Things to Do in the UAE: The City-by-City Guide

The best things to do in the UAE are the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Saadiyat museums in Abu Dhabi, the Burj Khalifa and Old Dubai in Dubai, the museums and heritage area of Sharjah, the summit of Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, snorkelling off Fujairah’s east coast, and a night in the desert, ideally in the giant dunes of Liwa. The seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates are all within about three hours of each other by car, so Dubai or Abu Dhabi make a good base. Go between October and April, when the weather is warm rather than hot and the seasonal festivals, parks and campsites are open.

On this page

1. The UAE emirate by emirate
2. Abu Dhabi
3. Dubai
4. Sharjah
5. Ajman
6. Umm Al Quwain
7. Ras Al Khaimah
8. Fujairah
9. Picks by interest
10. The UAE through the year
11. Sample itineraries
12. Emirati food to try
13. Getting around and local customs
14. Things to do in the UAE FAQs

The UAE emirate by emirate

Abu Dhabi

The capital and the largest emirate, covering the city, Al Ain and the vast Al Dhafra desert. See places to visit in Abu Dhabi for a full plan.

• Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: white marble domes, one of the world’s largest hand-knotted carpets and huge crystal chandeliers. Since September 2026 entry costs AED 10 for visitors and AED 5 for Emirates ID holders, with free guided tours.
• Saadiyat Cultural District: the Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena, the Natural History Museum, the Zayed National Museum (AED 70, under 18s free) and, from 11 December 2026, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. See the Saadiyat museum guide.
• Qasr Al Watan and Qasr Al Hosn: the presidential palace and the city’s oldest stone building.
• Yas Island: Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld, SeaWorld Yas Island and the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit, where you can drive karts at Yas Kartzone.
• Beaches and islands: Saadiyat’s beaches, the Corniche and Hudayriyat Island.
• Nature: kayaking in the Mangrove National Park, flamingos at Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, the Al Wathba salt lake and the National Aquarium.
• Winter festival: the Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba, 30 October 2026 to 14 March 2027.
• Families and free days: Abu Dhabi with kids, free places, city parks and Khalifa Park.

Al Ain

The UAE’s garden city on the Oman border, with the UNESCO-listed Al Ain Oasis, Al Jahili Fort, the Al Ain Palace Museum, the Camel Souk and Al Ain Zoo. Drive the road up Jebel Hafeet at sunset and relax at the Green Mubazzarah hot springs. See the Al Ain day trip and Al Ain Adventure‘s white-water and surf park.

Al Dhafra and Liwa

The western region holds the Empty Quarter. Moreeb Dune near the Liwa Oasis, a crescent of date-palm villages, is one of the tallest dunes in the region and hosts the Liwa Festival in winter. Offshore, Sir Bani Yas Island is a wildlife reserve with Arabian oryx, gazelles and giraffes, and the waters of Al Dhafra are home to one of the world’s largest dugong populations. Plan a night: see camping in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai

• Downtown: the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain and The Dubai Mall.
• Old Dubai: Al Fahidi, the abra across Dubai Creek, the souks and Al Shindagha Museum.
• Coast: public beaches, the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.
• Winter season: Global Village, Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Safari Park.
• Desert: dune bashing and safaris, Al Qudra Lakes and camping.
• Mountains: Hatta, with kayaking on the dam, mountain trails and, after rain, the Hatta rock pools; never swim in a wadi when rain is forecast.

Start with things to do in Dubai, then Dubai landmarks, the best parks and day trips from Dubai.

Sharjah

The UAE’s cultural capital is the only emirate with coastlines on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, through its east coast towns of Khor Fakkan, Kalba and Dibba Al Hisn. It is alcohol-free, with a modest dress code in public.

