United Arab Emirates: Much More Than Skyscrapers and Luxury
Behind Dubai’s extravagance lies a rich culture, nestled between the desert, souks, and Bedouin traditions. Explore the Emirates with local guides who will reveal its hidden history.
Dubai is one of the most photographed destinations on Instagram, and the city fully embraces its extravagance. The Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, 7-star hotels, and shopping malls with indoor ski slopes—all of these exist, and all are spectacular in their own way. But the United Arab Emirates has much more to offer those who look beyond the surface.
Dubai Creek and the Deira district, known as Old Dubai, are just 20 minutes from the Burj Khalifa and feel like they’re from another century. The abras, those small wooden boats that have been crossing the Creek for over 100 years for just a few cents, still connect the Spice Souk to the Gold Souk, where tons of gold are displayed in the open air in endless showcases. Your local Dubai guide will take you to the dhows loading their cargo for Iran, India, and Somalia—a millennia-old trade that continues in the shadow of the glass towers.
Abu Dhabi and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque are among the must-see attractions in the Emirates. With its white marble imported from Italy, its golden domes, its unique 5,000 m² carpet, and its onyx columns, it is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world, open to all, and your guide will explain its architectural subtleties and Islamic symbolism with a clarity and openness that enrich the visit.
The Liwa Dunes, on the border of Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter, are among the highest in the world, with some exceeding 300 meters. This is the Arabia of the Bedouins—the pre-oil era—which your Emirati guide will recount to you around a campfire, under a sky free of light pollution, while sipping cardamom coffee.
**The Emirates are so much more than their skyline. Find your So-Guide. **
