Dubai
Each region of this emirate has its own characteristics. For example, Jebel Ali is a free economic zone with a well-equipped seaport. Many companies, including Russians, open their offices here.
Jumeirah
An expensive area of elite mansions. The cozy Jumeirah Beach Park with its well-kept gardens is open from 8.00 to 22.30 (Saturdays and Sundays only for children and women). Entrance fee is 5 drh per person and 20 drh from the car. The area is home to the Jumeirah Mosque, the unique Wild Wadi Waterpark, the Yacht Club and the lapped island of The Palm Jumeirah. Here are located the most fashionable hotels in the Emirates - Jumeirah Beach, Mina A'Salam and Al Qasr. In the educational SEZ Knowledge Village there are branches of many international universities. In the Jumeirah Zoo, you can see rare animals: an Arabian wolf, a Thomson cat and Bakotrid cormorants.
However, if your stay in Dubai is limited to one or two days, the first thing to do is inspect the old part of the city, which the bay divides into two districts - Deira and Bar Dubai.
Deira
One of Deira's oldest neighborhoods is called Al-Dagaya. Here are the old Gold Market (Gold Souk), bus station, seafood market (Fish Market) and two tunnels of Shindag - a car and a pedestrian.
It is unlikely that you will pass by Baniyas Square (aka Nasser Square) - the commercial heart of Dubai. It is here where shop tourists from the CIS mainly shop. Rigga Street is a two-kilometer boulevard that starts near the Al Ghurair shopping center, runs parallel to the bay and ends with a mosque not far from the famous Clock Tower. There are many fashionable boutiques, cafes and eateries, the tables of which are exposed directly to the sidewalk in cool weather. Here, you can get acquainted with any cuisine - Arabic (Al Safadi), Filipino (Golden Fork), Russian ("Fantasy"), Lebanese, American and many others.
In addition, there are several stores in Rigga selling Persian sweets, Arabian clothes and perfumes. These establishments close quite late, around midnight. Deira ends with a park on the Mamzar Peninsula. Overlooking the skyscrapers of the Emirate of Sharjah, it offers visitors swings, slides, a steam train ride, bike rental, a cafe (until 8.30 p.m.), sea bays, clean beaches, many barbecue areas, a heated pool and chalet houses. On Fridays, Indian and Arab families go out for a picnic here with tents, hookahs and musical instruments. In addition to them, tourists and representatives of the Russian Diaspora of Dubai "hang out" making appointments on the forum site www.emirat.ru.
The park has a children's town, places for barbecue, fishing and rollerblading, as well as a restaurant chain Malik Burger. Bicycle rental is available. The cable car (open until 21.30) offers breathtaking views of the bay and the city. The closest entrance to the cable car is located near Health Care City, in the Ud Metha quarter, famous for the Holy Trinity Church, where Orthodox services are held.
If you came to Dubai for shopping, take a look at Karama - a colorful Indian quarter where you can cheaply buy “copies” of products from Rolex, Gucci, Christian Dior, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton, which are almost indistinguishable from the originals. However, if in addition you want to see the sights, your path lies on the old bazaar resembling the Golden Market in Deira - and, of course, in the Shindag area.
Here, in a small area, the most well-preserved old buildings are concentrated. In just two to three hours, you can explore the Pearl Catcher Village, the Heritage Village, the home of Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum and the Shindag watchtower. Be sure to visit the nearby Divan (Office of the Ruler of Dubai), the Grand Mosque and the Dubai Museum. As well as the Bastakia quarter, a detailed article about which you can find in the 13th issue of Russian Emirates.
Bastakia
This historic Bar Dubai is located between the city museum at Al Fahidi Fort, Bay Promenade and Musalla Street. Most of the local buildings were built in the late XIX - early XX century. Now the whole quarter is declared a historical monument. In order to imagine what the city looked like in the past, it is worth wandering along its narrow streets. Well-off merchants from Persia settled here; its name itself comes from the Persian province of Bastak. In this prestigious quarter, houses were built and representatives of noble families of the emirate close to the ruler.
Now Bastakia is actively being restored (57 houses have been preserved), and soon it will turn into a tourist Mecca, where cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and art galleries will be located.
