The fast-paced development of the UAE and its Arabian neighbours shows no signs of slowing, and if you’re looking to visit, there’s never been a better time. This is your guide to where to go in 2016
Dubai
Why go?
Dubai is the Emirate that needs no introduction, which is pretty extraordinary when you consider that it only really opened up to tourism in the 1980s and ‘90s. It’s a place where superlatives rule – from the soaring Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) to the Dubai Mall (yes, it’s the largest in the world) – and where you’ll be rewarded for throwing yourself headlong into all it has to offer, from nightlife and dining to adventure and relaxation.
Where to stay
The InterContinental Dubai Marina, which opened last year, offers a taste of Dubai’s present and future, where restrained, laidback luxury meets showstopper restaurants and bars. The Vida Downtown Dubai in the Downtown area is an arty, design-led hotel that even has its own food truck, while those looking to escape the throng for the desert should head to Al Maha – its luxurious tented rooms come with stellar views of the dunes.
Where to eat and go out
Star chef Jason Atherton opened his first Dubai restaurant, Marina Social, in the InterContinental Dubai Marina in September to rave reviews, with Time Out Dubai declaring “this is Dubai’s new standard to beat”. Elsewhere, try the bistro or boulangerie at La Serre, near the Burj Khalifa, for laidback, sociable eating – or for great seafood minus the glitz (and hefty price tag), Bu Qtair on Jumeirah Beach Road is an unassuming gem. Don’t forget to squeeze in brunch on a Friday – try Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah if you’re going big…
Go there for: nightlife
Dubai’s thriving expat community knows how to party, so you’d better follow suit. Pacha Ibiza Dubai brings a dose of Balearic hedonism to the Emirate, or you can dance to big-name DJs on the beach at Barasti Bar. Head to Mercury Lounge at the Four Seasons or Zuma – named in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2015 list – for world-class mixology.
What’s going on?
The new Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park is a 150m by 93m picture frame that’s been two years in the making and looks likely to set a new standard for architectural selfie-magnets. There’s also a 2,000-seater opera house opening with its own Opera District culture centre. Sports lovers can catch the world’s best tennis players at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (15-27 February), while if eating (a lot) is more your thing, check out the Dubai Food Festival (25 February - 12 March).
Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah offers a number of luxury hotels, from desert to beach settings
Why go?
The UAE’s northernmost and fourth-largest emirate, Ras Al Khaimah boasts sun-baked deserts and lush oases, bordered by majestic mountain ranges. Thanks to its status as a free-trade zone, it’s gone from strength to strength in recent years and – like much of the UAE – it’s a magnet for luxury seekers. Located an hour’s drive from Dubai, its reputation for great beaches means it’s a good choice for couples and families, while outdoorsy types keen to make the most of the landscape can try out everything from watersports to horse riding.
Where to stay
There’s no shortage of quality hotels and resorts in RAK, starting with the Waldorf Astoria and its 18-hole golf course, the luxurious Banyan Tree, and its desert-based sister, the Banyan Tree Al Wadi. Elsewhere, the Cove Rotana (rotana.com) and Rixos Bab Al Bahr are more family friendly offerings. And there’s more to come, too, with Marriott and Anantara scheduled to arrive by 2018.
Where to eat and go out
Lebanese food is particularly good in the UAE, and RAK’s Marjan, located in the Waldorf Astoria, is a prime example, while Meat Point in the Bab Al Bahr specialises in South American-style grills. Elsewhere, Tree Top Bar, located at the top of Hilton’s Double Tree hotel, is the perfect spot to unwind while drinking in views of the bay. For smaller restaurants offering authentic local food, spend your evenings wandering along the newly developed waterside corniche.
Go there for: the water
Water babies can learn to sail at the Sailing Academy, go paragliding or take a jet ski out for a spin. If you’re more about culture than adventure, other water-based experiences include a cruise on the Prince of Sea – a luxurious yacht that follows the path of Ahmad ibn Majid, a 15th-century navigator who was born in the area.
What’s going on?
If you’re into sports, you’ll feel right at home in Ras Al Khaimah. Things kick off with the annual half marathon every February, before the temperatures begin to soar. Later in the same month, you’ll find everything from photography to jewellery design at the Fine Arts Festival, which celebrates the creative and artistic sectors of the emirates. 2016 will be key for golf, with the European Challenge Tour making its maiden voyage to RAK in October.
Sharjah
Sharjah Light Festival takes place during February every year
Why go?
Sharjah is located next to Dubai, but couldn’t feel further away from its neighbouring Emirate’s cocktail-swigging, brunching expat lifestyle – it’s (almost) completely dry, meaning a break there won’t be marred by unwanted rowdy revellers. Add to that a fascinating old town, Arab Capital of Culture status, and 150 hectares of mangroves to explore (the oldest in the Emirates, no less), and you’re looking at a serene and enlightening getaway.
Where to stay
The newly opened Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa offers a dose of familiar Emirates-style excess: a statement structure standing proud on a private, palm-fringed beach, while the striking Hilton Sharjah – housed in a sleek mirrored tower block – overlooks the city’s Khalid Lagoon.
