Capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is a well-ordered, industrious city with a pretty waterside location. First inhabited by the nomadic Bani Yas tribe in 1760, the settlement remained a small fishing village until oil was discovered. The revenues transformed Abu Dhabi into the modern city of today – a bustling centre of government and business. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the major sightseeing attraction and wows all who visit. But the city also makes a good base for excursions to the desert landscapes of Liwa Oasis and the oasis city of Al Ain

Ajman is the smallest of the seven emirates and is centrally located on the western coast of the United Arab Emirates. The Emirate lie on the Gulf coast where its beach extends for 16 Km. whereas the total area of Ajman is 259 square Km. Its population estimate is about 230 thousand as the year of 2004.

Fujairah is a modern, industrious city that is the main settlement of the east coast. The emirate is separated from the rest of the United Arab Emirates by the jagged line of the Hajar Mountains. Although the city itself is a grid pattern of high-rise office blocks, much pride and fine restoration work has been put into the few historic monuments – the Al-Bidyah Mosque and Fujairah Fort being two excellent sightseeing highlights of a visit here.

Ras Al-Khaimah is many Dubai-locals’ top escape from the city. The United Arab Emirates’ most northern region, Ras Al-Khaimah is backed by the mighty Hajar Mountains, which roll down to the shore dramatically making this a great base for exploring and sightseeing in a rugged area. Historically, this region is very important with archaeological excavations here revealing that this area has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC. The Ras Al-Khaimah National Museum does an excellent job of explaining this long-reaching history.

The tiny Emirates of Umm Al-Quwain don’t have quite the same number of sightseeing options as other parts of the United Arab Emirates, but don’t write them off your itinerary hit list. There are some interesting activities here for both those who want a relaxing sun-filled tourist holiday and the more cultural and historical visitor.The shoreline is some of the best in the country with uncrowned strips of white sand beach.