# Things to do in United Arab Emirates: best places to visit

> The UAE's must-sees: the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Mall fountain in Dubai, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Blue Souk and Al Hisn Fort in Sharjah. Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah add mountains, old forts and beaches on the Gulf of Oman.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates

## Cities

- [Dubai](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai.md): 30 places with the YesGo score
- [Abu Dhabi](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Sharjah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Ras Al Khaimah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah.md): 10 places with the YesGo score
- [Fujairah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah.md): 10 places with the YesGo score

## Itineraries across the country

- [7 days in the UAE: an itinerary by emirate](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/in-7-days.md): The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre, Burj Khalifa and the Palm, then Sharjah's museums and Fujairah's forts on the Gulf of Oman — with drive times.

## Top places across the country

- [Burj Khalifa](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/burj-khalifa.md), Dubai: YesGo score 79/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · from AED 189. Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building — 828 m and 163 floors in Downtown Dubai. Seeing it from below is free; At the Top tickets…
- [Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque.md), Abu Dhabi: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · AED 10 for tourists, booked online. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the UAE's largest mosque: 82 white marble domes and four minarets about 107 m tall. Visitors now pay AED…
- [Fujairah Fort](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah/fujairah-fort.md), Fujairah: YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free (unofficial). Fujairah Fort is a stone-and-mud fortress on a rocky hill in the old quarter, often called the oldest in the UAE. Entry is free…
- [Blue Souk (Central Souq)](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/blue-souk.md), Sharjah: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry. The Blue Souk, officially the Central Souq, is a pair of blue-tiled market halls on Khalid Lagoon with 600+ shops selling gold, carpets…
- [Al Qawasim Corniche](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah/ras-al-khaimah-corniche.md), Ras Al Khaimah: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Al Qawasim Corniche is Ras Al Khaimah's main waterfront promenade: about 3 km along the creek and its mangroves, a 6-minute taxi ride from…
- [Burj Al Arab](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/burj-al-arab.md), Dubai: YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free to view; closed inside. Dubai's sail-shaped hotel stands 321 m tall on its own island off Jumeirah Beach. Since April 2026 it has been **closed for restoration**…
- [Abu Dhabi Corniche](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-corniche.md), Abu Dhabi: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; family beach sections AED 10. The Corniche is Abu Dhabi’s 8 km seafront: walking and cycle paths, parks and a white-sand city beach. The promenade and the Al Sahil…
- [Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Fujairah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah/fujairah-sheikh-zayed-mosque.md), Fujairah: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free (unofficial). Fujairah's Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the UAE's second-largest after Abu Dhabi's: 65 domes, six minarets and room for 28,000 worshippers…
- [Al Majaz Waterfront](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-majaz-waterfront.md), Sharjah: YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Al Majaz Waterfront is a free park on Khalid Lagoon in central Sharjah, with lawns, cafés, playgrounds and a 220-metre musical fountain…
- [National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah/ras-al-khaimah-national-museum.md), Ras Al Khaimah: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · AED 5, children 5–13 AED 2. The National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah fills Al Hisn, the old fort that was home to the emirate's rulers. It opens Tuesday to Sunday…
- [The Dubai Mall](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-mall.md), Dubai: YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free entry. The Dubai Mall is one of the world’s biggest shopping centres, at the foot of [Burj Khalifa](place:burj-khalifa). Entry is free; shops…
- [Emirates Palace](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/emirates-palace.md), Abu Dhabi: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry; gold cappuccino AED 90. A palace-style hotel from 2005 at the western end of the Corniche — 114 domes, gold and marble inside. Non-guests can usually walk into…
- [Fujairah Heritage Village](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah/fujairah-heritage-village.md), Fujairah: YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ≈ AED 5 (unofficial). Fujairah Heritage Village is a walled open-air museum in the Madhab district, beside Ain Al Madhab park: mud and palm-frond houses, boats…
- [Rain Room](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/rain-room.md), Sharjah: YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · AED 25, under 5 free. Rain Room in Sharjah is Random International’s permanent installation: rain pours through a dark hall but stops wherever you stand…
- [Al Falayah Fort](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah/al-falayah-fort.md), Ras Al Khaimah: YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, confirm access by phone. Al Falayah Fort is the Al Qasimi rulers' 18th-century summer residence — a stone tower, mud-brick quarters and an old mosque — where the…
- [Palm Jumeirah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/palm-jumeirah.md), Dubai: YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Island free, The View from AED 80. Palm Jumeirah is Dubai's palm-shaped artificial island: a trunk, 16 fronds lined with villas and an 11 km crescent of resorts. Entry and…
- [Heritage Village](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-heritage-village.md), Abu Dhabi: YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry. Heritage Village is a free open-air museum on the Breakwater by Marina Mall — a recreated pre-oil Emirati village with a souk, a small…
- [Fujairah Corniche](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah/fujairah-corniche.md), Fujairah: YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Fujairah Corniche is the city's 5 km seafront road and promenade on the Gulf of Oman, with a public beach, cafés and a marina. It's free…
- [Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn)](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/sharjah-fort.md), Sharjah: YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · AED 10 · 5-museum ticket AED 20. Sharjah Fort (Al Hisn) is the ruling family's 1823 fort, rebuilt in the 1990s and now a museum in the middle of the old town. Tickets cost…
- [Sheba's Palace](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah/shebas-palace.md), Ras Al Khaimah: YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free, book 3 weeks ahead. Sheba's Palace is the ruin of a medieval Julfar ruler's residence on a ridge above Shimal village, 15 minutes' drive north of Ras Al…
- [The Dubai Fountain](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai/dubai-fountain.md), Dubai: YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free; Boardwalk and abra ride paid. The Dubai Fountain is a water, light and music show on Burj Lake at the foot of [Burj Khalifa](place:burj-khalifa). It is free from the…
- [Louvre Abu Dhabi](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi/louvre-abu-dhabi.md), Abu Dhabi: YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · AED 70, under 18 free. Louvre Abu Dhabi is Jean Nouvel’s universal museum on Saadiyat Island: white galleries and sea-water pools under a 180-metre latticed…
- [Fujairah Museum](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah/fujairah-museum.md), Fujairah: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ AED 5. Fujairah Museum is a small state museum of archaeology and local life, a short walk from Fujairah Fort: Bronze and Iron Age finds, old…
- [Al Qasba](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah/al-qasba.md), Sharjah: YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; boats from AED 20. Al Qasba is a car-free canal promenade about a kilometre long between Khalid and Al Khan lagoons in Sharjah, lined with cafés, a theatre…