Grand Mosque
Its tallest in Dubai (70 m) minaret is visible to all who swim to the Old Bar-Dubai Market by abra boat. The mosque is decorated with nine large and forty-five small domes. 1200 people can pray in it at the same time. The modern building was erected at the end of the twentieth century on the site of the old one, built in 1900. This mosque, with its largest Gulf glass stained glass windows, is an important center of Dubai's cultural and religious life. The entrance to it is open only to Muslims.
Diving Village
The village of fishermen and pearl hunters is located in Bar Dubai, in the Shindaga quarter, near the entrance to the tunnel. The current exhibition tells about the life of the first settlers of nomadic tribes, the history of the emergence of trade relations by sea, fishing and pearl mining. There is a scuba diving club in the Village.
Open daily from 8.00 to 22.00. On Friday it works from 8.00 to 11.00 and from 16.00 to 22.00. Tel for information (04) 393 7151.
Jumeirah Mosque
This mosque, depicted on a bill of 500 dirhams, is one of the most famous, large and beautiful in Dubai and the only one open to tourists. It is located at the entrance from Bar Dubai to Jumeirah 1, near the Dubai Diving Center. Hourly excursions are organized on Thursdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. The mosque will tell you about the architectural traditions and features of such buildings, the main canons of Islam and the history of the Arab caliphates. Tel for information (04) 353 6666.
MUSEUM OF DUBAI (Dubai Museum)
It is easy to find in Bar Dubai, between Bastakia and the Grand Mosque. Fort Al Fahidi, built in 1778 to protect against attacks from the sea, houses two museums - the historical and the military. Before reconstruction in 1971, barracks, a palace and a prison were based in this fort. The museum’s exposition presents in the ground and underground halls the life of the Arab caliphate during the time of the Bedouin tribes and the slave system, household items, artisans and rare finds made of metal and clay, which are 4000 years old.
The museum, located behind the Grand Mosque, between Bastakia and the Old Bar-Dubai Market, is open from 8.30 to 20.30 (on Fridays - from 15.00 to 21.00). It includes the courtyard of the old fort and an underground exhibition, the characters of which will allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of old Dubai with all its colors, smells and sounds.
Phone for information (04) 353 1862.
NEW GOLD MARKET (New Gold Souk)
It is located on Al Mina Street (leading from BarDubai to Jumeirah) opposite the customs of the port named after Sheikh Rashid. The assortment of goods is characterized by a complete mixture of styles, trends and cultures. So, in the Fenoomen store alone you can find jewelry from leading European companies in Austria, Belgium, Holland and Spain, including Swarovsky products. Many stores are richly presented with jewelry in yellow, red and white gold, pearls, black and yellow diamonds.
The center provides a free shuttle from the hotel and a two-story car park. For ladies there are two beauty salons: Daksha's with all kinds of massages, a sauna and mineral baths and Top Ten, where you can go through any cosmetic procedures, do manicures and pedicures.
Ethnographic Village (Heritage Village)
It is located on the Shindag embankment, near the house of Sheikh Saeed and the Divers Village. The village is a walled space, where samples of traditional houses are exposed in the open air. In particular, there is a Bedouin summer house made of trunks and branches of a date palm. In the village you can buy souvenirs, try traditional flat cakes, visit artisan shops, put henna patterns on your arms and legs, look at the performance of a traditional dance and take pictures in Arabic clothes. There is also a small museum where archaeological finds are exhibited; outside the walls of the village there is a playground where you can ride a camel.
TRIP TO HATTU
In the emirate of Dubai, the village of Hatta is an oasis in the foothills. From the capital of the emirate to it is 105 km. This road by bus number 16 (departure every hour from the Gold Souk bus station) will take one and a half to two hours, depending on traffic jams.
In the village, which is over 200 years old, there is an old fort and the Juma mosque, built in 1780. It is worth going here in order to admire the unusual landscape of the "colored" mountains and look at the "wadi" - the drying beds of mountain streams. Noteworthy is the Heritage Village - a reconstructed complex of adobe buildings that rises on a hill to a locked observation tower.
