Ras al Khaimah or Sharjah. UAE: which resort to choose. Old Town and National Museum
All have hotels and beaches, shops and restaurants, entertainment for tourists (in some places there are few, such as in Ras Al Khaimah, in others - in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, there are more, recreation is more varied). And now how do you order to choose a place to relax?
Let's listen to what our compatriots, who recently returned from the UAE and gathered in a small cozy cafe over a cup of tea, say:
Marina: We really enjoyed our holiday in Sharjah! Quiet, calm, no drunken compatriots. We specifically chose this emirate, and it didn’t cost much. I really liked the Lu-Lu Hotel (), it’s on the coast - we swam in the morning, then slept in the afternoon, went to Dubai, walked around the malls, but it was difficult to find a taxi back. A one-way trip cost us 40-60 dirhams. Sometimes we traveled profitably - we shared half and half with our neighbors. And living in Dubai was too expensive for us. Sharjah and Dubai are close, you can swim and relax in Sharjah, and go to Dubai for entertainment, walks, and shopping. There are also shopping centers in Sharjah, but in Dubai we also went to markets and malls, and bought a lot of things in Nasser Square. I really like Sharjah, which is strict, calm and inexpensive.
Vlad: Come on, Sharjah! Boring! Also, these strict laws of theirs are only suitable for families who are not going to leave the beach. The sea is the same everywhere, except Fujairah. Diving fans come to Fujairah. I wouldn't choose Sharjah. Dubai is awesome! My friend and I, although we didn’t relax in a beach hotel (they are too expensive and luxurious), there are no words of delight, just emotions! We went to the sea by bus or taxi. But we wandered around the city, went on excursions a couple of times, smoked hookah, and also ran through the malls and markets. The jeep safari was very impressive. Skyscrapers, speed, the very atmosphere for the young and hot!
We went on an excursion to Abu Dhabi, and living there was also not very good. Business center. One visit is enough. Other emirates are definitely boring. Just lie on the beaches. It’s clear that all the emirates are nearby, one after the other, getting to any of them is not a problem. But I choose Dubai! There s fun.
Sveta: I wonder if anyone chooses Fujairah? We were in both Dubai and Sharjah, and we liked it both there and there. Sharjah - beaches, few people, white sand under your feet. From Carlton (our hotel, quite decent) there was a free bus to Dubai and Sharjah, several times a day. Dubai - dynamics, luxury, shopping, an atmosphere of modern oriental luxury... And in Fujairah, as I was told, there are stones at the bottom of the sea and on the beach, some kind of sea urchins, in general, people are almost swimming in their shoes.
Only if I had to choose between a city hotel in Dubai or a beach hotel in Sharjah, I would choose Sharjah. To Dubai - on an excursion, otherwise traveling to the beach by bus, and even time-consuming, is very tiring.
Vlad: I haven’t heard much about Fujairah, just that it’s a bit boring compared to Dubai. I also have friends who are fans quiet rest, so they constantly vacation in Ajman. They really like it there - it’s beautiful, calm, half an hour’s drive from Dubai. There are few tourists. And I love it when there are a lot of people, you can’t see enough of it. That's life!
Lena: Listen to what I tell you. There is no friend for taste and color, as they say, each emirate is good in its own way. If you are going to the UAE for the first time, it is better to choose Dubai. The attitude towards tourists is the most loyal, plus all these miracles, the metro, shops on every corner and so on. Hookah. The hotels are gorgeous, the beaches. There is a lot of entertainment and relative freedom for travelers. And civilization in general. Then, having gained experience, you can live in other emirates.
Fujairah - for divers. On the shores of the Gulf of Oman there is a great variety of all kinds of underwater living creatures and, in general, diversity water world. Fujairah is more expensive than Ajman or Sharjah. And the hotels there are more luxurious.
Sharjah - relaxing holiday With great beaches, historical monuments. And everything is cheaper there compared to Dubai (hotels, food, taxis).
Umm Al Quwain - camel racing, Dreamland water park.
Abu Dhabi - how can you not go to the main emirate of the country and take a walk around the capital? Palaces, oases, monuments, mosques, fountains - beauty!
Ajman - economical holiday.
Ras Al Khaimah is also liked by many people; it is an emirate for a “lazy” holiday. There are few tourists there, mostly locals. 50 minutes drive from Dubai.
The last time we were in the UAE, we lived in Dubai for three days, and then the rest of the days in Sharjah and Ajman. The vacation was great!
Vlad: Oh how! Lena dotted all the i's! Exactly, draw conclusions:
Abu Dhabi- capital. Petrodollars, which by and large do not concern us, luxury and all that. But this is a business center where it is better to go on an excursion than to live there. Beautiful - skyscrapers, fountains, architecture. They also have a hotel, the Emirates Palace - it’s so luxurious that you wouldn’t even dream of it. By the way, there is a machine that sells gold - you can bring a gold bar as a souvenir. From the observation deck of the Hilton Hotel you can see beautiful view and also understand that you need to choose another place to relax. (In my opinion).
