<p>I have friends due to visit Abu dabai and other nearby cities this week. She is thinking about calling off the trip
, Given the current unrest, if you have any experience living in the area, what would you advise?</p>
<p>Pleas limit the topic to travel and no politics.</p>
<p>Do you really have to ask?</p>
<p>The friends might want to check for any travel warnings on this website - </p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to Travel.State.Gov](<a href=“404 - Page Not Found”>http://travel.state.gov/)</p>
<p>But it might not be updated to the events of yesterday. Obviously it’s not the ideal time for an American to go traveling in the Middle East in general at the moment but I don’t know what the relative mood or danger would be to an average American tourist or business person. Not all countries over there are the same either.</p>
<p>I must be very tired, because I first read this topic as “Travel to middle earth this week…” and was wondering what sort of advice would be forthcoming for this fictional journey!</p>
<p>I was in Dubai earlier this year. Honestly, Abu Dhabi /UAE is pretty darn different from Libya in terms of their attitudes towards Westerners/Americans. I wouldn’t lump all these countries together at all. But I would check the state dept website.</p>
<p>I’m with Pizzagirl - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and that area are completely different.<br>
Really can’t even compare the them. (Note: have never been to Abu Dhabi, but have been to Dubai several times)</p>
<p>I also lived in Egypt for several years (was there for 9/11), and while I would not have concerns about visiting there now, I do understand that some tourists might feel differently.</p>
<p>So - do I think your friend should cancel the trip? No.<br>
But in reality - she has to do what makes her comfortable.</p>
<p>I would travel to the gulf region if I had arranged plans; as others have said it is a different region than Libya & Egypt & Syria at this time. That said, in the past twenty odd years I travelled all over the region but I am glad to be home.</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to worry about the Gulf states, though obviously things can change. I think in any case US embassies and consulates are most likely to be targets if this film continues to be a problem. My son is currently in Jordan and they seem to be much more excited about their soccer victory over Australia than anything political!</p>
<p>It seems to be a fringe group that acted in Libya, not supported by Libyans.
My daughter liked Dubai, but she is happy with sun & sand.
Myself I think their January weather would suit me better.</p>
<p>I have not lived in the Gulf, but have visited Bahrain and Egypt. D1 lived in Cairo for 4 years and is back there now on a fellowship. While I would probably have some concerns about visiting Bahrain or Egypt at this time, and probably wouldn’t visit Yemen at all, there should be no problems in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha or similar places in Qatar or the UAE. Oman is also supposed to be very interesting.</p>