Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in UAE

The Arab country made up of 7 regions, each of which is unique in its own manner, and has numerous beautiful places to keep a traveller busy.

UAE, as a country, officially came into being in 1971, and since then has been growing tremendously in every field, whether it’s infrastructure, education or utilising natural resources. The drastic progress in the country’s financial position in such a short time has been pretty evident, and a big part of this is because of the rise in its tourism. It is a federation made up of 7 emirates, that have been working together to put the country on the world map and run like a well oiled economy.

If you’re travelling to UAE, all the 7 emirates have a lot to offer since the country is filled with beautiful places.
Here’s a list of must-visit places in each emirate that you can go to when you’re visiting UAE.

Abu Dhabi – The Capital Emirate

The capital region of UAE, it covers almost 85% of the country’s area. The place is a perfect mix of traditional and modern Arabic culture. It is a well oiled industrial region with a good mixture of government and business. The city boasts of keeping its traditional culture while growing with modern times.

Abu Dhabi’s Most-Visited Tourist Attractions

-Observation Deck

In the Tower 2 of Etihad Towers complex, the 74th floor (or The Observation Deck at 300) lets people have a breathtaking view of the city and the islands. Having high tea at the Observation Deck’s restaurant with the an amazing view is an experience people don’t miss.

-Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

The biggest mosque in the country, this all-white building is a beautiful depiction of modern Islamic architecture. It can hold 40,000 worshippers and was built over 10 years with the joint efforts of 3000 workers and used the best material from several countries.

Ajman – The Smallest Emirate

The smallest emirate in the UAE, it is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and places of historical importance. Ajman is bordered on three sides by Sharjah, and also controls two land exclaves, Masfut and Manama, both of which are agricultural lands.

Top Tourist Attractions in Ajman

-Ajman Museum

Once a fort in the 18th century, it was Ajman’s first line of defence, which was later transformed into the city police station and then finally a museum. Established in 1981, the museum depicts Ajman’s past with a rare collection of archeological artifacts, old weapons and manuscripts.

-Mowaihat

One of the oldest archeological sites in UAE, this place proved the existence of Umm al Nar civilization in the northern emirates when the mowaihat tomb was discovered. Various examples of beads, ceramic vessels, stones and remains of people were also discovered.

Dubai – The Vacation Hotspot

This is the go-to place for vacation whenever someone’s travelling to UAE, because of its modern architecture and luxury shopping malls. The emirate is known for all kinds of like jewellery, cars and clothing and the capital city also holds a month long shopping festival in January every year.

Best Tourist Attractions in Dubai

-Burj Khalifa

The tallest building in the world, this mega skyscraper is the most visited spot in Dubai. It also has the highest observation deck at the 124th floor, which gives a 360 degree view from the skyscraper where you can see ocean on one side and desert on the other.

-The Palm Jumeirah

One of the three artificial islands on the coast of Dubai and the only one that has been completed, the island is a major attraction for visitors from all over the world. The largest artificial island in the world, it has a number of resorts, hotels and residencies.

Fujairah – The Mountainous Region

The only emirate in UAE which is almost fully mountainous. The place is a relief for people who want to take a break from the bustling city life. It is the only emirate to have a coastline on the Gulf of Oman. It has the 45 km long Sheikh Khalifa Highway which links Fujairah with Dubai.

Best Places to Visit in Fujairah

-Al-Bidyah Mosque

This is the oldest mosque in UAE and is made of mud brick. The site has been around for almost 4000 years and is a major historical attraction. It has four pointed domes and rests on a single internal pillar, with two watchtowers overlooking the mosque.

-Fujairah Fort

Built in 1670, this is the oldest fort in UAE and has been recently restored to its original magnificence. Previously, it was the home and the defense building of the ruling family. The fort has several halls in three major sections and two round towers.

Ras Al-Khaimah – The Emirate with Gorgeous Mountain Sceneries

The most northern emirate in the UAE, Ras Al-Khaimah stands by the great Hajar Mountains and is a boon for people looking for a peaceful time. The emirate has a free-trade zone and a mountain road with beautiful views. Previously known as Julfar, it is archaeologically important because it has been inhabited since 3rd millennium BC.

Top Tourist Destinations in Ras Al-Khaimah

-Hajar Mountains

Surrounding the emirate, these mountains are not something a visitor would usually expect in the desert clad country, but is a soothing sight for travellers. There are 11 marked hiking trails that vary from 2 to 18 hours in duration.

-Khatt Springs

This is an area of hot pools filled with rich minerals, where the water is said to have calming and therapeutic properties. The area is surrounded by 170 archeological sites. The healthy water in the springs are a big tourist attraction in the area.

Sharjah – Arab Capital of Culture

Known as the cultural capital of the arab world, Sharjah is a place that gets a lot of visitors because of its heritage and history. It is the only emirate that has land on both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It is full of sightseeing places like museums and natural parks.

The Most-Visited Tourist Attractions in Sharjah

-Khaled Lagoon

The lagoon is situated next to the famous Blue Souk and is famous for its magnificent water fountain which is the thirst largest in the world and can reach a height of 100m.

-Sharjah Archeology Museum

The museum stores a lot of Sharjah’s historical artifacts, a lot of them even from the stone age. The exhibits are user friendly and it also has games that keep children entertained.

Umm al-Quwain – The Anti-Dubai Emirate

This is the least populous emirate and is most famous for its calm and sunny weather all year. It is a quiet emirate that gives you a feel of UAE before the modernisation took over. The place is also famous for its diverse marine life.

Most Famous Tourist Attractions in Umm al-Quwain

-Dreamland Aqua Park

The largest water adventure park in UAE, this place gets over 10,000 daily visitors and has over 30 water rides. The park has aquatic themed rides, a giant wave pool, a kamikaze ride and pools for children.

-Umm Al-Quwain Fort

The fort once guarded the old town of the emirate’s ruler, and has now been turned into a museum, which contains artefacts from nearby areas and a historical weapon collection. There are exhibits based no local archaeological sites that include the findings from Al Dur, the largest pre islamic site on the Gulf coast of the UAE.

Travelling to all the best places in UAE is easiest if you rent a car in advance and drive along the scenic roads that fill this country.