United Arab Emirates

[Prawn_86]

The United Arab Emirates is a Middle Eastern federation of seven states situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The seven states, termed emirates, are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

The UAE, rich in oil and natural gas, has become highly prosperous after gaining foreign direct investment funding in the 1970s. The country has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent, ranking 39th globally, and having the 5th highest GDP per capita in the world according to the CIA.

Before 1971, the UAE were known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a nineteenth-century truce between Britain and several Arab Sheikhs. The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference to the area's emirates in the 18th to early 20th century

[nhowelson]

travelling in dubai is just a part of the country, dubai belong to UAE. What more interesting here is that dubai is more popular the the other emirates even with its capital which is Abu Dhabi. If you want a peaceful getaway, the neighboring emirates is a good option for you. Ras Al Khaima and Um Al quain are having some peaceful hotels facing the beach front. If you want to see a green city if UAE, Al ain is the place to visit.

UAE will start operating its first railway station which is called Dubai Metro. This will give an easy access to tourist spots in the UAE and the metro station itself are expected to be a tourist attraction.

If you are having trouble riding train. One Bus company which provide a tour for UAE called "The Big Bus" is a good option.

[Prawn_86]

Hi NH,

You seem to know quite a bit about the UAE. Are you from there? Or if not how long have you spent there?

[nhowelson]

i am stationed in UAE but not a local national, I have been here for almost a year now and I started to love the place. Dubai City is my favorite place cause there's a lot of westerner and party never stop. :)

[EverNothing]

I've heard "The Dubai Desert Rock Festival" is pretty impressive.

Still, from what I have know of the place in general, it sounds like Saudi Arabia minus some fanaticism.

[nhowelson]

I've heard "The Dubai Desert Rock Festival" is pretty impressive.

Still, from what I have know of the place in general, it sounds like Saudi Arabia minus some fanaticism.
or maybe we can say that Dubai (not the entire UAE) is the modern and liberated Saudia Arabia

The last Dubai Desert Rock Festival is awesome, amazing rock bands visited and played. Can help but head bang on their music..

Rock on!

[chrissylewis03]

Hey Guys,

I know that is some parts of the middle east woman aren't allowed to walk around by themselves and that there is no drinking. Does anyone know if they have the same rules in Dubai and even Abu Dhabi??

Cheers.

[nhowelson]

Hey Guys,

I know that is some parts of the middle east woman aren't allowed to walk around by themselves and that there is no drinking. Does anyone know if they have the same rules in Dubai and even Abu Dhabi??

Cheers.

dubai is an open city and multi-culture, ladies can walk, drive and work alone. Drinking is not allowed in public areas but there are some establishment where you can hangout and drink even with the opposite gender. Private drinking at home is not forbidden as well as long as you have a license to do so and this license can be applied from the goverment.

on the other hand, abu dhabi is not an open city but drinking is allowed and you can find several (not as abundant as dubai) establishment selling alcohols. Ladies can walk, drive and work alone as well.

the other emirates such as sharjah especially is more strict than the others. They even call sharjah as the little saudi, where a lot of rules regarding ladies and drinking are prohibited. Walking with a guy that is not related to you are not allowed as well and if caught you and your girlfriend/boyfriend will be in jail for sometimes and followed by deportion.

[chrissylewis03]

dubai is an open city and multi-culture, ladies can walk, drive and work alone. Drinking is not allowed in public areas but there are some establishment where you can hangout and drink even with the opposite gender. Private drinking at home is not forbidden as well as long as you have a license to do so and this license can be applied from the goverment.

on the other hand, abu dhabi is not an open city but drinking is allowed and you can find several (not as abundant as dubai) establishment selling alcohols. Ladies can walk, drive and work alone as well.

the other emirates such as sharjah especially is more strict than the others. They even call sharjah as the little saudi, where a lot of rules regarding ladies and drinking are prohibited. Walking with a guy that is not related to you are not allowed as well and if caught you and your girlfriend/boyfriend will be in jail for sometimes and followed by deportion.

Wow, that's hard to come to terms with after living in Australia for my whole life and being able to do whatever i please! I'm happy to hear that Abu Dahbi and Dubai are quite easy for woman to get around because they are great stop over destinations!

As far as the other places go such as Sharjah, let me get this straight, you're not allowed to walk around with your boyfriend alone but a family member or your husband, that's ok?

Thanks for the info!!!

cheers

[nhowelson]

Wow, that's hard to come to terms with after living in Australia for my whole life and being able to do whatever i please! I'm happy to hear that Abu Dahbi and Dubai are quite easy for woman to get around because they are great stop over destinations!

As far as the other places go such as Sharjah, let me get this straight, you're not allowed to walk around with your boyfriend alone but a family member or your husband, that's ok?

Thanks for the info!!!

cheers
yes, correct. Some people walk with their boyfriend and girlfriend with distance, but if the "mulla" (religious person/priest) will find you suspicious you will br caught, this rule is very strict for local national and muslim. for foreign national it is case to case basis, white people are very rarely caugth espcially the brits, but whenever they will be caugth expect it to be publish in the news paper and will be the talk of the town. Like the famous "s*x on the beach dubai" couple and the "kissing couple on taxi dubai". try to google the phrase and you'll see what im talking about.

[Unluckee]

Dubai is more liberal because it's built as the tourism capital of the middle east. I went there for a week, and was quite unhappy about it. It's like disneyland - everything is manufactured and fake, from the smiles to the beaches. They've thrown out culture in exchange for a simulated western country atmosphere within the middle east. Everything is also insanely expensive, and they try to keep you out of the common parts - the parts where the middle-class and poor frequent. Anytime you see a construction area, you'll find the wage slaves who are basically slaves for Dubaii coming from the Philipines, India, Pakistan etc and are trapped there.

If you stand too long watching the construction sites you'll be ushered off by a security guard because they don't want you to see how badly the construction workers are being treated (also the heat they're working under is nuts). I met one worker by sheer chance and the guy was basically a prisoner here, he came with whole bunch of promises and basically when he arrived they took away his passport and forced him to work in some construction mine. This guy has a university degree in engineering, and they strip them of all their money and items, and in order to even get back to their home they'll end up having to work for at least 25-30+ years just to earn the plane ticket cost to go back home (with nothing to show for it too).