UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Destination Touristic Services
in the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras-Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al-Quwain – with Abu Dhabi as its capital.

Destination Touristic Services is a dynamic DMC covering the UAE and Oman offering exceptional services that are constantly evolving to match the needs of this exciting vibrant destination. In a resort where anything is possible, our mission is to capture the essence of this record-breaking destination and enhance it for our guests. Our extensive excursion programme showcases the best experiences our guests can think of in the region and our local representatives are on hand to assist each individual traveller 24 hours a day.

The UAE is located at the south-east end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea borders with Qatar, Iran and Pakistan. The country has a diverse and multicultural society.
With its full-throttle development, iconic skylines of high-rises and world-famous beach resorts, the United Arab Emirates has become a favourite for family holidays and city breaks. Landmark tourist attractions, such as Dubai’s towering Burj Khalifa and Abu Dhabi’s modern Sheikh Zayeed Mosque, have branded the UAE as an up-to-the-minute luxury destination.
Scratch the surface though, and you’ll find there is more here than skyscrapers, shopping and sandy shores. Culture fans can delve into the country’s Bedouin past on starry desert nights, before exploring the many forts that guarded the coastline long before the domination of the glitzy high-rises. For nature-lovers, the desert starts where the cities end and the jagged peaks of the Hajar Mountains are ideal for adventuring.

ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has marked its territory as one of the top tourist destinations due to its world class infrastructure and interesting attractions. Abu Dhabi is geographically located on the north-eastern part of the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula.

Abu Dhabi (Distance from Dubai to Abu Dhabi approx.. 160 km)

Until recently, Abu Dhabi boasted of a city of conventions and exhibitions; but today, it has also gained popularity for its entertainment options and shopping venues. Various areas and islands in Abu Dhabi are developed to promote tourism including the Abu Dhabi Corniche which offers the chance to walk, cycle or jog along the island’s coastline which has a breath-taking view, not forgetting the beautiful Yas and Saadiyat Islands.

In 2017 the world famous ‘Louvre’ opened its doors on Saadiyat island and became the largest art museum in the Arabian Peninsula, with the aim of developing a “universal museum”, one that would use art, sculpture and other artefacts to tell a visual story of world history since the earliest civilisations. Architect Jean Nouvel with his inspirational design gives glimpses of the sea, the sky and the courtyards outside; rooms to rest your eyes; space for the art and artefacts to breathe and your spirit to soar. The whole amazing structure is topped by an enormous signature dome of overlapping geometric lattices that allows drops of sunlight to seep through, further making this art museum a must-see on any visit to the UAE.

AJMAN

Located near the cities of Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain, Ajman is the smallest of all the emirates.

Ajman (Distance from Dubai to Ajman approx.. 30 km)

Ajman comprises the two jurisdictions of Masfout and Manama, situated to the north of the Masafi-Dhaid main artery. Ajman encompasses some interesting attractions and sites. One of the main attractions in Ajman is the long expanse of powdery white sandy beach, situated along the Persian Gulf Coast, stretching for almost 20 miles.

Prominent in any Ajman travel guide is the eighteenth century fort located in the heart of the city. The fort has been renovated and turned into the local museum where the area’s history can be examined in more depth. Once serving as the Ruler’s palace, it became Ajman’s cardinal police station in 1970. Tourists visiting the museum are privy to old manuscripts, odes to traditional daily life in Ajman as well as many ancient artefacts and old weapons once used in battle. The museum is situated along the coast and close to many savoury restaurants, and a number of high-end Sharjah hotels.

Ajman is essentially a port city great for shopping and dining. The small city maintains a certain charm the other emirates lack, mostly due to its small size which creates a more intimate feel than many of the large, bustling cities.

DUBAI

Dubai, the heart of the United Arab Emirates, is a core attraction for all visitors. Dubai has emerged as a cosmopolitan metropolis that has grown steadily to become a global city and a business and cultural hub of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region.

