Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Enchanting Emirates - the time to go is now  

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” - Saint Augustine

The Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilisations and a beautiful, complicated land that is home to some of the planet's most hospitable people. An intriguing land that combines old-world souks & modern shopping malls, rolling sand dunes &  championship grass golf courses, remote Bedouin villages & an array of 5 star hotels.

For most people, the United Arab Emirates means just one place: Dubai, the sci-fi-esque city of iconic skyscrapers, man-made palm-shaped islands, city-sized malls, indoor ski slopes, opulent hotels & palatial beach resorts. But beyond the glitter awaits a diverse mosaic of 6 more Emirates, each with its own character & allure.

United Arab Emirates has always been a show-stopping, headline-grabbing destination, offering an intriguing blend of Islamic culture & modernity. And Dubai defies easy definition. Come…..discover the Emirates & prepare to be charmed……..

The Middle East is quite simply extraordinary, one of the world's most fascinating & rewarding travel destinations. It was here that some of the most significant civilisations of antiquity rose & fell and where the three great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity & Islam - were born. Left behind is an astonishing open-air museum of ancient cities & historic buildings, the stones of which still resonate with the sounds of the faithful.

The Middle East is home to some of the world's most significant cities - Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus, Teheran, Baghdad & Istanbul. The ruins of the once similarly epic cities of history - Petra, Persepolis, Ephesus, Palmyra, Baalbek, Leptis Magna & the bounty of ancient Egypt, also mark the passage of centuries in a region where the ancient world lives and breathes.

The landscapes of the region are equally spellbinding, from the unrivalled seas of sand dunes and palm-fringed lakes in Libya’s Sahara desert to the stunning mountains of the north & the underwater world of the Red Sea.

Above all else, however, your most enduring memory of the Middle East is likely to be its people. Their gracious welcome, many kindnesses and boundless hospitality speak of an altogether more civilised age.

From the gravitas of the Sahara to the blue tiles of Esfahan, this is a region for discerning travellers, for those looking for the story behind the headline, and where the bridges between ancient & modern civilisations are everywhere evident. If you believe what the media tells you & decide not to visit, you would be missing out on the journey of a lifetime.

Let us talk about the United Arab Emirates now & leave your preconceptions at home.

Hospitality|Innovation| Shopping| Nocturnal Action|Cultural Dynamism| History

Comprised of little more than sand dunes, crumbling forts and fishing villages a century ago, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has grown into a show-stopping, headline-grabbing destination which offers an intriguing blend of traditional Islamic culture, modernity & rampant consumerism.

Seven separate Emirates make up the country, but visitor attention falls mainly on Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Both are home to an ever-growing spread of luxury accommodation, gourmet restaurants, branded nightclubs & gleaming shopping malls.

Powered largely (but by no means exclusively) by oil wealth, the UAE today is defined by opulent resort hotels, ultra-modern architecture & a seemingly unending thirst for new & innovative mega-projects. Man-made islands in the shape of palm trees? Tick. Billionaire royals taking over Premiership football clubs? Tick. Tallest building on the planet? Naturally.

While the UAE these days appears to be little more than a stage for Dubai to strut its increasingly crazy stuff, there’s far more to this fabulous little federation than Disneyesque dioramas. The UAE is a contradictory destination, an Islamic state where the DJs’ turntables stop spinning just before the muezzins’ morning call to prayer can be heard & where a traditional Bedouin lifestyle & customs continue alongside a very Western version of rampant consumerism. While many visitors marvel at the fantastic (in the true sense of the word) hotel & real estate projects, the real wonder is how the savvy sheikhs manage to harmonise such disparate & seemingly opposing forces.

For Western visitors, the UAE is a very safe Middle East destination, with the comforts of home & a taste of the exotic. Here you can max out those Credit Cards at designer clothes shops, laze on a gorgeous beach & sip a cocktail as you plan which fine dining restaurant to book & which international DJ to dance to until the early morning.

The world has watched, spellbound over the past decade as billionaire Emiratis built iconic megastructure after megastructure, seducing slack-jawed tourists & expats with the sail-shaped “6 star” hotel Burj al-Arab, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper & the sea-themed Atlantis Resort, bustling Souks & sprawling, tax-free shopping malls, which are microcosms of the UAE’s lofty ambitions.

The regular fountain show in the downtown Dubai rivals that of the Bellagio in Las Vegas, while vast shopping complexes like Dubai Mall (complete with one of the world’s largest Aquarium) &  Mall of the Emirates (complete with ski slope) are packed with premium international labels.

Oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, is positioning itself as a culture & leisure hub. Beyond looms the vast Al Dhafra region, home to the northern reaches of the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert's rippling dunes. Its magical silence is interrupted only by the whisper of shifting sands rolling towards Saudi Arabia.

Abu Dhabi doesn’t have quite the same verve but boasts some remarkable attractions, from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with the world's largest hand-loomed carpet, the fastest roller coaster in Ferrari World theme park. highest high tea, the Tower with the greatest lean, the largest cluster of cultural buildings of the 21^st century - UAE isn't afraid to challenge world records.

And in both destinations, there is the option to delve into the UAE’s blend of Islamic culture & modernity, from spice souks to falcon hospitals. Meanwhile, the vast natural desert offers endless discoveries via exciting modes of transport from hot air balloon & quad bike to helicopter or sand-board. Head out to Abu Dhabi’s desert sands for a camel ride under a star-filled sky,

And don’t be dazzled by Abu Dhabi & Dubai alone. The other Emirates are also worthy of exploration.

North of Dubai, you can soak up the atmosphere  at Sharjah  - UAE's art & heritage center (& haggle over souvenirs in Sharjahs souqs) while Ras-al-Khaimah, has excellent off-road driving & hiking in the rugged Hajar Mountains & also offers coral-filled waters of the Gulf (the beaches near Ras Al Khaimah are as unspoilt as you will find anywhere in the region). Coastal Fujairah offers idyllic snorkeling & scuba-diving.

For a while, it seemed as though nothing could halt the rise of this burgeoning Arabian Gulf country, until the global financial crisis swept through, that is. With billions of dollars invested in property projects, Dubai suffered a major economic blow. However, the oil rich capital of Abu Dhabi escaped relatively unscathed & now looks set to become the country's cultural heart, with both the Louvre (open already) & the Guggenheim Museum scheduled to open in the next two years.

The crisis may have crippled markets around the world, but it also means there’s never been a better time to visit the UAE; to explore the country’s tranquil desert, be pampered at luxurious hotels and spas, flex your credit card with world-class designer shopping or dine at gourmet restaurant.

Or simply mix up a blend of everything; after all, that’s what makes the UAE unique.

Welcome to an exciting region where nothing stands still…except perhaps the herons in its mangroves – it is going to be one exciting trip…… yep, the Emirates & Dubai are waiting, and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery..

 Come……be inspired & discover the World