What to See in the United Arab Emirates: Cities to Explore on Foot

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates where desert landscapes, mountain ranges, oases and Gulf coastlines meet a rapidly changing urban world. The country is worth visiting for its striking architecture, maritime history, museums, religious buildings and the different character of each emirate. Neywo offers free audio guides for 4 cities in the United Arab Emirates, with 105 narrated places in total and 5 walking tours.

What to see and do in the United Arab Emirates

The best way to understand the UAE is to look beyond its modern skyline. Its story connects ancient maritime routes, pearling communities, Bedouin life, oil wealth and an international population that has reshaped the country’s cities.

Explore the UAE’s maritime history

For centuries, the coast of Eastern Arabia faced outward through trade and seafaring. Maritime links connected the region with Mesopotamia, Iran and the Indus Valley, while pearling provided work and income across the Gulf. That trade later collapsed because of war, economic depression and the arrival of cultured pearls.

The sea remains central to the country’s identity. The UAE lies between Oman and Saudi Arabia, with coasts on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s important routes for crude oil.

Discover the capital in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the national capital and the centre of one of the seven emirates. Its story is closely linked to Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s ruler and the UAE’s first president. He directed oil revenues into healthcare, education and infrastructure as the country developed from a landscape shaped by Bedouin tribes into one of the world’s wealthiest states.

The city combines major cultural and religious landmarks with places that preserve local history. At the Louvre Abu Dhabi, art and the country’s international outlook come together. The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the city’s defining religious buildings, while St. Joseph’s Cathedral reflects the presence of non-Muslim communities. Heritage Village offers another perspective on the UAE’s past and traditional life.

Visit Al Ain, the oasis city

Al Ain shows how life has long been sustained in the country’s desert environment. Oases support date palms, acacia and eucalyptus, creating a landscape very different from the coast and the open desert.

The Al Ain National Museum introduces the history of the area, while the Al Ain Sheikh Zayed Palace Museum is connected with the country’s first president and Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. Al-Murabba Fort adds a view of the region’s defensive and architectural heritage.

Experience Dubai’s global cityscape

Dubai is the UAE’s largest city and an international hub for finance, tourism and commerce. It represents the country’s 21st-century transformation particularly clearly: oil and natural gas remain important, but tourism and business have become increasingly central to the national economy.

The Museum of the Future, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall each show a different aspect of the city’s ambition. Dubai is also home to places that reveal the religious and cultural diversity of its population, including the Hindu Temple, Dubai. Together, these sites show why Dubai is one of the best cities to visit in the United Arab Emirates for travellers interested in architecture, commerce and the country’s modern international identity.

Explore Sharjah’s cultural heritage

Sharjah offers another view of the UAE’s urban and cultural landscape. Its attractions include the Barjeel Art Foundation, which connects the emirate with modern and contemporary Arab art, and بيت الشعر, a place associated with poetry and literary culture.

The emirate is also home to Sharjah International Airport, reflecting the role that travel and international connections play in the country. Sharjah’s cultural institutions make it a useful stop for anyone looking beyond the UAE’s tallest buildings and commercial districts.

Understand the country’s people and culture

Arabic is the official language and Islam is the state religion, but English is widely spoken and is the language of business. More than 11 million people lived in the UAE in 2024, while native Emiratis made up only a small share of the population. Most residents are expatriates and migrant workers, many from South Asia.

This diversity has shaped contemporary Emirati life. Local culture is rooted in Arabian traditions, with influences from Persia, India and East Africa. Traditional architecture and folk arts express a local identity formed through those connections, while the government follows a policy of tolerance towards other religions.

Sport is another part of everyday life. Football, camel racing, falconry and Formula One are popular, while cricket has a particularly strong following among expatriate communities.

See the desert, mountains and wildlife

The UAE is a desert country, but its geography includes more than sand. The Hajar Mountains are cooler because of their elevation, and mountain areas receive more rainfall than the coast. Winters are warm, while summers on the coastal plain are extremely hot, with average maximum temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius in July and August.

Oases support vegetation and agriculture, while desert plants include grasses and thorn bushes. Offshore waters contain mackerel, perch, tuna, sharks and whales. Conservation efforts have also played an important role. A programme begun on Sir Bani Yas Island in the 1970s helped support the survival of animals including the Arabian oryx, Arabian camel and leopards.

Travel through the United Arab Emirates with Neywo

Download Neywo to explore the United Arab Emirates with an audio guide that tells the story of each place as you reach it. The app includes 4 city guides, 105 narrated places and 5 walking tours. Each story plays at your own pace, with no group and no schedule, and narration is available in 11 languages.

Choose a city and explore its landmarks, museums, religious buildings and historic sites while you walk. Discover Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai or Sharjah, and let Neywo accompany you from one narrated place to the next.