Emirates Essence: Discovering the Heart of UAE - 5-Day Journey

Arrival at Dubai airport. Meet & greet by our representative. Transfer to your hotel by air-conditioned vehicle. Check-in & overnight in Dubai. Dinner at leisure.

Breakfast at your hotel. We will start with a briefing meeting at 9:30 am to introduce the group and the guide and explain the trip. We will depart for a half-day guided tour of Dubai. Discover the spectacular and lively metropolis of Dubai, developed from a small fishing village at the Dubai Creek to a glamorous metropolis on the Arabian Gulf. The distinctive skyscrapers and gigantic shopping malls will impress every visitor. We start with Atlantis Hotel located at the crescent of Palm Jumeirah. After that, a photo stop at Burj Al Arab Hotel and continue to Jumeirah area, where we will have a photo stop at the awe-inspiring Grand Mosque of Jumeirah. Built in the medieval Fatimid tradition, this stone structure is a tribute to modern Islamic architecture. We then proceed to Bastakyia, the old town district of Dubai. Learn everything about the local history and geography. We will visit the Shindagha Museum. Another highlight will follow: you will use the local water taxis, called “Abras”, to cross the Dubai Creek. Enjoy the spectacular view of the city while heading towards the district of Deira. Here you will be enchanted by the large variety of exotic spices in the famous Spice Souk. Take the chance to get a unique and affordable souvenir when you visit the adjacent Gold Souk. Lunch Buffet. In the afternoon, we will join a Desert Safari. After settling down in the 4WD vehicles, the jeeps will speed through the desert of golden sand dunes. The dune bashing or desert driving continues with the thrill of going up and down the dunes, provoking many shrieks and laughter full of excitement. The final leg of this program takes us to the main campsite. This will be the highlight of the trip. After witnessing a memorable sight – the true Arabian sunset with its glory and magic. A delicious Barbecue Dinner is prepared on open fires and a variety of beverages are available. The beat of the music increases as a belly dancer starts dancing to the rhythm of the music. What a better way to experience a true Arabian night than this. Overnight in Dubai.

Breakfast at the hotel. We start the tour to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. This comprehensive tour is the ideal introduction to the UAE capital and the island on which it stands. The name Abu Dhabi means: “Father of the Gazelle”. We will start at famous Yas Island which houses the FORMULA 1 YAS circuit & the first attraction park of Ferrari in the world. An impressive attraction park, the largest covered air-conditioned park in the world with a huge RED FERRARI sign as a landmark. Then we will continue towards Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world; able to accommodate more than 30,000 worshippers. The beautiful mosque is completely clad in marble and features intricate Islamic decoration and carvings as well as extensive landscaping. Then we will go towards Abu Dhabi downtown. Lunch in the city. After lunch, we will drive along the spectacular Corniche, past gleaming white mosques, glass-clad offices, and elegant high-rise apartments to the tip of the breakwater for a superb view of the city’s magnificent skyline. Then we will drive through the famous giant Saadiyat Island project where the museums are being built to complete the image of Abu Dhabi as a cultural city. We will also pass by the famous site of Abrahamic Family House. In the late afternoon, we will visit the Louvre Museum. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is an art and civilization museum located on the Saadiyat Island Cultural District. Finally, we will check in at the hotel. Dinner & overnight in Abu Dhabi.

Breakfast at your hotel. We leave Abu Dhabi in the morning for Al Ain, located on the Hajjar Mountains. It is one of the oldest cities in the UAE, rich in traditions. For thousands of years, the oasis of Al Ain has been an important caravan stop on the ancient trade routes across Arabia. We continue to Jebel Hafeet for a great photo stop. After that, we will have lunch in the city. In the afternoon, we will visit the camel market, the largest in the UAE. Then we will visit Jahili Fort, one of the largest castles in Al Ain and a best-in-class example of Islamic military architecture locally. Then we will visit Al Ain Palace, one of the most important cultural places in Al Ain city. It is a direct testimony to the period of rule of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in Al Ain and his original place of residence there. The Palace is also the birthplace of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Then we proceed to visit Qasr Al Muwaiji, where you will learn everything about the history of this region. At the end of the afternoon, we will check in the hotel. Dinner in the hotel. Overnight in Al Ain.

Breakfast at your hotel. This morning we will proceed towards Dubai & Sharjah. We will reach after 2 hours and start a half-day Sharjah tour. This tour will take us to Sharjah, the cultural capital known as the ‘Pearl of the Gulf”. You will pass by the King Faisal Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Emirates. Then we pass by the renovated Fort of Sharjah, former residence of the ruling family. Then we continue to the Sharjah Heritage Museum which conserves and displays the rich traditional customs and culture of Sharjah as a source of pride and inspiration to Emiratis and visitors to the UAE. Begin a journey of discovery through Sharjah's rich and diverse heritage and explore traditions that have endured the test of time. You will see handcrafted works of art and objects that date back to a time when local people relied solely on fishing and pearling. Trace the development of education, currency, and the early postal system. We will discover the traditional skills and crafts relating to jewelry, costumes, herbal medicines, music, and folklore. After the visit, it’s now time to explore the colorful Souk Al Arsa, set up in a traditional way. You will also have an opportunity to discover local traditional shops in Souk Al Arsa. Lunch will be served in a very local restaurant where you will discover the real Bedouin meal of Mandi, a succulent recipe of meats or fish with marvelous spices from this part of the world. After the tour, we return to Dubai towards the “Dubai Mall” & Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower and the centerpiece of the Gulf region's most prestigious urban development to date. Burj Dubai will radiate out in a series of ellipses from the sky-breaking tower encompassing residential, commercial, hotel, entertainment, and the world's largest shopping mall “Dubai Mall”. Free time for shopping. With more than 1,200 stores and a host of world-class attractions; the Middle East region’s first Galeries Lafayette department store, France’s leading fashion house, and one of the top 100 global retailers. The Dubai Mall is revolutionizing the modern shopping experience. With an impressive array of leisure pursuits, this is the ultimate, cutting-edge shopping experience. A range of adventure sports vies for attention alongside the romance of ice-skating. The Dubai Mall is a place where a 21st-century gold souk is set off against a world-class aquarium. Step inside The Dubai Mall and experience a place like no other. A climb to Burj Khalifa will be proposed to all our guests (optional – to pre-book in advance), depending on your departure time, you will be transferred to Dubai airport.