Step into a sleek, air-conditioned lobby of a hotel where there are lavish chandeliers above you, a fleet of Ferraris and Lamborghinis parked outside, and the world’s tallest building and the most expensive hotel just down the road. This is Dubai – the Arabian city of superlatives where extravagance is the norm. Every inch of this ambitious city is engineered to be glamorous and newsworthy. There are few places where you could be drinking tea in a desert tent, eating in gold-filled Michelin-starred restaurants and picking up trendsetting pieces at a futuristic shopping centre all in the same day. Dubai is made for luxury holidays, where you can take your pick between palatial resorts on affluent manmade islands like Palm Jumeirah or city hotels with views of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower. While it might seem like authenticity is harder to come by in a city that is always moving forward, there are experiences that instantly give you a taste of Arabia as it’s always been. Brilliant mosques and spice-filled souks sit beside the glimmer of high rises so you can browse the regal-style jewellery casually on sale in the Gold Souk (where haggling is a normal part of the purchasing process), or stop by the desert just beyond the city to drink tea in a Bedouin tent and ride sunburnt dunes in a 4x4. Our Personal Travel Experts have been to Dubai and can share their insider knowledge with you. Chat to one of our Dubai experts today to craft your dream Dubai holiday.
25 Hotels, 2 Cruises, 4 Experiences
A rare glimpse of the elusive Arabian oryx, Champagne dinners on white sands and trekking by Arabian horse through valleys and pools; Ras Al Khaimah holidays are for those inclined to discover lesser-known places. Imagine Middle Eastern style picnics on oriental rugs as you sink into oversized pillows on the beach, dune bashing out into the desert and kayaking through mangroves. This quieter emirate in the UAE has so far managed to keep its secrets away from the crowds but those in the know come here to go off-the-grid in blue skies luxury against a backdrop of dramatic Hajar Mountains. You can tick off the crazy on holidays to Ras Al Khaimah – zip line on the Via Ferrata’s one kilometre sky high route, quad bike over rolling dunes and climb the highest mountain in the UAE, but equally you can star gaze through telescopes, discover how Arabian explorers navigated the terrain and fall asleep under the stars to the night sounds of the desert. We love this part of the world for its mystique, romance and solitude – scorching days, cooler nights and unabashed indulgence. The beaches are a dream – miles of white sand sloping into brilliant blue seas, nomadic life of years gone by can be found in abandoned ghost towns home to perfectly preserved 14th-Century buildings, and frenetic souks, early morning fish markets and unique mosques ascertain where you are in the world. Just an hour’s drive from Dubai this under-the-radar emirate is making shapes to become a rather a special place.
2 Hotels
Uncover an authentic side to the Emirates in Ajman. A gem of culture, mangroves, superb high-end hotels and some of the best beaches you'll find in the country, Ajman is a brilliant option for an Arabian beach break or relaxing stopover.
4 Hotels
Dubai
Ras al Khaimah
Ajman