Dubai. Oh, this is just great! Nothing compares to this emirate and its capital! Beautiful city, many flowers, skyscrapers, shops, metro without a driver, perfect beaches, golf, hippodrome, water parks, boat excursions, belly dancing, hookah, camels, jeep safari, and what not! Life is in full swing and presents all the beauty and joy, just catch the delight! For the first time, definitely go to Dubai! (I choose it all other times, however). Although, of course, expensive.
Sharjah. Pillar of Islam. Close to Dubai, but what a difference! Not a drop of alcohol, the strictest adherence to the rules and prohibition. I also heard that Sharjah is the only place where punishment by caning remains. This is unlikely to threaten our tourists, but the laws will have to be strictly observed, along with other residents. However, oriental architecture, sunny, quiet beaches and this same prohibition law attract almost half of the tourists to Sharjah. There are also markets - vegetable, fish, gold... there are many markets, about 10. Museums, including the museum of antique cars, aviation, and the maritime museum. The boys will have fun! Shopping centers. And Dubai is here, nearby. And there are also some good savings.
Ajman. He is small, the smallest of the seven. For relatively inexpensive holiday. Beautiful nature. The hotels are good, the beaches are excellent. It is popular among tourists and the population of Sharjah - those for whom prohibition is a burden. Here, alcohol lovers can breathe easier, although wine is also not sold on every corner and no one walks around drunk. An excellent equestrian center for horse riding enthusiasts, there are also diving centers, several museums, and camel racing.
Umm Al Quwain. There are few hotels and few attractions here. But pink flamingos live on an island nearby. Crab hunting in the evenings is a form of entertainment for tourists, and you can try more than thirty varieties of dates while in Umm al-Quwain. Racing and shooting clubs, flying club, sea activities, a couple of museums. Eat good restaurants and DreamLand water park.
Ras Al Khaimah. Many people like to relax here. Activities include camel racing, a flying club, shooting and golf clubs, and sailing. You can visit a pearl farm (very interesting!) and tombs, visit. There are also hot springs in the town of The Khatt (southern part of the emirate).
Fujairah. Amazing snorkeling and low prices for everyday goods. Undersea world- these are corals, moray eels, butterfly fish, parrot fish and sometimes sharks. The water is not very clear. Scenic Spots, hot springs, just like everywhere else, there are shops and oriental shops. And many more go to Fujairah to watch a bullfight - an unforgettable spectacle for those with nerves of iron.
Well, that seems to be all. I think everyone will find a vacation to their liking in the Emirates according to their budget and preferences. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more expensive and more fun, while other emirates are quieter, more modest and cheaper.
And everyone agreed with Vlad.
Let's move on to the capital of the UAE, to the richest emirate, which cannot be ignored.
Abu Dhabi.
The spirit of competition in the Emirates is everywhere. How many times in the last story did I use the words “most. in the world"? The most high building, the most expensive hotel, the largest store, etc. Nobody can compete with the UAE for a long time. The President said that if someone builds a building higher than the Burj Khalifa, he will remove the antenna and add several more floors. There is a backup plan for everything. Therefore, the emirates have to compete with each other. Although Abu Dhabi is the richest state and does not consider it necessary to participate in the unofficial race for leadership, it still fights back against Dubai.
Firstly, Abu Dhabi is the greenest emirate. As soon as you cross the city line, it is impossible not to notice. A real oasis in the desert. By the way, maintaining one mature palm tree costs the authorities $2,000 a year. At the same time, watering and fertilization are controlled by a computer.
Secondly, there is one of the largest mosques in the world. I would put it on the list of wonders of the world. She is incredibly beautiful!
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get inside. After all, I had a work trip, and I didn’t have enough time for it. I hope to visit it in the future. Let me just say that there is the largest chandelier in the world, weighing 9 tons, and the largest handmade carpet. The carpet was woven by 1,200 people in Iran over the course of 2 years. The cost of this masterpiece reaches $8.2 million.
Thirdly, the most expensive hotel in the world, Emirates Palace, is located in Abu Dhabi. This is the answer to Dubai Sail. I will write a separate post about the hotel, because it is worth attention. You can read it.
It should be noted that opposite the Emirates Palace there are 4 skyscraper towers, mostly office buildings, but one of them houses the Etihad Towers hotel.
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Well, fourthly, in Abu Dhabi there is the whole island entertainment Yas. There is a one-of-a-kind Ferrari World amusement park, a Formula 1 track that hosts the Grand Prix year after year, as well as a brand new Yas Waterland water park, where 43 water attractions, united by one topic. Compared to Dubai water parks, don't even think about it, take a ticket to Abu Dhabi and spend the whole day at Yas Waterland. The cost of an adult ticket for the whole day is about $70.
I think these factors should already be enough not to think about a trip to Abu Dhabi.
