We are figuring out where it is better to have a rest in the UAE at sea. What are the beaches in the resorts, what to do and what to see.
UAE resorts and beaches map
Beach Holidays in Dubai
Where is the best place to relax in the UAE if you want to combine a beach holiday with shopping and excursions? Dubai is a versatile city and is best suited, especially if you are new to Dubai. It is convenient to go on excursions to other emirates, and in the city itself there is something to see on your own - we visited the beaches, Deira and the Old City, the singing fountains and Dubai Mall, and the aquarium. You can live in Dubai on a variety of budgets, from modest to luxurious.
Shopping in Dubai is wonderful, there are a lot of shopping centers. In addition to the famous Dubai Mall (which can be viewed as a standalone attraction), visit the Dubai Marina Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Outlet Mall Dubai, and Deira markets.
Dubai Mall. The famous aquarium can be viewed free of charge, but only partially, from the outside.Interesting video! TV presenter and blogger Anton Ptushkin conducts a video tour of the rich life in Dubai:
For those who are interested in living by the sea, we advise you to settle in Jumeirah - this is where the great long beaches. In Jumeirah there is the Burj Al Arab Sail Hotel and the Atlantis Water Park Hotel. Another beach area in Dubai is Marina Beach, local Manhattan. Expensive yachts, glass skyscrapers, very beautiful.
When asked where to relax in the UAE with a child, the answer is the same - it is best in Dubai. There are good beaches, and the entrance to the water is smooth, and the infrastructure is well developed. There are water parks and amusement parks for children - Wild Wadi and Wonderland.
Beach holidays in Abu Dhabi
Some people think that in the UAE it is better to relax in the capital - Abu Dhabi. It resembles Dubai in many ways: the same ultra-modern city with skyscrapers, there are also good beaches and shopping centers, you can go on excursions.
If you just want to lie lazily on the beach, then Abu Dhabi has everything for this. The beaches are nice and suitable even for young children.
Clear water in Abu Dhabi (Photo © Michaela Loheit / flickr.com) What to do and what to see? Be sure to visit the sixth largest mosque in the world, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque. This marble shrine of 82 domes and 1,000 columns can accommodate over 40,000 worshipers. With your kids, go to Ferrari World, Al Mushrif Children 's Garden and Hili Fun City, and Waterworld - lots of fun and excitement are guaranteed!
Huge funnel on the Dawwama tornado slide at Yas Waterworld Beach vacation in Sharjah
Some tourists believe that in the UAE at sea it is better to relax in the emirate of Sharjah. This is the cultural center of the country and an ideal place for a measured family vacation. There is no noisy entertainment like in Dubai, but there is a lot of greenery and excellent beaches. It is also cheaper to live in Sharjah, and it takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to get to Dubai by bus or taxi! True, there can be traffic jams in the morning and in the evening, keep this in mind.
The beaches are clean and the entrance to the sea is smooth. The bottom is sandy and gently sloping, so you can relax in Sharjah even with a baby - however, like almost everywhere in the UAE.
Beach in Sharjah (Photo © sophiemachin / flickr.com) However, Sharjah has strict laws - you can only sunbathe in a swimsuit on hotel beaches, where entrance is paid, if you do not live in this hotel. Men are not allowed to go to public beaches on Mondays.
Alcohol is also prohibited, but you can drink in hotels. For some, this is, on the contrary, a plus.
What to see? This is the oldest emirate, so there are many museums here - archaeological, ethnographic, historical. For children - Al Majas Green Park, Desert Park, National Park, Adventureland themed, Oceanarium and Water Park.
Sharjah Desert Park (Photo © unsplash.com / @chinkinthearmour) Fujairah Beach Vacation
This is where it is better to relax in the UAE for families with children or lovers of privacy! In the emirate of Fujairah it is very, even too calm and quiet - mass tourism has not yet reached here and there is no noisy entertainment. But in the capital of the emirate and in the resorts near it, there are many good hotels, including all-inclusive ones.
