UAE residents can now visit this beautiful country and get a visa on arrival - in pictures

Azerbaijan is now a last-minute option for UAE residents - and just in time for the next Eid break. Here's an in-pictures guide to what you'll find there

Azerbaijan's distinct Flame Towers are seen here looming over the beautiful walled Old City (Icheri Sheher). The medieval part of town dates back to the 1100s: make sure to visit its caravanserai (the bed and breakfasts of the 1500s); see the 29 metre stone Maiden's Tower and have a pumpkin gutab (pancake) at Manqal. Photo / Getty Images

The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku is home to a museum and an auditorium, and the distinct building is one of the globe's greatest examples of late architect Zaha Hadid's work. Photo by Rosemary Behan

The interior of the striking building. Photo courtesy Farid Xayrulin

Icheri Sheher in Baku is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: this courtyard in the middle of the Old Town is part of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs - the 15th century palace of a dynasty that ruled modern Azerbaijan from the 9th to the 16th century. Photo / Getty Images

Red and white mountains near Xizi: these distinct formations in Azerbaijan are shale mountains that have oxidised over time. Photo / Getty Images

The interior of the Palace of Shaki Khans, which was a summer residence for royals, built in 1797. The home is found in the town of Shaki in the northwest of the country. Getty

Azerbaijan is home to around 400 mud volcanoes, which you will find in Gobustan National Park, not far from Baku. You will also find quite extraordinary prehistoric rock art engravings in the area too. Photo / Corbis

The Baku Ateshgah, which is normally called the Fire Temple, is a 17th century site that has been revered by Zoroastrians, Hindus and Sikhs. Natural gas kept a constant flame running at the site for many centuries (although the natural flame ran out when exploitation of the natural gas increased, the site is still of historical significance, and a pipe keeps the flame burning today). The temple is located on the Absheron peninsula on the outskirts of Surakhani village, about 30 km from the centre of Baku. Photo / Getty Images

It opened in 2014, and the 60m Baku Ferris Wheel, also known as the Baku Eye, spins slowly, taking about 15 minutes to fully revolve. You'll find it on Baku Boulevard in the Seaside National Park of Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. Photo / Getty Images

Baku is also home to a Formula 1 race every May at the Baku City Circuit (which is the second longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar). Getty Images

The track in action. AP

Climb up to Dagustu Park in the centre of Baku to get a beautiful panoramic view of the Caspian Sea

The Sehidler Xiyabani Mosque near Martyrs' Lane in Baku: the mosque was built in the 1990s.

An exmaple of the type of architecture you'll find in downtown Baku. AFP

A ruling from last month means that UAE residents visiting Azerbaijan can now easily get a visa on arrival (previously, visas had to be obtained from the Azerbaijani embassy).

The diverse nation of more than 9 million people has been considered both part of Europe and Asia throughout its history - and it's only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi (both FlyDubai and Etihad travel there directly).

The Azerbaijani embassy's announcement says:

- "All UAE residents" will get the one month tourist visa on arrival, but that the passport and UAE residence visa must be valid for at least 120 days after the date of entry to Azerbaijan

- That "all foreigners staying in Azerbaijan for more than 15 days should have a registration at State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, please ask your hotel to assist you on the first days of your visit if you will stay more than 15 days"

- That "any person that visited the territories of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia, will be refused in getting visa to Azerbaijan".

Definitely take the time to have tea in a Silk Route caravanserai in Baku's beautiful old town, or to dine in the cavernous underground restaurants in the Downtown area and visit the prehistoric cave drawings of Gobustan. In fact, there are plenty of sights in the city: scroll through the gallery above to see some of the key things you'll find in the country.

Or see some of our travel guides for Azerbaijan below... 

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Hotel Insider: Four Seasons Baku, Azerbaijan

A luxury guide to Baku, Azerbaijan

An appetite for life: checking into the Chenot Palace Health Wellness Hotel in Azerbaijan

Hotel Insider: Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers

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