United Arab Emirates

With Dubai Airport now a well-established transport hub, the United Arab Emirates is firmly on travellers' radars. With many people stopping in Dubai or a layover or short stay, the emirate has excellent tourist infrastructure and activities. While Abu Dhabi is attracting an increasing number of visitors, many of the other emirates don't feature in many travel itineraries.

Seeing more of the country does give some more perspective - it's not all about the glitz and glamour of Dubai. Fujairah has some gorgeous beaches and the oldest mosque in the country, while Ra’s al Khaimah has some great hiking trails in the mountains. Or, if you want to see what Dubai must have looked like before the building boom, take a drive to Umm al-Quwain, the least developed of the seven emirates.