Snoopy Island, Fujairah (Photo © nate2b / flickr.com) It is worth going to Fujairah only for the sake of a beach holiday, snorkeling and diving. The emirate has wide and clean sandy beaches - all owned by hotels. The best beaches are in the north, where it is better to snorkel and dive. Tourists prefer the beaches of Al Aqah Beach, Dibba Al Fujairah and Shark Island. The climate is milder, and you can relax at any time of the year, except for summer.
What to see? See the fort and old city, Fujairah Museum and Madhab Ethnographic Park, a mosque and
Heritage Village. Visit gardens, waterfalls and healing springs.
Al Aqah Beach in Fujairah (Photo © _ _steven.kemp_ _ / flickr.com) Beach Holidays in Ajman
Ajman is an alternative to beachfront Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Yes, there are no striking skyscrapers, grandiose mosques and amusement parks here. However, if you just want a quiet and relatively inexpensive vacation in the UAE by the sea, then this emirate is for you.
The beaches are clean with fine white sand. Private closed beaches are well cleaned, they have all the infrastructure. There are many hotels, cafes and restaurants.
Beach strip in Ajman (Photo © tutanh_blog / flickr.com) Another advantage is that the laws are not as strict as in Sharjah, plus you can buy alcohol at a bar, restaurant or store.
Things to do? The list of entertainment is meager: go to the historical museum and the old fort, admire the mosques and the shipyard, visit the camel race and mineral springs. If you get bored, go to Dubai or Sharjah - they are close by.
Camel on the beach in Ajman (Photo © Shelley M Lantz-Burrell / flickr.com) Beach Holidays in Ras Al Khaimah
In this unpopular with tourists, but very colorful emirate of the United Arab Emirates, you can have a good rest - there are the same long beaches as elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. And also - the beautiful canyon of the Hajar Mountains, sand dunes, desert villages, ancient valleys (wadis) with oases and archaeological excavations, mangroves and picturesque hills.
There are still no skyscrapers and luxurious malls, but there is a lot of nature and cultural and historical sights. The infrastructure is developed - hotels, shops, cafes, everything is enough. You can stay both in regular hotels on the first line and in non-standard accommodation - for example, living in a nature reserve or in a Bedouin tent in the middle of the desert. In general, if you are bored with other emirates and do not know where to go to the UAE to relax, come to Ras al-Khaimah - a very authentic emirate!
The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Hotel in Al Wadi Nature Reserve (Photo © booking.com / The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert) Beach holidays in Umm al-Qaiwain
Where else can you relax in the UAE in a variety of ways? In the emirate of Umm al-Khawain, there is not only a measured beach holiday. There is a lot of entertainment for almost all categories of tourists. The infrastructure is very developed, but the resort is quiet and peaceful.
What to do and what to see? For historical sights, see the excavations of Tel Abrak and Ad Dur, the old fort with a museum and watchtowers, a 19th century mosque and a market. If you are looking for an active tourist, go diving, sailing, windsurfing, horse riding or fishing. You can ride a catamaran, boat and water skiing.
Beach at Umm al-Quwain (Photo © niketa579 / flickr.com) When is the best time to relax in the UAE
The Emirates has a dry subtropical climate and almost never rains. Since May, the heat is unbearable and lasts until September. Despite the fact that prices for tours at this time are reduced, it is better not to travel to the UAE in summer - the air temperature can exceed + 50 ° C in the shade.
It is better to have a rest in the UAE in October and November, when the thermometer drops to + 30 ° C. Vacation prices are the highest during these months.
In December, January, February and March, the cost of vouchers decreases, as does the temperature - up to + 25 ° C. The water also cools a little, but for many this is not critical. In April, the heat gradually begins to return to the Emirates.
Dubai beaches overview
Introductory image source: © unsplash.com / @darceybeau.
Emirates is a country of the future. There are no exotic animals and no rich nature. Here a person falls into another dimension.
Population
The local Arabs are very different from the Arabs in Egypt. Nobody pesters or demands to buy something, men behave very self-possessed and proud, and women are completely covered in a burqa, but underneath most women wear suits from Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton.