In addition to all these impressions, I was lucky to personally meet the brother of the President, Khalifa bin Zain Al Nahyan. Especially upon arrival, I found his photo and name on the Internet :)
What I liked is that the government here is close to the people. It was quite an ordinary armored vehicle; there was also a car with security behind it. The local sheikh (and here, by the way, all the men look like sheikhs) came out, he was not surrounded by a crowd of bodyguards, greeted us, exchanged a few words and went to drink coffee. And now let’s remember which of us has ever communicated like this with Putin or Medvedev? Yes, we won’t even see them behind the security wall. And when Vladimir Vladimirovich goes somewhere with his motorcade, they block all of Moscow! The difference is obvious. However, the laws do work in the Emirates. The country is very strict and safe. For example, the death penalty is allowed here. Not long ago, an Englishman was executed for bringing drugs into the country. The British Embassy couldn't even do anything. And I think that's right. This makes it much easier for people to follow all the rules. I spat gum on the street and paid $50. Next time you won't spit.
And I'll tell you a little about cars. I have never seen such a concentration of luxury cars anywhere. Each hotel has 2-3 Ferraris or Lamborghinis. But few people know that more often than not, a license plate costs more than the car itself.
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The number is purchased as property. It can be sold, indicated in a will, or donated, but more often it remains in the family and is inherited. The fewer numbers, the more expensive it is. Therefore, men often brag to each other not about their cars, but about their license plates. The simplest ones are five-digit ones. The sheikh’s relatives all have two digits in their license plate, and the president himself has a car with the number 1. Despite the fact that the number indicates one’s position in society, it does not give any privileges on the road.
Fujairah.
On the third day we went to one of the distant emirates - Fujairah. The journey by bus took a little over 2 hours. The landscapes are quite boring - desert. But as you approach your destination, mountains and gorges begin to appear. You can take a couple of good shots.
The main highlight for which it is worth coming here is the Indian Ocean. In the story about Dubai, I wrote that the water temperature in the Persian Gulf was about 30 degrees, so the ocean was just a salvation!
Huge waves and comfortable water - for me this is the ideal formula for relaxation. We stayed at the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach 5* hotel. Regarding the hotel, I will say that this is my favorite chain, so I always and everywhere sing an ode to love to them. :) The beach here is magnificent, service, maintenance, food, rooms - everything is at the highest level! And I will give advice if someone is tempted by the ocean and decides to relax here: when staying in a hotel, it is better to take the All Inclusive system, because there is nothing around except the ocean, desert and mountains. You can go to the city of Fujairah itself, but often you won’t get there. A popular activity here is diving. There are a lot of schools, both for beginners and professionals.
It’s worth going here for a quiet, secluded holiday. The main advantage of Fujairah is its nature. But there is also something to see: the oldest mosque in the Emirates, the former sheikh’s palace, a couple of forts and museums. In general, if you are tired of the noise of the city, then this is the place for you.
Sharjah.
Sharjah is considered a suburb of Dubai and is a short drive away. The main advantage is that they are more affordable coastal hotels, and the beaches here are no worse. Sharjah is called cultural capital Emirates for a large number of museums, the first comprehensive school in the UAE and the largest mosque, donated by the King of Saudi Arabia.
Sharjah is a very green and pleasant emirate, but with very strict rules. The first and most important thing that a Russian tourist needs to know about Sharjah is that the strictest prohibition law applies here. Alcohol cannot be found even in the hotel bar. I'm silent about shops and restaurants. I talked to one tourist and she told me interesting story: a couple vacationing in Sharjah decided to drink a bottle of semi-sweet in their room. They left the bottle in the trash can and went to sunbathe in the morning. Returning to their room, a maid and a couple of police officers were waiting for them. A law-abiding hotel worker, having discovered an empty bottle in the trash, waited for the tourists, called the police, and they handed them a hefty fine. The moral is: don't drink in Sharjah, obey the law.
The same cannot be said about Dubai. There are plenty of similar alcohol shops around the city. Let me remind you that there are no taxes here, so alcohol is cheaper than in Duty Free. Well, there is plenty to choose from. But a couple of cocktails at the bar will cost a pretty penny.
Everyone chooses a holiday according to their own taste, but it’s worth a trip to Sharjah, there is something to see here. Moreover, it’s very close.
Ras Al Khaimah.
The emirate is an hour's drive from Dubai. I know for sure that during the tourist season direct charters are sent here from Moscow, which is very convenient. Again, the level of hotels is simpler, the price is lower than in Dubai. But there is no prohibition here, and they are not as picky about clothes as in Sharjah. I remember that it is very beautiful here: it feels like all the hotels and houses are in the same style, a lot of greenery and stunning nature. But most of all I remember the hookah. God! What a hookah! We smoked it at the Al Hamra Village 4* hotel, where we stayed for the night.
If you want to go on a beach holiday to Fujairah or Ras al Khaimah, then you have to think carefully about what is best to choose. Since these resorts are equally good for beach holiday, then we will try to compare these resorts in terms of weather and other important criteria. After you read this short article, it will be easier for you to decide which emirate to choose.
