The United Arab Emirates |
Of the seven independent Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain, Dubai is probably the most cosmopolitan commercial hub. In Dubai you will find a wide choice of international style city hotels such as the Le Meridien , Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Metropolitan Palace from amongst many. Along the beach from the city out to Jumeirah there is the internationally acclaimed Burj Al Arab , the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Habtoor Grand Resort, , Dubai Marine Beach Resort , Oasis Beach Resort, the Jumeirah Beach Club, or Jebel Ali Hotel on the way to Abu Dhabi. Along the creek you can explore the souks and at night
there is an enormous choice of restaurants As for shoppers Dubai is a Duty-Free Paradise! There are also resort hotels in neighbouring Abu Dhabi such as the Gulf Hotel or Rotana Beach Hotel. In Sharjah one could choose from the Lou'Lou'A Resort Marbella Resort. From Dubai or Abu Dhabi there is a wide choice of day tours and safaris out into the desert, plus excursions to the more conservative Emirates where the culture and history is more preserved. Self Drive Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival Dubai Arrive at Dubai International airport and transfer to the Le Meridien Hotel. Afternoon tour of the city visiting the museum housed in a 150 year old fort, the Bastakia district of old wind-towered and mud walled houses, into the souks of gold, silks and spices, past magnificent palaces and across the Creek on an Abra (local ferry boat) to glimpse upon the metropolis.
Day 2 - Dubai to Sharjah After breakfast take delivery of your car and drive north to Sharjah visiting a dhow building yard, the old souk, Khalid Lagoon and the Corniche, then the magnificent new souk. Continue north through the more traditional Emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain before arriving at the Al Hamra Fort for lunch and overnight. Afternoon visit the Ras al Khaimah museum and explore this ancient seaport, plus the historical fort at Rams surrounded by palm shaded gardens.
Depart in the morning along the foot of the Hajar Mountains to the hot springs and date palm groves of Khatt. Continue south until you reach the main road east to the coast. Turn left and climb high over the Hajar range, through steep gorges until you arrive at the village of Masafi where you can enjoy magnificent views of the peaks and valleys to the west. Take the north left hand fork which runs through impressive rock cuttings until you reach the coast at Dibba. Head south down the east coast past the ancient mosque at Bidiya, through the port of Khor Fakkan and on to Fujairah for overnight at the Hilton Hotel.
Day 4 - Fujairah to Al Ain - Hatta Following breakfast explore the town and the Old Fort before heading west to the picturesque village of Bithna where another fine old fort guards the date palms along the wadi. Continue west, back through Masafi and up over the Hajar mountains and across the plain until you reach the town of Al Dhaid where you turn left and head south. Before reaching the main highway to Al Ain take a left turn east through the open Omani border until you arrive at Hatta in time for lunch at the Hatta Fort Hotel. (Optional midweek overnight extensions.)
Day 5 - Hatta to Abu Dhabi In the morning visit the museum, Hill Garden, the palm groves of Qattara, the camel market and the oasis of Buraimi across the open Omani border where you will find tiny quaint souks. (Possible lunch and overnight extensions at the Al Buraimi Hotel). After lunch head west along the highway to Abu Dhabi and overnight at the Hilton Hotel (or return to Dubai).
Day 6 - Abu Dhabi to Dubai After breakfast, visit the petroleum exhibition, the magnificent corniche and the old dhow harbour before driving north via Jebel Ali back to Dubai for departure or overnight For the more adventurous traveller it is possible
to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle instead of a saloon. This will enable one to go
"wadi-bashing" and travel across country along the river beds (wadis) For example it is possible to travel overland from Ras Al Khaimah to Dibba, from Fujairah to Wadi Hatta, and from Wadi Haifa to Al Ain. A four-wheel-drive vehicle also makes it possible to travel across the sand dunes for which tuition is available. |
. For evening entertainment there are discos and Arabic night-clubs, and
for daytime sports enthusiasts there are world renowned sailing clubs and golf courses.
After lunch, explore the Waddi Hatta, the fort
and Wadi Qawr reached by a winding asphalt road from Haifa. 
Later head back west
through the open Omani border, turn left again and head south until you join the main
Dubai to Al Ain highway to arrive at the oasis of Al Ain for overnight at the Hilton or
InterContinental Hotel.
and
mountain tracks en route.