​Caravans of camels plodding across the vast expanses of desert are scenes reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia. Back in 1962 Peter O'Toole was filmed silhouetted in white robes shielding against a blistering sun and gusty sand storms, sitting high between the humps of his camel.

​Caravans of camels plodding across the vast expanses of desert are scenes reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia. Back in 1962 Peter O'Toole was filmed silhouetted in white robes shielding against a blistering sun and gusty sand storms, sitting high between the humps of his camel.

The lands of the desert today offers a somewhat different scene with a new and more glamorous story to tell.Oil has fuelled the transformation of barren lands creating a new kind of tourism which is testament to the fruition of visionary plans for these exotic and mysterious lands.

Established in December 1971, the United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates which include Abu Dhabi (the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. The country is located at the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf. It borders Oman to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and shares sea borders with Qatar and Iran.

Dubai

Dubai is the most visited emirate and boasts the tallest structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which stands at 829.8m. Glitzy and architecturally rich, it also accommodates some of the tallest hotels in the world which includes the six-starred Burj Al Arab, its sail shape now an iconic symbol of modern Dubai. And joining its

everchanging skyline is the Gevora Hotel, currently the tallest hotel in the world with 75 storeys.

The emirate's marina harbours yachts worthy of any glossy magazine cover. Destination shopping malls are an all-day affair with every design name tempting customers inside while the indoor ski slope and aquarium offers a diversion from retail therapy.Entertainment is in the form of an Opera House or the acclaimed Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modelled on the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Legoland, Bollywood, there are a variety of indoor theme parks to attract all ages. And for a peak into history, a traditional dhow cruises along Dubai 's creek or winding streets lead to the souks unveiling a melting pot of different nationalities.

The Emirates

With a focus on leisure, business, global events and tourism, the UAE have attracted intrigued travellers from around the world and carved a niche for themselves to broaden their appeal.Ras Al Khaimah promotes its adventure tourism and has added a 5-star mountain camp and viewing deck on Jebel Jai, the highest mountain in the UAE.Eco-tourism defines Sharjah with a number of impressive projects underway. Ancient signs of civilization, including findings that date back more than a million years, have been unearthed in Maliha, famous for its treasure trove of archaeological sites. This will form the first-of-its-kind eco-tourism and archaeological attraction in the UAE, featuring tours of these ancient sites

Having a number of museums at its doorstep, Abu Dhabi boasts a cultural angle, with The Louvre and the Guggenheim. In this emirate, there is also the wondrous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world while on Yas Island is Abu Dhabi's Formula 1 racetrack and Ferrari World, the first theme park dedicated to the brand.

Golden Sand

There are still vast areas of sand and desert which continue to play their part in tourism development, especially in Dubai. Sand dredged from the ocean has created artificial islands such as The Palm Jumeirah, adding 78 kilometers to the coastline and The World.With more plans in the pipeline, Dubai and the rest of the UAE are attracting more travellers to crystal laden, gold dusted hotels, sand safaris and Arabian culture packed with museums, malls and mosques. All a far cry from the backdrop experienced by Lawrence of Arabia.