Places to Visit in the UAE: A Guide to All Seven Emirates

The short answer: All seven emirates fit into day trips or weekends from Dubai: Sharjah and Ajman (25–45 minutes), Umm Al Quwain (about an hour), Abu Dhabi (1–1.5 hours), Al Ain (about 1.5 hours), Hatta (90 minutes to 2 hours), and Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Khorfakkan (1.5–2 hours). Liwa and Sir Bani Yas, in Abu Dhabi's far west, need an overnight stay. November to April is the comfortable season almost everywhere, and many forts, heritage villages and public beaches are free.

This guide is for UAE residents hosting visiting family, or anyone newer to the country working out where to go beyond Dubai. It covers what is worth the trip in each emirate, what is free, the best season, and a link to our fuller guide where we have one. For Dubai itself, see our Dubai city tour guide; for short breaks, see weekend getaways from Dubai.

The UAE at a glance

Drive times are off peak; allow more at weekends and in rush hour.

Dubai

Most trips start and end in Dubai, so we have not repeated it here. The paid headliners are the Burj Khalifa, a desert safari, Global Village in the cooler months and the Dubai Miracle Garden; the Dubai Fountain and the old creek are free. See our guides to the Dubai city tour, Burj Khalifa tickets, desert safari, Global Village, Miracle Garden, Dubai with kids and Dubai on a budget.

Hatta

Hatta, Dubai's mountain exclave in the Hajar range, is 90 minutes to 2 hours from Dubai depending on the route. Hatta Dam, a turquoise reservoir against the mountains, is the classic photo stop and the base for kayaks and pedal boats; swimming is banned. The free Hatta Heritage Village, with restored watchtowers and a mosque built in 1780, sits nearby. When we checked on 13 October, Hatta Wadi Hub's zip lines, archery and axe throwing were closed for the season, while the Go Gravity rides and the free trails were open, so confirm what is running first. Hatta Resorts has lodges, trailers and a campsite for an overnight stay. Full detail: our Hatta guide.

Abu Dhabi

The capital is 1–1.5 hours from Dubai on the E11. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque now charges AED 10 for tourists and AED 5 for Emirates ID holders, introduced in September 2026, with worshippers, over-60s and young children still free. Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace, charges from AED 65. On Saadiyat Island, Louvre Abu Dhabi (AED 70, under-18s free) sits near the Zayed National Museum, opened in December 2025, the Natural History Museum and teamLab Phenomena (AED 165). The Yas Island parks, Ferrari World, Warner Bros World, Yas Waterworld and SeaWorld, list single-day tickets online from AED 295 to AED 375. The Corniche, the Al Wathba Salt Lake and the Fossil Dunes are free. Our Abu Dhabi city tour with the Grand Mosque is from AED 151.59. Full detail: our Abu Dhabi guide.

Al Ain

Al Ain, the garden city on the Oman border, is about 1.5 hours from Dubai and a similar drive from Abu Dhabi. Its Cultural Sites, including the free Al Ain Oasis with its working falaj channels, became the UAE's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011; Sharjah's Faya Palaeolandscape followed in 2025 and Fujairah's Wadi Wurayah in July 2026. The road up Jebel Hafeet is free to drive, with the Green Mubazzarah hot springs at its foot. Al Ain Zoo is the big paid stop, and Al Jahili Fort and the Al Ain Palace Museum are free. Our Al Ain full-day private tour is from AED 1,257. Best November to March. Full detail: our Al Ain guide.

Sharjah

Sharjah, 25–45 minutes from Dubai, is the UAE's cultural capital and a dry emirate with a stricter dress code: shoulders and knees covered in public. Al Noor Island, with its butterfly house and sculpture garden, is the easiest first stop, and our Al Noor Island entry ticket is from AED 35. The Heart of Sharjah's restored old town and the Al Qasba canal are free to walk. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation leads a cluster of museums near the waterfront. Inland, Mleiha adds dune drives, fossil hunting and desert camps. Full detail: our Sharjah guide.