## UAE travel guide

Before you go: which emirate to pick, two seas, visa and currency, getting between cities, weather by month and local rules.

## Trip essentials

- Visa: Depends on your passport — many get a free visa on arrival
- Currency: UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar
- First trip: Dubai for 4–5 days plus a day in Abu Dhabi
- When to go: November–March: ≈ 24–30° by day
- Sea: The Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman
- Summer: June–September ≈ 40°, hotels cheaper
- Alcohol: Licensed hotels and venues only; none in Sharjah
- Weekend: Saturday–Sunday; Friday midday prayers
- Driving: Right-hand traffic, speed cameras everywhere
- Time zone: UTC+4 all year

## Key facts

- **7** — emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah (source: Wikipedia, “United Arab Emirates”)
- **1971** — the UAE was founded; the capital is Abu Dhabi (source: Wikipedia, “United Arab Emirates”)
- **2011** — the oases and ancient sites of Al Ain joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 1343)
- **828 m** — Burj Khalifa in Dubai — the world’s tallest building (source: Wikipedia, “Burj Khalifa”)
- **≈ 1,900 m** — Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah — the country’s highest point (source: Wikipedia, “Jebel Jais”)

## Best places to visit in the UAE

The best places to visit in the UAE on a first trip are Dubai for 4–5 days — towers, beaches and desert — plus a day in Abu Dhabi for the Grand Mosque and the Louvre. Sharjah suits museum lovers on a budget, Ras Al Khaimah has mountains, and Fujairah the clearest sea. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.

| Emirate | Why go | Days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Dubai](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/dubai) | Burj Khalifa, the Marina, desert | 4–5 days |
| [Abu Dhabi](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/abu-dhabi) | Grand Mosque, Louvre, Yas Island | 1–2 days |
| [Sharjah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/sharjah) | Museums, souks, cheaper hotels | 1–2 days |
| [Ras Al Khaimah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/ras-al-khaimah) | Jebel Jais, forts, beaches | 2–3 days |
| [Fujairah](https://yesgo.io/united-arab-emirates/fujairah) | Gulf of Oman, snorkelling, hills | 3–7 days |

The emirates are 30 minutes to 2 hours apart by car, so any of them works as a day trip from Dubai. Ready trips across the country are above on this page.

## Which coast to choose in the UAE

The UAE has two different coasts: the Persian Gulf in the west (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah) and the Gulf of Oman in the east (Fujairah). The Persian Gulf is warm and shallow with white sand and city views; the Gulf of Oman is clearer, with coral near shore and mountains behind the beach.

| Sea | Where | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Persian Gulf** | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah | Warm water, city nearby |
| **Persian Gulf** | Ras Al Khaimah | Resorts near the mountains |
| **Gulf of Oman** | Fujairah, Khor Fakkan | Clear water, reefs |

In winter the Persian Gulf is ≈ 21–22 °C and the Gulf of Oman ≈ 24 °C.

## UAE visa and currency

UAE visa rules depend on your passport: many nationalities get a free visa on arrival, others apply online before travel. The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), pegged at ≈ 3.67 to the US dollar. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis.

- **Cards** — contactless works in shops, malls, taxis and the metro.
- **Cash** — handy for souks and abras; ATMs are everywhere.
- **Prices** — Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expensive; Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah cheaper.
- **Tipping** — about 10% in restaurants if service is not included.

## Getting around the UAE

Only Dubai has a metro; between the emirates there are intercity buses and taxis, and a hire car or transfer is easiest. Roads are excellent and fuel is cheap, but speeding fines are high.