Where is the weather better?
In winter, it seems to us, it would be logical to go to Ras al-Khaimah, since it is on average 2 degrees warmer here than in Fujairah. True, if cold air masses come to the UAE from the north, they are unlikely to be able to penetrate Fujairah. So abnormal cold in this emirate is excluded.In spring and autumn, both emirates offer approximately the same weather, but in summer Fujairah looks like a more attractive option. The fact is that due to the Hajar Mountains, which do not allow hot air masses from the Arabian Desert to pass through, the air temperature in July, August and September in Fujairah is 3-4 degrees lower than in Ras al-Khaimah. So it's not as hot as the Gulf Coast, but it's still pretty hot.
Distance from airport
The main cities of both emirates are located at approximately the same distance from Dubai and Sharjah airports. But the main resort areas of these emirates (Al Aqa in Fujairah and the Marjan Island area in Ras al Khaimah) are located at very different distances. For example, the distance from Dubai Airport to Al Aqa is approximately 150 km, and to Marjan Island - 80 km.Beaches
In Ras Al Khaimah, some hotels have artificial beaches. This mainly applies to hotels on the island of Marjan (Rixos Bab al Bahr and Double Tree by Hilton). These artificial beaches are good for swimming, especially for children. They offer a gentle entry into the water and have almost no waves. There may be waves in the area of the natural beaches of this emirate, but they are not high.
In Fujairah, the hotel beaches are natural, and the waves around them are slightly higher than in Ras al-Khaimah. In addition, there are often jellyfish and oil in the water.
In general, if you want to relax on a good beach and swim in clean and calm water, then we recommend choosing hotels on Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. If we do not take this island into account, then we can say that the beaches of both emirates are almost the same.
Hotels
The choice of hotels in Ras al Khaimah is slightly wider than in Fujairah. At the same time, the range of prices for accommodation here is also quite large. This means that it will be easier for you to find a suitable hotel for you in this emirate. The most popular hotel here is Rixos Bab al Bahr, which operates exclusively on an all-inclusive basis. For other hotels in this emirate and the emirate of Fujairah, this food system is one of several.
In Ras Al Khaimah you will find several inexpensive beach hotels with all-inclusive food system. In Fujairah, such hotels are a little more expensive.
Excursions
From both emirates group excursions in Dubai and other places are not held, so you need to reserve individual excursions, which start at $150. Excursions from hotels in Ras al Khaimah are slightly cheaper, due to the relatively short distance from the main attractions. In addition, Ras al Khaimah has its own water park, which may be important for families with children.Bottom line
The emirates of Fujairah and Ras al Khaimah are quite similar in terms of holiday conditions, although there are slight differences in weather, beaches and some other things. Therefore, we advise you to proceed from which hotel you like best, which hotel is more suitable for the price. If you want the weather to be less hot (especially important for summer), then choose Fujairah. If you don’t want to travel a long time from the airport to the hotel (after a long flight you often want to quickly get to the hotel), then it would be logical to choose Ras al Khaimah.You did the right thing.
UAE is small state V South-East Asia, located on the Arabian Peninsula, it is washed by the azure waters of the Persian and Oman Gulfs. There are only 7 emirates in the UAE, but each emirate has its own merits and can open up a whole world to tourists, from ancient Arabia with its Bedouin settlements and old markets in the desert or mountains to giant skyscrapers and ultra-modern projects.
The flight takes about 5 hours. Every state has an airport, but international flights, mostly land in the emirates, and. At passport control you must show a visa, which is issued 5 to 2 days before the trip, and undergo a retinal scan. And your vacation begins...
I would like to immediately warn tourists about observing rules of decency in this country: appear in public in modest clothing, do not show personal feelings or behave provocatively in public.
Firstly, this shopper's paradise. Even if you do not consider yourself a “shopaholic”, the desire to purchase beautiful and high-quality things at favorable prices It's hardly alien to you. Wherever you stay, almost every hotel will take you to the largest shopping centers in Sharjah or Dubai. The largest is Mall of the Emirates, there is everything and everyone, for any request and for any budget: from world-famous mid-range stores to boutiques of the world's leading designers. Dubai Outlet Mall, shopping mall reached its peak of popularity during the financial crisis; here you can buy at dumping prices everything that was recently sold in the best stores and boutiques of the city. The new Dubai Mall is so huge that it is simply impossible to explore it in one go! Here is the only French department store in the region, Galleries Lafayette, for entertainment lovers there is the largest aquarium, underwater zoo, ice skating rink and children's center.
Secondly, if you want to enjoy holiday on the Persian Gulf coast, there is a huge selection of hotels from luxurious 5* on the palm tree to more budget ones in . For those planning a family holiday, I would like to recommend the emirate of Fujairah, which is washed by the Gulf of Oman Indian Ocean: wide sandy beaches, good large areas, and many hotels operate according to the system All inclusive, which Russian tourists really like.