Khorfakkan and the east coast

Khorfakkan and Kalba are parts of Sharjah on the Gulf of Oman coast, with Fujairah around them; Dibba, further north, is split between Sharjah, Fujairah and Oman. Khorfakkan's free beach and corniche run for about 3 km, and the Amphitheatre, with its lit waterfall, and Al Rafisah Dam, with a lakeside walk, are free too, though the dam's kayaks and pedal boats are not. Shark Island, a short boat ride offshore, is the local snorkelling spot, and Kalba's mangroves cover the wildlife side. Dibba's harbour is where our Musandam dhow cruise departs, from AED 190. Full detail: our Khorfakkan guide.

Ajman

The smallest emirate, 30–40 minutes from Dubai. Ajman's corniche and beach are free and busiest in the evenings. The Ajman Museum, inside the old fort, covers local history; check the entry fee at the gate. Al Zorah, a protected mangrove area, offers kayaking, paddleboarding and birdwatching through local operators. Ajman also owns Masfout, a mountain village near Hatta, which suits a quiet drive with Hatta on the same day.

Umm Al Quwain

The quietest emirate, about 45–60 minutes from Dubai. The old fort and museum overlook the old town. Al Sinniyah Island, reached by boat, holds mangroves and bird colonies, and in 2023 archaeologists there reported the oldest known pearling town in the Gulf. Inland, the oasis at Falaj Al Mualla has a restored watchtower among its date palms. Book island and mangrove trips with a local operator, and check the fort's hours before you go.

Ras Al Khaimah and Jebel Jais

Ras Al Khaimah city is 1–1.5 hours from Dubai. Jebel Jais is the big draw: its summit reaches 1,934 metres just across the Omani border, and the UAE's own highest point, on its slopes, is about 1,892 metres. The Jais Flight zipline, billed as the world's longest, is listed from AED 325 on the official tourism site. On the coast, Al Marjan Island's beaches belong to its resorts, while Flamingo Beach in Mina Al Arab is free and public. Inland, Dhayah Fort and the abandoned pearling village of Al Jazirah Al Hamra are free, and the National Museum charges AED 5. Best November to March, when mountain nights turn cold. Full detail: our Ras Al Khaimah guide and Jebel Jais guide.

Fujairah

Fujairah city is 1.5–2 hours from Dubai. Al Bidya Mosque, widely accepted as the UAE's oldest standing mosque, is free, and Fujairah Fort, with its heritage village, stands on the edge of the city. Al Aqah Beach, further up the coast, is the main stretch for diving and snorkelling around Snoopy Island. Wadi Wurayah National Park, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2026, opens only for guided hikes booked through Fujairah Holidays, on Saturdays in a short October window, from AED 300. Masafi's Friday Market, on the road from Dubai, trades every day despite its name. Full detail: our Fujairah guide.

Liwa and the Empty Quarter

Liwa Oasis, on the edge of the Rub' al Khali, is about 3–3.5 hours from Dubai and 2–2.5 hours from Abu Dhabi city: date-palm villages backed by some of the tallest dunes in the world. Moreeb Dune rises about 300 metres at a steep angle, and hosts the Liwa International Festival over December and January. Most activities need a 4x4 or a booked tour, and an overnight stay at one of the desert resorts makes the drive worthwhile.

Sir Bani Yas

An island off Abu Dhabi's western coast, reached by boat from the Jebel Dhanna jetty, about 2.5 hours' drive west of Abu Dhabi city. Much of the island is the Arabian Wildlife Park, where oryx, gazelle and giraffe roam, seen on 4x4 drives, and it also holds the ruins of a 7th-century Christian monastery. Most visits are arranged with a stay at one of the island's resorts, so plan it as a weekend of its own.

Best beaches in the UAE

In Dubai, Kite Beach, JBR's The Beach and La Mer are free, with paid beach clubs alongside, and Al Mamzar Beach Park charges a small entry fee. Abu Dhabi's Corniche Beach has a free public section. Sharjah expects conservative dress in public, including at the beach, under a decency law in force since 2001. Ajman Beach, along the corniche, is free and lively in the evenings. Ras Al Khaimah's free Flamingo Beach sits beside protected mangroves, while most of Al Marjan Island's sand belongs to its resorts. On the east coast, Khorfakkan Beach and Al Aqah Beach are free and have the clearest water.