- **Dubai Metro** — from the airport to the Marina, on a Nol card.
- **Intercity buses** — Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
- **Car hire** — bring an international driving permit if your licence requires one.
- **Taxis** — metered cabs and ride-hailing apps in every emirate.

## UAE weather by month

The best time to visit the UAE is November to March: ≈ 24–30 °C by day and the sea at 22–27 °C. October and April are hotter but the sea is warmest. From June to September days reach about 40 °C — hotels are cheaper and life moves to the evening. Below is Dubai.

- **January in Dubai** (best time): day ≈ 24°C, night ≈ 15°C, sea ≈ 22°C, rainy days: 2. Peak season: about 24°, sea ≈ 22°.
- **February in Dubai** (best time): day ≈ 25°C, night ≈ 16°C, sea ≈ 21°C, rainy days: 2. Warm and dry — the best time.
- **March in Dubai** (best time): day ≈ 29°C, night ≈ 18°C, sea ≈ 23°C, rainy days: 2. About 29°, spring, desert trips.
- **April in Dubai**: day ≈ 33°C, night ≈ 22°C, sea ≈ 25°C, rainy days: 1. Hotter, the sea is warm.
- **May in Dubai**: day ≈ 38°C, night ≈ 26°C, sea ≈ 28°C, rainy days: 0. About 38°, heat.
- **June in Dubai**: day ≈ 40°C, night ≈ 28°C, sea ≈ 31°C, rainy days: 0. Heat ≈ 40°, cheaper hotels.
- **July in Dubai**: day ≈ 41°C, night ≈ 31°C, sea ≈ 32°C, rainy days: 0. The hottest month.
- **August in Dubai**: day ≈ 41°C, night ≈ 31°C, sea ≈ 33°C, rainy days: 0. Hot and humid.
- **September in Dubai**: day ≈ 39°C, night ≈ 28°C, sea ≈ 32°C, rainy days: 0. About 39°.
- **October in Dubai**: day ≈ 35°C, night ≈ 24°C, sea ≈ 30°C, rainy days: 0. About 35°, a warm sea.
- **November in Dubai** (best time): day ≈ 30°C, night ≈ 20°C, sea ≈ 27°C, rainy days: 1. About 30°, the season begins.
- **December in Dubai** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 17°C, sea ≈ 24°C, rainy days: 2. About 26°, New Year.

Each city has its own weather: Jebel Jais is 8–10° cooler, and Fujairah has warmer winter sea.

## UAE travel tips and rules

UAE travel rules are simple: normal swimwear on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in malls, mosques and souks. Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and venues, and not at all in Sharjah. During Ramadan, be discreet in public in the daytime.

- **Dress** — women need a headscarf in mosques; clothing covers arms and legs.
- **Photos** — ask before photographing people, especially women.
- **Ramadan** — the dates move each year; some cafés change daytime hours.
- **Safety** — the main tourist areas are considered safe; check your government’s travel advice before you go.

## Tips

- In summer, book outdoor plans for early morning and evening; keep midday for museums, aquariums and malls.
- The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi pauses for Friday prayers ≈ 11:30–14:30.
- A Nol card covers Dubai’s metro, tram, buses and abras.

## Questions

### Do I need a visa for the UAE?

It depends on your passport: many nationalities get a free visa on arrival, others apply online before travel. Check the official UAE rules for your passport.

### What are the best places to visit in the UAE?

Dubai for Burj Khalifa, the Marina and the desert; Abu Dhabi for the Grand Mosque and the Louvre; Ras Al Khaimah for Jebel Jais; Fujairah for snorkelling.

### When is the best time to visit the UAE?

November to March, when days are 24–30 °C and the sea is 22–27 °C. Summer is very hot, around 40 °C.

### What is the UAE currency?

The UAE dirham (AED), pegged at about 3.67 to the US dollar.

### Is the UAE safe for tourists?

The main tourist areas are generally considered safe, including for women travelling alone. Check your government’s current travel advice before you go.

### What is the weather like in the UAE in December?

About 26 °C by day and 15–17 °C at night, with the sea around 24 °C.

### What to do in the UAE with kids?

Dubai’s aquarium, Legoland, safari park and water parks, and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with Ferrari World; the Persian Gulf beaches are shallow and calm.

### What to do in the UAE in summer?

Indoor sights — museums, aquariums, malls and indoor theme parks — plus the cooler heights of Jebel Jais and evening beaches.

### Can you drink alcohol in the UAE?

Yes, in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants only; drinking in public is not allowed. Sharjah bans alcohol entirely.

### How far apart are the emirates?

Dubai to Sharjah ≈ 30 minutes, to Abu Dhabi ≈ 1.5 hours, to Ras Al Khaimah ≈ 1 hour and to Fujairah ≈ 1.5–2 hours.

## Sources

- Wikipedia, “United Arab Emirates”; “Burj Khalifa”; “Jebel Jais”; Dubai climate (1991–2020 normals)
- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 1343 (Al Ain)
- Central Bank of the UAE — dirham exchange rate
- UAE government portal u.ae — entry rules

Facts checked: 09.11.2026

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