United Arab Emirates

I spent 17 days in United Arab Emirates and based myself mainly in Dubai. The city itself exceeded expectations — the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was genuinely jaw-dropping and I ended up visiting twice. Food was a highlight throughout; I must have eaten luqaimat every other day and have no regrets ab…

Three weeks is long enough to get past the tourist surface in United Arab Emirates. The first week I was in Sharjah and the big sites like Dubai Frame. The second and third I went further and slower. The food evolution was interesting — Camelicious ice cream everywhere but prepared so differently by…

Visited United Arab Emirates in shoulder season deliberately and the decision paid off completely. Dubai Frame without peak crowds is a totally different experience. Sharjah felt lived-in rather than touristy. Found a small place doing the best shawarma I've ever tasted — something that would have b…

Did 13 days solo in United Arab Emirates and found it extremely manageable as a solo traveller. The transport network around Dubai is decent and getting to Palm Jumeirah independently was straightforward. Met fellow travellers easily and locals were generally happy to chat. amazing food from every …

I'll be honest — I went to United Arab Emirates primarily to see Palm Jumeirah, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Dubai has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one…

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about United Arab Emirates isn't Burj Khalifa or even the extraordinary Camelicious ice cream — it's the people. In Sharjah and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine. One local fami…

Did United Arab Emirates on a shoestring for 13 days and it was absolutely manageable. Based in cheap guesthouses near Al Ain centre and ate mostly at local spots — Camelicious ice cream from street stalls cost almost nothing and was better than anything in a tourist restaurant. Palm Jumeirah has a…

Louvre Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates is extraordinary — the scale and history hit you immediately. But the experience around it has been thoroughly commercialised. Getting there, navigating the crowds, and dealing with persistent sellers around Fujairah centre made it more stressful than it shou…

I thought I was going to United Arab Emirates for beaches, food, and Louvre Abu Dhabi. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Dubai — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does. very safe was the moment tha…

I came to United Arab Emirates specifically for photography and the country delivered material at every turn. Palm Jumeirah at dawn was everything I'd hoped. Sharjah's streets at dusk are an endless source of light and texture. The people, once comfortable with a camera, are extraordinary subjects. …