Mountains, wadis and the desert

The Hajar Mountains run from Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah through Sharjah's interior and into Oman, with Jebel Jais the highest point. Wadi Shawka, near the Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah border, is a free picnic spot whose pools fill after rain; stay out of every wadi when heavy rain is forecast, since they flood fast. For desert on a bigger scale than Dubai's own dunes, covered in our desert safari guide, Liwa's dunes and the Empty Quarter beyond them are higher, steeper and far more remote, best seen with a 4x4 and a guide.

Choosing by trip length

A single day from Dubai covers one area properly: Sharjah or Ajman for a half day, Abu Dhabi or Al Ain for a full one, Hatta or Khorfakkan for a mountain or beach break. A weekend adds a second emirate or an overnight stay, so you are not driving both ways in one day. Liwa and Sir Bani Yas need the most planning: allow a night at least, and book the Sir Bani Yas boat or resort in advance.

A 7-day UAE plan for visiting family

A plan for hosting relatives on their first visit, mixing Dubai with the rest of the country:

• Day 1: Arrival and Dubai. The Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, settling in after the flight.
• Day 2: Desert safari. An afternoon and evening in the dunes; see our desert safari guide.
• Day 3: Abu Dhabi. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the morning, then Qasr Al Watan or a Yas Island park.
• Day 4: Sharjah and Ajman. Al Noor Island and the Heart of Sharjah, then Ajman's corniche for the evening.
• Day 5: Hatta. The dam, a kayak and the Heritage Village.
• Day 6: Ras Al Khaimah and Jebel Jais. The mountain road and, for anyone up for it, the Jais Flight zipline, with a night on the coast.
• Day 7: Fujairah or Khorfakkan, then home. A morning at Al Bidya Mosque or on the beach, back in Dubai by evening.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need to see the UAE?

One emirate fits a day. Seeing most of the country, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, the east coast and one mountain stop, takes about a week, with Liwa and Sir Bani Yas needing extra nights.

What is the best time of year to visit the UAE?

November to April, when daytime temperatures are comfortable almost everywhere. May to September is hot and humid, especially on the coast, though Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet are a little cooler.

Which UAE attractions are free?

Al Ain Oasis, most forts and heritage villages, including Hatta's Heritage Village, Dhayah Fort and Al Jazirah Al Hamra, the Al Wathba Salt Lake, and public beaches such as Flamingo Beach, Ajman Beach and the Abu Dhabi and Khorfakkan corniches. The Grand Mosque now charges tourists AED 10.

How far is Abu Dhabi from Dubai?

About 140 km, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car on the E11. Yas Island, about 45 minutes from Dubai, is closer than the city centre.

What is the highest point in the UAE?

Jebel Jais, in Ras Al Khaimah. Its summit reaches 1,934 metres just across the Omani border; the UAE's own highest point, on the same mountain, is about 1,892 metres.

Can I visit all seven emirates in one trip?

Yes. Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah can be strung together on one drive north and east from Dubai over a long day or two, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain make a second trip south. Our 6 Emirates in a Day tour covers six of them in one long day with a driver.

Plan it with Holidayys

We book ready-made day tours and handle the visa side for visiting family. Our booking site carries the 6 Emirates in a Day private tour (from AED 1,406), the Abu Dhabi city tour with the Grand Mosque (from AED 151.59), the Al Ain full-day private tour (from AED 1,257) and the Musandam dhow cruise from Dibba (from AED 190). For a UAE visit visa, see our UAE visa services, and for a Dubai stay built around these trips, our Dubai packages. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 4 589 0001 or use our contact page.

Related guides

• Places to visit in Abu Dhabi
• Places to visit in Sharjah
• Places to visit in Al Ain
• Places to visit in Ras Al Khaimah
• Places to visit in Fujairah
• Weekend getaways from Dubai

Last checked 13 October 2026 against the official tourism sites for each emirate, the ticket pages of the Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, teamLab Phenomena and the Yas Island parks, The National and Gulf News on the mosque's new fee, UNESCO and Khaleej Times on Wadi Wurayah, and our own guides to each emirate. Hours and prices change most at Hatta Wadi Hub, Wadi Wurayah and the smaller emirates' museums: check before you travel.