United Arab Emirates holidays

Take a handful of space-age skylines, add a measure of glorious beaches, garnish with centuries-old traditions, and you've got the recipe for holidays to the United Arab Emirates.

The seven kingdoms of the UAE

Occupying the south-east horn of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates – or UAE, for short – is a country made up of seven states, called Emirates. Each one tells its own story, but they all share one thing – the climate. This part of the world basks in toasty winters and baking-hot summers.

The main characters

The runaway winner of the UAE popularity contest is Dubai. It’s down, mostly, to a flashy, futuristic façade – cue the world’s tallest building and a famous manmade island that’s shaped like a palm tree. The country’s capital, Abu Dhabi, comes in a close second, boasting a skyline that’s just as out-of-this-world and theme parks for all the family, like Yas Island, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros and Seaworld. It's not all about the city life though, in between shopping sprees, you can lay out on beaches like The Palm, Jumeirah Beach and Saadiyat Island for sunbathing stints and watersports.

Lesser-known Emirates

When people think of the UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the big cities that come to mind. However, there other Emirates that are still well-worth a visit. Ajman is Dubai's quieter neighbour, which is built around an 18th-century fort and most popular for its white-sand beach. Elsewhere, Ras Al Khaimah has a shore that stretches out for over 40 miles, swish shopping centres and adrenaline-fueled actives like mountain ziplining and mangrove canoeing. Plus, we offer Multi-Destination holidays around If you want get a taste of the different Emirates.