The road leading to the Hatta repeatedly crosses the border between the emirates of Dubai and Ajman, as well as between the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman. On the pass is a market for synthetic carpets and ceramics: clay jugs, candle holders and incense burners. You can stay in Hatta at the four-star Hatta Fort Hotel, where you can take a family walk in the mountains, swim in the pool, shoot archery and play golf. In addition to the Jeema restaurant and the Roumoul bar, there is also a Cafe Gazebo, whose glazed terrace is sure to give new impressions to lovers of sunrises and sunsets. Telephone for information (04) 852 3211.
The main entertainment in the Hutt is a jeep ride in Wadi. 20 km from the village are Hatta Pools - mountain pools with clear, cold water at any time of the year. To get here, you need to leave Hatta, leaving the Heritage Village on the left, in the direction of the village of Jima and the Omani border. During the rainy season (autumn winter) it is better to go on such a trip with an experienced escort.
SHARJA
This emirate is considered to be the cultural capital of the UAE due to the large number of different museums.
You will have the opportunity to see the largest mosque in the Emirates and the fort of Al Hosn, built in 1820. Do not forget to visit the wax museum, as well as the Gold, Fish and Old markets, a fabric bazaar, and an exotic fruit and vegetable market. A new center of culture and recreation is located on the al-Qasba canal embankment. This channel attracts evening walks not only residents of the surrounding high-rise buildings, but also guests from all over the emirate, as well as tourists staying in Sharjah. Here is the "Eye of the Emirates" - the largest Ferris wheel in the region. Its 42 booths can simultaneously accommodate more than 300 people. A ticket costs 20 drh per adult and 10 drh per child. A Sharjah tour is usually conducted during the day and ends with a walk along the scenic Khalid lagoon in a traditional abra boat.
Keep in mind that there are strict laws in this emirate. For example, alcoholic beverages are not sold here even in hotels, and a box of beer in the trunk of a car threatens you with very big troubles. Wearing clothing that exposes your knees and shoulders is not recommended.
ISLAMIC MUSEUM
It contains a rare collection of Arabic manuscripts and the largest collection of coins of the Muslim world, including silver dinars and dirhams of the era of the reign of the Abassids and Umayyads. The navigational instruments of the ancient Arabian seafarers and the unique “inverted” world map drawn up a thousand years ago by the Arab geographer Sharif Al-Idrizi are especially impressive. There is also a copy of the bedspread that covers the Kaaba building in Mecca.
Located near Calligraphy Square. It works from 9 to 13 and from 17 to 20 hours (on Fridays only after lunch). Free admission. Tel for information (06) 568 3334.
ART MUSEUM (Art Museum)
The paintings, documents and maps of the XVIII century from the personal collection of the ruler of Sharjah are presented here along with abstract paintings by contemporary artists. The permanent exhibition is accompanied by an active exchange of exhibitions with foreign museums. The famous International Biennale is also held here. This major event takes place in the spring of every odd year. The museum has a cafe-bar and underground parking.
Located behind the market, not far from the coastal part of the city, near Bank Street. It works from 9 to 13 and from 17 to 20 hours. On Wednesday afternoon, it is open only to women and children, on Friday it works only after dinner. Free admission. Tel for inquiries (06) 568 8222.
Central Market (Blue Souk)
This market, rightly considered an architectural masterpiece, consists of two identical buildings, somewhat reminiscent of giant steam locomotives. The lower floor of that half, which is closer to the lagoon, is mainly occupied by shops selling gold, textiles, perfumes, cameras and video cameras. In a distant building, they sell ready-made clothes and electronics. Take a look at the wooden furniture from Jaipur, Persian and Pakistani carpets, as well as Nepalese pashmina from wool and silk.
In total there are about 600 stores, which makes Blue Souk one of the largest wholesale and retail markets on the Arabian Peninsula. The market is fully air-conditioned, so that even in the midst of summer it can be completely circumvented. Next to it is the King Faisal Mosque, the largest in the UAE (accommodates 3,000 worshipers).
Buildings "trains" are located on the Corniche promenade, near the lagoon of Al Khalid. The market runs from 9 to 13 and from 16 to 23 hours (on Fridays, lunch break starts an hour earlier).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Moving through the halls of this beautiful large building, you can find out the whole history of the existence of mankind on the Arabian Peninsula. Here are the finds made in Sharjah, belonging to the Stone, Iron and Bronze Ages. Next to them are models of houses of the first inhabitants of the Emirates. Through the touch screens of computers, access to images from the archives of the museum and educational games for children is opened. The museum is located in the Halwan district, behind Culture Square. It works from 9 to 20 hours (break 13 to 17 hours). Free admission. Tel for information (06) 566 5466.
