Skyscrapers, desert and Arabic coffee
Dubai's soaring towers and old souks, Abu Dhabi's white marble mosque and museums, the oases of Al Ain and golden dunes. A guide to travelling the United Arab Emirates with Arabic coffee and dates.
November 14, 2026 · 2 min read
The United Arab Emirates is known for skyscrapers that rose from the desert in a few decades; but the country's real charm is how this new face lives alongside old traditions. One day you are in the tallest building in the world, the next in an oasis or among the dunes.
Dubai: towers and old souks
Opened in 2010, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 828 metres. From its observation decks you see the city, the desert and the sea at once.
Dubai's old face is along Dubai Creek: crossing the creek on the wooden boats called abras, wandering the spice and gold souks and walking through the Al Fahidi historic neighbourhood with its wind-tower houses tell the city's past.
Abu Dhabi: the mosque and museums
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the capital, Abu Dhabi, with its white marble, domes and courtyard, is one of the most striking buildings in the country. Louvre Abu Dhabi, opened in 2017, stands out with its giant dome that seems to float above the sea.
Al Ain and the desert
The oases of Al Ain on the border with Oman, with their ancient falaj irrigation channels and archaeological sites, became the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 as the Cultural Sites of Al Ain.
Outside the cities the golden dunes begin. Watching the sunset in the desert and sitting under the stars at night are among the most unforgettable experiences in the Emirates.
The table: Arabic coffee, dates and the majlis
Arabic coffee brewed with cardamom is a symbol of hospitality and is served with dates. The tradition of Arabic coffee and the majlis, the space where guests are received, were added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2015.
Spiced rice and meat dishes stand out in Emirati cuisine; in the mornings, thin crêpe-like regag bread is made fresh in the street. Falconry is another deep-rooted tradition of the region and is on the UNESCO list too.
Good to know
- The most comfortable season to visit is November to March; summer is very hot.
- When visiting mosques, clothing that covers the shoulders and knees is expected.
- Dubai to Abu Dhabi is about an hour and a half by road.
