"Peaceful, quiet, low prices, extreme sports" Umm al Qaywayn by JessH

Umm al Qaywayn Travel Guide: 18 reviews and 110 photos

UAE map, with Umm Al Quwain in the north

The emirate of Umm Al Quwain

For 3 years Umm Al Quwain was our home: to escape the high rents, construction noise, traffic jams & pollution of Dubai, we had opted to live "rural" and commute to the city for our jobs...

The emirate of Umm Al Quwain (pronounced: "Umm Ahl Kwain") is located along the coast of the Persian Gulf, between Sharjah to the west & Ras Al Khaimah to the east.
It is peaceful & quiet, with a much more relaxed & calm way of life, surrounded by natural beauty that hasn't yet been destroyed; mostly unspoilt desert dunes, and lush mangrove swamps: a complete contrast to the buzzing & hectic cities of Dubai & Abu Dhabi.

Most expatriates loves "escaping" from Dubai once in a while, heading north along the coast, & spending some time in this relaxing & "down-to-earth" emirate. It's perfect for a day-trip or for a whole weekend. Naturally, there are not as many things to do as in Dubai, but you can fill your days with simple pleasures, sight seeing & taking in the calming effect these smaller emirates tend to have on us... a break from the big city, the rat-race, the traffic, construction noise and chaos.

The tourist centre is located in the Umm Al Quwain lagoon where the natural green islands provide shelter for several square miles of clean & unpolluted water without the hazard of rough open sea, which is ideal for water sports & small boat activities.

All in all - if you're in the UAE for a few extra days and want to get out of the big cities, visit Umm Al Quwain: it's lovely!

Pictures from the past of Umm Al Quwain: http://www.gulfnews.com/gngalleries/galleries/10241731.html

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"Riiiighteeeeoooouuuusss!!"

Marc (camera guy) of UAQ Aeroclub

On the other hand, this vast desert offers enough space & resources for plenty of exiting action: Umm Al Quwain is the fastest growing spot for extreme sports.
The scream of people as they jump off their planes can be heard in the air, the smell of burnt rubber looms over the area & the booming sound of shotguns fired into the air awakens people from their dreamy state.

Living life on the edge mixed with a tinge of insane fun and a dash of daring sports marks the qualities that make Umm Al Quwain an extremely fun visit for anyone!

Click here for my tip on Sky Diving!

Don't fancy throwing yourself out of a plane?

My friend & I at Dreamland, Umm Al Quwain

If you prefer to be where Isaac Newton intended us to be: on the ground! head to Dreamland AquaPark and cool-off for a day.

This was the 1st waterpark in the UAE and even though it never seems to get really busy, it's still doing well & is quite entertaining.

It's larger than Dubai's Wild Wadi Waterpark and has a larger area for kids, plus more innovative rides that are nice for all ages. It's nowhere near as modern but I really enjoyed it!

Click here for my tip on Dreamland!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Peaceful & Relaxed; uniquely different from Dubai; Cheap!
Cons:Still slightly underdeveloped in some areas
In a nutshell:A breath of fresh air in the emirates!

Last visit to Umm al Qaywayn: Nov 2011
Intro Updated Apr 9, 2012
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Reviews (6)

Flag of the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, UAE - Umm al Qaywayn

General Info and History of Umm Al... Favorites (1)

Umm Al Quwain is the smalles of the 7 emirates. The total area of the emirate is equivalent to 1% of the country's total... more travel advice

Arabic wedding, men's ceremony (UAE) - Umm al Qaywayn

Arabic Wedding Local Customs (1)

An Arabic (Muslim) wedding is another one of those gender-seperated affairs: seperate ceremonies & festivities for men &... more travel advice

Gorgeous setting at UAQ Beach Hotel - Umm al Qaywayn

The more cozy & classy hideaway... Hotels (2)

I haven't actually stayed at this hotel myself, but I've enjoyed a cup of coffee there, and my mother is a tour guide... more travel advice

Umm Al Quwain from the air (UAE) - Umm al Qaywayn

The one with the "hole in the wall"... Hotels (2)

This hotel is located on the Sharjah-Ras Al Khaimah highway, sitting on the edge of the lagoon that separates Umm Al... more travel advice

Sports & Outdoors (1)
"And I'm freeee, free fallin'....!"

Things to Do (1)
Splash, Scream, Swim & Sunscreen!

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (21)

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Yaqui Jul 8, 2010 at 7:23 AM

I enjoyed the tour of your home and Umm al Qaywayn looks delightful!
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Nemorino Jan 9, 2010 at 11:25 AM

So this is your new home town! Somehow I thought you would never leave Dubai, but if your house only costs 1/5 of what it would cost there, I can understand why.
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Kuznetsov_Sergey Jul 29, 2009 at 11:39 PM

Thank you Jessica for showing us your home-town! The situation in Dubai is very similar to the situation in Moscow. Our country house situated 50 km from Moscow and my wife prefers to live there. My next page will be about my short visit to Umm al Quwain.
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dancinbudgie Jun 2, 2009 at 4:24 PM

I love the detail in your tips! Great page! My hubby did the sky diving thing too and had the week long smile about it! Nuts!
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craic Jul 27, 2008 at 5:25 AM

fascinating page - love the sunflowers
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neodue Jun 7, 2008 at 11:38 AM

I have been in Dubai for several times but never tried Umm al Qaywayn.Nice pages about Dubai and Emirates too.
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aussirose Jan 29, 2008 at 1:50 AM

Fanblinkin'tastic Jess!! You've certainly made a good move! Looks like an ideal place to settle and you'll enjoy your weekends so much better :o) Great updates matey!! Hugs xx
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adelaidean Jan 28, 2008 at 12:25 PM

great new home JEss..I love your decor....xxx
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Elodie_Caroline Jan 28, 2008 at 6:12 AM

It's a lovely house you've got there Jess, but why no pink?! My hubby painted our kitchen ice-cream pink the other week, it's to match all of the pink accessories I have, including a pink microwave! LOL :-)
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LIifeLover Jan 17, 2008 at 9:29 AM

so you finally had enough huh?? thats quite a commute everyday! good for you Jess, happy for you, i cant wait to visit Um al-Quwain