DESERT PARK AND WILDERNESS CENTER OF ARABIA
This modern educational and research center breeds endangered animals and plants. It is famous for its zoo, equipped with the latest technology, a museum of natural history (tel. (06) 531 1411) and a children's educational park. Wild animals feel at ease: the real conditions of their life in nature are recreated here. Visitors can admire the many birds living in a huge indoor enclosure.
The park is located on the road to Sharjah Airport, close to junction 9. It works from 9 to 18 hours, on Thursdays it opens at 11 hours, on Fridays at 14 hours. Telephone for reference (06) 531 1999.
MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HERITAGE
Museum buildings are located in the old courtyard of the Al-Nabud family estate. They are a prime example of traditional Arabian architecture.
The museum exhibits national clothing and cultural heritage items. You can buy antique items and replicas of antique jewelry at the nearby Al Ars Bazaar.
You can find the museum between Al Hosn and the promenade. Open from 9 to 20 hours (lunch from 13 to 17), on Fridays only after lunch. Free admission. Tel for inquiries (06) 569 3999.
FORT AL HISN
It was built in 1820 by the Sultan Ibn Sakr, the first sheikh of the Kawashim dynasty, who planned to make Sharjah his capital. The fort has long been the political center of the emirate. In 1969 it was almost completely destroyed; new modern buildings appeared at the fortress site. In 1996, the fort was restored according to old drawings, but only two walls and a 12-meter tower were preserved from the buildings of the 19th century.Now here is a museum, among the exhibits of which are weapons, coins, jewelry and accessories for catching pearls.
This museum on Al-Hisn Street is open from 9 to 13 and from 17 to 20 hours. On Wednesday afternoon, only women with children are allowed. Open on Fridays after lunch. Free admission. Tel for inquiries (06) 512 9999.
MUSEUM OF ARAB CALLIGRAPHY
Its galleries contain works by Arab, Persian and Turkish artists. In winter, students at work in ceramics and calligraphy workshops can be seen.
The museum is located at the exit of Al Hosn Street, north of Calligraphy Square. Open from 9 to 20 hours (lunch 13 to 17 hours), on Fridays only after lunch. Free admission. Tel for inquiries (06) 568 3334
ABU DHABI
Your visit to the UAE cannot be considered full-fledged if you have not familiarized yourself with AbuDhabi, the capital of the country. Abu Dhabi is one of the most beautiful cities in the Arab world, not so long ago being a village with small huts. In Abu Dhabi you can visit the "oil exhibition", admire the residence of the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, take a walk along the picturesque promenade, the Ethnographic Village and the old city market.
The cost of the trip usually includes lunch or dinner in an Arabic restaurant, smoking a hookah (shisha) and photographing in Arabic clothing.
Without leaving your car (bus) you can admire the palace where the sheikh and his family live now, as well as the miracle of modern architecture - the new Emirates Palace hotel. Another option is to independently travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus, every half hour leaving from Al-Gubayba bus station.
AREA AL ITTIHAD
The main attraction of this place is the six sculptural symbols of the Arab world carved from snow-white stone (a cannon, a watchtower, a cover for covering food, a coffee pot, a vessel for rose water and an incense smoking bowl). The pedestals of some sculptures are bordered by fountains, and the square itself is a pedestrian zone. Families with children like to walk here.
In Abu Dhabi you can visit the "oil exhibition", admire the residence of the first president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, take a walk along the picturesque promenade, the Ethnographic Village and the old city market. The cost of the trip usually includes lunch or dinner in an Arabic restaurant, smoking a hookah (shisha) and photographing in Arabic clothing.
Without leaving your car (bus) you can admire the palace where the sheikh and his family live now, as well as the miracle of modern architecture - the new Emirates Palace hotel. Another option is to independently travel from Dubai to Abu Dhabi by bus, every half hour leaving from Al-Gubayba bus station.
