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Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
17 February 2026 | 13 Min Read
The UAE is not just for a travel break. UAE is a destination for the people who want to spend their time exploring the hidden gems of Ras Al Khaimah and the rich cultural fabric of Sharjah. If you really want to enjoy your local life, you should find your entry permit end date. The best part is you can extend your UAE tourist visa online. So it means you can stay longer to enjoy and experience the country without feeling rushed.
Basically slow travel can be introduced as spending more time in the same place without rushing around. It means talking to local people,spending time longer and seeing their day to day lives. UAE is known as a busy and luxurious country, but it is a really great country for slow travel.
The seven emirates are different to each.They are different because of their own culture, traditions, and landscapes. With good transport, safe streets, places to stay and online visa extensions. So you can enjoy your trip without being stressed.
Most travelers are likely to start traveling from Dubai. But slow travel shows a hidden side of the city.
You can walk through the wind tower houses in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. And also you can see courtyards, and museums.
In Dubai Creek you can take a small boat at sunrise or sunset to watch people doing their daily activities along the water.
Exploring creative spaces and visiting cafes and galleries can do in Jumeirah and Al Quoz
Spending a few days in one neighbourhood, traveling without taxis, visiting the same cafe several times and communicating with local people and shop owners.
Abu Dhabi contains wide open spaces and a slower rhythm than Dubai.
Spending time on Abu Dhabi’s museums, beaches and parks is better when you enjoy it slowly. Instead of a short visit you can extend your visa to stay longer to enjoy happily.
Travelers who like culture, art and local life, Sharjah is the best option.
Ajman is a good place for travelers who want a quiet few days between busy places.
Many people forget Umm Al Quwain. But it is really great for slow traveling.
Spend your time here. Staying longer makes your tour greater.
Travellers who love nature and outdoor activities at a relaxed pace can choose Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).because it is a really great place for those.
RAK contains many different places so you can stay longer without getting bored.
Fujairah is very different from other emirates where mountains meet the Indian ocean and it creates beautiful landscapes.
To travelers who like nature and quiet places Fujairah is a very good place.Take time to enjoy your journey .
Slow travel needs time,in the UAE it means extending your stay easily and legally. Many travelers don't know how quickly can their entry permit can end.even if they want to slow down
Using a trusted online service lets you focus on travel more and not paperwork.
Traveling slowly throughout all emirates can change the way you are feeling about the UAE.you don't have to rush from place to place. You are really living there for some time. You are starting to notice small things. You hear the call to prayers every evening.
You are sitting and talking while having an Arabic coffee. Feeling the quiet desert and the busy cities
Giving yourself more time and planning your stay greatly can help you to understand the county much better.
Slow travel is becoming more meaningful in the UAE. but it is only when you understand local culture. Emirati hospitality is based on kindness and respect.
The Maijis is a traditional place. The majlis is a place where people sit together, talk , share stories and welcome guests. Visitors may not always enter a private family majlis, at cultural centers and heritage events you can experience that. You can learn a lot about the Emirati culture by watching how Arabic coffee or tea is served, welcoming the guests and the way people talk calmly. This shows the respect and community in Emirati culture.
Generosity is one of the most important things in the UAE. Guests are welcomed with real care and respect and are often offered drinks or snacks before any serious conversation begins. As a slow traveler responding to these small and kind gestures with warmth helps you build meaningful connections with people.
Dressing and public conduct is also considered very important in UAE culture. Wearing respectful clothing in places such as religious places is considered as being respectful to their culture. You can also fit in with the community by showing simple manners such as speaking politely and waiting in queues. Making these simple efforts will make you feel less like a tourist and more like a respectful guest in the community.
Food is one of the best things that you will experience when exploring a country. The UAE has its own mixed food culture which is worth trying out rather than trying the normal international foods everyday.
Take your time to learn the story behind each dish rather than trying to eat them at the same time. Visit cultural festivals like ramadan tents when in season or cultural food fairs to experience the different flavours in more depth. Some community centres even have cooking workshops and so you can learn about how meals are prepared and also enjoy your time there.
Arabic coffee known as Gahwa is flavoured with cardamom and is served in small cups, the way that is offered and received has a long traditional depth. The coffee is poured and served in a respectful way because it is a cultural ritual. This allows one to see the importance of culture for people living in the emirate.
Cooler temperatures are best as it makes outdoor adventures more comfortable and It is fun to have many outdoor activities and walks during the time of the year. This season is also very famous for food festivals and fairs.
Even though the temperature is high, you can experience a very different style of life during this time. During this time, many people spend their time in malls and do many indoor activities.
During spring and autumn, the weather is peaceful and calm and there is also a fewer crowd during this time. This makes it the perfect time to explore the emirate by also relaxing.
One of the best things in the UAE is its diversity. Visitors to the UAE come from different parts across the world. This creates a diverse atmosphere as many cultures come together.
