Dubai is one of the world's most exciting new travel destinations. Lying on the blue waters of the southern Arabian Gulf and backed by the majestic desert, Dubai offers visitors year-round sunshine and five-star luxury plus the adventure of a unique Arabian experience.

Dubai- one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates - is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinctive blend of modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new. Known in the region as the "city of merchants", Dubai has, for generations, welcomed seafarers and traders to its shores. Today, its tradition of courtesy and hospitality lives on.

Dubai has something for everyone - from the holidaymaker seeking a relaxing break away from the clouds and crowds, to the active tourist looking for a new and exciting experience. The city has superb facilities for sports, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. Abu Dhabi is also a city of the same name within the Emirate that is the capital of the country, in north central UAE. The city lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast. An estimated 1,000,000 lived there in 2000, with about an 80% expatriate population. Abu Dhabi City is located at 24.4667° N 54.3667° E. Al Ain is Abu Dhabi's second largest urban area with a population of more than 200,000 and located 150 kilometres inland.

Abu Dhabi occupies an area of 26,000 square miles. Its long coastline - the shallow waters of the Southern Persian Gulf, extending from the base of the Qatar Peninsula in the west to the border of the emirate of Dubai on the north east, was once the world's best waters for pearling. When the pearling industry declined, oil discovery in the offshore oilfields of the Southern Persian Gulf revived the economy of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi was also the first emirate to export oil from the Umm Shaif offshore field in 1962. On the land, it stretches south to the oases of Liwa where some of the world’s largest sand dunes can be found , and east to the ancient oasis of Al Ain. This makes Abu Dhabi the largest as well as the most populated of all the emirates.

The rise of British naval power in the Persian Gulf in the mid-18th century coincided with the rise of two important tribal confederations along the coast of the lower Gulf. These were the Qawasim, whose descendants now rule Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah, and the Bani Yas, whose descendants are now the ruling families of modern Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Khor Fakkan (sometimes written as 'Khawr Fakkan') is geographically situated within the Emirate of Fujairah on the East coast of the United Arab Emirates on the Gulf of Oman, but is actually an isolated enclave belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is the site of a shallow draught port and oil refining facilities.

History
In 1580 the Venetian jeweller Gasparo Balbi noted "Chorf" in a list of places on the east coast of the UAE, which is considered by historians to indicate Khor Fakkan. The Portuguese built a fort at Khor Fakkan, which was a ruin by 1666. 

This fort and another one is mentioned in the log book of the Dutch vessel the Meerkat, which describes "Gorfacan" as place on a small bay, with about 200 small houses built from date branches, near the beach. It refers to a triangular Portuguese fortress on the northern side, in ruins, and a fortress on a hill on the southern side, also in ruins, without garrison or artillery. As well as date palms, the Meerkat's log also mentions fig trees, melons, watermelons and myrrh. It notes several wells with "good and fresh water" used for irrigation.

One reason suggested for the ruinous state of the forts is an invasion by the Persian navy, under the control of Omani Sheikh Muhammad Suhari, in 1623. Suhari, facing a Portuguese counter-attack, withdrew to the Portuguese forts, including that of Khor Fakkan. When the Persians were expelled, the Portuguese commander Ruy Freire urged the people of Khor Fakkan to remain loyal to the Portuguese crown, and established a Portuguese customs office as well.

In 1737, long after the Portuguese had been expelled from Arabia, the Persians again invaded Khor Fakkan, with the help of the Dutch, during their intervention in the Omani civil war. In 1765 Khor Fakkan belonged to a sheikh of the Qawasim, according to the German traveller Carsten Niebuhr, just as it does to this day.

The Emirate of Sharjah extends along approximately 16 kilometres of the United Arab Emirates's Persian Gulf coastline and for more than 80 kilometres into the interior. In addition there are three enclaves belonging to Sharjah situated on the east coast, bordering the Gulf of Oman. These are Kalba, Khor Fakkan and Dibba al-Husn. The emirate has an area of 2,590 square kilometres, which is equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the country's total area, excluding the islands.

The capital city of Sharjah, which overlooks the Persian Gulf, contains the main administrative and commercial centers together with an especially impressive array of cultural and traditional projects, including several museums.

Distinctive landmarks are the two major covered souqs, reflecting Islamic design; a number of recreational areas and public parks such as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche. The city is also notable for its numerous elegant mosques. Links with the outside world are provided by Sharjah International Airport and Port Khalid.

Umm al-Qaiwain is one of the United Arab Emirates. It is in the north of the country, and is ruled by Sheik Rashid ibn Ahmad Al Mu'alla.

The emirate had 49,000 inhabitants in 2000, and has an area of 750 square kilometers. The emirate is famous for liqueur trading.

Accepted alternative spellings include Umm al Qiwain (used on its former postage stamps) as well as Umm al-Qawain, Umm al-Qaywayn, Umm el-Qiwain, and Umm al-Quwain.

Ajman, or Ujman is the smallest member state of the United Arab Emirates, with an area of just 260 square kilometres. Its capital is Ajman.

Located along the Persian Gulf, it also controls Masfut and Manama, two small, inland enclaves that are primarily agricultural. The population of approximately 135,000 is located mainly in the capital, Ajman. The population has grown considerably in recent years, due to an influx of people from the neighboring states of Dubai, Sharjah, and other countries .