The United Arab Emirates on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula is a bit of an anathema in the Middle East. This union of seven sovereign sheikhdoms was formed when the British withdrew from the Gulf in 1971, and today it is a modern, trend-setting conglomeration of high-rise cities with state-of-the-art tourist infrastructure, magnificent beaches and a paradise of duty free shopping. Unlike other Arab states the UAE actually courts and encourages tourists, constantly adding and upgrading events and attractions to complement its renown as the shopping capital of the world.

The sun always shines on the UAE and its gleaming cities, the most popular of which is cosmopolitan, wealthy Dubai, which is characterised by a ten-mile long (16km) deep creek that forms a natural harbour. In Dubai resides the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone, which makes the city a must for shop-a-holics. A major attraction is the annual Dubai Shopping Festival.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and one of the most modern cities in the world. Visitors revel in large gardens and parks, green boulevards, sophisticated high-rise buildings, modern communication services and transport, international luxury hotels, rich shopping malls and cultural centres. The city's airport ranks as one of the finest in the world.

Just in case travellers forget they are actually in Arabia, the UAE also offers a host of experiences and attractions that utilise its historic Bedouin heritage, including camel treks, henna tattoos, desert stargazing, 4x4 trips through sand dunes and cruises aboard a dhow. Hundreds of tour companies offer a variety of excursions and adventure packages to suit all tastes and persuasions.

Ferrari World

Address: Yas Island – 30 minutes' drive from Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi

Admission: Based on height: AED 225 for those over 1.5 metres tall, AED 165 for those under 1.5 metres. Children under 1 metre are free. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 12pm - 10pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 12pm – 12am. Closed on Mondays.

Al Hosn Palace (White Fort)

Address: Khalid bin Walid St Abu Dhabi

Admission: Free Open daily 7.30am to 1.30pm, Thursdays from 7.30am to 12.00pm. Closed on Fridays

Dubai Creek

Address: Dubai

Bastakiya

Address: Bur Dubai Dubai

Souks

Address: Both sides of the Creek, in Deira and Bur Dubai Dubai

Admission: Free Daily 7am to 12pm and 5pm to 7pm; Fridays 5pm to 7pm

Grand Mosque

Address: Al Mussalla Road Dubai

Wild Wadi

Address: Jumeirah Beach Road, between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai

Admission: Dhs 195 (age 13+); Dhs 165 (children 4-12). For individuals staying either at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel or Burj Al Arab, access to the Wild Wadi Water Park is free Daily from 11am. In January and February it closes at 6pm; from March to May at 7pm; from June to August at 9pm; and from September to December at 5pm

Telephone: (0)4 348 4444

Heritage Village

Address: The Breakwater Abu Dhabi

Admission: Free 8.30am to 5pm

Petroleum Exhibition

Address: The Corniche, near the fire station Abu Dhabi

Admission: Free Daily 7am to 2pm. Closed Thursdays and Fridays

Telephone: 626 9715

Al Ayn

Address: Abu Dhabi

Liwa Oasis

Address: Abu Dhabi

Jumeirah Mosque

Address: Al Jumeirah Road Dubai

Admission: Tour fee: Dhs10 Tours are on Thursday at 10am; tours are also available on Sundays at 10am in summer

Telephone: (0)4 344 7755

Dubai Museum

Address: Al Faheidi Fort Dubai

Admission: Dhs7 Saturday to Thursday 8.30am to 8.30pm, Friday 2.30pm to 8.30pm

Telephone: (0)4 353 1862

Ski Dubai

Address: Sheikh Zayed Rd, Mall of the Emirates Dubai

Admission: Snow Park: Dhs100. Ski slope: Dhs180 (adults), Dhs150 (children) for two hours (extensions possible), Ski slope day pass: Dhs300 (adults), Dhs240 (children) Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 11pm, until 12pm from Thursday to Saturday

Telephone: (0)4 409 4000

Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum Museum

Address: Al-Shindagha Rd Dubai

Admission: Dhs2 Saturday to Thursday 8am to 8.30pm, Friday 3.30pm to 8.30pm

Telephone: (0)4 393 7139

Desert safari

Address: Dubai

Camel Racing

Address: Nad Al Sheba Race Course, Dubai Dubai

Admission: Free Thursday and Friday mornings. Call Nad Al Sheba for exact times.

Jumeirah Beach Park

Address: Opposite Chilli's Restaurant on the Beach Road, Jumeirah Dubai

Admission: 2 AED per person or 20 AED per vehicle 8am - 10.30pm daily. Thursday and Friday till 11pm. Saturday for children and ladies only

Telephone: +971 4 3492555

Bateaux Dubai Dinner Cruise

Address: Dubai Creek (opposite the British Embassy) Bur Dubai Dubai

Admission: From 495 AED per person for 4-course meal, welcome beverage and cruise. Boarding begins at 7:45pm. Departure from dock 8:30pm

Telephone: +971 4 399 4994

Dubai Mall

Address: Financial Centre Road (Interchange 1), Dubai Dubai

Admission: Saturday - Friday 10am to Midnight

Telephone: (4) 437 3200

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo

Address: Dubai Mall, Financial Centre Road (Interchange 1), Dubai Dubai

Admission: Aquarium Tunnel: Child AED20 Adult AED25 Aquarium Tunnel & Underwater Zoo AED50

Telephone: (0)4 448 5200

Al Nasr Leisureland

Address: Off Umm Hurair Road Dubai

Admission: Dhs10 (adults); Dhs5 (children) Open daily from 9am – 10pm

Telephone: 04 337 1234

Children's City

Address: Dubai Creek Park Dubai

Admission: Dhs15 (adults); Dhs10 (children) Open Monday to Friday from 9am - 8.30pm. Closes 3pm Fridays

