How long in UAE?
 

I'm going in January. Looking for some beach time, some desert scenery (though not a guided tour), local neighborhoods, maybe visiting Sharjah and Al Ain, possibly Muscat as well. No interest whatsoever in malls or shopping.

How many days are enough? How much is too much?

And on the same topic - I'll be arriving in Dubai from Tel Aviv, via Amman. I know that Israeli stamps are not an issue in Dubai, but what about arriving directly from Israel? I thought I saw a post in this forum on this very issue, but now I can't find it.

See my other reply, but in summary, a week is plenty if you don't have a decent local guide (or do a lot of research) because tourism is highly underdeveloped anywhere outside of Dubai and Abu Dhabi so lots of places are only known by residents. Also, if you're not going to have a car you will not be able to get much desert scenery unless you go on a guided tour.