounting life by the creek.
Highlights: Inside, a compact museum presents over 200 artifacts, including 18th-century pearl-diving weights and a brass lamp from the British era, offering up-close views of daily seafaring life. Climb the circular watchtower at golden hour to feel the sea breeze and take in a 360-degree panorama of palm groves and the shimmering creek.
Where to Stay in United Arab Emirates
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Baklava
In Emirati bakeries baklava is often perfumed with saffron and layered with pistachios or local date syrup, reflecting the Gulf's fragrant trade history.
Luqaimat
Luqaimat are tiny golden dumplings that puff up when fried, they are traditionally drenched in date syrup and sesame and are a Ramadan favorite.
Kunafa
Kunafa is a molten, cheese-filled pastry that pulls into long, gooey strands when served, and Emirati versions often add clotted cream or pistachios for extra richness.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Machboos
Machboos is a spiced rice dish where rice simmers with meat and dried limes so the grains take on deep, layered flavors, it is often considered a celebratory centerpiece.
Shawarma
Shawarma in the UAE mixes Levantine tradition with local tastes, the thinly sliced, spit-roasted meat is wrapped with tangy pickles and garlic sauce for a quick, addictive street meal.
Mandi
Mandi's signature smoky flavor comes from slow-roasting meat in an underground pit or tandoor, and the method produces meat so tender it falls from the bone.
Traditional Beverages
Karak tea
Karak tea is a sugary, cardamom-scented milk tea that began with South Asian laborers and became a Gulf ritual, people gather at roadside stalls to sip it and chat.
Arabic coffee
Arabic coffee, brewed in a dallah and often spiced with cardamom or saffron, is served in tiny cups as a formal gesture of hospitality and guests may be offered multiple rounds.
Laban
Laban is a tangy, cooling yogurt drink used for centuries to hydrate desert travelers, it soothes the stomach and is often enjoyed plain or with mint.
Frequently Asked Questions about United Arab Emirates
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Most popular day trips
Dubai
Skyscrapers, shopping, Palm Jumeirah and vibrant nightlife.
Sharjah
Cultural museums, heritage areas, and traditional souks.
Al Ain
Oases, forts, Jebel Hafeet mountain and archaeological sites.
Ras Al Khaimah
Beaches, Hajar Mountains and outdoor adventure activities.
Fujairah
East-coast beaches, snorkeling and a different coastline.
Rent a car in United Arab Emirates
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Red & Green lines (connects major Dubai districts and to DXB via Red Line)
Etihad Rail planned; current travel by bus, taxi and car
Use taxis or app-hailing from AUH; Dubai Metro links DXB to central Dubai; prebook long transfers.
Click to get eSim for United Arab Emirates
The easiest and most affordable way to get mobile internet wherever you travel.
Visa & entry
GCC countries, EU, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, many others (varies by passport)
Some African and South Asian countries typically need pre-approved visas (e.g., Pakistan, Afghanistan); check consulate
Check entry rules for your nationality — many get visa on arrival; apply online if required.
Comments (6)
Food surprised me, great shawarma and seafood stalls, try Emirati breakfast too. Avoid hotel restaurants if you want value.
Skip restaurants on the main tourist strip, walk 2-3 blocks inland or head to Al Karama for cheaper, better meals and friendlier service.
Pick up a Nol card at the airport and top up for metro and tram, the weekly fare saves a ton over taxis if you plan to hop around Dubai.
Felt a bit staged in places, lots of tourists and upselling. Still safe and clean, but not the authentic Middle East I expected.
Hot, flashy and efficient. Expect crowds and high prices, but we loved the malls and skyline. Two weeks was a good pace.