Introduction
An ever-popular destination during the UK's winter and spring months, the United Arab Emirates is comprised of seven sovereign sheikhdoms – or emirates – of which Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the best known and most visited. City breaks and winter-sun holidays are a popular choice – with its sparkling shopping malls, gold souks, fine-dining restaurants, desert golf courses, five-star beach hotels and architectural wonders such as the iconic sail-shaped Burj al-Arab and the Jumeirah Palm. But there's also more to the region than the glitz of its beachfront accommodation, open desert, breathtaking mountains and sweeping beaches adding a touch of adventure to luxury.
Life in the other five emirates – Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Ras Al-Khaimah – moves at a far slower pace. But even in Dubai and Abu Dhabi it doesn't take long to get away from the bustle of modern city life to experience the Arabian desert.
Tailor made holidays in the UAE are a chance to see at first hand a mix of traditional Bedouin lifestyle and customs, juxtaposed with a very Western style of rampant consumerism. What's more, a number of the world's leading airlines are based in the Gulf region, making it is an extremely accessible and affordable holiday option.
