Dubai is the United Arab Emirates' vacation hot spot. This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a destination du-jour, where people flock for sales bargains, sunshine and family fun. Dubai is famous for sightseeing attractions such as the
Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building) and shopping malls that come complete with mammoth aquariums and indoor ski slopes.
But this city has many cultural highlights as well as all the glamorous modern add-ons. Take a wander around the
Bastakia district and you'll discover the Dubai of old, then cruise along
Dubai Creek in a traditional dhow and you'll soon realise there's more to this city than its flashy veneer.
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates is one of the city's most famous malls with the spectacular (and surreal)
Ski Dubai facility inside. The indoor ski slope is complete with chairlifts and a penguin enclosure, all at a continuous temperature of -4 degrees Celsius. There's also a cinema complex and a family entertainment centre with a whole host of rides aimed at both the big and small. The shopping opportunities are boundless as are the eating options, offering every conceivable world cuisine.
Burj Al-Arab
The
Burj Al-Arab is the world's tallest hotel, standing 321 m high, located on its own artificial island on the Dubai coastline. Designed to resemble a billowing dhow sail, the exterior of the Burj Al-Arab is lit up by a choreographed coloured lighting show at night. Decadent in every way possible, it is one of the most expensive hotels in the world with the most luxurious suites costing over $15,000 for one night.
For those without unlimited credit, the way to experience the over-the-top opulence is to go for dinner at the underwater
Al-Mahara restaurant where floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the dining room walls allow you to view sea life while you eat. Or, book afternoon tea at the
Skyview Bar (a minimum spend is required) on the 27th floor with its amazing panoramic views of the city.
Burj Khalifa
Dubai's landmark building is the
Burj Khalifa, which at 829.8 m is the tallest building in the world. For most visitors a trip to the
observation deck on the 124th floor here is a must-do while in the city. The views across the city skyline from this bird's-eye perspective are simply staggering. The slick observation deck experience includes a multi-media presentation on both Dubai and the building of the Burj Khalifa (completed in 2010) before a high-speed elevator whizzes you up to the observation deck for those 360-degree views out across the skyscrapers to the desert on one side and the ocean on the other. Night-time visits are particularly popular with photographers due to Dubai's famous city-lights panoramas.
Back on the ground, wrapping around the Burj Khalifa, are the building's beautifully designed
gardens with winding walkways. There are plenty of water features including the
Dubai Fountain, the world's tallest performing fountain, modelled on
Las Vegas' famous Fountains of Bellagio.
Jumeira Beach
This strip of sandy white bliss is the number one
beach destination for Dubai visitors. There are hotels strung out all along the length, with this being one of the most popular places to stay for tourists. The beach has excellent facilities with plenty of sun loungers, restaurants and water-sport operators offering jet skiing.
Dubai Mall
Dubai Mall is the city's premier mall and provides entry to the
Burj Khalifa as well as the
Dubai Aquarium. There is also an ice-skating rink, gaming zone and cinema complex if you're looking for more entertainment options. The shopping and eating is endless and there are nearly always special events such as live music and fashion shows within the mall. The most famous of these are the annual
Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February and the
Dubai Summer Surprises Festival in July and August.
Dubai Museum
Dubai's excellent
museum is housed in the
Al-Fahidi Fort, built in 1787 to defend Dubai Creek. The fort's walls are built out of traditional coral-blocks and held together with lime. The upper floor is supported by wooden poles known as "handels", and the ceiling is constructed from palm fronts, mud and plaster. In its history, the fort has served as residence for the ruling family, seat of government, garrison and prison. Restored in 1971 (and again extensively in 1995) it is now the city's premier museum. The entrance has a fascinating exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai, showing the mammoth expansion that hit the region after the oil boom.
The
courtyard is home to several traditional boats and a palm-leaf house with an Emirates wind-tower. The
right-hand hall features weaponry and the
left-hand hall showcases Emirates musical instruments. Below the ground floor are
display halls with exhibits and dioramas covering various aspects of traditional Emirati lifestyle (including pearl fishing and Bedouin desert life) as well as artifacts from the 3,000-4,000 year old graves at
Al Qusais archaeological site
Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek separates the city into two towns with
Deira to the north and
Bur Dubai to the south. The creek has been an influential element in the city's growth, first attracting settlers here to fish and pearl dive. Small villages grew up alongside the creek as far back as 4,000 years ago, while the modern era began in the 1830s when the Bani Yas tribe settled in the area. The
Dhow Wharfage is located along Dubai Creek's bank, north of Al-Maktoum Bridge. Still used by small traders from across the Gulf, some of the dhows anchored here are well over 100 years old. You can visit here, watching cargo being loaded and unloaded on and off the dhows. Dhow workers often invite visitors onto the vessels for a tour, where you can gain insight into the life of these traditional sailors. Many of the dhows here travel onwards to Kuwait, Iran, Oman,
India, and down to Africa's horn. This tiny remnant of Dubai's traditional economy is still a bustling and fascinating place to wander around.
To travel across the creek you can either take a trip on one of the many dhows that have been restored as tourist cruise boats or take an abra (small wooden ferry) between the ferry points on the creek's Bur Dubai and Deira banks.
Sheikh Ziyeed Road
Sheikh Ziyeed Road is the main thoroughfare running through Dubai's modern downtown business district. This wide, eight-lane highway is rimmed with towering glass, chrome and steel highrises along its length. Main attractions are along, or just off, the strip between the roundabout and the first intersection. The
Courtyard Gallery (6A Street) has an excellent permanent collection focused on contemporary art from Arab artists.
Dubai World Trade Tower (Sheikh Ziyeed Road) has an observation deck on its top floor that offers visitors panoramic views.
The
Gold and Diamond Park and Museum (Sheikh Ziyeed Road) is a one-stop shop for jewellery lovers with 118 manufacturers and 30 retailers all under one roof. The complex's museum presents the history of Arabic jewellery production and also offers short tours of the manufacturing plant.
Heritage and Diving Village
Dubai's architectural, cultural and maritime heritage is showcased at the
Heritage and Diving Village, with displays related to pearl diving and dhow building - two of old Dubai's historic economic mainstays. There are also recreations of traditional Bedouin and coastal village life, with Persian homes, a traditional coffeehouse and a small
souk where potters and weavers practice their handicrafts at the stalls. Local music and dance are performed from October to April.
Dubai Aquarium
One of the city's top tourist attractions, the
Dubai Aquarium houses 140 species of sea life in the huge suspended tank on the ground floor of the
Dubai Mall. As well as free viewing from the mall, if you enter the
Underwater Zoo you can walk through the aquarium tunnels.
There are a myriad of activities where you can get a closer look at the sea life. Glass bottom boat tours (on top of the tank) are particularly popular. Cage snorkeling and shark diving activities are also on offer.
Fancy any of these spots, you can actualize your dream by taking advantage of our Dubai stop over (DSO) package. It includes your Visa, Pick-up, Hotel and Tour at a very reduced rate. You'll also get a discount on your Emirates flight fare. Your preference with regards to the choice of hotel, location and meal will be taken into consideration.
Call
08088753484 BB Pin:
5c02bea8 for enquiries and bookings.