THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: MORE THAN JUST A LAYOVER
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With airlines like Emirates and Etihad ranking consistently high, the United Arab Emirates is one of the planet’s most frequented nations. Often though, travelers tend to give the UAE short shift, treating it as an amuse bouche ahead of heftier servings to come. Here are five good reasons why the country deserves more prolonged delectation.
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DUBAI CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
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To those who like a hefty sprinkling of glam with their sun, sea and sand, Dubai’s reputation as a place where the ‘good life’ can be taken to its most fantastical apogee is a large part of its appeal. By day the endless beaches, the azure waters of the Persian Gulf, and the mind-boggling shopping options provide diversion while big name restaurants and glitzy bars become the focal point when the sun slips into the horizon. Indeed, Dubai’s already incredible dining scene has evolved thanks to the entrance of the MICHELIN Guide in 2022. Al Muntaha at the iconic Burj Al Arab remains a Remote Lands favorite, while the destination now has a duo of two MICHELIN-star venues — Il Ristorante – Niko Romito, and STAY by Yannick Alleno at the One & Only The Palm Hotel. Other notable developments include the reopening of At.Mosphere on floor 122 of the Burj Khalifa and the unveiling of the ultra-luxe Atlantis The Royal Dubai on The Palm.
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
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The UAE’s main financial powerhouse and seat of government is sometimes overshadowed by Dubai in the minds of visitors. But there’s a lot to love about the biggest of the seven emirates that comprise the federation. In Abu Dhabi city, the emirate’s economic virility is to the fore at Saadiyat Island, home to a cultural zone that encompasses the likes of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums. Abu Dhabi’s leisure options have improved vastly in recent times. The welcoming shallows of the Gulf have always offered plentiful opportunity for sailing, windsurfing and other water-borne activities. There are those who would contend that the national sport of the UAE is shopping and malls such as Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall offer boutique and more mainstream shops in a pristine air-conditioned environment.
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SHARJAH’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
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Sharjah, long a beacon of culture in the Arab world, has established itself as one of the most intriguing destinations in the Middle East. In fact, Sharjah is winning kudos as an understated, intellectual alternative to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, its neighbor and near-neighbor respectively. Home to everything from hip contemporary galleries like Maraya Art Centre to celebrations of Islamic traditions at the Museum of Islamic Civilisations to falconry in the desert, Sharjah has a well-founded claim to have the most rounded cultural in the UAE. Some of its most alluring gems can be found amidst its souks, which are ideal places for both habitual browsers and for customers who are more inclined to put their hands in their pockets. These hubs of Arabian commerce have been given a new lease of life through the Heart of Sharjah project, which has restored life to a series of traditional marketplaces such as Souk Al Shanasiya, Souk Al Arsah and Souk Saqr. It’s also home to The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah, the emirate’s top luxury resort.
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Off-roading among sand dunes
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There’s a lot more to the UAE than its reputation as a supercharged destination for a sun, sea, and sand stopover would suggest. Indeed, you don’t have to venture far from the coastline to immerse in the mysteries and Bedouin traditions of the Arabian Desert. Near Dubai, the award-winning Bab Al Shams is designed to resemble a fortified rural Arab village and offers traditional Arabic hospitality, luxurious accommodations, and stunning desert views. A similar atmosphere can be discovered at Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa. Each suite here features its own temperature-controlled private pool on the veranda, sublime furnishings and authentic Arabian and Bedouin ornaments.
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Edge of the World, Saudi Arabia
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The UAE is within easy striking distance of other spectacular destinations in the Middle East such as Oman and Saudi Arabia. Each country has its own unique landscapes, history, and customs, providing a richer and more authentic travel experience.
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AS FEATURED IN
The Wall Street Journal • Town & Country • Departures • Travel + Leisure • Forbes • Condé Nast Traveler • BusinessWeek • National Geographic Traveler • Palm Beach Post • Chicago Tribune • Financial Times • BBC • Fox Business News • The New York Times
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REMOTE LANDS, INC.
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REMOTE LANDS (THAILAND) CO., LTD
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Phone: +66.2651.5401
Email: [email protected]
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