Hotels in United Arab Emirates

When it comes to luxury hotels, United Arab Emirates has it covered. Find out what else you can expect of the accommodation scene…

In Dubai, hotels are attractions in themselves. Tall, sprawling, themed, shaped, and with four, five or even seven stars, it feels like even the sky isn’t a limit for Dubai’s vision when it comes to hotels. This is the place to splurge on accommodation if you can, though there are many affordable hotels in Dubai too.

If Dubai and Abu Dhabi were in a race to build the best hotels, it might end up in a photo finish. The hotel scene in Abu Dhabi is as exciting as Formula 1 races at Yas Marina Circuit.

Ras al-Khaimah continues to grow in stature as a luxury holiday destination, while maintaining its natural beauty.

Elsewhere in the UAE, glitz and glamour take a backseat for arts, culture, history and traditions. Visit Sharjah, where a handful of excellent museums give curious visitors a peek into the past, or Fujairah, where age-old forts dot the landscape and you can try out the latest water sports.

Holidays in the UAE are popular between November and May, when average daytime temperatures range from 25-30C. It gets seriously hot during summer, with many visitors choosing to avoid the intense heat of July and August (expect 40C+ during the day). Air conditioning is standard in most hotels in the UAE to help guests cope with the year-round heat.

The popularity of holidays here means you should book hotels as far in advance as possible to secure your room at the best rate. The price-comparison tool on TravelSupermarket is also useful for finding cheap flights to the United Arab Emirates, as well as car hire in your chosen destination.

There is something for everyone to see, do and enjoy in the UAE...

Top five attractions

Burj Khalifa

There are two options at the Burj Khalifa: see the views from the dizzying heights of level 124, or pay extra for the luxury lounges and even more knee-wobbling experience at level 148.

Ferrari World

The UAE likes to do things biggest, best, first… so go to Abu Dhabi and visit the world’s biggest indoor theme park, which is also the first (and no doubt the best) Ferrari theme park on the planet.

Shopping

It will not surprise you to learn that the UAE boasts the largest shopping mall in the world. The Dubai Mall has shops aplenty, as well as restaurants, a cinema, an aquarium, and even a dinosaur skeleton. There are also many other excellent shopping malls across the UAE, plus numerous souks for a more authentic shopping experience.

Dubai Museum

Visit the oldest building in Dubai for an interesting look at the history of the emirate.

4x4 safari tours

Go off-road in the emirates and hit the dunes of the deserts for a unique view of the swells of this sandy landscape.

From shopping to racing, you might need to take a breather on the beach after these events…

Shopping Festivals; January-March: Retailers slash prices during annual shopping festivals designed to lure bargain hunters to the UAE. A programme of family fun and entertainment also takes place during these events.

Dubai World Cup; March: Horseracing is big business in the UAE. One of the biggest events is the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. Book tickets well in advance to secure your spot in the stands.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; November: A hot fixture on the F1 calendar, race fans flock to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit for high-octane action.