ETHNOGRAPHIC VILLAGE
In many ways, similar to the one in Dubai. You will see how saddler, carpenter, glassblower and weaver work with primitive tools. You will observe a huge ox with a heavy burden, get acquainted with the desert irrigation system and visit the historical museum, where you will find ancient weapons, tools, catchers, sorters and sellers of pearls, ancient manuscript folios of the Koran, household items and the first photographs of the city.
The village is located on Mussafa Street behind the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Center. It is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. The best day to visit is Friday: at this time there is a souvenir and sweets market, as well as musicians performing.
White Fort (AL-HOSN Palace)
Built in the 18th century for the residence of the rulers of Abu Dhabi. Now it is open to all; art exhibitions are held here. The guests of the fort are waiting for theatrical performances, performances of amateur drama groups and touring ballet troupes. Here is the national library and archive, theater studios and art workshops that preserve the secrets of old crafts. In the fort you can see interesting historical expositions. Located on the corner of Al Nasr and Khalid bin Al Walid. It works from 8 to 14 and from 17 to 21.30. Tel for information (02) 619 5223.
Parks
Broken in the center of the city, Capital Gardens amazes with a variety of well-groomed lawns neatly broken around a central pond. The new Corniche Park is a paradise for songbirds and anglers. On warm winter evenings, you can have picnics at special venues. There is no cafe in the Khalidiya garden, but there are many vending machines for selling drinks and snacks, and the lawns with their emerald green resemble billiard tables.
BEACHES AND ISLANDS
Most five-star hotels, for an additional fee, open their coast to those who are not hotel guests. In addition, there are public beaches, some of which are allowed to enter by car. Al Raha's free beach (near Umm al-Nar Square) has a fenced off area for women. A small cafe allows you to quench your thirst and snack.
If you love adventures, keep in mind that more than 200 islands of any size and varying degrees of habitability are spread along the coast of the emirate. You can rent a boat at the beach club of any seaside hotel (it is safer to entrust the passage through the shallows to the local captain). Pay attention to the artificial island of Lulu, built opposite the central city promenade. It is supposed to be turned into a theme park or an entertainment complex connected with the city by bridges and tunnels.
Not far from it is the island of Sadiyat, a popular place for spending holidays with an overnight stay and weekends. The island has marinas, cottages and an entertainment center. Various competitions are usually held here, such as jet skiing and water skiing.
5 km south of Abu Dhabi is the small island of Futaysi. It is inhabited, but it is a private possession of Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al-Nahyan. There are many old quarries where material was mined for the construction of the forts of Abu Dhabi. Now the island is a tourist resort and nature reserve. Here you can rent a cottage and ride horses. To the west of Abu Dhabi is the island of Sir Bani Yas with its man-made nature reserve. The sea around it is dotted with a large number of small islands, among which tourists prefer Bahrain, Cat and Horshue.
TRIP TO AL AIN
Included in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, this city is the "greenest" on the Arabian Peninsula. You can independently get here from Dubai by bus, every hour departing from AlGubayba bus station (ticket price is 20 drx). In one and a half to two hours, you will see shady gardens blooming all year round, stretching for many kilometers.
The city is also famous for its historical monuments and cultural and entertainment centers. These include the Natural History Museum (tel. (03) 761 2277) and the Al Ain Museum (tel. (03) 764 1595). This is the old fort, built 175 years ago by the Al Nahyan family, whose members subsequently became the rulers of the country, and the city university, and the Fun City amusement park. In addition, there is a large camel farm.
ZOO IN AL AIN - The largest menagerie not only in the UAE, but throughout the Middle East. Here are collected exotic animals not only in Arabia (including gemsboks), but also the rest of the world. Animals can be seen in natural enclosures, and fish in a huge aquarium. Phone (03) 782 8188.
In winter, the city hosts exhibitions and flower festivals. Interesting impressions remain from a walk along the paths of the palm grove (Palm Plantation), located in the very center of the city and visible both from the bus station and from AlSalma and Al-Muraba squares.
Those who prefer a comfortable stay can stay at the InterContinental (tel. (03) 768 6686) and Rotana (tel. (03) 754 5111). Fans of cheap hotels can find them, moving from the center of Al Ain to the north along Abu Baker Al Siddik Street to the gas station OmanOil.