Improvising
Language
We do not speak Arabic) but it is quite possible to communicate with them in English, which happened very rarely, because people keep very apart and there are not so many common themes among ordinary Russian people with rich sheikhs)
Food, groceries and how we ate
Food in Emirates not remarkable at all. The choice is limited, but the portions are very large. Mostly salads, spaghetti, pizza and stuff like that. There are very few cafes and restaurants, they are usually found only in large shopping centers. Prices are slightly lower than in Moscow, that is, acceptable for Russian tourists.
Since we only had breakfasts, we had to shop in supermarkets, so we ate sandwiches, chips, nuts and other unhealthy food. The juices are the best I've tried, not expensive and taste like freshly squeezed.
Where can I book a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online, paid with a card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name. Drove to the hotel in a comfortable car. We have already talked about their experience in this article.
It is really difficult to get alcohol in the Emirates, especially during Ramadan, but there are places where you can buy any alcohol even cheaper than in Duty-free. How to find - ask the taxi driver.
Attractions that we saw in Dubai:
Burj Khalifa
A huge skyscraper, the tallest building in the world. I liked to take the high-speed elevator to the 126th floor (it seems) in a minute. High, beautiful, interesting. Worth to visit!
Dubai fountain
The spectacle that was filmed and we are still reviewing. Conquered is the only word I can use to describe it.
Palm Jumeirah
We rode in a car on the island-palm tree and could not believe that you were on it.
Hotel "Atlantis"
There was a desire to get there by any means and we did it. The designer needs to be given credit, creatively and tastefully, you feel like a millionaire, as the situation is conducive to this. I definitely want to be in it again.
Dubai Marina
The variety of skyscrapers, expensive yachts, unimaginable buildings and clean streets will be remembered forever.
Outcome:
If you want to see something new, beyond the usual that people observe every day looking out of their windows, then worth visiting UAE at least once in a lifetime. ... The most important argument is that no one will remain indifferent. We, in the hottest time, were still satisfied. As for swimming, this is not the best place for us personally, because the Persian Gulf is muddy and not rich in the underwater world. Alcohol is also difficult in the Emirates, but there are loopholes. See the pack:. This country is for excursions, lovers of unusual culture and a new look at what this "space" world can be like.
Note:
Applies to girls! It is better not to take short shorts, tight skirts and sweaters with a neckline on your trip. Suitable clothing would be long skirts, cotton pants, and sleeved T-shirts. Believe me, even being in such an attire you will feel uneasy, tk. locals look at you with disapproving eyes.
The approaching vacation season has made the question of the best place to spend the long-awaited vacation days urgent. New "fashionable" players have appeared on the tourist destination market in recent years. Including . Moreover, today a visa to the United Arab Emirates can be obtained independently and free of charge.
The popularity of travel to Dubai has recently been bolstered by the prospect of getting permission to enter the UAE right at the airport. In 2019, the process of obtaining such a permit is simplified as much as possible. It is issued at the airport upon arrival of a Russian citizen for a period of 90 days.
The recipient will only need to present his passport. Its period must be at least six months from the end of the trip. It is also important to have at least one blank page in the passport for affixing a stamp. These simple conditions will remove the question of how to obtain a visa to the UAE for the duration of your vacation.
There is no cost to obtain such a permit, it is free.
Alternative options for obtaining a visa
To obtain a long-term visa to the UAE for a period of more than 90 days, there is no need to first fly to this state. Exists today.
Sample e-visa to the UAE
Such permission can be obtained by contacting the visa center and submitting a request for a visa to the UAE on your own on the website.
Also, a visa must be issued to citizens of those countries with which the UAE does not have a visa-free regime.
Types of visas
After applying for a visa to the UAE, you can independently visit this state only as a tourist. In all other cases, a slightly more complicated procedure will be required. At the moment, there are several options for such a permit to stay on the territory of the United Arab Emirates.