Fujairah
Of all the Emirates, I would highlight the emirate. These are picturesque landscapes, gentle sea, mountains and coral reefs.
Dubai
As for hotels in the emirate. If we want to save on a tour and the purpose of the trip is shopping, in this case there are many options from 2* hotels to 4* and 5* hotels. Although even cheap hotels in the UAE are quite comfortable, living conditions vary markedly, and if possible, it is better not to skimp and stay in good hotels level 3-4*. Such as , . Among the high-level 5* hotels for beach and family vacation I can highlight - located on west coast Palm Jumeirah Islands. The hotel's interior is in Turkish style, numerous columns are covered with gold leaf, there is a theater, a cinema, night club, many a la carte restaurants, located on the first line from the sea, for SPA lovers there is an excellent Talise Ottoman Spa center, separate male and female sections, saunas and steam rooms, a “snow room”, hydrotherapy rooms with bathtubs, floating beds and showers Vichy and much more.
Turkish chain of high-level hotels. Modern hotel design and architecture define the style of the RIXOS hotel. On the territory of the complex there are several restaurants, bars, recreation areas with stunning views of the Persian Gulf. Guests can take advantage of the free shuttle service to the shopping centre, or take the Rixos Water Taxi into the city. For younger guests, the resort has a children's club called Rixy Club, where a child's personal RIXOS passport is issued upon check-in. Many free services, such as: Cinema on the beach, Yoga, Pilates, aqua aerobics, Step, Zumba, Fitness, Aerobics, Sauna, Steam room, Jacuzzi, Turkish hammam, Beach volleyball, etc.
Huge hotel located in the center of the crown palm island. The hotel is definitely family friendly. It has its own water theme park and Entertainment Center with boutiques and shops, there is one of the world's largest artificial marine ecosystems, inhabited by 65 thousand marine animals, a unique underwater labyrinth, walking through which you can see the ruins of the sunken Atlantis. Lots of restaurants, a nightclub, a huge water park. The only negative of the hotel is the beach.
Finally, it must be said that the UAE is suitable for almost every tourist. There you can find both chic shopping and good beaches. Here you can find budget hotels and magnificent palaces. But, finding yourself far from home, it is worth remembering that each country has its own amazing characteristics, morals and customs. Without knowing about them, and also not sufficiently fluent in foreign languages, it is better not to go on a “solo voyage.” I will be happy to advise on hotels and share my impressions with you. Enjoy your stay in the UAE and see you at the office.
The import of narcotic substances into the country is prohibited, including cadeine-containing drugs (painkillers), so carefully check your first aid kits and take a prescription from a doctor for your medications in order to avoid problems (prison), although this happens very rarely, customs for European tourists almost doesn't seem to find fault.
It is also prohibited to drink alcohol in public places, with the exception of special places with a license for alcohol, and it is also prohibited to be intoxicated, that is, you can drink legally, but you cannot get drunk. There is a complete prohibition in the emirate of Sharjah! In the country, intimate relationships outside of marriage are also illegal on the territory of the country, as well as kissing in in public places, even with spouses, i.e. if you come to relax with your significant other, with whom you are not officially married, behave decently, don’t get into trouble and everything will be ok, since no one conducts such a hunt on purpose, but there was a case here recently, a waiter at a hotel raped a drunken British tourist who was vacationing there with her fiancé, so of course he was imprisoned, but the victim and her fiancé also had problems with the law due to the fact that they were in an intimate relationship in the UAE and of course they cannot be imprisoned for being intoxicated steel, but I think they spoiled their nerves, but such cases are not so frequent and then are discussed in the press for months. By the way, most rapes happen to drunk women, since this is the easiest victim. If you go to dirty places, do not accept drinks from strangers, girls are often given something. According to 2010 data, 2 million women live in the UAE and 6! millions of men, most of whom are guest workers from third world countries, who work for years and do not have access to women (by law, only the worker who can provide for her can bring a wife) so girls, be careful, the UAE is very safe country for normal people, but if a person is characterized by victimized behavior, then... well, you understand. There is an article for swearing and the middle finger, as well as for even verbal harassment of a woman. By the way, the UAE ranks first in the world in the number of arrests of British tourists! I am writing all this not to scare, but, so to speak, for preventive purposes. Recently, with the number of guest workers and illegal immigrants, street crime has also increased, the detection rate is simply higher, since the country is small and there are cameras everywhere. Be careful when withdrawing money from ATMs, do not buy anything on the street with your own hands, etc. Gone are the days when you didn’t have to lock your car; the same patterns of crimes involving puncturing a tire and stealing a bag from a car have appeared. Of course, most serious crimes occur within ethnic groups, but you still need to relax on vacation, but not yawn. In general, if any situations arise, both medical and criminal in nature, call 999 (the call is free).
