Dubai

Dubai Great Destination for Holiday and Shopping

Dubai is a perfect holiday destination for family as well as business tourists. The cheap hotels in Dubai give royal hospitality to people who visit here. Dubai is a perfect destination for family holidaying. The world’s richest horse race is held in Dubai where horses of different continents compete with each other; there are million dollar lotteries that are held at periodic pace, there are other more attractions such as international tennis, golf tournaments and months long shopping festivals. Dubai presents the most impeccable lavish hotel – the Burj Al Arab shaped like a billowing sail-perched on an artificial platform in the sea. Some of the sightseeing places noteworthy to mention are Creek side Park, Wild Wadi Water Park, bird sanctuary, an indoor ski resort and the gold souk.

From attractive and enormous shopping malls to active and pulsating souls… shopping in Dubai is quite an incredible experience. Dubai Shopping gets you the best deals at affordable prices. Be it high fashion merchandise, most modern of all gadgets, home appliances, jewelry, furnishing products or any other products and manufactured goods available you will get the best of products. The two central attractions of Dubai Shopping consist of Dubai Summer Surprises and Dubai Shopping Festival. Being shopping oriented these festivals attract millions of tourists and visitors predominantly during the months of July and January, February. Boasting of several shopping malls, Dubai’s cater to each shopper’s requirements and need.

Recognized as ‘Layali Dubai’ in Arabic, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), came into being in the year 1996 by the Dubai government as a trading event that was primarily intended to promote trade and tourism in Dubai.

Dubai Holidays have evolved onto the world stage over the past few years solidifying Dubai as a multiple holiday destination.

Dubai was once professed as an unproductive land and a parched region, today it is among the most needed after holiday destination, mainly during the months of Dubai Shopping Festival. Once acknowledged for Desert Safari, nowadays Dubai boasts of providing a superb shopping experience. Beyond these you may as well pander to in different adventure activities like sea tours, parasailing, mountaineering, , skydiving, surfing, parachuting, golfing, sand over the desert, underwater adventures… fun, frolic ands excitement are in abundance here.

Visited by millions of tourists globally each year, the shopping festival of Dubai is a much sought after festivity. Heavy discount prices on recognized and designer clothes, tastefully done jewelry, electrical and technologically advanced gadgets, gizmos and machineries are available, lip luscious food to gorge, intermingling with interesting cultural events, wonder and awe inspiring fire works in the night…For staying purpose tourists are dotted with cheapest hotels in Dubai.

Dubai makes the most excellent of times. Also sought after by daring adventurers and daredevils, the city of Dubai provides exciting activities to indulge in. From sand surfing on the renowned golden dunes of Dubai desert, motto-crossing across challenging trails, and skydiving from a knee weakening height of 12,000 feet or swimming and foundling underwater life… you would comprehend that fun was never like this before until and unless you visited Dubai

Dubai

Dubai – a Middle-eastern Fantasy Metropolis

With the introduction of Emirates airlines in 1985, Dubai quickly hit the world map. Offering stopovers to this unusual and not oft travelled destination by the western world. A ingenious plan to bring tourism to this amazing place, quickly reaped fruitage with increased visitors. And it kept pace, delivering a marvelous array of never before seen sites, sparking viral marketing, and suddenly strong demand. Whether it be Real Estate, Jobs, or Tourism, it’s all happening here.

In just a few short years, Dubai has gone from predominantly dusty desert plains, to a metropolis scarcely able to grow quickly enough. It seems every which way you look there’s a building under construction, and it’s bigger, taller and more fantastic than the last.