Starting the registration process, you must initially understand the purpose of obtaining and represent the direction of your activities in this country.
Today there is a whole list of visas:
- tourist;
- working;
- cruise;
- resident;
- guest room;
- business visa.
Registration procedure
Today, visa processing in the UAE is carried out:
- Through relatives living in the territory of this state.
- Through in Moscow:
- Address: Maroseyka street, 7/8, office 206;
- Working hours: every day from 9:00 to 20:00;
- Phone: +7 495 973-65-58; +7 499 714-54-74.
- With the help of a travel agency.
Depending on the option chosen, the total cost of the paperwork may differ. In this case, it will be possible to make an almost independent visa application for a long time. Including due to the simple and understandable design of all documentation.
Do I need to declare the inviting party
Any visa to the UAE, other than the one issued at the airport upon arrival, requires the presentation of a sponsor or guardian of the stay.
This role can be played by:
- The airline upon arrival for a short time with the provision of confirmation of the purchase of a return ticket.
- The hotel where the visa holder will be staying.
- Employer. For those who plan to work in a company registered in the UAE, she becomes a trustee.
- Relatives living on the territory of this state. One of the simplest options is to issue an invitation from them.
Visitor visa
When collecting and sending a package of documents, it is important to clearly understand what purpose the potential recipient is pursuing.
An applicant for a visitor visa will need to go through two stages. Documents explaining the purpose of the trip to this state are sent in electronic version or brought in person to the visa center. A complete package of documents will need to be submitted after receiving travel approval.
For visits to relatives, it is best to obtain a permit to enter the United Arab Emirates by invitation.
Tourist long-term visa
A tourist visa is also granted for 90 days. It is issued to those wishing to go to relatives, friends, or simply meet with various partners. The price of the commission for its provision depends on the company with the help of which such a document is drawn up.
The video explains: how to get a tourist visa in the UAE
For business trips, a business visa will be the most convenient. To make a visa of this type, you will need to deposit an amount of 3,500 rubles and pay for the services of the visa center. The request is confirmed by the company inviting the business specialist. It must be registered in the United Arab Emirates.
Resident visa
It is issued for the longest period of three years. Detailed permission is granted to persons working in a local organization or to those who have real estate in the Emirates. A feature of this option is automatic cancellation in case of departure for a period of more than six months.
We advise you to see: how to get a resident visa in the UAE
Package of documents submitted for obtaining a visa
To send a request for a permit to stay on the territory of a given state, the applicant:
- A valid international passport with an expiration date of at least six months after the date of intended return. A passport with other terms will not be considered.
- Carefully filled in, obligatory in Latin letters, the questionnaire presented on the official website. On behalf of children who have not yet celebrated their majority, the document will be completed by a parent or guardian.
- Copy of tickets to Dubai in both directions.
- Copies of all completed pages of the Russian civil passport.
- Written permission for the processing of personal data issued to the visa center.
- Documents that will confirm the financial viability of a potential guest of the Emirates.
Depending on the type of visa, the final processing price may differ.
Proof of financial solvency
One of the most financially successful countries in the world is attentive to the financial solvency of each of its potential guests .:
- You can get permission for a child at the airport or in advance.
- It is required to provide permission to leave from the parent who does not go on a specific trip with a child.
- A minor must have his own passport, and not just be entered in the passport of one of the parents. Or a photograph of the child entered into the document must be glued into the parent's passport.
The advantage of obtaining a visa for a child who is inscribed in his parent's passport with a photo pasted in is that there is no need to pay a separate visa fee. The child's personal passport and the issuance of a personal visa according to this passport requires a standard 100% payment.
Now there are so many offers on the tourist market that they just dazzle, but most people have limitations that do not even allow them to think about getting somewhere on vacation.
First of all, this is the cost of the trip itself. The second point is the visa regime, the paperwork for a visa is also a time-consuming process. Another limitation is a job that will not be released on vacation on a hot ticket, because a vacation application must be written several months in advance. The last limitation, fortunately, does not apply to me, because I can take vacations at my own expense at any time. Therefore, I want to show by my example how you can remove the first two restrictions.