Telephone: 04 334 0808

Wonderland

Address: Dubai Creek Park Dubai

Admission: Dhs40 (adults); Dhs25 (children). Concessions available Open daily from 10am - 7pm; Theme Park from 4pm – 10pm. Closed Sundays

Telephone: 04 324 1222

Dubai Dolphinarium

Address: Al Ain Fun-City and Dreamland Aquapark Dubai

Admission: Dhs100 (adult); Dhs50 (children); Concessions available Dolphin and seal shows run from Monday to Saturday from 11am – 8pm. Swimming with dolphins can be arranged daily from 1pm – 7pm

Telephone: 04 336 9773

Creekside Park

Address: Dubai

Admission: Dhs5 (Wednesday: women and children only) Open daily from 8am – 10pm

Telephone: 04 369 082

Marina Mall Fun City

Address: Marina Mall, Ras Al Akhdar Abu Dhabi

Admission: Rides from Dhs4-12

Bowling, Paintball and Table Tennis

Address: Al Maqtaa, near the Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

Admission: Daily, 10am to 10pm

Hili Fun City

Address: Al Ain Abu Dhabi

Admission: Dhs 40; free for children under 35 inches (0.89m) Fridays, Saturdays 10am - 10pm, weekdays 4pm - 10pm. Closed Sundays. Wednesdays are female admission only.

Golf

Desert Safaris

Cruising in Dubai

Dubai Honeymoon and Wedding

The Lemongrass

Address: Oud Metha, Nr Lamcy Plaza Dubai

Food Type: Thai

Voted Best Thai Restaurant by Time Out Dubai, The Lemongrass in Oud Metha serves up traditional Thai food in a relaxed, modern setting. Decor is subtle and calming and seems designed to keep the chi flowing while visitors savour delicious Thai fare. Seafood features heavily on the menu and the grilled Red Snapper in red curry sauce is an alternative to the traditional Thai Green Curry. Also worth sampling is the interesting take on the Pad Thai Noodles. The Lemongrass is a 'dry' venue; however try the freshly squeezed juices and smoothies instead. The peppermint smoothie is popular among return visitors. The Lemongrass offers affordable, appetizing, authentic Asian food. Visitors arriving by taxi, should direct the driver to Lamcy Plaza.

Beach Rotana's Brunch City

Address: Abu Dhabi

Food Type: Brunch

Bam Bu!

Address: Abu Dhabi

Food Type: Chinese

Verre

Address: Hilton Dubai Creek Dubai

Food Type: International

Casa Mia

Address: Le Méridien Hotel Dubai

Food Type: Italian

Café Chic

Address: Le Meridien Hotel Dubai

Food Type: French

The Noodle House

Address: Emirates Towers Hotel Dubai

Food Type: Asian

Al Mahara

Address: Burj Al Arab Dubai

Food Type: Fish

Al Dawaar

Address: Hyatt Regency Dubai

Food Type: International

JW's Steakhouse

Address: JW Marriott Dubai Dubai

Food Type: American

The Meat Co.

Address: Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Shop 148, Jumeirah Beach Road Dubai

Food Type: International

Al Muntaha at The Burj Al Arab

Address: Burj Al Arab, Beach Road, Dubai Dubai

Food Type: Contemporary European Buffet

Spectrum on One

Address: 1st Floor, Fairmont Dubai Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Dubai

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

The Aquarium at Dubai Golf and Yacht Club

Address: Dubai Golf and Yacht Club Dubai

Food Type: Seafood

The Aquarium is one of five restaurants situated at the exclusive Dubai Golf & Yacht Club. Located at the end of an impressive drive way, lined with immaculate gardens and enviable creek-side villas guests arrive at the water's edge to superb views of the creek and the arguably the best seafood in town. The Aquarium is aptly named; featuring ceiling to floor windows, an aqua-blue interior and an almost 360 degree panorama, the experience is rather like dining in a giant fishbowl. A large aquarium in the centre of the dining area displays a range of exotic looking fish, however it's the one's on the menu that keep reeling in diners time and again.

QD's

Address: Dubai Creek Golf Course, Deira, Dubai Dubai

Food Type: Local

For shisha and cocktails QD's (Quarterdeck's) at Dubai Golf & Yacht Club is place to be seen. This super chilled out, funky venue is hugely popular, particularly with young Emiratis who flock here on Friday and Saturday night to enjoy the vibe. Guests can choose to sit on the raised deck by the waters edge or, to occupy their own personal shisha tent, complete with couches and beanbags, and order their favourite flavour ‘hubbly bubbly' from the menu. Flavours include apple, grape, strawberry and mint. Shisha waiters are constantly on hand with more hot coals to keep the pipes bubbling and the air filled with the sweet smoky smell that has become synonymous with Dubai at night. Guests can also buy shisha pipes and tobaccos to take home as a memento

Trader Vic's

Address: Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road Dubai

Food Type: Creole

Carters @ Wafi Mall

Address: Wafi Mall Dubai

Food Type: Gastropubs

Ginseng

Address: Wafi City Mall Dubai

Food Type: Asian

Shahista

Address: Garhoud area, opposite Deira City Centre Abu Dhabi

Food Type: Asian

Al Mina

Address: Al Dhafra, Dhow Harbor Abu Dhabi

Food Type: Local

Automatic and Lebanese Flower

Address: Abu Dhabi

Food Type: Middle Eastern