The UAE or the Emirates by the Gulf, commonly the 'Persian Gulf', the 'Arabian Gulf' from the Bedouin perspective on the other shore: the United Arab Emirates is composed of seven entities, formerly called the 'Truce States' during the Protectorate which Britain had imposed in 1820. Mainly under the impulse of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi the seven Emirates bridged their differences and united in a Confederation upon obtaining full independence in 1971. The seven ruling families delegated to the Union part of their newly won full autonomy but retained plenty of power for local governance and own deployment.

The Emirate of Dubai is undoubtedly the best known of the seven for the flashy and lightning fast growth to modernity it has chosen and managed to generate. But it is the immense potential of oil deposits in the soil of neighbouring Abu Dhabi, by intrinsic nature and mentality less flashy than Dubai, which has made possible the UAE's overall transformation in a matter of a few decades from a purely Bedouin society slogging through the harsh poverty of a far too hot and arid desert near a far too humid sea, all the way to an audaciously innovative economy of nearly boundless growth.

Further than that, you may never have heard of the other five 'Northern Emirates' of the UAE: Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujeirah, the latter being the only one facing the Indian Ocean instead of the Gulf. In this case, there is ample reason to go and explore with us.

As a matter of fact, all seven Emirates are surprisingly different from one another, in atmosphere, in focus of development, in historical trajectory and in what they have on offer to the common visitor. With a click you will be on your way to find out that there is definitely more to this country than the notorious flashy shopping malls and the grand stage events with fireworks and glitter.