Road trip through the Emirates

Today we did a road trip across the UAE. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (equivalent to principalities), each governed by a hereditary Emir, with a single national president. The photos are top left to right then bottom

Abu Dhabi, is the capital of the UAE and is the largest emirate by area (67,340 km²), and second-largest by population after Dubai, accounting for approximately 86% of the total land area of the UAE. We stay in the city of Abu Dhabi. The phot is of the Aldar HQ building as you enter Abu Dhabi

After Abu Dhabi comes the Emirate of Dubai. Most people associate the UAE as the city of Dubai. This has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates. This photo is of the Burj Al Arab

Sharjah covers 2,600 km² (1,003 mi²) and has a population of over 800,000 (2008). We weren't sure what to expect as this is the 'poorer' relative to Dubai, to whom it now adjoins. We were pleasantly surprise by this huge lake area in the centre of the city of Sharjah

Ajman with an area of just 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi), Ajman is the smallest emirate by area, which is bordered on its north, south, and east by Sharjah. This is the Ajman Museum, and worth a visit giving some of the local history of the area.

Umm al-Quwain. The emirate had 62,000 inhabitants in 2003 (making it the least populous emirate in the federation) and has an area of 750 square kilometers. This is perhaps the poor cousin of the other emirates.

Ras al-Khaimah (means: The Top of the Tent) is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman's exclave. The emirate of Ras Al Khaimah covers an area of 1,700 square km. we really likes RAK, it has plenty of greater and a few hills in the city, making it feel more like a Mediterranean Arabic city.

Tomorrow we are off to Fujairah, which is only emirate on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of on the Persian/Arabian Gulf