UAE Travel Guide 2026: Plan the Perfect Trip to the Emirates

The United Arab Emirates packs futuristic cities, desert adventures, cultural capitals and beach resorts into one easy-to-travel country. This UAE travel guide covers everything you need to plan the perfect trip to the Emirates.

Which emirates to visit

• Dubai — skyscrapers, shopping, beaches and nightlife. The obvious first stop.
• Abu Dhabi — the capital, home to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Yas Island theme parks.
• Sharjah — the culture capital, with museums and heritage at a gentler pace.
• Ras Al Khaimah & Fujairah — mountains, the world's longest zipline and quieter beaches.

Entry, visa & money

Many nationalities get visa-on-arrival or an easy e-visa; check your eligibility before you fly. The currency is the UAE dirham (AED). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep some cash for taxis and souks.

Best time to go

November to March offers warm, comfortable weather ideal for sightseeing and the beach. Summer (June–August) is intensely hot but comes with the lowest hotel rates and great indoor attractions.

Getting around

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have excellent metro, tram and bus networks, plus affordable taxis and ride-hailing. Intercity buses and a short drive connect the emirates, so a multi-city trip is simple to plan.

A simple 5-day itinerary

Days 1–2 Dubai (Burj Khalifa, Marina, desert safari) → Day 3 Abu Dhabi (Grand Mosque, Corniche) → Day 4 theme parks or Sharjah culture → Day 5 beach and shopping.

How Look n Book helps you plan the whole trip

Look n Book brings hotels, flights and holiday deals together so you can build your entire UAE tour in one place — best prices, secure payments, book-now-pay-later on select stays and 24×7 support. Tell us where you want to go and we help you plan everything, end to end. Start planning your UAE trip →

Cover photo: Downtown Dubai at night · Michaelbibin from Pixabay (CC0, Wikimedia Commons)