United Arab Emirates
Western Asia · ARE
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates fits travelers who want a short, high-comfort Middle East trip with polished stays, desert scenery, and a manageable amount of heritage sightseeing. It is strongest in the cooler months, with Abu Dhabi and Al Ain giving enough contrast for a focused first visit without pretending the country needs a long overland itinerary.
Popular For
Things To See
- Abu Dhabi
- Al Ain
- Faya Palaeolandscape
- Hafit
- Hili
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- November through March is the easiest window for outdoor sightseeing, while summer heat sharply narrows the amount of comfortable time outside.
- Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are enough for most first visits, so the country usually lands better as a short focused itinerary than a long circuit.
- Luxury-heavy stays and desert day trips fit the country better than chasing a long list of landmark sights.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for United Arab Emirates.
Guidebooks
📚Browse United Arab Emirates Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for United Arab Emirates.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Population
- 11,294,243
- Area
- 83,600 km²
- Region
- Western Asia
Languages
- Arabic
Currency
United Arab Emirates dirham (د.إ)
AED
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
63.5
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 44.4
- Restaurants
- 56.5
- Rent
- 39.6
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Abu Dhabi (24.47°N, 54.37°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 69/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.940
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.039
- 10-year change
- +0.094
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.957
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.040
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.585
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2)
- 🏛️
Faya Palaeolandscape
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas)
Inscribed 2011
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 19.2%
- Forest cover
- 4.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 8
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 13
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
43/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
95/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel on March 2. Advisory summary was updated. Reconsider travel to the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of armed conflict and terrorism. Advisory Summary On March 2, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government family members to leave the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of armed conflict. Armed Conflict Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. The Iranian regime has publicly stated its intention to target locations in the UAE associated with the United States. Terrorism There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the United Arab Emirates. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and may target tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping areas, government facilities, places of worship, and in particular locations associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities. Aviation Safety The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) recommending caution for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators operating in the Middle East, including the UAE. For more information, Americans who plan to travel to the region should check the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices. Local laws Residents and visitors should be aware the UAE has strict rules on social behavior, drug possession, traffic violations, and financial crimes. Breaking these rules can lead to arrest and/or an exit ban. Americans should review the Department of State’s Destination Information Page for the UAE to learn about local laws, special circumstances, and additional information about travel to the United Arab Emirates. For U.S. citizens in the United Arab Emirates: Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations . Follow the U.S. Mission to the UAE on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and visit the Mission website. Review the Country Security Report for the United Arab Emirates. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for United Arab Emirates. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data