One of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations, has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable holiday, sun, sand, sea, sports, unbeatable shopping, top-class hotels and restaurants, an intriguing traditional culture, and a safe and welcoming environment. Located along the south-eastern tip of the Arabian peninsula, with Qatar to the north-west, Saudi Arabia to the west, south and south-east, and Oma to the south-east and north-east.

Is known as the “City of Merchants” and has for generations welcomed seafarers and traders crossing the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf to its shores. Discover this most vibrant of cities, where the best of the cosmopolitan, avant-garde architecture and the highest standards of service blend harmoniously with the mystique and culture of Arabia.

The thriving, exciting metropolitan capital of the United Arab Emirates beckons visitors into its melting pot of international cultures, styles and traditions. Known as the “Garden City of the Gulf”, Abu Dhabi has an abundance of parkland and palm trees. Year-round sunshine, pristine beaches, spectacular sand dunes and pulsating cosmopolitan lifestyle await every guest in Abu Dhabi. These, combined with distinctive Arabian hospitality, mystique and world-class infrastructure make Abu Dhabi an enchanting destination for experienced and novice travelers.

In just two decades, Dubai has risen from the desert sands to become one of the world’s most recognised destinations. Whether it is the record-breakers such as Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, or the iconic marvel that is Palm Jumeirah, the image of the desert city is one of modernity, a place where cultures mix and souks have evolved into air-conditioned malls – including one of the world’s largest, naturally…It was in 1978 that the Dubai World Trade Centre was built on the orders of HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, father of the current ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The building at 33 storeys was by far the tallest in the region and perceived as being ‘out in the desert’ at the time with a location on the very fringes of the town.

The following year saw the opening of the Jebel Ali port and free zone, even further away at 35 kilometres from the Dubai Creek. In 1985, Emirates airline was formed with just two aircraft and a launch route from Dubai to Karachi, followed by Bombay and Delhi. By the early 1990s, the airline had already become one of the world’s fastest growing, a description it continues to live up to as it expands on six continents.With free skies and seas plus free trade as pillars of development, Dubai quickly became the hub of the region and it is this principle of laissez faire, combined with a ‘can do’ attitude that has served to establish the emirate as a tourist destination, a meeting and exhibition venue, a corporate hub, trade entrepôt, retail emporium and premier location for sports and cultural events.