Where to eat and go out
Shababeek restaurant on the waterfront in the city centre is the place to be seen, and also serves stand-out Lebanese food. For a taste of authentic cuisine, you can arrange a visit to a local home for some family fare, or get back to nature with a alfresco picnic lunch at the Khor Kalba mangroves.
Go there for: culture
There’s plenty happening in Sharjah, so much so it was named Arab Capital of Culture by Unesco in 1998. The city has 16 museums – dedicated to anything from calligraphy to classic cars – as well as an annual book fair, art foundation and plenty of regular artsy festivals. The Sharjah Heritage Museum is a good place to start, while the Museum of Islamic Civilisation also houses an informative collection.
What’s going on?
A lot, that’s what. The bigest ever Sharjah Light Festival takes place in Februrary 2016 – a nine-day celebration of Arab and Islamic architecture, heritage and art where the city will play host to creative installations and narrative illuminations – while in December, there’s the Sharjah Water Festival, the F1 Grand Prix Championship and Aqua Bike Grand Prix Championship. .
Oman
Salalah, Oman
Bjoern Lauen/Getty
Why go?
Think you know Oman? Sand, sand and more sand? Yes, there is loads of sand. Hundreds of miles of desert, in fact. But there’s more to Oman than that. This is the country that saw the birth of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor, a place where a chicken shawarma costs a mere £1.50 and where you can fill a 4X4 for £8. For rugged, mountain-backed coastlines, cultural cities and authentic Arabia (minus the man-made skyscrapers), Oman’s the gig for you.
Where to stay
If you’re looking to laze around on a sun lounger, looking like an A-lister while sipping yet another cocktail, then book into the Six Senses Zighy Bay. You can take the easy route in – that’s a jeep ride over the mountains, or you can paraglide your way onto the turquoise water/white sand combo of the beach. Anantara Hotels and Resorts is due to open a few more beach-based properties over the coming year, while those looking for something more adventurous should check out Alila Jebal Akhdar in the Hajar Mountains, or Alila Salalah, which opens later this year and is dubbed the gateway to the ‘sand sea’ of the Empty Quarter (or Rub’ al Khali).
Where to eat and go out
Many of Oman’s hotels are remote – in a good way. That said, it’s not the handiest place to wander out of your hotel looking for your next meal, unless you’re in Muscat. If you are, head to The Beach (that’s the restaurant’s name) for Arabian ambiance and generous seafood platters. For something kinder on the wallet, pull up at a stool at the busiest shawarma shop you can find.
Go there for: the sand
Companies such as Wild Frontiers offer ten-night desert adventures that will show you the best of Oman, journeying from the picturesque capital of Muscat through the deserts and mountains. You’ll see the 17th-century forts of Jabrin and Nizwa, shop in bustling souks, and spend a few nights camping out in the desert with just the stars for company.
What’s going on?
Why go to Italy for the opera when you can go to Oman? It may sound strange, and feel unfamiliar, but it’s no less incredible. The Royal Opera House, built on the royal orders of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, reflects the new wave of sympathetic-to-the-surroundings contemporary Omani architecture. There’s an impressive list of events for 2016 – from ballet to world music.
Qatar
Dhow Harbor in Doha, Qatar
Getty
Why go?
Rightly or wrongly, some countries make you feel like a bit of a stranger. Not in Qatar, though, where expats reign supreme, outnumbering the local population by about six times. There’s plenty of action and adventure to be had, as well as the sky-high buildings and glamorous restaurant outputs that have become commonplace in this part of the world.
Where to stay
As you’d expect a few years ahead of (potentially) hosting a World Cup, there are more glitzy hotel openings than you can kick a ball at in this part of the world at the moment. The capital, Doha, is where it’s at – recent hotel highlights in the country’s biggest city include the Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl, Doha – situated on the eponymous private island, naturally – and the Anantara Doha Island Resort and Spa, to add to a host of world-renowned names like the W and the Four Seasons.
Where to eat and go out
Big-name restaurant groups from London and beyond aren’t just opening doors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; the restaurants here – largely situated in the city’s top hotels – have some serious pedigree. Choose between two Gordon Ramsay restaurants and one from Hakkasan at the St. Regis Doha, or the world’s largest Nobu opened at the Four Seasons. Brunch on a Friday is a big, boozy tradition, so don’t party too hard on Thursday. Or sip enough sparkling wine to obliterate the hangover – it’s up to you.
Go there for: the wilderness
There aren’t many other parts of the world where you’ll find untouched desert so close to enormous buildings and glitzy hotels, so heading out into the wilderness is always going to come high on any adventurous traveller’s priority list. Khor Al Adaid, aka the ‘Inland Sea’, is a breathtaking sea on top of a desert (you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a mirage –but it isn’t). There are a number of desert safaris who’ll organise a trip for you, which may or may not include camel polo and quad bike riding. What’s going on? The World Cup in 2022 is still a few more years (and a few more metres of red tape) away, so for now you’ll have to settle for the opening of the National Museum of Qatar – designed by acclaimed French architect Jean Nouvel, it’ll be housed in an enormous, space-age-looking building and should quickly become both a must-visit location and the main source of information on the formation and history of the country.