Be sure to take out good health insurance, medicine in the country is free only for locals, and even those go to Europe and Asia for treatment, since the quality of medical workers in the UAE is simply... well, terrible! More or less in private clinics, but standard insurance with coverage of 10-20 thousand dollars is not enough, God forbid, even for the state! Plus, be sure to have liability insurance if you rent a car, as in case of an accident Because of your fault, you will not be released from prison until you pay your relatives “blood” money. Of course, I am describing extreme cases, according to statistics, this happens to tourists very rarely, this is not Thailand or Egypt, but again it is better to play it safe, pay an extra 500 rubles for insurance and rest in peace. Although there are no normal insurance companies in Russia, I personally prefer the British one. Personally, I order a British bupa, it costs about $60, but it has good coverage and good ratings, though thank God I’ve never used it, so I can’t say how they solve problems, but they’re definitely better than Russian ones.
If you plan to actively use your mobile, it is better to buy a local SIM card, I recommend the operator DU, because if you use the Internet, Etisalat blocks almost everything! Local communication is much cheaper than a tourist SIM card; there is a special SIM card for tourists for 3 months. Look for DU counters and departments in almost any mall (shopping center), as well as at airports, you will need a passport and visa. A SIM card for tourists costs about 400 rubles for 90 days (it is possible to extend it for another 90 days for ~170 rubles) and you already have about 170 rubles in your account. An SMS to any country, including Russia, will cost 5 rubles; I don’t know exactly when making a call, but about 20-30 rubles per minute (per-second billing applies). In the UAE, of course, it’s only a penny, but sometimes you need a phone, call the hotel, call a taxi, etc.
I’ve had a permanent SIM card for many years, the tariffs seem to be almost the same as a tourist SIM card, maybe a little cheaper, the malls have free Wi-Fi, but to connect, they sometimes ask for a local mobile number.
You can travel between the emirates either by taxi (the most expensive Dubai taxi) or by bus. A taxi from Abu Dhabi to Dubai airport will cost about 2000-2500 rubles, from Dubai more expensive. The same number, for example, between Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, between Fujairah and Dubai. A bus between any emirates costs 170-200 rubles, comfortable with air conditioning, but without toilets. Driving between the emirates is an hour or three maximum. For several years now they have been threatening to build railway, but haven't started yet.
What's cheaper in the UAE? Food! Especially in restaurants! In addition, it is of much higher quality than in Moscow. The portions are large, you can easily order one dish for two. And in supermarkets there are very good ready-made dishes, especially in carrefour, the main thing is that everything is really fresh, even raw fish does not stink. Also, clothes and jewelry are cheaper, but equipment is cheaper in Moscow! Really! Yandex Market can help you. I also advise you to take a closer look at local perfumes, they have very stable prices, from 300 rubles to several thousand, they are sold in any mall, by the way, in the market and in small shops, the Egyptians will sell them to you at exorbitant prices! also buy bakhur, it’s a “perfume” for the home, which is burnt on charcoal. You should also not go to the UAE during Ramadan, since during the daytime it is prohibited to eat and drink in public places, even in your car.
So, now a little about specific emirates:
Abu Dhabi ( Abu Dhabi, AD):
The capital of the UAE, but in terms of tourism the city is less developed than Dubai. There are fewer hotels, although the city itself is larger, and there are even fewer good ones, the quality of service is poor, the same is true in stores, the workers are less friendly and in general the service is so-so. But restaurants are cheaper and prices are in malls: what is supposedly sold in Dubai Mall at a big discount, in Abu Dhabi Marina Mall the same price is regular. It is better to choose a hotel closer to the Corniche, as it the best place In the city in terms of tourism, there is a very good beach, many cafes, Lulu Island, the best mall in Abu Dhabi (Marina Mall), Heritage village, yacht club, etc. Also be sure to visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the main thing is to choose the time between prayers, since tourists are not allowed inside during prayers, but you can walk around the courtyard and take pictures of the mosque from the outside. They also give out abayas and sheilas for women and konduras for men for the duration of the visit. It's very very beautiful there! In Abu Dhabi there are buses around the city, but it seems not very often, taxis are also a problem. It also happened that I couldn’t find a taxi for an hour or two! So ideally, rent a car. You can also visit the recently opened water park and ferrari world on Yas Island, but I don’t recommend staying there, since it is very far from the city and there is not a single store (supermarket) on the entire island, and finding a taxi there in the morning and evening is problematic even near hotels (i.e. .e they simply aren’t there), but walking around the island itself is simply not realistic at any time!!! It's generally quite deserted and boring there.
In any case, there is simply nothing for a tourist to do in Abu Dhabi for more than 2-3 days. By the way there is no open sea, that is, while swimming you will see the shore around and all sorts of artificial islands. Abu Dhabi itself is a very green city, there are many trees and flowers that smell great!
Abu Dhabi is a very safe city, much safer than Dubai, since workers are not allowed to walk around the city in the evening, they are also prohibited from wearing clothes on the beach. They came there to look at tourists, since they haven’t seen women for years, it’s very disgusting. There are more problems with this in Dubai.
