The Emirates are bordered to the north by the Gulf and the Musandam Peninsula, to the east by Oman, to the south and west by Saudi Arabia and to the northwest by Qatar. They comprise a federation of seven small emirates. Abu Dhabi is the largest Emirate.

The land is mountainous and mostly desert. Abu Dhabi is flat and sandy. Dubai has a 16km (10 mile) deep-water creek, giving it the popular name of ‘Pearl of the Gulf’. Sharjah has a deep-water port on the Batinah coast at Khor Fakkan, facing the Indian Ocean. Ras al-Khaimah is the gateway to Oman and has great potential.

The only Emirate on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah has lovely clean beaches backed by mountains, while Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain were once small coastal fishing villages and are now the new property hotspots.

Oman, which has stunning natural scenery that includes mile after mile of pristine beach, rugged mountain and baking desert