The people of United Arab Emirates are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about United Arab Emirates isn't Burj Khalifa or even the extraordinary Camelicious ice cream — it's the people. In Sharjah and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Burj Khalifa. extraordinary modern architecture became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and United Arab Emirates delivers it more than most places.