And in Abu Dhabi, in Marina Mall, on the very top level, there is my favorite restaurant. I’ve been going there for many years and still haven’t found a better one. It's called Hatam, it's an Iranian restaurant with amazingly delicious food, with the most delicious bread, but with always sullen waiters. But the kebab there is the best and also seafood. And the prices are very reasonable, although there is a chain of these restaurants all over the country, but for some reason I like this one better. Probably kg of shish kebab different types costs about 350 rubles!!! This is not counting the side dish, etc., but a huge dish for three of probably seafood, about 800 rubles! In general, for two we had the maximum bill of 1100-1200 rubles, taking into account fruit cocktails and huge plates of lobster and shrimp. You can’t eat like that in Dubai.
Also in the emirate of Abu Dhabi is the oasis city of Al Ain - this is the birthplace of Sheikh Zayed, one of the founders of the country. There is no sea, but there are mountains, a zoo, and a beautiful garden with flowers. And also the mountain with observation deck to the city. From the city of Abu Dhabi and also from Dubai it takes an hour and a half to two hours by car, Al Ain is located on the border with Oman. There is a problem with hotels there, but if you have the opportunity to go to one day excursion, don't refuse. If you want to go to the desert for a couple of days and live there in comfort, then I recommend the Liwa desert, there are literally 3 hotels there of different price categories, the best is Qasr Al Sarab, almost all my local friends regularly come there for a couple of days rest, but again it takes 2-3 hours to get there from Abu Dhabi by car. Further than to Dubai, but it is simply stunningly beautiful there. Google to the rescue.
Sharjah:
The city of Sharjah is closely adjacent to Dubai; it is the only emirate where 100% dry law applies. Previously, everyone went to Sharjah for cheap equipment, now in Moscow it is much cheaper, hotels in Sharjah are also cheaper, but their level is far behind those in Dubai, and taxis charge an additional fee for crossing the border between Dubai and Sharjah, so even if you will save on a hotel, you will spend more money on a taxi, although if you rent a car in Sharjah, then maybe there will be some benefit. By the way, lovers of long hiking, and short ones too, don’t even think about walking, the roads here are just ugly, there are almost no pedestrian crossings and cars at the zebra crossing won’t be allowed to pass, in other emirates the drivers are somehow more cultured. What is worth visiting: Central Market(central souk), be sure to take a walk with your camera, especially in the evening along the Corniche, on both sides of the bay, although I was never able to cross to the other side on foot, although I spent two hours on the hike. If you have children, be sure to visit the Al Qasba area, it’s fun with children, you can also ride the Ferris wheel there, although they ride quickly and quickly and in 5 circles, I was hysterical, I thought they just forgot about me, and I’m also afraid of heights and the cabin swings there. In general, it’s fun. Visit the Sharjah Museum and Aquarium. The largest mall in Sharjah is the Mega Mall, but compared to the ones in Dubai, it’s not very good. I drove through all the malls in less than a couple of hours, but I was not impressed. But in the center there are a lot of, as I call them, shit shops, something like a fixed price, where everything, for example, is from 1 to 10 dirhams (~ 8-80 rubles), so it’s very good there to buy souvenirs, all sorts of magnets and other crap that you can find in souvenir shops in the markets they sell for many times more. Taking a taxi in Sharjah is also a little more difficult than in Dubai, but it is cheaper and, to be honest, the taxi drivers there are the most educated and pleasant, or I came across them, they spoke normal English, there were more Arabs than any Pakistanis. By the way, Sharjah has a fairly high crime rate for the UAE. But in general, it’s certainly calm there, I walked until late, no problems, although in the UAE I dress like a local, gasters are afraid to pester me, but many of my European friends complain
Ajman:
A small and very comfortable emirate. From the center of Sharjah it takes literally 15 minutes by taxi and is very cheap in terms of money. It’s better to settle near the Corniche, of course, although it’s a 15-20 minute walk from the city center to the beach. There are no middle class hotels in Ajman, either cheap or very expensive for Ajman. For the first time in my life, I lived in a hotel for 50 dollars a night, on a quiet street 5-7 minutes walk from the sea with Pakistani guys on bikes, chickens and mangy cats in garbage dumps, but what’s surprising is that I liked it SOOO much! The first day I lived in a hotel right by the sea, it was more expensive, but the level... in general, it’s better to walk 5 minutes, but for 50 dollars I got a perfectly clean room with free internet, 1 bedroom, 1 living room with a balcony and 1 kitchen The beach in Ajman is quite large, but I was there in winter, it was not very well maintained, although the sand is beautiful, I don’t know what it’s like there during the swimming season. People even from Dubai come to the Corniche in the evening, it’s full of people. There are fast foods and at the end of the Corniche there is an average Arabic restaurant where lovers can smoke hookah. Across the road from the Corniche there are also several seafood restaurants and even a "Russian". There are also many small cafes throughout the city with very large portions and very low prices. What I loved about Ajman was that you can walk almost anywhere in the city, the roads are good, drivers always yield at crossings and there are many traffic lights. There's also an amazing museum there! It is much better than Dubai!!! Entrance costs a penny, and you have a whole old fort with a bunch of doors at your disposal, open it, go inside and enjoy very interesting dioramas and photographs. I was actually the only visitor there, it even became scary. In general, for me Ajman has become a place of rest from the bustle of the city, but you shouldn’t expect much from it, even my local friends laugh at me for my irrational love for Ajman.
