The United Arab Emirates is an independent country that is made up of seven emirates, each with its own Emir, or monarch. The two most famous emirates are Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with the other five being Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. Abu Dhabi is the capital and the most influential in terms of cultural, political and economic importance. Arabic is the only official language, but the 8.2 million population is made up of an incredibly diverse mixture of ethnicities with a large number of Asians living in the country.

The United Arab Emirates (or UAE as it is often known) is home to high quality accommodation and retail, with many tourists arriving to take advantage of the excellent shopping facilities. Serviced apartments in the United Arab Emirates are found throughout, but are more plentiful in the coastal cities. The UAE is a Muslim country and has very strict laws in place regarding dress and behaviour in public. It is certainly a good idea to brush up on the etiquette of the country before arrival, in order to not get in trouble with the local authorities.