Insight Guides Oman & the UAE (Travel Guide eBook)

Insight Guides

Description

Let us guide you on every step of your travels.

From deciding when to go, to choosing what to see when you arrive, Insight Guide Oman and the UAE is all you need to plan your trip and experience the best of Oman and the UAE, with in-depth insider information on must-see, top attractions like Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Dhofar and the Musandam Peninsula, and hidden cultural gems like Bahla Fort. 

This book is ideal for travellers seeking immersive cultural experiences, from exploring the Central Market Souk, the Jumerirah Mosque and snorkeling in Musandam, to discovering Snake Gorge and the Royal Opera House.

- In-depth on history and culture: explore the region's vibrant history and culture, and understand its modern-day life, people and politics 
- Excellent Editor's Choice: uncover the best of Oman and the UAE, which highlights the most special places to visit around the region 
- Invaluable and practical maps: get around with ease thanks to detailed maps that pinpoint the key attractions featured in every chapter
- Informative tips: plan your travels easily with an A to Z of useful advice on everything from climate to tipping
- Inspirational colour photography: discover the best destinations, sights, and excursions, and be inspired by stunning imagery
- Inventive design makes for an engaging, easy-reading experience
- Covers: Muscat, Sohar and the Batinah Coast, Nizwa, Sur, the East and the Wahibah Desert, Dhofar, the Musandam Peninsula, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, the Northern Emirates and the Fujairah and the East Coast.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps, as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

Sujets

• Omán
• Travel
• General officer
• United Arab Emirates
• Middle East
• General
• Oman
• Émirats arabes unis

Informations

• Publié par: Apa Publications
• Date de parution: 01 novembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781839051920
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

How To Use This E-Book

Getting around the e-book
This Insight Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration for your visit to Oman and the UAE, as well as comprehensive planning advice to make sure you have the best travel experience. The guide begins with our selection of Top Attractions, as well as our Editor’s Choice categories of activities and experiences. Detailed features on history, people and culture paint a vivid portrait of contemporary life in Oman and the UAE. The extensive Places chapters give a complete guide to all the sights and areas worth visiting. The Travel Tips provide full information on getting around, activities from culture to shopping to sport, plus a wealth of practical information to help you plan your trip.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Oman and the UAE are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
You’ll find hundreds of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Oman and the UAE. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.
About Insight Guides
Insight Guides have more than 40 years’ experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce 400 full-colour titles, in both print and digital form, covering more than 200 destinations across the globe, in a variety of formats to meet your different needs.
Insight Guides are written by local authors, whose expertise is evident in the extensive historical and cultural background features. Each destination is carefully researched by regional experts to ensure our guides provide the very latest information. All the reviews in Insight Guides are independent; we strive to maintain an impartial view. Our reviews are carefully selected to guide you to the best places to eat, go out and shop, so you can be confident that when we say a place is special, we really mean it.

© 2019 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd




Table of Contents
Oman & the UAE’s Top 10 Attractions
Editor’s Choice
Introduction: Arabia Then and Now
Land and Environments
Decisive Dates
Archaeology
Maritime Heritage
Oman’s Great Dynasties
The UAE from Rags to Riches
Insight: Explorers
Daily Life
The Bedu
Insight: All That Glitters - Jewellery
The Expatriates
Islam in Southeast Arabia
Food and Drink
Architecture
Insight: The Arts
Sports and Outdoor Activities
Introduction: Oman
Muscat
Sohar and the Batinah Coast
Nizwa and the Interior
Sur, the East and the Wahibah Desert
Insight: The Birdlife Along Dhofar’s Coast
Dhofar
The Musandam Peninsula
Introduction: The UAE
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Sharjah
The Northern Emirates
Fujairah and the East Coast
Oman Transport
Oman A–Z
The UAE Transport
The UAE A–Z
Travel Tips: Language
Travel Tips: Further Reading


Oman & the UAE’s Top 10 Attractions



Top Attraction 1



Old Dubai . Wander through the endless souks, traditional houses and wind towers of old Dubai, lined up along either side of the bustling Creek, still busy with old-fashioned wooden dhows. For more information, click here .
Shutterstock


Top Attraction 2



Burj al Arab . One of the modern Gulf’s most iconic landmarks, the sail-shaped Burj al Arab rises majestically above the coast of southern Dubai – stunning by day, and even more spectacular after dark. For more information, click here .
Getty Images