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).
The northernmost emirate, there was even snow in the mountains a couple of times in winter. From Dubai it takes about 3 hours by car. The city itself is quite large, there are several very good beach hotels, but you need to go there in warm weather, since it is impossible to swim there in winter, in other than that, just like everywhere else in the UAE, unless of course you are a walrus. The situation with the roads there is the same as in Sharjah, it’s not particularly good, drivers don’t let you through at the few crossings, and besides, everything is located very far from each other, taxis can also become a problem, there aren’t that many of them. I was there for a foray, literally 1 day, in one day I managed to visit the Manar mall, by the way, it’s very close to the mall nice park with benches. I also really liked Corniche, although there is no view there in the evening, but it is very comfortable to walk, there are clean public toilets every ~200 meters! (there is no other Corniche like this in the UAE!, only JBR in Dubai, but this is not a Corniche), benches are everywhere! There is a very good restaurant in the center, which is in the form of a tower, but the places there are on the street, fenced off from each other by greenery. It's very nice to have dinner by the water. There is also a pearl museum on the Corniche. But overall there is not much to do there.
Fujairah:
Located on the shores of the Gulf of Oman of the Indian Ocean, around Mt. It is also quite cool there in winter. This is such a provincial emirate, they say the first and so far only one was built literally in 2012. From the point of view of a beach holiday, I would not recommend this place, only if you go to a hotel with its own beach, since the public one is simply ugly, and besides, there are all sorts of bad things in the sea, such as jellyfish and various terrible fish, but for fishing it’s trump spot There is a yacht club on the Corniche, where it seems there is such a service (fishing). City hotels are quite good, I liked the Coral and Concorde (I already wrote a review about it). In the city center, right next to KFC, there is an excellent Lebanese restaurant AL Meshawar, on the first floor there is more of a cafe with hookahs, on the second there is a non-smoking room and a more relaxed one. Very good service, delicious food and reasonable prices. This best restaurant in the city, not counting hotels. I walked to the fort, but didn’t get to the museum, although it’s nearby, nothing special, you can’t go into the fort itself, but you can climb the hill and take pictures of the surroundings, from there you have a good view of both the mountains and the city. Surprisingly, there are taxis in the city, but only when they are not needed, although this is always the case for me. But the Corniche in the city of Fujairah can rightfully be called the worst in the UAE! Firstly there terrible air, it’s like you’re walking along the sea, and the air is like cement plant, 2.5 miserable dusty shops all over the Corniche, more than one cafe and restaurant, I just saw on a holiday evening they were selling some kind of fast food from a trailer. Although theoretically there should be a restaurant in the yacht club, it’s not marked in any way and I didn’t want to break into the closed gate either. In principle, there is nothing special to do there, although a new pier has been built, but it is somewhere outside the city, although whatever it is, the town is quite small. And in Fujairah there is the oldest mosque in the UAE, but it is also located far outside the city and I strongly do not advise single girls to go there unaccompanied, just the other day my friend took his sisters there, so even he felt uneasy from the hungry looks of migrant workers at women, and covered from head to toe, he even began to fear for his life and the honor of his sisters: P, it’s just, as they say, in the middle of nowhere, there are only mountains around and no civilization. But it is very beautiful and worth a visit if possible. By car from Dubai to Fujairah it takes an hour to an hour and a half.
In general, I hope that this review was useful for someone, I wrote it for several hours, the Emirates is a wonderful country that I sincerely love. The cleanest, most beautiful and one of the safest, the main thing is not to forget about precautions and plan your vacation in advance, read carefully reviews about the hotel before booking good insurance, and in general, follow the rules of the country you came to visit, then you will have only positive impressions of your vacation and you will probably want to come back again and again.
All photos were taken by me at different time, since the photo has a lot of combined them into collages.
Some more tips for traveling to any country:
I print out sheets of paper with my address and phone numbers and put them in the inner and outer pockets of my suitcase, since everyone, even the most best airlines There are linings with luggage, and this way the chances of finding it as quickly as possible increase; you can also write contacts on the bottom of the suitcase with indelible paint or somehow mark your suitcase, especially if it is not noticeable. Also, don’t spare money and pack it in film at the airport, thanks to this my suitcase looks like new even after 4 years! By the way, there is insurance that includes the loss or delay of a suitcase.
Even before your trip, download several applications to your smartphone - guidebooks or other useful applications of the country or city where you are traveling, for example the same tripadvisor, foursqare, foodspotting, zomato...
Also in the program google maps, you can download individual sections of the map offline, for example Abu Dhabi with its surroundings takes only about 10 MB!