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Seven emirates, one easy winter-sun hop: Dubai's skyline and creek, Abu Dhabi's museums and mosque, and mountains and wadis to the east.
The FCDO has no advisory against travel to United Arab Emirates.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — the definitive source. Check it close to your travel dates.
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Start on Dubai Creek, where the wooden abras still cross from Bur Dubai to the Deira Old Souq for one dirham, cash. A short Metro ride later you're under the Burj Khalifa, all 828 metres of it. That swing, from wind-tower lanes to glass, is the UAE in a sentence.
An hour down the coast by the new Etihad Rail line, Abu Dhabi is calmer and more cultural: the white domes of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and the Louvre's latticed dome on Saadiyat Island. Inland, the oasis of Al Ain is a UNESCO site. On the east coast, Fujairah has the country's oldest mosque, and in Ras Al Khaimah, Jebel Jais is its highest peak.
The easiest first visit: a metro, a tram and creek boats tie together the old quarter of Al Fahidi, the souks of Deira, the Burj Khalifa and the beaches at Dubai Marina and JBR. Hatta, Dubai's mountain enclave about 90 minutes away, adds kayaking on the dam and hiking trails.
The capital and by far the largest emirate. Come for Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District and the theme parks of Yas Island, and stay for a slower pace than Dubai. The Corniche has a lifeguarded Blue Flag beach in the city centre.
A 90-minute drive inland from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain is the UAE's first UNESCO World Heritage Site: palm oases watered by ancient falaj channels, Bronze Age tombs at Hili and Jebel Hafit, and restored forts such as Qasr Al Muwaiji. A good day trip, better overnight.
Dubai's neighbour is the UAE's museum emirate, with the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in the old Souq Al Majarrah in the Heart of Sharjah. It is dry: drinking or possessing alcohol is illegal here. Inland, the Faya Palaeolandscape became the UAE's second UNESCO site in 2025.
The northern emirate for mountains. Jebel Jais, at 1,934 metres the UAE's highest peak, has a cooler climate, hiking trails and the Jais Flight zipline, billed as the world's longest. Down on the coast, Jazirat Al Hamra is a ghost town of abandoned stone houses.
The only emirate wholly on the east coast, facing the Gulf of Oman with the Hajar Mountains behind. Al Bidya Mosque is the UAE's oldest, and there are forts at Fujairah and Bithnah. Etihad Rail passenger trains now link Fujairah with Dubai in about 70 minutes.
The single reason many travellers come back — the food culture worth reshaping a trip around, and the dishes to seek out region by region.
Bedouin cooking from the desert and the dhow — spiced rice, dates and slow-cooked meat — under a world-feeding skyline.
The welcome comes before the meal: a handful of dates and a thin, cardamom-scented coffee called gahwa, poured from a long-spouted pot the moment you sit down. Emirati cooking was born of the desert and the pearl-diving dhow, built to travel and to share — and it still eats best from one big platter set on the floor, everyone reaching in with their right hand.
At its heart is machboos, spiced rice cooked with meat or fish and darkened with dried loomi limes, saffron and cardamom; alongside comes harees, wheat and lamb beaten to a silky porridge, and luqaimat, warm dumplings dripping with date syrup. Beyond the Emirati table the city sets every other one too — Iranian grills, Keralan fish curry, Lebanese mezze, Pakistani biryani, carried in by the people who built the place. Come hungry, eat with your hands, and finish where you started, on dates and coffee.
13 Nights Discover the dramatic geographical and cultural contrasts of the United Arab Emirates on an expansive self-drive journey traversing all seven emirates. From the glittering architectural icons of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to the rugged heights of Jebel Jais, ancient palm oases, and the deep blue waters of the eastern Indian Ocean coast, this route reveals the full spectrum of the Arabian Peninsula.
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6 Nights Experience the dramatic architectural marvels, heritage traditions, and desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates on a comprehensive 7-day multi-city journey. This streamlined route connects the record-breaking skyscrapers and historic souks of Dubai with the magnificent mosques, world-class museums, and high-speed island attractions of Abu Dhabi.
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2 Nights Experience the dramatic evolution of Dubai on a condensed three-day urban and wilderness journey through the heart of the emirate. This fast-paced route seamlessly connects the architectural marvels of Downtown with the vibrant heritage pathways of the historic creek and the pristine sands of the surrounding desert.
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View tripNon-stop flights take about seven hours from the UK. Emirates flies to Dubai from more UK airports than anyone, and Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi. Regional conflict has disrupted Gulf flights in 2026: Virgin Atlantic has suspended Dubai for winter 2026, and British Airways has cut back, with its Abu Dhabi route due back in January 2027. Check your airline's own updates before booking. Dubai International (DXB) sits on the Red Line of the Metro, at Terminals 1 and 3. Zayed International (AUH) runs a 24-hour AUH Express coach to Ibn Battuta in Dubai.
In Dubai, the Metro does most of the work: the Red Line runs from the airport down Sheikh Zayed Road past the Burj Khalifa to Expo 2020, and the Green Line loops through old Dubai and Deira. A tram serves Dubai Marina and JBR, and abras cross the creek. Pay with a nol card, which also works on buses, the tram and RTA boats. Abu Dhabi runs on buses (with a Hafilat card), taxis and the Abu Dhabi Taxi, Careem and Uber apps. Between the emirates, the new Etihad Rail passenger trains link Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah: Abu Dhabi to Dubai takes about an hour. Intercity bus E101 runs from Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi. To reach the mountains you'll need to hire a car or book a tour.
The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the free fountain shows on the lake, with Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station on the Red Line. Big hotels, little character, and very convenient.
Good for: first visits, the Burj Khalifa and the fountains
The old town beside the creek: wind-tower houses in Al Fahidi, Al Seef's waterfront, abras to Deira. Hotels are older and cheaper, and the Green Line stops at Al Ghubaiba and Sharaf DG.
