UAE Frontier · About the UAE
About the UAE
The essentials on the country itself, where it sits, who lives there, the language and the faith, the money and the food, and the land that runs from the Gulf coast through the desert to the Hajar Mountains.
- ~10M
- people
- 7
- emirates
- 1,934 m
- Jebel Jais, high point
- 1
- UNESCO World Heritage site
The UAE is a young country with deep roots, and an easy one to enjoy once you know its shape. These short reads cover the background worth having before a trip, the geography and the people, how to get by with the language and the money, and what fills the table.
Where Is the UAE? The UAE sits on the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula, on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf, next to Saudi Arabia and Oman. Its exact location, neighbours, the seven emirates, coordinates, time zone and how to get there. Map of the UAE A plain-language map of the UAE: where each of the seven emirates sits, the Gulf-coast city corridor, the mountainous east coast and the desert interior, how far apart the main bases are, and which area suits which kind of trip. The People of the UAE Who are the people of the UAE? Emirati citizens are a small minority, and around 90 per cent of residents are expatriates from over 200 nations. A look at identity, culture and daily life. Language in the UAE Language in the UAE for travellers: Arabic as the official tongue, English as the everyday working language of signs, hotels and taxis, the wider expat mix, and a friendly phrasebook of Arabic words worth knowing. Religion in the UAE Islam is the official religion of the UAE and shapes daily life, from the call to prayer to Ramadan. A clear guide to faith, tolerance, visiting mosques and etiquette for travellers. Emirati Food and Drink A guide to Emirati food and drink: machboos and harees, luqaimat and balaleet, camel meat and fresh Gulf fish, plus karak chai, gahwa and dates, and where to try traditional Emirati cooking in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Money in the UAE: The Dirham A clear guide to Dubai and UAE currency: the dirham (AED), its US dollar peg, notes and coins, where cards and cash work, ATMs, money changers, tipping and the 5% VAT tourist refund. The UAE's Land and Nature The land and nature of the UAE: the great sand desert of the Empty Quarter, the rugged Hajar Mountains and Jebel Jais, two very different coasts, and the wildlife from Arabian oryx to flamingos, sea turtles and mangroves.