Lonely Planet Oman & the United Arab Emirates

by Callan, Lou; Robison, Gordon

• ISBN13: 9781864501308
• ISBN10: 1864501308
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Lonely Planet

Summary

-- detailed coverage of the history and traditional culture of both countries
-- information on the major archaeological sites and how to get there
-- up-to-date listings on where to stay and eat on any budget
-- the lowdown on all kinds of activities, from diving to off-the-beaten-track desert safaris
-- helpful tips for buying Bedouin silver, Omani daggers and other regional handicrafts

Table of Contents

The Authors	7	(2)
This Book	9	(1)
Foreword	10	(3)
Introduction	13	(2)
Facts About The Region	15	(18)
History	15	(2)
Geology	17	(1)
Climate	18	(1)
Ecology & Environment	18	(1)
Flora & Fauna	18	(3)
Government & Politics	21	(1)
Arts	21	(1)
Society & Conduct	22	(7)
Traditional Architecture	23	(6)
Religion	29	(3)
Language	32	(1)
Regional Facts For The Visitor	33	(39)
Planning	33	(2)
Responsible Tourism	35	(2)
Visas & Documents	37	(1)
Customs	37	(1)
Embassies & Consulates	37	(1)
Money	37	(2)
Post & Communications	39	(1)
Internet Resources	39	(1)
Books	39	(2)
Newspapers & Magazines	41	(1)
Radio & TV	41	(1)
Video Systems	42	(1)
Photography & Video	42	(1)
Time	42	(1)
Electricity	42	(1)
Weights & Measures	42	(1)
Laundry	42	(1)
Toilets	42	(1)
Health	43	(9)
Women Travellers	52	(2)
Gay & Lesbian Travellers	54	(1)
Disabled Travellers	54	(1)
Senior Travellers	55	(1)
Travel with Children	55	(1)
Dangers & Annoyances	55	(1)
Legal Matters	55	(1)
Business Hours	55	(1)
Public Holidays & Special Events	56	(1)
Activities	57	(1)
Courses	58	(1)
Work	58	(1)
Accommodation	59	(1)
Food	59	(3)
Drinks	62	(10)
Shopping	64	(8)
Getting There & Away	72	(9)
Air	72	(6)
Land	78	(2)
Sea	80	(1)
Getting Around The Region	81	(4)
Air	81	(1)
Bus	81	(1)
Long-distance Taxi	81	(1)
Microbus/Minibus	81	(1)
Car	82	(1)
Boat	83	(1)
Bicycle	83	(1)
Hitching	83	(1)
Organised Tours	83	(2)
OMAN
Facts About Oman	85	(12)
History	85	(7)
Geography	92	(1)
Climate	92	(1)
National Park & Reserves	92	(1)
Government & Politics	93	(1)
Economy	94	(1)
Population & People	94	(1)
Education	95	(1)
Arts	95	(1)
Society & Conduct	95	(2)
Facts For The Visitor	97	(12)
Suggested Itineraries	97	(1)
Maps	97	(1)
Tourist Offices	97	(1)
Visas & Documents	98	(1)
Embassies & Consulates	99	(1)
Customs	100	(1)
Money	100	(1)
Post & Communications	101	(1)
Internet Resources	102	(1)
Books	102	(1)
Newspapers & Magazines	103	(1)
Radio & TV	103	(1)
Photography & Video	104	(1)
Health	104	(1)
Travel with Children	104	(1)
Business Hours	105	(1)
Public Holidays & Special Events	105	(1)
Activities	105	(1)
Language Courses	106	(1)
Accommodation	106	(1)
Food	106	(1)
Drinks	107	(1)
Entertainment	108	(1)
Spectator Sports	108	(1)
Shopping	108	(1)
Getting There & Away	109	(2)
Air	109	(1)
Land	109	(1)
Organised Tours	110	(1)
Getting Around	111	(3)
Air	111	(1)
Bus	111	(1)
Long-distance Taxi & Microbus	111	(1)
Car	112	(1)
Local Transport	113	(1)
Organised Tours	113	(1)
Muscat	114	(20)
History	114	(1)
Orientation	115	(1)
Information	116	(2)
Muscat	118	(1)
Madinat as-Sultan Qaboos	119	(1)
Mutrah	120	(1)
Ruwi	121	(2)
Activities	123	(1)
Organised Tours	124	(1)
Places to Stay	124	(2)
Places to Eat	126	(2)
Entertainment	128	(1)
Spectator Sports	128	(1)
Shopping	128	(1)
Getting There & Away	129	(2)
Getting Around	131	(1)
Around Muscat	132	(1)
Yitti	132	(1)
Qurayat	132	(1)
Bimmah Sinkhole	133	(1)
A'Rusayl	133	(1)
Fanja	133	(1)
North-West Oman	134	(19)
Barka	134	(2)
Sohar	136	(2)
Nakhal	138	(1)
Al-Awabi	139	(1)
Wadi Bani Awf	139	(1)
Rustaq	140	(1)
Al-Hazm	141	(1)
Samail	141	(1)
Izki	142	(1)
Birkat al-Mawz	142	(1)
Wadi Muaydin	143	(1)
Nizwa	143	(5)
Forts in Oman	144	(4)
Tanuf	148	(1)
Hoti Cave	148	(1)
Al-Hamra	149	(1)
Bahla	149	(1)
Jabrin	150	(1)
A'Slaif	151	(1)
Al-Ayn	151	(1)
Ibri	151	(1)
Buraimi	152	(1)