Glitzy Dubai is the United Arab Emirates’ vacation hot spot. This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a destination du jour, where people flock for sales bargains, sunshine and family fun. Dubai is famous for sightseeing attractions such as the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and shopping malls that come complete with mammoth aquariums and indoor ski slopes.
But this city has many cultural highlights as well as glamorous modern add-ons. Take a wander around the Bastakia district and you’ll discover the Dubai of old, then cruise along Dubai Creek in a traditional dhow and you’ll soon realise there’s more to this city than its flashy veneer.

FUJAIRAH

Fujairah is one of the smallest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, with a population of just 130,000, mostly concentrated in its main city, also called Fujairah. It’s the only Emirate with a coastline on the Gulf of Oman in the country’s east instead of the Persian Gulf, and unlike the other Emirates, Fujairah is quite mountainous.

Fujairah (Distance from Dubai to Fujairah approx… 140 km)

It boasts a higher than average yearly rainfall, although it is warm and dry for most of the year. Daytime temperatures from October to March average around 25 °C and rarely reach above 30 °C, while in the summer temperatures may reach over 40 °C.

Only 90 minutes from the cosmopolitan world city of Dubai, Fujairah is quite an interesting alternative Arabian holiday destination. The UAE has a unique spirit that seems to have successfully blended the Bedouin lifestyle with western modernity, and Fujairah features the stark beauty of the desert and mountains alongside camel racing, traditional Bedouin towns and glorious beaches with modern luxury resorts. It’s the perfect place for visitors seeking sun, sea or adventure through unforgettable diving holidays, lazing on a fabulous beach or exploring the desert and the Hajaar Mountains.

Diving in Fujairah is considered the best in the whole of the UAE and with a reef trailing 55 miles off the coast, most spots are no more than a few hundred feet from the shore.

RAS AL KHAIMAH

Ras Al Khaimah is a unique destination for visitors of all ages, thanks to its diverse landscapes and distinctive excursions that have enticed guests over the years. This rising emirate with its rich history and culture boasts beautiful and dramatic mountains, red sandy deserts and lush green plains indented by a series of creeks and lagoons.

Ras Al Khaimah (Distance from Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah approx..100 km)

It has a rich heritage, dating back 7,000 years, which manifests in numerous historical sites, forts and abandoned villages.

Ras Al Khaimah offers a variety of entertainment and relaxation facilities all at great value for money. Located on the beaches, mountains, as well as the desert, these luxurious resorts give full justice to the natural beauty of Ras Al Khaimah. The emirate is also a haven for exceptional Spas that are prominent in resorts like the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Hilton Resort & Spa and Golden Tulip Khatt Springs. The cherry on the cake is the natural hot springs in Khatt, the only one in the UAE, where guests can take a relaxing therapeutic bath.

With a wide range of adventure and sports activities covering Mountain adventures, Desert camps, Golf courses and Watersports, the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah presents an ultimate outdoor experience for tourists. Whether shopping in the welcoming old Souq (market), soaking up the sun on one of the beaches or taking a ride on the world’s tallest water slide, Ras Al Khaimah has something for everyone.

SHARJAH

Sharjah is the third largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is the only one to have land on both the Arabian Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Oman. Sharjah’s location is significant both geographically and historically.

Sharjah (Distance from Dubai to Sharjah approx… 20 km)

The city overlooks the Arabian Gulf coastline that stretches for more than 16 kilometres, consisting of sandy beaches and built up areas. The central region combines lush green oases, with gravel plains and rolling red sand dunes.

To the East the emirate reaches the Gulf of Oman coast where the landscape changes to a spectacular rocky coastline backed by impressively high mountains. Historically, the east coast is full of archaeological sites dating back to as early as the 2nd millennium, and forts built by the Portuguese in the 16th century were used to control the spice trade.

Sharjah is an exciting, vibrant city with colorful Souks where interesting Crafts can be found in every corner., It’s an emirate of contrasts where visitors can enjoy a holiday in the sun, discover traditional markets (souks) or visit modern shopping malls, explore the many heritage sites and museums, admire the majestic mosques, stroll around the lagoons, and experience the natural beauty of true Arabian deserts, mountains and seas.