UAE

To outsiders, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mostly known for the opulent cityscape of Dubai (and perhaps the slightly less opulent cityscape of Abu Dhabi). But there are many flavors to this oil-rich state, of which Dubai and Abu Dhabi are only two of seven distinct emirates. Also on tap are timeless marketplaces, camel safaris into Empty Quarter backcountry, and deeply traditional Islamic architecture and customs. Quite accessible by Middle Eastern standpoints, the UAE deserves a closer look than that from the hotel pool or the upscale mall.

While not all the emirates are as progressive and intensely modernized as Dubai, many destinations in the UAE have a distinctly cosmopolitan tone—no surprise, really, given how much of the population hails from elsewhere. Large numbers of South Asian, Arab, and other expats reside here alongside native Emiratis. This heavily international population, coupled with a long history of regional commerce, makes the UAE a fine place for the gourmet: Whether you’re interested in traditional Arabian cuisine or a survey of global delicacies, Dubai and Abu Dhabi feed their visitors and multiethnic locals alike with a notable array of restaurants.

Whether you’re eating your way around town or simply sightseeing, Dubai in particular offers quite the urban spectacle. The city’s famed for its grandiose cityscape: Among its epic-scale architectural symbols are the Burj Khalifa (at 2,722 feet, the tallest building on the planet); the sail-shaped, islet-perched Burj Al Arab hotel; and the intricate manmade archipelago of its Persian Gulf waterfront, including the Palm Jumeirah and the World Islands. Matching this over-the-top infrastructure is the city’s frenetic energy, which encompasses some of the world’s most colossal shopping centers (including the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates, and the Ibn Battuta Mall) and a superabundance of theme parks, casinos, resorts, and other entertainment complexes.

Dubai’s sheer scale and glitz are part of the UAE experience, to be sure, but you’ve got to dig deeper to get an authentic sense of the country. The old mosques of Fujairah, the Bedouin outpost of Liwa Oasis, the souks of Sharjah—glimpses of older ways of life await those who venture beyond the luxury hotels and casinos. And the caliber of Dubai’s Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman beaches hints at other natural wonders: Snorkelers and divers can explore fish-thronged reefs and shipwrecks, while the UAE interior—from the otherworldly dunes of the Rub’ al Khali desert to the barren crags of the Al Hajar Mountains—has some authentic wilderness that seems almost impossible to reconcile with the country’s popular image.

You can easily come to Dubai or Abu Dhabi and treat yourself to a jetsetter’s vacation of high-end cuisine, full-throttle entertainment, swanky nightlife, and beachside sun-worshipping; but if you have the inclination to look beyond that hyped-up gloss, you’ll be rewarded with scenes straight out of another era.