The UAE (United Arab Emirates)
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
September and December 2010
The U.A.E. is a dynamic and forward looking oasis in the Middle East. Often misunderstood and not properly distinguished from other countries in the Gulf, the "Emirates" have a personality of their own and a multicultural society that contributes its diverse character. TunisUSA's tour to the Emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah provides three environments that shed light on the UAE and its culture.

Sunday - Arrival to Dubai
Upon your morning arrival from Tehran, you will be transferred to your hotel and have a brief opportunity to refresh yourself before beginning your Dubai tour. (Rooms may not be ready for check-in, but the reception will hold your luggage).

Your touring of Dubai will provide a good sense of the juxtaposition of the ultra modern life of Dubai, with traditional life as it was, prior to the oil wealth and its impact on today's Dubai. Your touring will include a visit to the Jumeirah Mosque, where you will hear a talk about Islam and its practice in the Gulf, with an opportunity to have an open exchange of views about religion and the rituals of Islam.

Your Dubai city tour continues with a visit to the Bastakya section, the oldest part of Dubai that remains from the pre-development stage. Lunch will be in a charming restaurant in one of the old, traditional houses of Bastakaya.

Following lunch, you will tour by foot, exploring more of the Bastakaya, as well as travelling to the other side of the Bastakaya creek to visit the oldest school in the UAE and one of the traditional merchant houses in Deira. You eventually reach the famous gold souk, as well.

Late afternoon return to your hotel. Dinner will be a buffet in the hotel, a rather sumptuous buffet, thus allowing you to eat at the time of your choosing. Overnight in Dubai. (L, D)

Monday - Abu Dhabi Tour & Dhow cruise
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up at 8AM for a drive to Abu Dhabi. Your visit to Abu Dhabi will include the magnificent Sheik Zayed Mosque, a structure that spared little in its expansiveness and craftsmanship and is said to be the largest mosque in the world.

You will also visit the falcon hospital, the largest such hospital in the world where you will learn about falconry as a part of Gulf culture, both as a hobby and its earlier uses in hunting. Afternoon return to Dubai, where you will have more time to see parts of Dubai. This evening, dinner will be on a Dhow cruise (a traditional boat of the Arabaian islands). Overnight in Dubai. (B, D)

Tuesday - Sharjah tour & dinner in the Desert
This morning you depart your hotel after breakfast for your visit to Sharjah, another one of the Emirates of the UAE. As you will see, Sharjah has a far more conservative feeling than Dubai.

You will also visit the falcon hospital, the largest such hospital in the world where you will learn about falconry as a part of Gulf culture, both as a hobby and its earlier uses in hunting. Afternoon return to Dubai, where you will have more time to see parts of Dubai. This evening, dinner will be on a Dhow cruise (a traditional boat of the Arabaian islands). Overnight in Dubai. (B, D)

Wednesday - departure
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the US. (B)