Dubai – Abu Dhabi – Desert Safari

Nomadic tribal heritage and modern society co-exist in the UAE, a federation of seven emirates at the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Look beyond the desert that consumes four-fifths of its area and you’ll find capital Abu Dhabi, an oil-rich city of skyscrapers, parks and malls, and Dubai, with its split personality of luxury resorts and covered marketplaces, upscale boutiques and local artisans. For a break from urban sprawl, journey over rolling red sand dunes into the Hatta Mountains, where the 200-year-old Sharia Mosque sits amid 30 restored buildings of sandalwood and mud.

Brief overview

Country name: United Arab Emirates
Population: 8.1 million (UN, 2012)
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Area: 77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles)
Major language: Arabic
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Dirham = 100 fils
Main exports: Oil, gas
GNI per capita: US $40,760 (World Bank, 2011)
Internet domain: .ae
International dialling code: +971