• City: the Heart of Sharjah, the Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Blue Souk, Al Noor Island and Al Majaz Waterfront on Khalid Lagoon. See places to visit in Sharjah.
• Wildlife: Sharjah Safari and the Sharjah Desert Park.
• Desert heritage: Mleiha’s archaeology and stargazing, Buhais Geology Park, and the half-buried village of Al Madam.
• East coast: Khor Fakkan, Shees Park, Al Rafisah Dam and the mangroves of Kalba.
• Festivals: the Sharjah Light Festival each February.

Ajman

The smallest emirate is the quietest stop on the coast: the Ajman Museum in the old fort, a long public corniche, the dhow yard and the Ajman Fish Market, and kayaking among flamingos at Al Zorah Nature Reserve. Families head to Ajman Festival Land. See things to do in Ajman and Ajman’s parks.

Umm Al Quwain

The least developed emirate, loved for its lagoons. Kayak the mangroves from Mangrove Beach, see the giraffes at Umm Al Quwain Zoo, cool off at Dreamland Aqua Park, and visit the fort museum in the old town. Boat trips run to Al Sinniyah Island, a protected home for birds and flamingos.

Ras Al Khaimah

• Jebel Jais: the UAE’s highest mountain, with the Jais Flight zipline, the Jais Sledder toboggan and cooler air all year.
• History: the National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Dhayah Fort and the abandoned pearling village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra; Suwaidi Pearls farm runs boat tours on how pearls are cultured.
• Coast: public beaches, Al Marjan Island and mangrove kayaking.
• Families: Saqr Park and the small zoos and farms.

See the Ras Al Khaimah day trip.

Fujairah

The only emirate wholly on the Gulf of Oman, with mountains dropping to the sea.

• Snorkelling and diving: Snoopy Island, Dibba Rock and the reefs off Al Aqah, with turtles and, in season, whale sharks.
• Heritage: Fujairah Fort and the Fujairah Heritage Village beside it, Al Bidyah Mosque, thought to be the UAE’s oldest, and Sheikh Zayed Mosque Fujairah.
• Nature: the year-round waterfall of Wadi Wurayah and the mountain wadis.
• Beaches: Fujairah’s public beaches, quieter than the west coast.
• Adventure: the Fujairah Adventure Park and dhow trips into the Musandam fjords from Dibba.

See the Fujairah day trip.

Picks by interest

The UAE through the year

Plan around the UAE public holidays, when attractions are busiest, and see UAE weather by month and what’s on this winter.

Sample itineraries

Five days

• Days 1 and 2: Dubai: Old Dubai, Downtown, the beaches and a desert safari.
• Day 3: Sharjah’s museums and souks, then Ajman’s corniche at sunset.
• Days 4 and 5: Abu Dhabi: the Grand Mosque, Saadiyat and Yas Island.

Seven to ten days

• Add Hatta or Jebel Jais for the mountains.
• Add the east coast: Khor Fakkan, Fujairah and snorkelling at Al Aqah.
• Add Al Ain from Abu Dhabi, and a night in the Liwa dunes.

Emirati food to try

• Machboos: spiced rice with chicken, lamb or fish, the national dish.
• Harees: slow-cooked wheat and meat, popular at Ramadan and weddings.
• Luqaimat: fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup.
• Gahwa and dates: Arabic coffee with cardamom, the Bedouin welcome still offered in homes, majlis and hotel lobbies.
• Karak chai: sweet spiced milk tea from roadside cafeterias.

Getting around and local customs

• Driving: the E11 coastal road links Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates; the east coast is reached over the Hajar mountains via the E84 or E88.
• Weekends: the UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday; Friday afternoons are quieter in heritage areas.
• Dress: modest clothing in mosques, museums, souks and all of Sharjah; swimwear only on beaches and at pools.
• Alcohol: only in licensed venues; none at all in Sharjah.
• Ramadan: hours change, and eating and drinking in public in daylight should be discreet.
• Weather: check the National Center of Meteorology before mountain, wadi or desert trips.

Things to do in the UAE FAQs