The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is a union of seven tiny emirates along eastern Persian Gulf coast of the Arabian Peninsula. They are bordered by Qatar to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west and south, and Oman to the east and northeast.

The city of Abu Dhabi was chosen as the national capital when the union was formed in 1971.

The official language is Arabic, but English and Farsi are also spoken.

Most citizens are Muslims. The cultural traditions of the United Arab Emirates are rooted in Islam and identify with the wider Arab World, but strong cultural ties are maintained with the neighbouring Persian Gulf states. Tribal identities remain fairly strong, despite urbanization, and the family is still considered the strongest and most cohesive social unit.

Moslems fast from dawn to dusk during the Holy month of Ramadhan. Out of respect, non-Moslems should not be seen to eat, drink or smoke in public during the hours of fasting.

The Emirates offer a lot of sport activities like sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, scuba diving, camel racing, horseback riding, trekking and safaris, tennis, squash, table tennis, golf and bowling.

You can make tours around cities, visiting oldest mosques and palaces, museums and markets (e.g. the only camel market in Al Ain), explore the archaeological sites (e.g. at the botanical garden Hilli, 2500 B.C.), the oasis of Buraimi with the ancient irrigation system and agricultural regions of fruit and vegetable plantations in the oasis of Al Dhaid.

Seychelles

Seychelles (officially, the Republic of Seychelles), the island republic in the western Indian Ocean, consists of about 115 islands.

Seychelles is composed of two main island groups: the Mahe group of 40 central, mountainous granitic islands, and a second group of over 70 outer, flat, coralline islands. The islands of the Mahe group are rocky and typically have a narrow coastal strip and a central range of hills. The overall aspect of these islands, with their lush tropical vegetation, is that of high hanging gardens overlooking silver-white beaches and clear lagoons. The coralline islands, rising only a few feet above sea level, are flat with elevated coral reefs at different stages of formation. These islands are largely waterless, and very few have a resident population.

The climate is tropical-oceanic, with little temperature variation during the year. Daily temperatures rise to about 30º C in the afternoon and fall to about 23 º C at night.

Europeans, Africans, Indians and Chinese have developed a unique culture on these islands. Since 1981, the official language has been Creole, a type of simplified French with African, Arab and even English elements.

Approximately 46% of the country’s entire surface are national parks or reserves. In addition, there are 228 square kilometers of national marine parks in the coastal waters where fishing is prohibited. All marine life, including snails, shells and coral is strictly protected.