Abu Dhabi
According to shopareview, Abu Dhabi is the official capital of the UAE, the administrative center of the emirates and the residence of the President. It is the largest of the seven emirates with a total area of 67,000 sq. km, it includes 200 islands bordering the Arabian Peninsula. Over the past thirty years, the capital has undergone great changes. Modern ABU DHABI is one of the most intensively developing cities not only in the country, but also in the world. As the center of the oil industry with ultra-modern skyscrapers, ABU DHABI has been called the Manhattan of the Middle East.
The city’s ideally straight streets form a grid with six main thoroughfares. The most spectacular buildings are grouped along the embankment or located on parallel streets. A feature that distinguishes ABU DHABI from any other modern city and that reflects its Muslim character is the large number of mosques in and around the city. From anywhere in the city you can see several intricately decorated minarets at once. A visitor is amazed by the abundance of greenery in ABU DHABI. Planting lines stretch along the main road to the city and the entire embankment, hiding the arid soil, eucalyptus and palm trees grow! In the city itself there are many grassy lawns and ornamental shrubs. Surprisingly clean streets, beautifully equipped embankments, hundreds of fountains, an abundance of greenery and parks, a large number of mosques, oriental bazaar – all this modern cosmopolitan ABU DHABI. In the near future, the implementation of new ultra-modern projects to create new infrastructure, including hotels, business centers, shopping and entertainment complexes, such as the AL RAHA Beach project presented in 2006.
The most ambitious project is Saadiyat Island (“Island of Happiness”) with an area of 30 sq. km, on the territory of which 29 hotels should be built by 2018 and, most importantly, the future cultural capital, represented by unique architectural masterpieces – the Guggenheim Museums, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Maritime Museum, an art center of five theater halls with a total capacity of 6,300 people.
Yas Island in Abu Dhabi has become the center of attraction for Formula 1 fans from all over the world. The world’s first FERRARI WORLD amusement park is open here, and the Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place in November.
Sharjah
Sharjah is the only emirate that has territory in both the eastern and western parts of the country. Because of this, its landscape is very interesting, which ranges from vast deserts to mountain ranges and coastal areas. The total area of the emirate is 2600 square meters. km.
Among all the emirates, the history of Sharjah is the richest. The Arabian Gulf served as Mesopotamia’s outlet to the Indian Ocean, and early trade with Persia determined the lifestyle of the inhabitants of this emirate. As the third largest emirate, Sharjah was the cradle of the development of the coastal tribes and remained a prosperous port for many centuries.
Now Sharjah is an amazing fusion of old and new. Many of the best oriental bazaars are located in this emirate and are masterpieces of Arab architecture and the heritage of the UAE. Today it is the cultural capital of the country, attracting numerous tourists with an abundance of historical and cultural values stored in the museums of the emirate. Sharjah is a very well maintained green city with an amazing lagoon with beautiful parks and gardens. There are many hotels located right on the seafront, which makes Sharjah one of the favorite holiday destinations for tourists. Sharjah has many public beaches that are open to tourists. But it should be emphasized that this is the most strict emirate in terms of morals. This is a “non-alcoholic emirate” where alcohol is completely absent even in hotels. Sharjah is a good holiday destination for those who want to combine an inexpensive holiday on the shores of the Persian Gulf with the opportunity to shop in Dubai, located just 10 minutes away.
In the enclosures of the unique Wildlife Center, located in the emirate, you will discover many endangered species of animals and plants of the Arabian Peninsula, including the famous Arabian leopard.
Snow-white beaches on the coasts of the Arabian and Oman Gulfs, amusement parks, attractions and game centers – for families with children; diving, surfing, water skiing, jeep safari, paragliding, mountain biking, shooting club – for active travelers; museums, monuments, archaeological centers, visiting an Emirati farm and a local resident’s house – for connoisseurs of culture and history; nature reserves, centers for the protection of wild animals, kayaking – for fans of eco-tourism; traditional markets, boutiques of famous brands and modern shopping centers – for shoppers; restaurants and cafes of Arabic and international cuisine – for gourmets; numerous business centers, conference rooms in hotels, exhibition halls and even museums, picturesque outdoor areas for business events and corporate events.