EAST FORT
The place where Sheikh Zayed was born is now turned into one of the best museums in the UAE. An exhibition of old photographs will let you know how AlAin has changed since the 1960s. There is also an exhibition of archaeological excavations and a collection of ancient weapons. You can learn a lot about the animal and plant world of the oasis, as well as the traditional lifestyle of the Bedouins.
FORT AL HANDAK
He is considered perhaps the oldest in the UAE - he is about 400 years old. Free admission. Open from 8.00 to 18.00 (on Thursdays and Fridays with a break of 13.00-16.00).
BURIMAI MARKET
They sell meat, fruits and household goods, but there are several shops in this market where you can find Omani jewelry made of silver, as well as traditional daggers (hanjar) of Omani work.
GILI GARDENS
This park in the northern part of the city will allow you to take refuge in the shade and enjoy the coolness of numerous fountains. It arose around a copy of an ancient tomb - an oval-shaped structure made of limestone.
HILY FAN CITY
This is an amusement park with an indoor ice rink, a tourist train and a number of other activities for parents and children.
MOUNT JEBEL HAFIT
This is the highest point in the UAE (1163 m). A serpentine of a wide asphalt road leads to its top. From there, a breathtaking view of the desert and oasis opens. Just below the observation deck is the palace of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.
Camel market
If you are not afraid of not very pleasant smells, you should definitely call here (it is only 5 km from the center of Al Ain). You will see the disappearing spirit of old Arabia: camels, gently licking newborn children, strict male dads and desperately bargaining buyers and sellers. Camel prices start at 500 dirhams, and the price of an adult (not a race) camel is measured in tens of thousands. The market runs from dawn to dusk with a break for the hot time of the day.
AJMAN
Although this city is now a remote province on the eastern outskirts of the Emirates, it boasts a rich war history of the Kawashim and AlAbu-Khurayban tribes with the British and with each other. A witness of that era is an 18th-century fort located on Aziz Street near the Al Hosn junction.
Its exposition presents creepy and amazing imaginative descriptions of medical procedures and religious rites, allowing you to make an interesting, albeit somewhat gloomy excursion into the life of the Bedouins of the coast a hundred years ago. In one of the ends of the fort is a working wind tower. For information, call: (06) 742 3824. You can stay in Ajman at the four-star Safir Dana Resort Hotel (tel. (06) 742 9999). The emirate’s most expensive hotel is the five-star Ajman Kempinski (tel. (06) 745 1555). This hotel has excellent restaurants: Italian Sabella's Trattoria & Pizzeria and Bukhara, which serves North Indian cuisine. The open-air Cafe Kranzler is just a few meters from the sea. In the Chinese restaurant Hai Tao you can taste cheaper food in the patriarchal atmosphere of an old villa.
Buses from Dubai to Ajman (and other northern emirates) depart from the bus station on Al Ittihad Square as they fill up. In Ajman itself there is no bus station, no flight schedules, so it’s easiest to return from there by taxi.
Umm Al Quwain
This rural serene emirate with mangroves and sandbanks is the capital of extreme sports. If you like to drive a car, shoot or parachute, then here you will find a complete set of extreme sensations. (For more information, look a bit further, in the section "Entertaining excursions").
Fans of a more relaxing holiday can be advised to visit the Dreamland water park. In the old fort you will find a rich selection of jewelry and a collection of ancient weapons, as well as an exhibition of finds by archaeologists.
The fort is located in the old part of the city on Al Lubna Street. Open from 8 to 13 and from 17 to 20 hours (on Mondays only before lunch). Tel for information (06) 765 0888.
You can stay at the Flamingo Beach Resort, located on the shores of the bay near the old souk Old Souq, the post office and Kuwait Hospital. Other attractions include night crab hunting off the nearby Al Siniya Island.
Tel for inquiries (06) 765 0000.
RAS AL KHEIMA
Once in the northernmost emirate of the UAE, you will find yourself face to face with a harsh and in its own way beautiful landscape, which is dominated by deserts, mountain ranges, waterless plains and the sea. The nature of the locals was affected by difficult environmental conditions: they are rude and restrained in their own way, it is not easy to find a common language with them.
