12 Attractions you must see if you are visiting United Arab Emirates

With its full-throttle development, iconic skylines of high-rises, and world famous beach resorts, the United Arab Emirates has become a favorite for family holidays and city breaks. Landmark tourist attractions such as Dubai's towering Burj Khalifa and Abu Dhabi's modern Sheikh Zayed Mosque, have branded the UAE as an up-to-the-minute luxury destination.

Scrape below the surface though, and you'll find there's more here than skyscrapers, shopping, and sandy shores. The various UAE destinations offer culture fans plenty of things to do. Delve into the country's Bedouin past on starry desert nights before exploring the many forts that guarded the coastline long before the domination of the glitzy high-rises. While for nature-lovers, the desert starts where the cities end, and the jagged peaks of the Hajar Mountains are ripe for adventuring.

1 Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is one of the United Arab Emirates most famous buildings and the soaring sky-high landmark of Dubai. Not only is it the world's tallest building, it also lays claim to the titles of tallest freestanding structure in the world, highest observation deck in the world, and elevator with the longest travel distance in the world. A trip up to the observation deck, with its panoramic views across Dubai, is a sightseeing highlight for most tourists who visit, though for those who suffer from vertigo, it might be best to give it a miss.

Address: Entry from Dubai Mall, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

Official site: www.burjkhalifa.ae

2 Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a mammoth modern mosque of incredible beauty. Harnessing contemporary design and ancient craftsmanship, the mosque harmoniously blends modern and ancient styles and techniques to create a new interpretation of Islamic architecture. A visit here is a must on any Abu Dhabi itinerary. With its interiors using lavish amounts of gold, mosaic tiles, and glass work and immense amounts of marble, and its exterior of blindingly white stone contrasting dramatically under the Emirati blue sky, it never fails to dazzle.

Address: Al Khaleej al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi

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Also: 7 Most beautiful mosques in the UAE

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3 Hajar Mountains

The Hajar Mountains scythe through the desert, creating the jagged and wild heart of the United Arab Emirates. Twisting roller-coaster roads with spectacular scenery along the way connect the region's tiny villages, making this region road trip heaven. Nature lovers will find plenty of hiking, trekking, and bird-watching opportunities, while the vast amount of picturesque wadis (dry riverbeds; valleys) in the area are also fun to explore.

4 Sharjah Arts Museum

The most important museum dedicated to the arts in the Emirates (until the Louvre and Guggenheim finally open in Abu Dhabi in the next few years), the Sharjah Arts Museum is home to the most diverse art collection in the United Arab Emirates. The museum is recognized for its collection of works by Arabic artists and also for its important pieces by European artists who specialized in painting the Arab world. The museum is also noted for its program of temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Location: Off Corniche Street, Sharjah

5 Jebel Hafeet

A must-do for anyone who wants to snap a great vista, the summit of Jebel Hafeet is a favorite day trip from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. This is the second highest peak in the United Arab Emirates, and far-reaching, sumptuous desert panoramas greet you all the way up to the top on the winding road. After the twisting mountain road drive, you are rewarded with being able to see across the area's vast sweep of desert.

Location: Al Ain

6 Bastakia

The Bastakia quarter of Dubai is the last remaining fragment of Old Dubai and shouldn't be missed. This small heritage area really evokes the simpler, gentler past of the city before skyscrapers took over the skyline. Narrow lanes are lined with beautifully preserved buildings in typical Arabian architectural styles, many with wind-tower features. Various museums allow you to enter the houses and see typical Arabian interiors within the quarter, along with mosques and a small surviving segment of the original Dubai city wall.

Location: Bur Dubai, Dubai

7 The Desert

For those with an adventurous streak, make a beeline for the empty stretch of desert hugging the coastline outside the cities. You'll find plenty of things to do here, from four-wheel-drive trips and dune-buggy journeys, to sand boarding, hiking, and camel treks. Most people plan a desert trip from Dubai, but Abu Dhabi and Fujairah are also excellent bases for desert sightseeing. Bedouin-style dinners are a softer alternative if you want to experience the empty beauty of the desert.

8 Beaches

There's a beach for everyone in the United Arab Emirates. From the city beaches along the coast of Dubai, with their high-rise background, and Abu Dhabi's golden sand beaches along its island-littered coastline, to the luxury sweeps of sand around Ajman and the wilder beaches of the Emirate of Fujairah, you have plenty of choice. Many luxury hotels have private patches of sand, which non-guests can use for a day fee. Water-sports such as diving, jet skiing, stand up paddleboarding, and snorkeling are also available at many resort locales.

9 Dubai Creek Dhow Ride

The Burj Khalifa may give you that famous skyline view from up high, but the most iconic Dubai views are still taken from the water. Dubai Creek slices through the city, and the best way to experience Dubai is from one of the beautiful dhows (traditional Arabic boats) that ply the creek. Sunset cruises (which often come with entertainment and dinner) are particularly beautiful as you watch the lights of the high-rises begin to twinkle in the dusk. Or, for a budget cruise, just hop on one of the ablas (local ferries), which ply the water between Bur Dubai and Deira.

10 Al-Bidyah Mosque

The oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, Al-Bidyah is one of the country's and the Emirate of Fujairah's most important historical sites. Although modest in proportions, this adobe building was beautifully designed, with its original ventilation shaft patterns in the walls still visible. The entire surrounding area is an archaeological site, where many pottery and metal artifacts have been excavated. For history lovers, this small mosque should be a must-do, and it makes an excellent contrast with the over-the-top opulence of Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Location: 35 kilometers north of Fujairah city

11 Souks

For many visitors to the United Arab Emirates, shopping is one of the main attractions. There are megalithic, glitzy malls by the dozen, but for a more local approach to shopping jaunts, you can't beat the souks (market streets). In Dubai, the Deira district is the main destination, with its world-famous gold souk and rather more down-to-earth fish souk, but all of the Emirati cities have their own souk districts to explore. The souks are where you come to get a good deal on local handicrafts and much better prices (with some haggling) on products than you'd get at one of the malls.

12 Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation

One of the best museums in the country to focus on the full breadth of Islamic history and culture - not just local history - the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization holds a wealth of fascinating and well-laid out exhibits, which trace Islam's course from the very early years of the Islamic empires through its spread into Asia and Africa and up to today. Many displays feature rare manuscripts and religious documents, and tourists will find them easy to understand thanks to excellent information boards throughout.

Address: Corniche Street, Sharjah