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Destinations › Middle East › United Arab Emirates
Country guide · Middle East

United Arab Emirates

UAE Travel Guide: Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Where to Go in 2026

Your United Arab Emirates guide, curated by
United Arab Emirates, by Locals Insider

The UAE is the country built on contradictions in the desert — extreme luxury (Burj Al Arab, Atlantis Royal), extreme heat (45°C summers), extreme ambition (Museum of the Future, Louvre Abu Dhabi).

Dubai is the postcard megacity — Palm Jumeirah, Downtown's Burj Khalifa, the design district at Dubai Design District. Abu Dhabi is the calmer, more cultural counterweight.

The food scene has matured fast: Trésind Studio holds three Michelin stars for modern Indian, Ossiano's table sits inside an aquarium with manta rays gliding past.

Our UAE coverage focuses on Dubai's neighborhoods, the Abu Dhabi cultural day trips most travelers skip, and the surprisingly varied landscape beyond the city beaches.

Cities to explore

Where to go in United Arab Emirates

Dubai

Skyscrapers, beach clubs, world-class dining, the rooftop pool capital of Earth

Abu Dhabi

Quieter, cultural, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Grand Mosque, luxury island resorts

Ras Al Khaimah

Mountains, the world's longest zipline, quieter beach resorts north of Dubai

Sharjah

UAE's cultural capital — museums, heritage souks, no alcohol, refreshingly authentic

Stories · updated as we publish

Latest from United Arab Emirates

All 4 stories
Recommended in our stories

Places in United Arab Emirates our authors recommend

Market · Dubai
Time Out Market
Souk Al Bahar (near the Apple Store entrance), Downtown Dubai, Dubai Mall, Gastronomy with Views of the Burj Khalifa

This is a large indoor food hall located within Souk Al Bahar, bringing together around 17 restaurant concepts, several bars, and a shared terrace overlookin…

Open in Google Maps ↗
In ’s story · How Locals Do Dubai: Restaurants, a Russian Banya, and Sunrise Views
Hotel · Dubai
Armani Hotel Dubai
Burj Khalifa, 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Blvd, A Luxury Hotel Inside the Burj Khalifa

Armani Hotel Dubai occupies 11 floors of the iconic Burj Khalifa, with interiors personally designed by Giorgio Armani himself.

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In ’s story · The 10 Best Hotels in Dubai for 2026
Place · Dubai
The View at The Palm
The Palm Tower, Nakheel Mall, Dubai, see Dubai from above

This is an open observation deck on the 52nd floor of Dubai's Palm Tower, offering panoramic views of the skyscrapers, the Palm Jumeirah archipelago, and the…

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In ’s story · How to Spend Your Time in Dubai: Top Places to See & Unique Adventures
Museum · Dubai
Jameel Art Centre
Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai, a contemporary museum and cultural center

Dubai's main cultural center, located on the Jaddaf Waterfront.

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In ’s story · Top Art Cafes & Design Places in Dubai to Visit — Best Local’s Guide
Restaurant · Dubai
Uzb Avenue
Ground Floor, Oasis Building, Hadaeq Mohammad Bin Rashid, Al Barsha 1, Dubai, Grandmother-Style Plov in the Heart of Dubai

A cozy restaurant with the atmosphere of rural Tashkent — genuinely warm and soulful.

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In ’s story · How Locals Do Dubai: Restaurants, a Russian Banya, and Sunrise Views
Place · Dubai
Alserkal Avenue
17th Street, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, visit an art district in former warehouses

How to get there: by taxi or car to Al Quoz, landmark — 17th St / First Al Kh

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In ’s story · How to Spend Your Time in Dubai: Top Places to See & Unique Adventures
Restaurant · Dubai
Bakerist
Ground Floor, Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Hills, Dubai

A European-style bakery and café located inside Dubai Hills Mall, specializing in freshly baked, handmade croissants and excellent coffee.

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In ’s story · How Locals Do Dubai: Restaurants, a Russian Banya, and Sunrise Views
Don’t miss

Don’t miss in United Arab Emirates

Must visit · Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

The Middle East's most extraordinary contemporary religious building — completed 2007, 82 white-marble domes, the world's largest hand-knotted carpet, seven Swarovski chandeliers, capacity for 41,000 worshippers. Free entry. Cover up appropriately.

Open Sat-Thu 9am-10pm (closed Friday mornings for prayer). 1.5 hours from Dubai by car. Sunset visit is the moment.

Mountain canyon & dam

Hatta mountain enclave

Dubai's mountain exclave 90 minutes east — the turquoise Hatta Dam framed by Hajar Mountain peaks. Kayak on the dam, hike the Hatta Wadi Hub trails.

Best November-March. Free entry, kayak rentals 60 AED.

Experiences

Experiences in United Arab Emirates locals love

  • Sunset desert safari into the Empty Quarter with overnight Bedouin-style camp
  • Brunch at one of Dubai's top hotel restaurants (a UAE institution, not a tourist trap)
  • Louvre Abu Dhabi on the Saadiyat Island museum quarter— architecture worth the trip alone
  • Old Dubai dhow ride through Deira Creek into the gold and spice souks
  • Helicopter flight over the Palm and Burj Khalifa for the city you've only seen in photos
Insider tips

Insider tips for United Arab Emirates

  • Stay in Old Dubai (Deira, Bur Dubai) instead of the Marina — it's where you actually feel the place
  • Friday brunch is the social ritual locals plan their weekends around — book a week ahead
  • Hatta in the Hajar Mountains — 90 minutes from Dubai, lakes and hiking, no skyscrapers
  • Drink prices at hotel bars are punishing; happy hours (4-8pm) save 50%
  • Visit November–March only; May–September is genuinely dangerous heat outdoors
Our picks

United Arab Emirates’s best restaurants, hotels and museums

Checked against Michelin, the venue or Google.