With people from all over the world living here. Many neighbourhoods feel like a blend of languages, foods and traditions living together. This diversity shows up everywhere in the community.
Community Events
In UAE many different cultures are celebrated such as Diwali, Christmas and Chinese New Year. You can join in for these celebrations to see how the UAE brings many other cultures together while also celebrating its own traditions.
In the UAE, Arabic is the official language, but now English is widely spoken. You will also hear many other languages while living in the community. This mix of many languages in the daily life of the UAE communities shows the country’s diversity. Slow travels give you the chance to see how all the cultures live together.
One of the best things in the UAE is its diversity. Visitors to the UAE come from different parts across the world. This creates a diverse atmosphere as many cultures come together.
With people from all over the world living here. Many neighbourhoods feel like a blend of languages, foods and traditions living together. This diversity shows up everywhere in the community.
Community Events
In UAE many different cultures are celebrated such as Diwali, Christmas and Chinese New Year. You can join in for these celebrations to see how the UAE brings many other cultures together while also celebrating its own traditions.
In the UAE, Arabic is the official language, but now English is widely spoken. You will also hear many other languages while living in the community. This mix of many languages in the daily life of the UAE communities shows the country’s diversity. Slow travels give you the chance to see how all the cultures live together.
UAE’s buildings tell a story about how the country has adapted over time.
Before modern technologies such as air conditioning became common, traditional homes used wind towers known as barjeel to help keep the houses cool. These designs also had courtyards that gave privacy to people to go and enjoy the cool air. By going to these traditional places, you can see how people used to live in their climate and environment.
The modern UAE is mainly focused on developments based on modern technology and eco friendly materials.
Mosques in the UAE are not just places for worship, they are also worth exploring because of the infrastructure which is filled with many designs. These mosques are often made in the normal structure of the neighbourhood.
The architecture has many features that combine both the past and future together.
Even though cities are now very famous in the UAE. Deserts are still an important part of the UAE’s culture.
Bedouins used to live as nomads, depending on camels, trade and survival skills in the desert. In bedouin culture, storytelling and poetry was very famous.
Falconry was recognised by UNESCO as a cultural heritage. Watching a demonstration gives you a look into this tradition that has lasted for centuries.
Before the introduction of GPS to the world, desert travellers used the stars to guide them to places. Learning about these techniques in the past helps you to understand the importance of knowledge passed down through generations.
The cultural creativity in the UAE is growing a lot and there is a lot to share from every part of the UAE.
Emirati Literature
Visiting a bookshop in the UAE will help you connect with the modern writers that write about identity and change.
Public Art Installations
Artworks across the emirates often give a mix of tradition and modern thinking. Reading about the artists’ ideas or attending talks adds meaning to what you see.
Film and Media
Watching UAE films and media will help you to understand more about life in the UAE. Most of the films in their focus on change and identity.
The Modern UAE’s plan is to protect the environment and keep it sustainable for people living now and even in the future. The UAE has and is still putting many efforts to protect their environment.
The UAE has created many larger projects to show how they have planned to think about the future. You can see these projects by visiting their innovation centres.
There are many programmes to show how to protect wildlife and marine life in the UAE. This shows their consideration about animals and learning about this information will add more meaning to your nature visits in the UAE.
In the UAE, choosing to stay in an eco-friendly place means that you do your role in protecting their environment and helping the community you visit.
Spending more time on one place rather than just moving from place to place brings peace to your mental health as you are not busy as you are a slow traveler.
As you are a slow traveler, you can spend a lot of time seeing the country’s huge development and to understand the hard work.
The day to day life in the UAE shows how they balance both modern and traditional lives together. It is the perfect example to show that modern life can exist together with traditions.
Going slower in a country that runs very fast helps you think differently and helps you to become more mindful and patient.
In the UAE, you can also get many volunteer opportunities as some organisations in the community ask for short term help for environmental activities which are within legal guidelines.
In the UAE, there are many activities that you can participate in such as art classes where you can understand more about culture while enjoying your visit.
In the UAE, you will meet many people from different backgrounds and creating these short connections eventually lasts longer.
It is best to plan your spendings such as accommodation and transport earlier because then you can just enjoy your time and not get stressed during your visit to the UAE. When you live longer, the expenses go a bit lower.
If you arrange your payments digitally, it makes it easier to manage money during your visit to the UAE and will allow you to enjoy it without any stress.
It is best to have proper travel insurance to have a great trip in the UAE without having to change any plans in the middle.
The UAE is a place to enjoy slowly. It is not a country to be rushed.Fujairah has quiet beaches. Like that every emirate has something special.
Your travel will become more easy and flexible if you extend your stay online. Slow travel throughout the UAE is manageable and very rewarding. Spend your time and have fun each day in the UAE.