Madha	152	(1)
North-East Oman	153	(8)
Ibra	153	(1)
Al-Mintirib	154	(1)
Wadi Bani Khalid	155	(1)
Al-Kamil	155	(1)
Jalan Bani Bu Hassan & Jalan Bani Bu Ali	155	(1)
Masirah Island	156	(1)
Ras al-Jinz	157	(1)
Sur	157	(4)
Southern Oman	161	(11)
Ghaba, Ghaftain & Quitbit	161	(1)
Salalah	162	(6)
Around Salalah	168	(1)
Job's Tomb	168	(1)
Mughsail	169	(1)
Thumrait	169	(1)
Ayn Razat	170	(1)
Taqa	170	(1)
Khor Rouri	171	(1)
Tawi Attair	171	(1)
Mirbat	171	(1)
Musandam Peninsula	172	(8)
Khasab	172	(4)
Tawi	176	(1)
Al-Harf	176	(1)
Bukha	176	(1)
Kumzar	177	(1)
Khor Ash Sham	177	(1)
Khor Najd	178	(1)
Rawdah Bowl	178	(2)
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Facts About The United Arab Emirates	180	(14)
History	180	(6)
Geography	186	(1)
Climate	186	(1)
Ecology & Environment	186	(1)
Government & Politics	187	(1)
Economy	188	(1)
Population & People	189	(1)
Education	189	(1)
Arts	189	(1)
Society & Conduct	190	(4)
Modern Architecture	192	(2)
Facts For The Visitor	194	(14)
Suggested Itineraries	194	(1)
Maps	194	(1)
Tourist Offices	194	(1)
Visas & Documents	195	(2)
Embassies & Consulates	197	(1)
Customs	197	(1)
Money	197	(1)
Post & Communications	198	(1)
Internet Resources	199	(1)
Books	199	(1)
Newspapers & Magazines	200	(1)
Radio & TV	200	(1)
Photography & Video	201	(1)
Health	201	(1)
Business Hours	201	(1)
Public Holidays & Special Events	201	(1)
Activities	202	(2)
Language Courses	204	(1)
Accommodation	204	(1)
Food	204	(1)
Drinks	204	(1)
Entertainment	205	(1)
Spectator Sports	206	(1)
Shopping	207	(1)
Getting There & Away	208	(2)
Air	208	(1)
Land	208	(1)
Sea	209	(1)
Organised Tours	209	(1)
Getting Around	210	(4)
Air	210	(1)
Minibus	210	(1)
Long-distance Taxi	210	(1)
Car	211	(1)
Boat	212	(1)
Local Transport	212	(1)
Organised Tours	213	(1)
Abu Dhabi Emirate	214	(24)
Abu Dhabi	214	(1)
History	214	(1)
Oreintation	214	(2)
Information	216	(1)
Cultural Foundation	217	(1)
Al-Hosn Palace	217	(1)
Capital Gardens	218	(1)
Dhow Wharf & Fish Market	218	(1)
Iranian Souq & Vegetable Souq	218	(1)
Old Souq	219	(1)
Beaches	219	(1)
Golf	219	(1)
Cruises	219	(1)
Organised Tours	219	(1)
Places to Stay	220	(2)
Entertainment	222	(1)
Spectator Sports	222	(1)
Shopping	222	(1)
Getting There & Away	223	(1)
Getting Around	224	(1)
Western Abu Dhabi	225	(1)
Ruwais	225	(1)
Sila	226	(1)
Madinat Zayed	226	(1)
Liwa Oasis	226	(2)
Al-Ain & Buraimi	227	(1)
History	228	(1)
Orientation	229	(1)
Information	229	(1)
Al-Ain	230	(1)
Buraimi	231	(1)
Oases & Parks	232	(1)
Activities	232	(1)
Organised Tours	232	(1)
Places to Stay	232	(1)
Places to Eat	233	(1)
Entertainment	234	(1)
Shopping	234	(1)
Getting There & Away	234	(1)
Getting Around	235	(1)
Around Al-Ain	235	(3)
Dubai Emirate	238	(26)
Dubai	238	(1)
History	238	(1)
Orientation	239	(2)
Information	241	(2)
Souqs	243	(1)
Dubai Museum	244	(2)
Shaikh Saeed al-Maktoum House	246	(1)
Heritage & Diving Villages	247	(1)
Majlis Ghorfat Um-al-Sheef	247	(1)
Bastakia Quarter	248	(1)
Al-Ahmadiya District	248	(1)
World Trade Centre	248	(1)
Jumeira Archaeological Site	248	(1)
Al-Boom Tourist Village	249	(1)
Parks	249	(1)
Beaches	249	(1)
Activities	250	(1)
Organised Tours	251	(1)
Places to Stay	251	(4)
Places to Eat	255	(2)
Entertainment	257	(1)
Spectator Sports	258	(1)
Shopping	258	(1)
Getting There & Away	259	(1)
Getting Around	260	(4)
Hatta	262	(2)
The Northern Emirates	264	(22)
Sharjah Emirate	264	(1)
Sharjah	264	(7)
Around Sharjah	271	(1)
Ajman Emirate	272	(1)
Ajman	272	(3)
Around Ajman	275	(1)
Umm al-Qaiwain Emirate	275	(1)
Umm al-Qaiwain	275	(3)
Around Umm al-Qaiwain	278	(2)
Ras al-Khaimah Emirate	279	(1)
Ras al-Khaimah	280	(3)
Around Ras al-Khaimah	283	(3)
The East Coast	286	(10)
Fujairah	286	(3)
Around Fujairah	289	(2)
Bithnah	291	(1)
Madha	291	(1)
Khor Fakkan	292	(1)
Badiyah	293	(1)
Dibba	294	(1)
Around Dibba	295	(1)
LANGUAGE	296	(8)
GLOSSARY	304	(11)
INDEX	315
Text	315	(4)
Boxed Text	319