The United Arab is a federation of seven emirates situated in the Southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The UAE consists of seven states, emirates, which are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.

For visitors, the UAE is a very safe Middle East destination. Is has all the comforts of home mixed with a taste of the exotic. Visitors can spend to their hearts content on designer clothes, laze on a gorgeous beach or enjoy a refreshing drink whilst trying to decide on which restaurant to have their dinner and which club to dance the night away at. On a less self-indulgent stay, visitors can soak up the atmosphere of the heritage areas or the magnificent mountain scenery of Hatta or bring home bargains by haggling over souvenirs in the souqs of Sharjah.

Head out to Abu Dhabi's desert sands for a camel ride under a star-filled sky, or dive the unspoilt, coral-filled waters of the Gulf. Visitors will not find any more perfect beaches than in Ras Al-Khaimah. The best thing about UAE is that you can do a little of everything or nothing at all.

Approximate Flight Times
London to Abu Dhabi or Dubai is 7 hours

Main Airports

• Abu Dhabi is 32km (20 miles) east of the city (journey time - 40 minutes).
o To/from the airport - Buses and taxis are available at the airport. Al-Ghazal taxis operate a fixed-rate service.
• Dubai is 4km (2.5 miles) southeast of the city (journey time - 10 minutes).
o To/from the airport - Buses and taxis are available at the airport. Bus stations are opposite both Terminal 1 and 2.
• Sharjah is 10km (6 miles) from the city
o To/from the airport - Taxis are available at the airport.
• Ras al-Khaimah is 15km (9 miles) from the city.
o To/from the airport - Taxis are available at the airport.

Departure Tax: AED30 from some airports. Usually incorporated into the ticket price.