You are reading the Journal: stories and guides only.
Tours, trips and contact are on gypsyoverlanding.com
Summary: The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates, and each has its own landscape and story: oases and fort towns, Hajar mountain wadis, pearling coasts and desert dunes. This cluster gives every emirate its own hub of guides on heritage, nature, hiking and overlanding.
Oases, forts and the great dunes. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate, stretching from the capital's old fort to the Al Ain oases and the Liwa dunes on the...
Explore Abu Dhabi EmirateOld trading quarter, desert reserve and mountain village. Beyond its skyline, Dubai holds a restored historic quarter around Al Fahidi Fort, an unfenced desert conservation...
Explore Dubai EmirateCulture, archaeology and the east coast. Sharjah is known as the cultural capital of the UAE. Its themes are a restored heritage quarter, the deep archaeology...
Explore Sharjah EmirateA fort museum and a pearling past. Ajman is the smallest emirate. Its best-documented heritage draw is the fort that houses Ajman Museum, with archaeology...
Explore Ajman EmiratePearling island, lagoon and inland oasis. Umm Al Quwain is a quiet emirate of lagoon and mangrove coast, the island of Al Sinniyah with the oldest known pearling...
Explore Umm Al Quwain EmirateForts, a lost port and the highest road. Ras Al Khaimah combines about seven thousand years of settlement, the hilltop Dhayah Fort, the medieval port of Julfar...
Explore Ras Al Khaimah EmirateEast coast, oldest mosque and a protected wadi. Fujairah is the only emirate fully on the Gulf of Oman coast. It holds the Al Bidyah Mosque, a restored fort and...
Explore FujairahUAE camping rules differ by emirate. Season, fines, fire safety and wadi warnings, based on reported guidance. Confirm locally.
Read the guide Hiking · UAEWadis can flood fast, even when it is dry where you stand. Reported UAE penalties and practical rules for hikers and campers.
Read the guide Overlanding · UAEWhen to hike, camp and drive in the UAE: a reported camping season, cooler mountain air and hot summers. Planning notes.
Read the guide Overlanding · UAECompare UAE deserts, Hajar mountains and coasts by climate, risks and trip style, then choose the environment that suits your...
Read the guide Overlanding · UAEUAE sand, gravel, mountain and wadi terrain behave differently. Learn the hazards of each and how to prepare before you drive or...
Read the guide Hiking · UAEA wadi is a dry riverbed that fills only after heavy rain. Learn what wadis are in the UAE, why they flood fast and how to read...
Read the guide Hiking · UAEProtected areas in the UAE can need permits and bar camping or driving. A practical checklist for confirming status and access...
Read the guide Camping · UAEResponsible outdoor travel in the UAE means following local law, protecting fragile habitats, taking litter home and respecting...
Read the guide Overlanding · UAESand driving in the UAE: tyre pressure, speed, recovery gear and group rules. Reported basics, plus what to confirm before you go.
Read the guide Overlanding · UAEUAE weather swings from extreme summer heat to sudden flood-causing rain. How to check forecasts, set trigger points and decide...
Read the guide Hiking · UAEKeep your distance, stay on tracks, take litter and respect reserves. How to watch UAE wildlife without harming it, with reported...
Read the guide
Journal