Good for: heritage, souks and lower prices
High-rise towers around a marina, with the public beach at JBR. The tram links to the Red Line at DMCC and Sobha Realty stations, and water taxis cross the marina.
Good for: beach holidays and evenings out
Beach resorts a short drive from the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the other museums of the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Good for: culture with a beach
Hotels next to Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, joined by the free Yas Express shuttle.
Good for: families and theme parks
Best Dec–Feb · Shoulder Mar–Apr, Nov
Units
Forecast · Met Office · updated 13 Nov · Powered by Met Office data
Typical · climate data
November – March
Units
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 32°C with overnight lows near 24°C, and it stays largely dry.
What's best — Warm & dry, then Shoulder season, then Peak heat. Mar is among the best months here (warm & dry, sunny).
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 40°C with overnight lows near 31°C, and it stays largely dry.
What's best — Peak heat.
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 35°C with overnight lows near 27°C, and it stays largely dry.
What's best — Peak heat, then Shoulder season, then Warm & dry. Nov is among the best months here (warm & dry, sunny).
What to expect — Daytime highs average about 25°C with overnight lows near 19°C, and it stays largely dry.
What's best — Warm & dry, then Warm. Dec, Jan and Feb are among the best months here (warm & dry, sunny).
Go November to March.
This is winter sun at its best: warm days, cooler evenings and what little rain falls comes between November and March. Visit Abu Dhabi calls winter a great time to visit for its moderate temperatures, and it's when the outdoor events and desert trips run. Our rule is simple: skip May to September, when the average daily high reaches 41°C and summer humidity can hit 80–90%. April and October are shoulder months. In summer, life moves indoors.
| Area | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 24 | 25 | 29 | 32 | 36 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 39 | 35 | 31 | 26 |
Colours as on the month tiles above. Bold: hot, 32°C or more (go early or late in the day). Outlined: very hot, 35°C or more. Wet: 150 mm of rain or more.
Heat: Skip May–Sep: average 41°C
To read what you're looking at — the empires and eras that shaped United Arab Emirates's food, art and streets.
In malls and other public places, dress modestly: the FCDO advises women to cover shoulders and knees. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool only. Mosques set stricter rules. At Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque women need loose, ankle-length clothes, long sleeves and a headscarf, and men should ideally cover their legs.
Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates for your trip. Non-Muslims don't fast, but in daylight hours you shouldn't eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public, play loud music or dance. Some restaurants close or change their hours during the day. After sunset, the iftar meal makes for lively evenings.
You must be 21 to drink in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and most of the Northern Emirates, and you can drink in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants. In Sharjah drinking or possessing alcohol is illegal. Anywhere in the UAE, it's illegal to drink in public or be drunk in a public place, so plan your ride home.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and you can be arrested for kissing in public. Swearing and rude gestures are illegal, online too. Ask before you photograph people, and don't photograph government buildings or military sites. The UAE has zero tolerance for drugs, including cannabis.
Since 1 January 2022 the federal government has worked a four-and-a-half-day week, with Saturday and Sunday off and a half day on Friday. Most emirates did the same. In Sharjah the official weekend is Friday to Sunday. Friday midday prayers still shape the day: at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque the prayer hall is closed to visitors from 12pm to 3pm.
Accept the coffee. Gahwa and dates are still how Emiratis welcome a guest, and in Abu Dhabi you can learn the ritual at Bait Al Gahwa, beside Qasr Al Hosn. In Dubai, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding serves Emirati breakfasts on floor cushions in a courtyard in Al Fahidi, and its hosts are happy to take questions. Alcohol is served in licensed hotel restaurants and bars in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but not in Sharjah. During Ramadan, the iftar meal at sunset is when restaurants come to life.
4 DEC British citizens get a free visit visa on arrival, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive. Overstays are fined for every day over. You can extend through GDRFA in Dubai or the ICP elsewhere.
A single tourist visa covering all six Gulf states has been agreed, but it isn't open to applicants yet. The GCC Secretariat's latest statement says only that work continues towards a launch "in the near future", with no date. For now, UK visitors simply get the UAE's own visa on arrival.
The currency is the UAE dirham (AED). The Central Bank of the UAE sets it at 3.6725 dirhams to the US dollar, so its value against the pound moves with the dollar. Cards are widely accepted. Keep some cash for the creek abras, which are cash only.
From May to September the average high is 41°C, with humid air on the coast. Plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and evening, and carry water. For desert trips, the FCDO says use a properly equipped 4x4, travel with other vehicles, carry water and a phone, and tell someone your plans.
Some UK prescription and over-the-counter medicines are controlled in the UAE. You must get approval from the UAE Ministry of Health before you travel, and the authorities say applications take about five working days. As a visitor you can bring up to three months' supply. Read the FCDO entry page, which links to the online form.
Rip currents can occur on any beach. The FCDO advises swimming only at approved beaches with lifeguards and safety flags, such as the Blue Flag Corniche Beach in Abu Dhabi.
The FCDO updated its UAE advice on 27 October 2026. It says the Middle East is unpredictable and the risk of sudden escalation is high. It does not advise against travel to the UAE, but expect possible flight cancellations and airspace closures at short notice. Check the FCDO page and your airline before you travel, sign up for FCDO alerts, and make sure your insurance covers disruption.
We write this guide from official sources only: GOV.UK, national immigration portals, tourism boards, airports and operators, central banks and met services. Rules change, so check the linked pages before you book.
The practical back-matter — safety, drones and the essentials, in one place.
Official UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office guidance is the definitive source — check it close to your travel dates.
National parks, protected sites and religious/heritage venues often have their own rules and permits — always check the specific site before you fly.
