The United Arab Emirates have become a much-loved winter destination, as they manage to satisfy travellers with very different tastes and preferences.

In the Emirates you will find a perfect balance between history and the future: ancient mosques and sumptuous palaces alternate with futuristic buildings and spectacular architecture. Tradition and modernity are both well represented and keep the journey constantly stimulating.

Sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and desert landscapes also delight nature lovers, who can enjoy some spectacular natural scenery.

Given the development of recent years, the Emirates have increasingly become a destination rich in leisure opportunities: from the futuristic home of the Louvre to Michelin-starred restaurants, from the boutiques of the great international brands to countless attractions.

Abu Dhabi

We begin with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the largest in the Emirates. Built in 2007 by Sheikh Zayed, the building displays a typically oriental style, made up of repeated architectural elements that create an effect of vastness and richness.

Its 82 domes and two minarets make it even more monumental; the interior can be visited at set times and leaves visitors open-mouthed at its sumptuousness. Mosaic decorations, precious chandeliers, capitals decorated with gold and precious stones… the overall effect is so majestic that it makes the visitor feel transported to another dimension.

Say Louvre and everyone immediately thinks of Paris.
In fact Abu Dhabi is home to a branch of the celebrated Parisian museum; the exterior architecture alone is worth the journey, since the building was designed by Jean Nouvel, who conceived a futuristic structure crowned by a gigantic dome covered in an intricate decorative metal lattice.

Inside, the story of humanity is told through millennia of artistic expression; among the immense and highly prized museum collections are some real gems, such as artefacts from ancient Egypt, the gallery of sacred texts and works by some of the great masters of the twentieth-century avant-garde movements.

And since you are already on Saadiyat Island, why not recharge on one of its heavenly beaches; besides housing some prestigious museums, this place offers unique scenery. The nature is unspoilt, the water is crystal clear and relaxation is guaranteed.

Speaking of islands, Yas Island also deserves a visit. Just thirty minutes from the centre you reach the mecca of theme parks. As well as the largest amusement park in the world, you can visit the Formula 1 circuit and Ferrari World. Another futuristic-looking building, it houses the Ferrari museum, which retraces all the great milestones of the racing team. Fans of the prancing horse will leave fully satisfied!

Al Ain

If, after the wonders of Abu Dhabi, you need a break from modernity, there is no better stop than Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city rises on the border with Oman, and here time seems to have stood still: the gardens of the oasis in which the city stands and the sound of water in the fountains put visitors in a state of relaxation.

In the centre you can visit several traditional souks, such as the picturesque camel market, as well as the National Museum, which preserves the legacy of the peoples who have inhabited this place.

Dubai

Back to modernity, or rather ultra-modernity! Dubai too has a great deal to offer from many points of view; it is no coincidence that, with its futuristic buildings, it is an extremely photogenic city, photographed by everyone.

Let us start, then, with the tallest building in the world, which at 829 metres soars into the sky and gives Downtown, the district that hosts it, a truly distinctive skyline. Going up to its observation deck is a real experience: from that height you can admire the whole city, the surrounding desert and the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah.

Also in Downtown stands the Dubai Mall, another record-breaking attraction. From its name it might sound like an ordinary shopping centre, but it is in fact the largest shopping mall in the world, with more than 1,200 shops: almost a city in itself.

Besides the splendid view it offers of the Downtown skyline, the Dubai Mall is the ideal place to enjoy the spectacle of the Dancing Fountains, an experience of water, light and sound. Inside there is everything, in the truest sense of the word, including an enormous Aquarium that offers the thrill of walking through the water surrounded by every kind of marine species.

Continuing along the road of modernity, you come to the Burj Al Arab, the 28-storey sail-shaped building that houses an ultra-luxurious hotel. In a short time this structure has become one of the symbols of the city, which is why visitors love to photograph it from every angle.

Not everything in Dubai is modern, however: there are still places where a more authentic atmosphere has been preserved; one example not to be missed is the traditional district of Deira, the heart of the old city.

It is famous for its traditional souks, including the Gold Souk, specialising in the sale of gold and precious stones. But simply strolling through the streets of this district lets you breathe a different air, closely tied to the history and the past of the Emirate.

Finally, if you visit the United Arab Emirates you really cannot miss the chance to take an excursion into the desert. From Dubai you can set off in a 4×4 to discover the magic and allure of the sand dunes.

Once in the desert you will feel as if you were in an old film: camel rides, tented camps and time that flows more slowly. At every hour of the day you can capture a light that is unique and typical of these landscapes.

For this winter Guiness Travel has scheduled several departures for the United Arab Emirates, allowing you to discover and appreciate the distinctive charm of this destination.

Choose Guiness Travel’s tours

With a Guiness Travel tour you can book your trip and then relax, because Guiness Travel really does take care of every last organisational detail, so that all you need do is enjoy the cultural atmosphere that characterises the places you will visit.

For Guiness, travelling is an enriching experience to be savoured in every pleasant moment, and it means being pampered by every kind of comfort; the only way to guarantee the wellbeing of participants and respect for the places visited is to open the tours only to a limited number of selected participants.

All the itineraries in the catalogue are 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and to reach a high, wide-ranging cultural standard.

This is why we created the Guiness Exclusive Tour, a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, that will give you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • carefully selected services on the ground (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Thanks to the Guiness Exclusive Tour you will return home with a suitcase full of wonderful new memories, immersed in the beauties of the world, thanks also to the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites included in all our programmes.

In fact, in all our itineraries you can see at a glance how many UNESCO sites you will be able to visit, and which ones, thanks to an intuitive, user-friendly icon in the catalogue. In this way, travellers will know which UNESCO sites are included in their travel programme.

DISCOVER THE TOUR OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Team Guiness