• Bangladesh!

    Bangladesh: Traditional houses. Go Now!

    Bangladesh
    This low-lying country has historic ties to India and Pakistan, but today maintains a wholly unique culture. Explore Bangladesh!

  • Indonesia!

    Indonesia: Lombok. Go Now!

    Indonesia
    This archipelago nation is culturally diverse from big cities to isolated islands. Begin Your Journey!

  • Jordan!

    Jordan: Petra. Go Now!

    Jordan
    Tucked away in this Middle Eastern country, the famed city of Petra (pictured) links the past to the present culture. Explore Jordan!

  • Mongolia!

    Mongolia: Desert. Go Now!

    Mongolia
    This vast country has a culture that spans past and present... a nomadic life shifting to a modern & sedentary society. Begin Your Journey!

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    Kyrgyzstan: Tian Shan Mountains. Go Now!

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    The mountains, including the Tian Shan Mountains (pictured), give Kyrgyzstan a unique culture, partially formed from this isolation from the mountains. Go Now!

Geography, Weather, & Wildlife of the United Arab Emirates

Geography

Emirati Geography - Desert
Desert

The United Arab Emirates is a small Persian Gulf state on the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East. This country borders the Persian Gulf to the north and has a small water border with the Gulf of Oman to the northeast. Its land borders include Saudi Arabia to the west and south, and Oman to the east.

Most of the United Arab Emirates is desert, including the famed "Empty Quarter" or known to locals as the Rub al Khali, which is in the country's far west. Along the Persian Gulf coast there are some swamps, but much of the coast is still desert. In the country's east is the Hajar Mountains, which stretch into Oman.

Weather

The most tolerable time to visit the U.A.E. is December to January, although two-three months before or after that time doesn't seem to differ much, weather-wise. Summers can be excruciatingly hot, reaching highs of 105˚ F (40˚ C).

Wildlife

Emirati Wildlife - Oryx
Oryx

Wildlife in the United Arab Emirates is severely limited due to the country's desert. There are few mammals in the country, but those that do exist include the oryx, hedgehog, hare, and fox. The sea life is more varied in the nearby Persian Gulf, although there are no inland lakes or rivers. In the gulf there are thousands of animals, including shrimp, oysters, mackerel, grouper, and swordfish and dozens of mollusks.

There are also a large number of birds that pass through the country on migratory routes. Among these include flamingoes, small ostriches, the bee-eater, egret, cormorants, gulls, terns, and more. There are not many amphibians in the U.A.E., but a number of reptiles can live in the deserts here as there are lizards, geckos, and sea turtles. Among the other animals are insects, spiders, and scorpions.

This page was last updated: November, 2013