
Middle Eastern feasts at traditional Bedouin camps, camel rides across infinite-seeming sand dunes, aromatic souqs selling spices and scents, treks to remote mountain peaks… there’s so much more to a holiday in the United Arab Emirates than just its palm-shaped archipelagos, pristine beaches, and adrenaline-pumping water parks. Our specialists know this country intimately, and whether you want a UAE tour to experience the most indulgent hotels in the world, discover the region’s rich Arabian culture, or spend the night under desert skies, they can suggest a bespoke combination of inspirational stays and immersive experiences within four of the seven emirates.
You might choose to explore the golden glamour of Dubai, the laid-back culture of Abu Dhabi, the outdoor adventures in the mountainous Ras al Khaimah, or the historic desert trading posts and sandstone forts of Fujairah. Perhaps you simply want to lounge alongside the aquamarine waters of the Gulf, cocktail in hand? Our specialists can recommend resorts with the best private beaches and most attentive service. We’ll build a trip around your interests, be it Middle Eastern cuisine, desert wildlife, vertiginous skyscrapers, immaculate beaches, or guided tours of monumental mosques.
Suggested tours for the UAE
These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to the UAE could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
Suggested activities for the UAE
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience the UAE.
-
Traditional dhow cruise around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula Traditional dhow cruise around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula
DubaiTraditional dhow cruise around Oman’s Musandam Peninsula
After a scenic drive north to Oman, you’ll board a traditional wooden dhow and cruise the fjords and islands of the Musandam Peninsula, where the mountainous coastline meets the crystalline waters of the Arabian Sea.
View details -
Private city tour of Abu Dhabi Private city tour of Abu Dhabi
Abu DhabiPrivate city tour of Abu Dhabi
Discover the highlights of Abu Dhabi with your own private driver and guide. You’ll explore art at the Louvre, immerse yourself in history at Qasr Al Watan, and experience the city’s spiritual side at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
View details -
Traditional wooden dhow dinner cruise in Dubai Traditional wooden dhow dinner cruise in Dubai
DubaiTraditional wooden dhow dinner cruise in Dubai
Aboard a traditional dhow, you’ll be enveloped in the maritime heritage of Dubai, sailing past the intricately carved minarets or sky-skimming masterpieces of the city. Just as the sunset tints the Gulf, your crew will serve a gourmet buffet dinner.
View details
Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
- Fully protected travel
- Established for over 25 years
- 98% of our clients would recommend us
Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit the UAE, including information about climate, events and festivals.
Request our brochure
Covering all seven continents, The World Your Way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences.

Useful information for planning your holiday in the UAE
The official language of the UAE is Modern Standard Arabic, but in casual conversation, Emiratis speak a local dialect called Khaleeji (Gulf Arabic). However, due to the large number of expatriates living in the UAE, English is widely spoken, and signage is in both Arabic and English.
The currency of the UAE is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED). ATMs are widespread, with both cash and card being widely accepted.
Tipping in the UAE is discretionary and down to personal preference. Only food and drink outlets in hotels are legally allowed to add service charges to your total but they’re often not passed on to serving staff, so you might want to add an additional tip. Independent restaurants don’t typically add service charges, so leaving a 10% tip is appreciated.
For the latest travel advice for the UAE, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
In the UAE, you can unwind on sandy beaches, peruse lavish shopping malls, wander traditional bazaars, go on a desert adventure, plus visit historic forts, palaces and mosques, as well as sample cuisines from across the globe. It’s a country of extremes, where you can combine hiking in remote mountain ranges with summitting the tallest skyscraper in the world, or camel trekking across the vast desert with relaxing on pristine, powder-white beaches.
For a more traditional take on the country, you could take a walking tour through Old Dubai to see its gold and spice souqs, wander down narrow lanes lined with mosques and minarets, and see the original fishing village that blossomed into the glittering modern city.
The UAE offers a huge range of places to stay, from five-star properties alongside the Gulf to family-friendly resorts, intimate guesthouses, desert camps, and hotels in restored historic buildings. You might like to stay in a Moorish-style retreat with opulent suites and a Michelin-starred chef, an adults-only escape with a private golf course, or a beachfront resort with direct access to the expansive sands of Saadiyat Island just outside downtown Abu Dhabi.
Alternatively, you could leave the bustle of the city behind and stay in a Bedouin-inspired safari tent nestled in the desert. To get some ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in the UAE.
