The United Arab Emirates has been undergoing massive development over the last few years that has seen an increase in tourist attractions and activities in the region. The United Arab Emirates or UAE is made up of seven different emirates or sovereign states each of these emirates have developed their own strategies to attract tourists and visitors making the UAE an exciting place to visit with many different activities and places of interest.
Some of the developments that have taken place in the UAE have become tourist attractions in their own right; The Palm Islands development and The World development have been publicised and caught the attention of people all over the world and now these manmade island groups are attracting tourists wishing to see them.
The United Arab Emirates is also lucky enough to have a very diverse geography and environment with many natural attractions such as unspoilt beaches and a fantastic, diverse and rare marine environment that includes animals such as turtles, dugongs, whales and dolphins. The beaches, animal life and coral reefs have made the UAE a destination of choice for divers from all over the world.
The deserts and wilderness areas of the UAE are attracting adventurers to all of the emirates to experience four wheel drive tours many of which also include a visit to a traditional Bedouin camp either for a meal or in the case of overnight trips for the visitors to camp in for the night. Traditional Bedouin culture plays an important part in the modern day ideology of many of the emirates who ensure it is kept alive to not only entertain and educate tourists but also so that the traditions are carried on and can be learnt by the young people of the UAE.
Sport is a huge part of the way of life of UAE residents and visitors can play or watch a diverse mix and huge amount of sports that range from traditional horse and camel racing through to cricket and golf as well as motor sports including formula one, other motor racing divisions and speed boat racing. The United Arab Emirates is now home to several world class golf courses some of which are located in golfing resorts so that visitors can stay in high class hotel accommodation right on the course. Every form of sport imaginable is available in the UAE ? you can even snow ski year round in an indoor facility that has five full sized ski runs as well as toboggan runs!
The UAE has also become known for its world class shopping. The cities of the emirates have all been experiencing a development boom and this boom has seen many, many shopping malls boutiques and other specialty shops flourishing all over the UAE, which has lead to the UAE becoming a shopper's paradise. The new stores and malls supply all manner of designer goods and modern electronics and consumer goods, whilst the traditional souqs still thrive, selling local arts crafts and other cultural items.
The UAE is a unique nation where you can see the best of many seemingly opposite influences and cultures balanced to produce a wonderful modern country with something for all. Modern cities with world-class hotels, facilities and wonderful shopping are balanced against the traditional Bedouin lifestyle, in a nation that supports both conservative Islamic and western liberal views equally.
The UAE has, through recent property booms due to the granting of freehold ownership rights to foreigners, become one of the worlds leading property investment hot spots. Freehold property ownership in the UAE was unavailable to expats prior to 2002; until that time only 99 year leaseholds or rental of property was allowed by law to non GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) or UAE citizens. Dubai lead the introduction of freehold purchases to foreigners, starting in 2002 when a decree was issued by crown prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoom of Dubai which allowed the purchase and ownership of free hold property in designated areas of Dubai. In 2006 Law 7 - Dubai's property law was passed, this law formally reinforced the ability of non GCC or UAE citizens to purchase freehold land; implemented the property registration office of Dubai Lands and Properties Department, set this departments jurisdiction and outlined the general rules, definitions etc of property ownership.
The opening of Dubai's property market in 2002 lead to a lot of interest in not only Dubai but the whole of the United Arab Emirates by investors; this interest has not been lost on the other Emirate States with Ras Al Khaimah being the first emirate after Dubai to allow foreign ownership. Ajman the smallest emirate has allowed foreign freehold ownership since 2004.
The remaining emirates allow various degrees of foreign ownership. Sharjah does not allow freehold ownership to expats but does allow 99 year leaseholds. Abu Dhabi has similar laws with 99 year leaseholds and 50 year renewable surface ownership agreements as the only options for foreign property investors. Conversely Umm al- Quwain does allow foreign property ownership although ownership of the land is prohibited.
Fujairah has only announced one development with freehold rights although they are currently drafting property legislation which is believed will allow foreign freehold ownership.
All of the freehold ownership in the UAE is in areas or individual developments that have been specifically designated by the governments of the individual emirates for possible foreign ownership; the emirates have not been opened to blanket foreign ownership as we are used to in the west.
Investors also need to be aware that ownership of a property in the United Arab Emirates does not automatically entitle the property owner to permanent residency visas, nor does it automatically entitle them to be able to work, although it is possible to work under the sponsorship of an employer.