Enjoy your holidays

Domestic visitors, both nationals and expatriates, are discovering the joys of a staycation, a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad

With an abundance of interesting places, both historical and contemporary, the UAE has a fascinating range of destinations for staycationers. Increasingly, many UAE nationals and expatriates living in the country opt to drive down a few hundred kilometres and spend time in beautiful locales for two or three days, instead of spending time at overseas airports and getting caught in massive traffic snarls in some of the popular tourist destinations in other geographies.

It makes sense to spend time with your near and dear ones by opting for a staycation, which can be planned and undertaken in a jiffy, instead of having to worry about booking tickets, hotel rooms and engaging in other formalities.

Indeed, the UAE is an ideal place for staycationers because of the excellent blend of the ancient and the modern; the dazzling deserts and the vibrant cities; and the proximity of these two different but vibrant cultures and lifestyles.

A lot to offer
All the emirates in the UAE have a lot to offer staycationers. Dubai, of course, is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. From beaches to architectural marvels and desert safaris to wadis, it has a wide range of fascinating places on offer.

One of the most interesting places to visit is the Palm Jumeirah, the artificial archipelago. There's an amazing range of hotels and resorts that you can stay in, excellent dining options, a wide range of activities for thrill-seekers including speedboats and skydiving, water parks and underwater thrills.
Those of you who love the sea can just walk around Jumeirah beach or enjoy sports at a popular outdoor water park.

Downtown Dubai, the futuristic district, of course has the Burj Khalifa, the 828-metre high tower, the world's tallest building. It also features the Dubai Mall and the famous Dubai Fountain. Bur Dubai has its own charm and one can spend hours walking around the bazaars, old structures and monuments and the museum. One comes across wind towers and souks in this part of the emirate.

On the other side of the creek is Deira, which has a wide range of souks including the famous gold bazaar. Jebel Ali, about 35 kilometres from Dubai, is a thriving commercial port and is now home to Dubai Parks and Resorts, an integrated resort.

Dune-bashing
There are a lot of exciting things outside the urban conglomerate of Dubai. One of the most interesting is to travel in a 4x4 into the desert where one can go dune-bashing or camel riding during daytime and enjoy Bedouin-style camps or even sleep out in tents.

Abu Dhabi, the national capital, also has a lot on offer for the staycationers. Yas Island has exciting options including Ferrari World, Waterworld, and Warner Bros World. It features live music and exhilarating races, a wide range of hotels and eateries and beaches.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world, is a key attraction. An architectural wonder, it reflects the rich cultural legacy of Abu Dhabi. The Capital Gate, also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is another place worth visiting.

About 150 kilometres from Abu Dhabi is Al Ain, also known as the 'Garden City' of the UAE. Prominent places here include Al Jahili fort, the camel souk, the zoo and Jebel Hafeet, the second-highest peak in the UAE (1,240 metres).

Fujairah, the east coast tourism hub, has a lot to offer those who love the seas. It is a great place for diving and snorkeling, especially Snoopy Island, which is off Al Aqah beach and is home to green sea turtles and black-tip reef sharks.

Going on a 4WD expedition through the wadis (riverbeds) is an experience one would never forget. One should also visit the Khor Kalba reserve that borders Oman and has an extensive mangrove.

Tallest mountain peak in the UAE
Ras Al Khaimah is another popular destination that will draw you as a staycationer. Home to Jebel Jais, the tallest mountain peak in the UAE (soaring to nearly 1,900 metres), the emirate also has many hiking trails, the world's tallest, manmade waterfall, attractive beaches and Al Qawasim Corniche, its most popular street.

Sharjah is another interesting place for staycationers to visit as it has museums, cultural centres, souks and the heritage area. One can explore old Bedouin homes and wind towers. Neighbouring Ajman has always attracted tourists because of its lovely beaches and historic sites. The 70-kilometre-long coastline offers quiet beaches and also deep-sea fishing and diving expeditions. The bustling bazaars and the relaxed lifestyle in the emirate are other factors that should attract busy folk in the UAE looking for the ideal staycation.

Umm Al Quwain, which has a rich fishing and date cultivation heritage, has clean and quiet beaches, an old harbour, sandy islands and one of the largest water parks in the UAE. Interestingly, some of the stacationers also plan visits to neighbouring Oman, which is easily accessible. The Sultanate has lovely beaches, rolling sand dunes, ancient cities, and of course, the mountains.

- nithin@khaleejtimes.com


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Oman
If you're keen on staying close to home, take a quick flight to Oman. Tour operators in the UAE have travel packages to Oman. There are a number of destinations to explore from Jabal Shams and Jabal Al Akhdar to Dhofar Governorate and Al Ashkharah Beach as well as Musandam and Salalah. Take a day tour through Omani villages and valleys to appreciate its culture, heritage and nature. Visitors can spot fortresses and castles that date back to hundreds of years, marvel at mysterious caves and also enjoy fishing, snorkelling, cruises and other water sports, besides sinking your teeth into its delectable cuisine.

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