Most people head to the glamorous and alluring emirates of Dubai or Abu Dhabi for their first UAE trip, but it’s worth spending some time exploring the towering dunes of the remote desert and considering the quieter, lesser-known regions too.
Ras Al Khaimah is synonymous with outdoor adventure, mostly due to its mountain hiking trails and vertiginous ziplines around Jebel Jais, the UAE’s tallest mountain. It’s also home to tranquil beaches, natural hot springs, and a landscape of untouched desert.
Fujairah immerses you in the country’s rich heritage. The 15th-century Al Bidyah Mosque and carefully preserved sandstone Fujairah Fort are lures for history enthusiasts, while naturalists might like to head for the translucent waters of the Gulf of Oman or the waterfalls, freshwater pools, and wildlife of the Wadi Wurayah National Park.
It takes around seven to eight hours to fly to the UAE from the UK. There are direct flights from various UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow.
The time zone in the UAE is GMT+4. The clocks don’t change during the year.
The best way of getting around the UAE depends on where you are. You’ll find taxis everywhere in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They can be booked in advance using the Careem or Uber apps or hailed on the street. Taxis with a pink roof are driven by women and take female passengers or families only.
In Dubai, the public transport is clean, efficient, and easy to use. You can take the metro or tram to most places of interest, while the monorail takes you to Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis hotel, and the Dubai Ferry runs along the coast.
Outside of the main cities, renting a car is easy across the UAE, providing you with access to the remoter corners of the country. Roads are of good quality, with clear signs and relatively cheap fuel prices. You’ll need a valid driving license and possibly an International Driving Permit. Alternatively, your specialist can prebook a private driver to take you between hotels and cultural sites across the whole of the UAE.
Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for the UAE. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.
Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for the UAE, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.
You can take medication into the UAE, but some require a permit. You should check with your doctor before you travel to see if your medication requires one. If it doesn’t, you’ll just need to carry your prescription with you. However, if your medication is on the controlled list, you’ll need to apply in advance for a permit to import medicines for personal use. Applications are normally processed within five working days.
In the UAE, you should wear long, loose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees in public areas, including shopping malls. Cotton or linen clothing is most comfortable in hot weather.
If you’re visiting a mosque, or another religious or state site, you should wear full-length sleeves and trousers or an ankle-length skirt. Women will also need to bring a scarf to cover their heads within religious buildings. It’s a good idea to carry an extra layer in case you need to cover up or just feel cold in the air-conditioned shopping malls.
On the beach and at hotels, you can wear regular swimwear, including bikinis, but you should always cover up when leaving the beach.
You can travel to the UAE during Ramadan and shouldn’t encounter any significant changes to your experience. Non-Muslims are not required to fast and there are no specific restrictions for visitors during Ramadan. Most restaurants, including those in hotels, operate as normal during the day, but you may find there are different opening hours at some dining options outside of hotels. If you’re exploring beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi and into Fujairah or Ras al Khaimah, restrictions around Ramadan may be stricter as these emirates uphold more traditional customs.
It’s strictly prohibited to take photographs of military or government buildings, ports, aircraft, or in any airport in the UAE. You must also ask for permission before taking a picture with anyone else in it, and you should never take photos of women or families in public areas.
The UAE is an Islamic country, so the customs and traditions may be very different from your home country. For example, it’s illegal to drink alcohol or be drunk in a public place, though you can still drink alcohol in a licensed hotel, and its restaurants or dedicated lounges.
Excessive public displays of affection are prohibited, and swearing, fighting, or using rude gestures in public can land you in a lot of trouble.
The UAE in pictures
Our expert guides to travelling in the UAE
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to the UAE. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate the UAE at its best.
-
Dubai travel guide: our highlights Dubai travel guide: our highlights
Dubai travel guide: our highlights
Though it’s known for dizzying skyline, man-made islands and vast malls, Dubai has plenty to offer besides. Specialist Matt shares his recommendations, from its best beach areas to discovering the hidden traditions of this desert city in its souqs and bazaars.
Read this guide -
How to pack for the Middle East How to pack for the Middle East
How to pack for the Middle East
First-time visitors can find it tricky to pack for the Middle East. Specialist and one-time resident Talia offers packing advice for handling the dramatic swings in temperature, the wide variety of terrains and the conservative culture.
Read this guide