Top Attraction 3



Salalah . A world away from the rest of Oman, Salalah is at its most memorable during the annual khareef (monsoon), when the surrounding mountains turn a verdant green. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 4



Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque . Abu Dhabi’s most dramatic sight: a huge snow-white mosque, topped by dozens of domes and soaring minarets, and opulently decorated inside with vast carpets and chandeliers. For more information, click here .
Shutterstock


Top Attraction 5



Sharjah Museums and Galleries. Self-styled “cultural capital” of the UAE, Sharjah boasts an excellent array of museums and galleries, covering everything from Arabic calligraphy to antique aeroplanes. For more information, click here .
Kevin Cummins/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 6



Mutrah Souk , Muscat. The biggest and most absorbing souk in the region, stuffed full of tiny shops selling all manner of traditional produce from honey to frankincense. For more information, click here .
iStock


Top Attraction 7



Musandam Peninsula . The mountains of Arabia at their most dramatic, as the red-rock Hajar mountains go tumbling down into the sea, creating a spectacular sequence of sheer cliffs and steep-sided khawrs . For more information, click here .
Chris Bradley/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 8



Sharqiya Sands . Magnificent stretch of untamed desert, with huge wind-blown dunes dotted with occasional hardy shrubs and trees or even hardier Bedu. For more information, click here .
Chris Bradley/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 9



Nizwa and the Western Hajar. Oman’s most historic city, with a magnificent fort and atmospheric souks tucked away in the lee of the craggy Western Hajar mountains. For more information, click here .
Chris Bradley/Apa Publications


Top Attraction 10



Jabrin Fort . The finest of Oman’s 500-odd forts, with beautifully restored interiors offering a tantalising glimpse into the life of the country’s former rulers. For more information, click here .
Chris Bradley/Apa Publications


Editor’s Choice




At the animal market, Nizwa.
Chris Bradley/Apa Publications


Top Traditional Attractions

Friday Market , Nizwa . Colourful weekly market in historic Nizwa, with hundreds of robed locals haggling over goats, cows and other livestock. For more information, click here .
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat . Vast modern mosque in contemporary Islamic style, with richly decorated interiors. For more information, click here .
Dhow Wharfage, Dubai . Hundreds of superb old wooden dhows moor up along the Creek, with cargo piled high on the adjacent waterfront. For more information, click here .
Women’s Souk , Ibra . Lively traditional women-only souk, particularly popular amongst colourfully attired local Bedu ladies. For more information, click here .



At Dubai’s Spice Souk.
iStock


Best Souks and Shopping

Al Husn Souk , Salalah . Fragrant souk in old Salalah, particularly famous for its superb array of local frankincense. For more information, click here .
East Souk, Nizwa . Atmospheric cluster of neatly restored traditional souk buildings. For more information, click here .
Al Arsa Souk , Sharjah. Quaint little souk in the heart of Sharjah’s Heritage Quarter, with narrow alleyways lined with quirky shops. For more information, click here .
Gold and Spice Souks, Dubai. Dubai’s two most colourful souks, with shop windows full of gold and sacks loaded full of herbs and spices. For more information, click here and here .
Ibn Battuta Mall , Dubai. Weird and wonderful modern mall with extravagant decor themed after the travels of Ibn Battuta. For more information, click here .
Central Market Souk , Abu Dhabi. A stunning, postmodern souk designed by Norman Foster. For more information, click here .



Beehive tombs, Bat.
iStock


Best Cultural Attractions

Dubai Museum , Dubai. In the historic old Al Fahidi Fort, and offering an excellent overview of local history, culture and commerce. For more information, click here .
Jumeirah Mosque Tour, Dubai. The only mosque in the city open to non-Muslims, with informative tours hosted by local Emirati guides. For more information, click here .
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation . Superb modern museum highlighting Islamic contributions to science, art and architecture. For more information, click here .
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood , Dubai. Wonderful old Iranian quarter (formerly known as Bastakiya), stuffed with fine old mansions topped with dozens of wind towers. For more information, click here .
Royal Opera House, Muscat. Oman’s premier venue for music and performing arts. For more information, click here .
Bait al Zubair , Muscat . Absorbing museum covering the traditional arts and crafts of Oman. For more information, click here .
Bronze Age Tombs , Bat and Al Ayn . Enigmatic cl