United Arab Emirates tours & vacations

Simply put, the UAE is hot. Very hot. Year-round, daytime temperatures rarely drop below 25C, and, during summer, roar well into the forties. November to March are the cooler – though by no means cool – months, when tempering sea breezes drift in from the coast. Don’t be too put-off by the prospect of travelling during summer though (July to August), as the cities are covered and air-conditioned.

Very few countries have had as dramatic turnabouts in their fortunes as the UAE. Prior to the discovery of the region’s vast petroleum and gas reserves in 1958, the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula was a conglomeration of ‘Trucial States’ heavily dependent on a fated pearling industry and British protection against neighbouring powerhouses. 

In what was an unusual move given the recent discovery of the 'black gold', 1968 saw Britain decide that the area was no longer worth protecting. The British naval forces withdrew in 1971, and, as Iran and Saudi Arabia quickly started laying claim to Emirati territory, the seven sheikdoms realized they’d stand a better chance by banding together. Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain (and eventually Ras al-Khaimah) all promptly signed into a union called the United Arab Emirates, electing Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as president. The federation is governed by hereditary monarchies, and things have been peaceful, and prosperous, ever since.

1. Diving

For all its obsession with urbanity, the Emirates is still very much a coastal nation. The country encompasses 650km of coastline; plenty of which is warm waters and white sands shaded by palm trees. Better yet, not far from shore sit an abundance of colourful coral reefs teeming with fish. Head out for a snorkel in Sandy Beach, Fujairah, or delve a little deeper still on a diving expedition.

2. Flyboards

No, those photos you’ve seen of people being propelled skywards by two jets of water aren’t the work of Photoshop – that’s the work of flyboarding. And the UAE is as good a place to give it a shot as any. Sign up for a session and give flight to those long-suppressed Astro Boy fantasies.

3. Indoors ski resort

Ok, Whistler it ain’t, but being able to hit the slopes inside a shopping mall – let alone in the Arabian Peninsula – is still an impressive feat. Located in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai is an indoor ski resort that includes runs, jumps, rails, lifts, and the world’s very first black diamond run.

4. Desert ice café

No matter what the temperature’s doing outside, things are always well chilly inside at Dubai’s Chillout lounge. With the cooling system set at minus six degrees, this restaurant/cafe is the place to rug up in thermals and sip a hot chocolate while moaning about the cold.

5. Dubai surf pool

The swell doesn’t roll in all that often in this corner of the globe, but it is possible to score surf in the UAE. Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach is the best bet, but a far more reliable one is Abu Dhabi’s Wadi Adventure park, where the waves are guaranteed no matter what the conditions are doing. Not only that though they’ll be whatever type of waves you want. Lefts? Rights? Three foot? Six? Simply rock up at the booth, tell the man at the controls, and the barrels start when you tell them to