Excursions here usually capture both the old and new parts of the city. You can also visit the fortress museum and the legendary port of Julfar, which was the center of the pearl trade in Arabia until the 17th century. Those who wish have a unique opportunity to swim in the thermal spring with mineral water, located at the foot of the Hajar Mountains. The tour company’s price often includes dinner at the Bedouin Village Café Museum. Hilton Beach Club has fun for the whole family. Al Muntasir Street in the area of the Vegetable Market can be considered the center of the city. Here are the Al Nakheel and Hilton hotels, as well as the Carrefour supermarket.
FUJEIRA
The road here passes through a desert landscape, which is replaced by impressive mountain ranges. Then the highway goes down to the coast of the Indian Ocean, striking with its pristine and pristine beauty.
Here you can also see fishing villages on the wide sandy beaches and watch how locals pull out nets from the ocean or unload the catch from the sides of the boats. In the capital of the emirate, the “old city” with an ancient cemetery and fort 300 years ago is of the greatest interest. From Dubai to Fujairah, you can get on a bus leaving from the bus station on AlIttihad Square (near the Al Ghurair shopping center). To get back, look for the Plaza Cinema in Fujairah and a taxi rank next to it. A ride on it costs the same as a bus ticket.
On the northern border of the coast with Oman is the ancient settlement of Dibba. It was in its vicinity, according to the annals, that the last battle of the soldiers of Khalifa Abu Bakr for the triumph of Islam in Arabia took place in 633. Residents of the village believe that the ashes of these 10 thousand daredevils still rest in one of the local cemeteries. For a small fee, they will transport you by boat to the Omani part of Dibba, to the north of which the skerries of the Musandam Peninsula begin. (Just in case, nevertheless put in your passport stamps on entry into the Sultanate and preliminary departure from the UAE.)
The resort town of Khorfakkan between Fujairah and Dibba noticeably comes to life on weekends and during Muslim holidays. This is especially true of the cozy promenade (Cornish Street), stretching from the Oceanic Hotel, famous for its diving center, to the Fish Market. Before bringing you in, you will find that shells of all shapes and sizes crunch under your feet - here fishermen clean the nets. On the promenade you will find the futuristic Caffe Vergnano 1882 and the Golden Fork classic restaurant. Right behind the Oceanic is a sea-washed mountain, and behind it is a secluded sandbank. This is a favorite place for those who prefer to relax in a tent away from civilization. From Horfakkan you can go on an excursion to the mountains, to Lake Wuraya (Wuraya lake), or swim to the Shark island (Shark island). The town of Khor Kalba on the southern border of the coast with Oman is known for its protected bay, where salt and fresh water mix. Evergreen mangrove trees with aboveground roots grow in the water that glows at night. The unique microclimate attracts many birds and rare species of turtles. Keep in mind that in administrative terms, Khorfakkan and Kalba belong to Sharjah, where it is necessary to comply with Islamic laws regarding clothing, including bathing, and alcoholic beverages.
QATAR AND OMAN
Short distances and good roads make it possible to travel from the Emirates to such neighboring states as Qatar and Oman. For residents of the UAE, the border crossing regime is as simple as possible; the rest need to take care of a visa not only to enter these countries, but also to leave them.
QATAR
This absolute monarchy is located on the eponymous peninsula the size of the Karelian Isthmus. About 700 thousand people live here; more than a third of the population is concentrated in the capital Doha.Arabs make up only two fifths of the number of citizens, the rest are natives of Pakistan, Iran and India. The basis of the local economy is the extraction of oil and natural gas sent for export. Today Qatar is like Dubai five to seven years ago. This direction of tourism is developing very dynamically; but since it is inferior in popularity to the Emirates, the prices here, with a similar quality of service, are surprising in their availability. (By the way, the local rial is equal to the UAE dirham, which greatly facilitates comparisons and calculations).
Russian tourists here are treated with great friendliness. The country is absolutely safe; late in the evening you can walk quite calmly through the streets. The best time to relax in Qatar is from September to May. You will find sandy beaches and beautiful hotels of renowned international chains, including Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, Marriot, InterContinental and Movenpick. The Persian Gulf is considered to be an excellent place for diving. One of the most popular entertainments.
