Rights and practical guides for residents
Leave, pay, contracts, visas, renting and driving — written from official UAE sources.
Discover the United Arab Emirates.
Find attractions, restaurants, beaches and practical travel guides across the seven emirates. Directory records and editorial reviews are clearly distinguished.
- Prices in AED — no hidden conversions
- Every guide dated — you can see how fresh it is
- No paid reviews — ever
- English and Arabic — coverage varies
Living in the UAE?
Practical answers and free calculators for residents, each with its official source and review date.
Free UAE calculators
Gratuity, final settlement, rent increase, visa and move-in costs, each with its working.
End-of-service gratuity calculator
Article 51 of the 2021 Labour Law, with the working shown.
Annual leave in the UAE
How many days you get, and what happens to unused leave.
Visit visa cost for a relative
Visa fee, VAT, insurance and the refundable deposit, from GDRFA.
Ejari: registering a tenancy in Dubai
Fees, documents and the steps, from the Dubai Land Department.
Where are you going?
Seven emirates, and they are genuinely different from one another. Start with the one you are flying into.
Dubai
The emirate most people mean when they say they are going to the UAE. Dubai is long and spread out…
534 places
Abu Dhabi
The capital, and by far the largest emirate — roughly 87% of the country's land area. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,…
122 places
Sharjah
The UAE's cultural capital and a recognised centre for Arab heritage, with the country's densest cluster of museums. Sharjah is…
75 places
Ajman
The smallest emirate: a single coastal strip about half an hour north of Dubai. Ajman is where you go for…
20 places
Ras Al Khaimah
The mountain emirate. Jebel Jais is the highest peak in the UAE at 1,934 m and carries the world's longest…
29 places
Fujairah
The only emirate on the Gulf of Oman rather than the Arabian Gulf, which makes it the UAE's diving and…
19 places
Umm Al Quwain
The least developed and least visited emirate, which is most of the appeal: mangroves, a quiet lagoon, and Dreamland Aqua…
6 places
Travel guide for each emirate: Dubai · Abu Dhabi · Al Ain · Sharjah · Ajman · Umm Al Quwain · Ras Al Khaimah · Fujairah
What do you want to do?
Explore places by category, with addresses, contact details and visitor information where available.
Attractions
113 places
Activities
38 places
Restaurants
96 places
Beaches
11 places
Family & Kids
34 places
Hotels
72 places
Cafes
41 places
Shopping
57 places
Explore the directory
Browse place records. A “Not visited yet” label means the place has not received an editorial review.
The Green Planet
The Green Planet at City Walk, Al Wasl is an indoor rainforest visit. Choose it when your group…
Open now
Etihad Museum
Choose Etihad for the story of the federation Etihad Museum is a focused choice when you want to…
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Dubai Butterfly Garden
Dubai Butterfly Garden in Al Barsha South 3 is a covered butterfly visit beside Dubai Miracle Garden. Choose…
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Emirates Park Zoo
Choose an animal visit, not just a ticket name Emirates Park Zoo is on 12 th Street in…
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Louvre Abu Dhabi
Choose Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island when you want a visit centred on art and architecture. Decide…
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The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi
The National Aquarium at Al Qana, Rabdan is a themed aquarium visit with optional combined experiences. Start with…
Open now
Attractions
Not visited yet
Rain Room
Rain Room in Al Majarrah, Sharjah is a timed artwork, not a water park. Its appeal is watching…
Open now
Al Ain National Museum
Visit the renewed Al Ain Museum, not just its older description The current official visitor identity is Al…
Open now
Amounts are shown in dirhams. Confirm current prices and inclusions on the venue’s own site before travel — see our editorial policy.
Guides worth your time
Written to be used on the day, not skimmed and forgotten.
UAE workers’ and residents’ rights: every guide in one place
Leave, pay, contracts, dismissal, job loss insurance, safety, housing, residency visas and fines in the UAE: our guides from official…
Fujairah beaches and snorkelling: Snoopy Island, Al Aqah
Snoopy Island is about 200 m off Al Aqah's Sandy Beach, up to 7 m deep, reached by boat via…
Ras Al Khaimah day trip from Dubai: bus, route, bookings
Drive the E11 or take the RAKTA bus from Union Station (AED 30, about 2 hours). Two day routes and…
Tools for UAE residents
Free, in English and Arabic, and each one says where its rules come from.
Next public holiday
National Day — 2 December
Prayer times
Today in 19 UAE cities, official method, with iqama and qibla
Gratuity calculator
Article 51 of the Labour Law, with the working shown
Final settlement
Gratuity, unused leave, notice pay and unpaid salary in one total
Job loss insurance
Eligible? How much for 3 months?
Dubai rent increase
How much your landlord can raise the rent, by law
Move-in cost
Ejari + DEWA deposit and fees in one total
Visit visa cost
Fees, insurance and the refundable deposit for a relative
Property visa cost
Golden Visa or Taskeen for you and your family
Property transfer fees
The 4% DLD fee and the other costs of buying
Salik calculator
Your monthly Dubai road toll cost at AED 6 peak and AED 4 off-peak
Licence renewal cost
Licence, eye test and late fine from your expiry date
Rental dispute fees
What a case at the Rental Disputes Center costs
VAT calculator
Add 5% VAT or take it out of a total
Know your rights in the UAE All guides →
- Annual leave
- Sick leave
- Maternity leave
- Probation
- Notice period
- Working hours and overtime
- Job loss insurance
- Late salary
- Work injury
- Labour complaint
- Dismissal and arbitrary dismissal
- Leaving without notice
- Contracts and non-compete
- Work permits
- Domestic workers
- Health insurance in Dubai
- Health and safety at work
- Labour accommodation
- Golden Visa
- Golden Visa through property
- Property investor visa
- Family visa
- Visit visa for relatives
- Retirement visa
- Remote work visa
- Student visa
- Emirates ID
- Overstay fines
- Licence exchange
- Licence renewal
- Car registration renewal
- Ejari registration
- DEWA move-in
- Rental disputes
Run a place people should know about?
Anywhere in the seven emirates. Standard listings are free. Optional sponsored placement is clearly labelled and never buys an editorial review.