United Arab Emirates

Why Choose an Escorted Holiday to the UAE?

The United Arab Emirates is one of the world's most popular short-haul destinations for British-Indian travellers, and for good reason. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are extraordinary in their own right: world-record architecture, shopping on a scale found nowhere else, desert experiences ranging from dune bashing to camel treks, and a cultural programme that now includes some of the finest museums in the Middle East. The UAE also works exceptionally well as a stopover on longer itineraries to Southeast Asia or Australia.

For our British-Indian passengers in particular, the UAE has a unique quality: the Indian community in Dubai alone numbers over 3 million people, making it the largest single nationality in the emirate. Hindi is spoken widely across the country, Indian food is available at every level from street snacks to fine dining, and Indian cultural life - cinemas, cultural centres, religious sites - is substantial. Many of our passengers have family or friends in Dubai and find that an escorted UAE tour gives them the combination of structured sightseeing and personal visits that they cannot easily manage independently.

Indian-Friendly Features on Our UAE Tours

• Indian dinners included on most multi-day tours, with exceptional quality and variety across Dubai and Abu Dhabi
• Vegetarian and Jain options outstanding throughout the UAE, reflecting the large Indian community
• No pork compulsory in any included meals; halal food universal
• Hindi spoken widely across the UAE - many of our Indian passengers find Dubai the most linguistically comfortable international destination they visit
• India departure add-on very popular - contact our India team on 1800 123 181 181 for direct India-UAE connection options
• Indian temples and cultural sites - the Shiva and Krishna Temple in Bur Dubai and other Indian community spaces included on request

Best Time to Visit the UAE

November to March is the optimal period. Temperatures are comfortable (20-28°C), outdoor activities are enjoyable, and the full range of desert and beach experiences is accessible. This is the peak tourist season; book ahead for December and January.

October and April are shoulder months with slightly warmer temperatures but still comfortable, especially in the evenings.

May to September is extremely hot - temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and humidity along the coast is high. Indoor attractions (malls, museums, aquariums) are accessible, but outdoor sightseeing is challenging.

Popular Destinations Within the UAE

Dubai - the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building) and the observation decks, the Dubai Mall, the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira, the Dubai Frame, the Dubai Creek heritage area and the Palm Jumeirah. The desert safari at dusk with a barbecue camp dinner is consistently among the most requested experiences.

Abu Dhabi - the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the world, with capacity for 41,000 worshippers and extraordinary white marble and mosaic detail. The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and the Ferrari World theme park on Yas Island are the other major draws.

Al Ain - the UAE's Garden City, a UNESCO World Heritage oasis city with traditional falaj irrigation systems, camel markets, an excellent National Museum and Al Ain Oasis.

The Desert - the Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi emirate and the Hatta mountain enclave near Dubai both offer different desert and mountain experiences, from the world's largest sand dunes at Liwa to the cool mountain pools and heritage village at Hatta.

Sharjah - the emirate adjacent to Dubai, designated an Arab Cultural Capital, with excellent Islamic art and heritage museums and a UNESCO-listed historic district.

Fujairah and the East Coast - the only emirate on the Gulf of Oman coastline, with mountains, old forts, snorkelling reefs and a completely different pace from Dubai.

Practical Information

• Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)
• Language: Arabic (official); English and Hindi widely spoken across the country
• Time zone: Gulf Standard Time (GMT+4). No daylight saving.
• Electricity: Type G plugs (230V). UK plugs work without an adapter.
• Tipping: Included in your Star Tours holiday price
• India bookings: Call our India line free on 1800 123 181 181 (10am-7pm)
• ABTA & ATOL: All our UAE holidays are fully protected