The Emirate of Umm al-Qaiwain is located on the Arabian Gulf coast of the UAE, extending over a distance of 24 kilometres, between Sharjah to the southwest, and Ras al-Khaimah to the northeast. Its inland border lies about 32 kilometres from the main coastline. The total area of the emirate is about 777 square kilometres, which is equivalent to 1 per cent of the country’s total area, excluding the islands.Sinaiya island is close to the town of Umm al-Qaiwain. It is 12 kilometres by 1 kilometres and comprises an admix of low sand dunes, intertidal flats and creeks, halophytic scrub and mature mangrove. Inland is the Khor al-Beidah, an expansive area of sand and mud-flats of international importance for its waterfowl. Sinaiya is an inshore sand-bar, perhaps formerly a spit, and now severed at its northern end. The UAE's largest Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) colony is found here, with over 15,000 pairs, probably the third largest colony in the world. There are less than 15 extant colonies known for the species, most in the UAE. Arabian (mountain) gazelle (Gazella gazella)have been introduced to Sinaiya and appear to be prospering. Marine life, although thus far little studied, is remarkable for its abundance and diversity. Black-tipped reef sharks patrol the outer shoreline, while green turtles are ubiquitous in the inner leads in particular.
Although not formally protected, the island of Sinaiya, along with the adjoining Khor al-Beidah, is one of the largest areas of undisturbed and varied coastal environment remaining anywhere in the UAE.
Apart from evidence of occupation in the Late Islamic period, probably by fishermen, little archaeological evidence has been identified on the island, although coins from the early first millennium AD have been recovered.

The town of Umm al-Qaiwain is built around a lagoon formed by a narrow peninsula on the west side and a few islands on the east. This lagoon, called Khor al-Baydah, offers some of the best sailing and birdwatching in the Emirates. It has a long tradition of dhow building and fishing. The town boasts no less than seven forts, one of which has been renovated and now houses the museum.The island of Akab is situated in a coastal lagoon adjacent to the town of Umm al-Qaiwain, on the Arabian Gulf coast of the northern emirates. Low-lying and sandy, it has typical halophytic (salt-tolerant) vegetation, while there are mangroves (Avicennia marina) along parts of its shoreline. The island was used as a butchery site for dugongs (Dugong dugon) by the Late Stone Age inhabitants of the coastal zone in the fourth millennium BC, probably on a seasonal basis. Dugongs are now extremely rare in the area, and the site provides valuable evidence of the former distribution of this endangered species of marine mammal.

1.Aquarium Located at the very tip of the peninsula this is the Marine Research Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It houses some 20 tanks of live fish and turtles and a collection of preserved local fish. Open daily except Friday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Thursday mornings only).

2.UAQ Tourist Club (The Flamingo Beach Resort) Situated in the old part of town on the lagoon, this relaxed club offers the best sailing in all manner of boats, including catamarans, glass-bottom boats for viewing the coral reefs, and a dhow for sea trips. Water-skiing, windsurfing and jet-skiing are possible here. Club members have discounts on equipment rent and room rates. Non-members pay a Dh 20 entrance fee. Tel: 06-7651185 email: flaming1@emirates.net.ae

4.Umm al-Qaiwain Fort Once UAQ police headquarters, it is still being restored to house the museum. It has kitchens and storerooms downstairs and majlis and bathrooms upstairs. The majlis room is very attractive with its carved wooden balconies and high ceilings

5.UAQ Marine Club and Riding Centre This is a family club with good riding and water sports facilities. It has a nice beach with shaded areas, a simple bar/restaurant, and various types of boats for rent, including a dhow, which makes daily trips to nearby islands. It also has a swimming pool and tennis courts. Closed on Mondays. Tel: 06-7665446

6.Pearl Hotel This rather basic hotel has 20 chalets around a swimming pool and a restaurant as well as a nightclub/bar. Tel: 06-7666678

7.Palma Beach Hotel Next door to the UAQ Marine Club and Riding Centre, this beach hotel consisting of portacabins of varying sizes. There is no restaurant but the hotel has a comprehensive room service menu and it is permissible to barbecue on the terrace. Tel: 06-7667090 Fax: 7667388

8.UAQ Beach Hotel The oldest hotel of the emirate, it consists of 22 portacabins, a swimming pool and a separate restaurant. It is the only hotel on the non-sheltered west side of the peninsula. Tel: 06-7666647

9.Barracuda Beach Resort Located on the Sharjah – RAK highway, next door to the AquaPark Dreamland and opposite the UAQ Flying Club and the UAQ shooting club, this hotel consists of 11 single bedroom chalets, and 41 apartments. It has a beach, a swimming pool and barbecue pits. It also offers a duty-free liquor store. Tel: 06-7681555 Fax: 7681556

10.Aquapark Dreamland This amusement park specialises in water rides. It also features a go-kart track, and an amusement centre. Numerous food stalls and restaurants cater for various types of food. Opening times vary with the seasons, and entry fees are Dh 30 for adults and Dh 20 for children. Extensions are being planned to provide a 5-star hotel and beach bungalows. Tel: 06-7681888 website: www.dreamlanduae.com

11.Al-Dur This is the site of a coastal city that existed between 200 BC and the third century AD. It was deserted when access to the sea silted up through the action of the tides. Now the coast is several hundred metres away from the site. Al-Dur was excavated between 1973 and 1994 and yielded many interesting artifacts, which will be on display in the UAQ museum. Al-Dur consists not of a single concentrated area of ruins but is rather a sprawling site with numerous private houses, big and small, scattered over a large area. Foundations of many buildings were excavated, including a house, possibly that of a ruler, which had three fortification towers, and two (headless) statues of eagles flanking the entrance door. Other buildings excavated were a fort of 20 metres square with circular towers, many ordinary houses and a temple with ornately decorated gypsum plasterwork. Thousands of graves are interspersed between the houses. These range from simple rectangular cists to large stone structures. Grave goods included drinking sets, Roman glass, weaponry, pottery, jewellery and ivory objects. Coinage was also abundant at al-Dur. It is very likely that Al-Dur was the site of Omana known to both Pliny and Strabo as an important market town in the lower Gulf region. The site is located to the right of the main Sharjah – Ras-al-Khaimah highway, approximately 10 kilometres past the main UAQ roundabout

12.Tell Abraq This site, located just inland of the main UAQ roundabout on the road to Falaj al-Mualla, was excavated in 1973 and again between 1989 and 1998. It is dominated by a large fortification tower, 40 metres in diameter. Faced with stone and with a massive mudbrick foundation, the fortress would have towered over the nearby shoreline. It is the largest Bronze Age building discovered anywhere in the Arabian peninsula and was probably the seat of a local lord. Occupation of the site was probably continuous from approximately 2,200 to 300 BC. Throughout its occupation Tell Abraq was very much in touch with the outside world, as artifacts originating in the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, Iran and Afghanistan attest.