Second
largest of the seven autonomous states which make up the United Arab Emirates and a premium leisure
destination in the Middle East. Dubai basks in a dry subtropical climate on the southern
shore of the Arabian Gulf, where long white
sand beaches are lapped by the azure seas of the Gulf. It’s little wonder that
Dubai is one of Arabia’s most in-demand leisure destinations. Modern,
clean, efficient and welcoming, it delivers a superb mix of sunshine,
watersports, luxury hotels, world-class cuisine, shopping, nightlife,
sightseeing, championship golf courses, desert safaris - and pretty much
everything else!
WHAT
TO SEE
Dubai
Creek
Dubai’s
main artery, winding inland from the Gulf, is a fascinating hive of activity by
day and night - with traditional teak trading dhows plying their way across the
Gulf and local water taxis (abras)
endlessly criss-crossing its waters.
Deira
The
Deira side of the Dubai Creek is Dubai City’s commercial and business heart and
home to the best shopping. Highlights include numerous local markets or souks, among them the Spice Souk, the
Gold Souk and Fish Souk.
Bur
Dubai
To
the west of Dubai Creek is historic Bur Dubai. Its many attractions include the
Dubai Museum, housed in Al Fahidi Fort – a landmark dating back 200 years and
former palace, garrison and prison. Here, too, is the imposing Grand Mosque,
boasting the city's tallest minaret and 54 domes. The intriguing 19th
century Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum’s House also merits a visit. Majlis Ghorfat
Um-Al-Sheef, former home of the late ruler of Dubai, is now open to the public and offers an
insight into a world of opulence.
Bastakiya
Gain
tantalising glimpses old Dubai by wandering around the narrow lanes of
Bastakiya district, notable for its traditional courtyard houses with their
distinctive wind towers providing natural
air-conditioning.
Jumeirah
Beach
To
the west of the mouth of Dubai Creek this sweeping strip of sand washed by the
warm waters of the Arabian Gulf is the setting of many of Dubai’s world-class luxury
hotels
Wild
Wadi Water Park
Next
to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, this 12-acre water park combines thrilling rides, a
surf area, a wave pool and many more water activities - all themed in the style
of Sinbad and ancient Arabia and in an
authentic wadi
setting.
Jumeirah
Mosque
Jumeirah
Mosque is one of the largest and most beautiful of Dubai's many mosques and a
spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture, with twin minarets, a
majestic dome – and dramatically illuminated after dark.
Heritage
and Diving Village
You
can relive something of Dubai's heritage at this fascinating
re-creation of traditional village life and crafts as they were in years gone
by, complete with displays and entertainment.
WHAT
TO DO
Sports
If
you’re staying at one of the Jumeirah Beach resorts, you’ll find watersports in
plenty on offer – with windsurfing, sailing, parasailing, canoeing, waterskiing,
wake-boarding and jetskiing available at your hotel or nearby. Scuba-divers and
game-fishing enthusiasts are also well catered for in the area. Even for
non-golfers, Dubai's fantastic golf courses – including
three of world-class championship standard - are worth a visit for their
spectacular clubhouse architecture and landscaping of the desert. See
At a Glance section for more
information on scuba-diving and golf.
Adventure
For
a complete change of scene and style, take a trip into the desert and Hajar Mountains on an exciting ‘dune-bashing’ or
‘wadi-bashing’ safari. Go Bedouin on
a camel ride in the desert – or enjoying a traditional Arabian meal under the
stars. Aerial sightseeing and daylight and evening dhow cruises are also
increasingly popular.
Horse-Racing
Nad
Al Sheba Racecourse is home to the famous Dubai World Cup, the horse-race with
the world’s highest stakes. The Dubai Racing Festival meets start in January and
last nine weeks, and there are other meetings November and
April.
Shopping
Big
news in Dubai,
shopping here is not for the faint-hearted! Huge modern air-conditioned, stylish
shopping malls lurk all around the city, offering the entire top designer
brands, as well as great duty-free prices on electrical goods and jewellery. As
for the latter, if you're in quest of something special, make for the Gold Souk
(one of the world’s largest retail gold markets) on Sikkat al-Khali Street for
some genuine bargains, complete with authenticity certificates.
Entertainment
Dubai
is a truly cosmopolitan affair and offers a buzzing after-dark scene from
beachfront to city centre. Bars, pubs, discos and nightclubs are plentiful and
most serve food and offer entertainment. Dubai increasingly attracts popular singers and
entertainers from both the West and the East, in the winter months especially.
Hundreds of high-quality restaurants tempt with a mouth-watering array of tastes
from around the world.