As a geographer, I am excited by political boundaries. Being in UAE for one week allowed me to explore the country on a deeper level. Seeing that there is a segment of Oman inside the UAE, without the need for passport control, I decided to drive to the mountainous village to have a look. Here …
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It was my first time trying out the Premium Economy (PE) product on SQ and I was really excited. I managed to use miles to redeem a return trip from Singapore (SIN) to Dubai (DXB). SQ 494 depart SIN 15:10 arrive DXB 18:25 SQ 495 depart DXB 20:00 arrive SIN 07:30 (+1) It was really …
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Surrounded by the Hajar Mountains, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is the UAE’s northernmost emirate. Both beach-sloths and outdoor enthusiasts love it here, thanks to its sandy shores, sprawling oases and sun-baked desert, all on the emirate’s doorstep. While the call of the beach still attracts domestic and international visitors, who rarely move from the confines …
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The tiny emirate of Umm Al Quwain (pronounced ‘oom-al-ku-wayn‘) (UAQ), wrapped around an island-dotted lagoon, is in many ways the ‘anti-Dubai’. Its retro feel – without a flashy international resort or mega-mall to call its own – stands in sharp contrast to the glitz going on to the south. Much of the emirate’s 12km-long narrow …
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While Dubai is all about flashy tall buildings and shop-till-you-drop malls, neighbouring Sharjah takes a more subtle approach, forgoing glitz to concentrate on culture and history. Some travellers are put off by its conservative reputation (the emirate is ‘dry’; no alcohol is available anywhere), but if you can handle a day or two without a …
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Proudly modern and cosmopolitan, Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s forward-thinking cultural heart where nothing stands still. Driving for 1.5 hours from Dubai, it felt like I arrived in yet another modern city in Abu Dhabi. Towering skyscrapers dominate the landscape and the expressway had 4 lanes across, with a maximum speed limit of 140km/h which …
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