The financial waste associated with spending a vacation abroad very often puts us in a tight frame. The famous resorts of the United Arab Emirates are for many a dream that is difficult to turn into reality. This year I proved the opposite. For about a year I have been engaged in the miscalculation of tours in this direction. The choice, of course, fell on the city of Dubai, which has the most developed infrastructure on the Persian coast.
This emirate is geographically divided into three regions, which differ in financial terms. The Jumeirah region offers its guests a 7 * level vacation, so the cost of living in hotel bases in this area is too high. But there is a great alternative, this is the Deira area. This area is inhabited by people who came as "labor" to this emirate. There are also 2 * and 3 * hotels built here. It was here that I chose a hotel to stay.
How to go: on your own or with a tour package?
I figured out for myself two options for rest. I calculated the individual components of the package and applied for a visa directly - it turned out twice as expensive. My choice settled on the second option, and I purchased a ticket through a travel agency. Another such point is the cost of a visa and its registration. The official payment of the visa fee is $ 65, but through travel agencies it will be issued to tourists in the amount of $ 70 per person. Taking into account the time spent, it is cheaper to apply for a visa through a travel agency.
We got a visa within 24 hours. By the way, you can simultaneously dispel another myth regarding the visa. There is an opinion that unmarried girls will not be able to leave for the UAE. This is not so, we were resting together with a friend who is not yet married. We got our visas at the same time. I do not exclude that it is possible to think over an independent trip to the UAE, which will be no less budgetary in terms of cost, but I decided to leave this option for the next time when we go there with the whole family. This was my test drive, which my friend and I decided on.
So the total cost of the ticket for this person we got 400 dollars. With a visa and accommodation in a 2 * hotel, including a direct round-trip flight, of course. Is this the cosmic cost for a UAE vacation?
Meals: no restaurants, yes― inexpensive but delicious food in a cafe
Of course, readers are also interested in the second side of the coin - prices in the United Arab Emirates for goods and services are becoming another obstacle to travel. Accommodation in budget hotels is based on breakfast, so meals can be an additional cost item. This point can also be thought over and reasonably reduced the cost of food.
My friend and I did not plan to visit restaurants on this trip, but decided that we would eat mainly in fast foods or inexpensive cafes. In addition, we took a small part of the food with us. For example, vacuum-packed cheese and sausage, cookies and some ready-made food for the first two days, so that you can calmly look around and plan your vacation. Each hotel has mini-refrigerators where you can store your groceries. You can also always ask to bring hot water to your room, even in a 2 * hotel. Therefore, if you get hungry, you can always have a snack right in your room.
How to choose excursions?
The main expense during our vacation was spending on the purchase of excursion programs. There is one important point to keep in mind here as well. Do not rush to buy excursions from representatives of tour operators in hotels. The cost of similar excursions from local operators is much lower. You will be satisfied with the quality, as the UAE pays proper attention to safety and service level.
For example, an excursion to Abu Dhabi (the capital of the UAE) from representatives of tour operators on local beaches can be bought for $ 50. The same excursion at the hotel costs from $ 100-125 per person. You can pay a small deposit for the excursion service, and give the main part after the end of the tour. I want to note that we spent 135 dollars on the excursions (this cost included three trips). Two excursions included lunch and dinner according to the program, which also led to savings in our finances.
Hikers can also cut down on another item of spending abroad. For example, the subway in Dubai is not cheap. The further you go, the more expensive your trip is. Therefore, in the evening we thought over a route plan for the whole day. By the way, upon arrival, all tourists are given city and metro maps, which greatly speeds up the process of getting to know the city.
I set a personal record for myself, which in monetary terms is equal to $ 650. This amount includes all expenses related to the tour and accommodation in Dubai. I dreamed about the UAE for a very long time, I wanted to see how such cities could be built practically on the sand. And now the dream has come true!
We set ourselves obstacles in the form of financial frameworks that make our dreams impossible. In fact, if you just want to and start doing, you can achieve very much of what we want. I wish you the opportunity to fulfill your most important dreams!
Russians need a visa to enter the UAE. In 2019, a free visa to the UAE is available upon arrival for 30 days. In addition, as before, you can get a 3-month visa in advance through an intermediary. You cannot get a visa directly at the embassy itself; it is issued at the visa centers. In general, the process of obtaining it is quite simple, and everything is done via the Internet.
From February 1, 2017, a free visa to the UAE is available for Russian tourists upon arrival in the country. A tourist visa is stamped in the passport for a period of 30 days, with the possibility of a one-time extension for another 30 days. For a trip for a long period, Russians, as before, can get a multi and one-time UAE visa for 3 months.
At the airport, you must present a passport with a validity of at least 6 months. Children need a separate passport. The visa is a stamp with the date of arrival.
For citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Moldova, obtaining visas has not changed.
The UAE is one of the few Arab countries that does not refuse a visa if it has stamps to enter Israel.
Types of visas
A visa to the United Arab Emirates for 90 days is a single or multiple entry.
Instead of the usual sticker in the passport, a file with an ID number is issued, all the data for entry is stored in electronic form. This number comes by e-mail, you need to print it on an A4 sheet and have it with you for entry.
What a visa looks like for 1 person
What does a visa look like with a registered child
- Tourist or guest - up to 90 days. Suitable for a vacation in the UAE, visiting friends or relatives or meeting with partners. The amount of the commission depends on the company, document requirements and urgency. A trip can be sponsored by a hotel (preferably a 5-star with visa support), travel agency or airline. For registration, it is necessary to send a digital photograph and a scan of the main page of the passport to the visa center. The visa is sent electronically, it must be printed out and shown along with the passport at the airport upon arrival in the UAE. The cost of a visa for 90 days is 23,000 rubles.
- By invitation - up to 90 days of stay. Suitable for visiting relatives. To obtain it, you need to have a sponsor - the closest relative. Issued at the Migration Service in the UAE, upon payment of a deposit of 5,000 dirhams.
- Resident - issued for 3 years. You need to own real estate or work in a local organization. Only an employer can apply for it. If you leave the UAE for more than 6 months, it will be canceled.
Options for issuing visas through the Sharjah Computing Center
An urgent paperwork is available in 1-2 days for 9000 rubles, multiple entry visas for 90 days.Visa through Emirates
An easy and affordable way for citizens of other countries (not Russians) to get a visa to the UAE is to fly with Emirates. After booking and confirming tickets, in your personal account on the airline's website https://www.emirates.com/ee/english/ you can make a visa request on the booking management tab.
The visa application will go to the VFS Global Visa Application Center, with the airline acting as a sponsor only.
The longest part is scanning the necessary documents and adjusting them to the requirements of the visa center. In total, you need to take 4 photos or scans:
- Page with photo and personal data from the passport - file size up to 200 Kb.
- A page from a passport with the last one - up to 200 Kb.
- Passport page with registration - up to 200 Kb.
- Black and white photo 4.3 × 5.5 - maximum 40 KB.
To send photos, you need to "shrink" them to the desired size. This can be done using any graphics editor, from Paint to Photoshop.
The questionnaire contains the contacts of the hotel or other place of residence: address, zip code, phone number. You can in PDF format.
How much does a visa cost
The cost may vary slightly, depending on the place of filing and the exchange rate. Prices for children and adults are the same.
The embassy does not issue visas, registration only through visa centers.
- Upon arrival for 30 days - free of charge.
- Consular fee for a tourist visa for other citizens of the CIS, except for the Russian Federation - 3500 rubles (225 Dirham).
- Consular fee for a transit visa for other citizens of the CIS, except for the Russian Federation - 2500 rubles (165 Dirham).
- Additional service fee - 1000-4000 rubles, depending on the place of delivery.
- An urgent visa to the UAE through the Sharjah Exhibition Center costs 9,000 rubles.