Travellers come to Dubai for many different reasons, but usually one thing is always evident for the first-time visitor.. Awe.
There are so many different things to see and do, that you will find it difficult to decide how to spend your time. Whether you’re travelling with Children may have some impact to the sites you see, but then again Dubai’s fantasy land appeal, seems to bring out the child in all. Within the Emirates Towers in-door ski slope – Ski Dubai, it’s not unusual to see grown men & women in traditional dress whirling down the slopes on an inflated donut. Skiing in Dubai, whilst restaurant patrons look on, and it’s a sweltering 45 degrees outside, somehow doesn’t seem strange here. It’s just a little bit like never never land, where anything is possible, and nothing surprises you.
Soon to launch in fantasy style is it’s own Dubai land, a plethora of sights, rides & entertainment covering 3 Billion square feet. Within the complex, and opening in 2010 is Universal Studios Dubailand. If you’ve been looking for fantasy land, you’ll find it here.

One of the ever popular sites to see in Dubai is the Burj Al Arab hotel, the worlds only self-acclaimed 6 star hotel. Whilst a stay there is suitably impressive, with personal butlers & reception for each floor, wine, fruit, sweets & dates galore delivered complimentary, along with a gift Hermes fragrance, beach bag, and other glamorous goodies, it does scream of ostentatiousness. A feeling not all are comfortable with, nor the departing bill if you decide to eat in one of the unique restaurants. We dined in the under-water level restaurant Al Mahara with simulated lift submergence. A circular designed restaurant curving around a giant aquarium. If your pocket can handle it, you will find some of the oldest and most unique wines & liquors in the world housed here.
A stay at the Burj will entitle you to you to a complimentary pass of the Wild Wadi Water park, located nearby.

On each day of our Dubai visit, we found the view from the Burj somewhat unclear, with much desert & construction dust in the air, you may find these structures of grandeur from the inside out, may not be as impressive to view from, as they are to look at from afar. Nevertheless, it’s an amazing building, steeped in interesting facts & stories. Such as the centre spire originally built to add height to claim the worlds tallest hotel at it’s birth, falling to the lobby just post-construction. Fact or fiction only the constructors will know.
We also had the pleasure of staying at one of Jumeirah’s fine related resort complexes, the Madinat Jumeirah Al Qsar, a gorgeous resort located on a man-made creek which comes alive with Abra’s floating down each picturesque, date palm lined waterway. The creek is lined with literally dozens of dining options, open to guests and the public, from cafes to fine dining & bars. A wonderful place to relax and thoroughly enjoy a most enjoyable middle-eastern experience, albeit somewhat simulated. It’s pure joy to the senses, the romance of the middle east is well represented here. We found ourselves revolving back time and time again to the Moroccan restaurant for the delectable food. And one of the near by roof-top bars. A drink at Sunset from here, with the Burj Al Arab on the horizon is simply picture perfect. The Abra’s are complimentary for guests of any one of the 3 resorts within Madinat Jumeirah, and are a wonderful addition if not a little touristy, you’ll still love it.

There is so much more to say about Dubai, but the list is endless. Most visitors here will go and enjoy at least a few tourist sights, it’s really inevitable, and most are worth it. Desert Safari’s are on the list of most visitors, and a good way to consume some expected Arabian sites, such as Camels, traditional music & food. The Gold Souk is obviously worth a look, but interestingly we found it wasn’t as in-expensive as hoped. The diamonds on the other hand were very cheap, and our best buying was done at the Gold & Diamond park on Sheikh Zayed Road. The Spice Souk in Deira was also smaller and less appealing than some guides made out, however if you’re in the market for a Pashmina or wool shawl these areas of Deira offer the cheapest buys around. Expect to pay around AU$2 for a basic pashmina, or around $10 for the better quality ones. Get used to the currency, and bargain away.

In terms of general shopping, of which there’s alot. Emirates Towers offer many of the same stores you might find elsewhere. But it’s a delicious haven for a few hours to spend in the cool, check out Ski-Dubai and have a wine, and generally get a vibe for the current in Dubai.

A few facts..When travelling to Dubai, like any predominantly Muslim Country you should respect and observe the customs. Morality is high here, so modest dress is fairly important. They are used to visitors here, so you get some leniency, however if you wear a short skirt, kiss in public or swear, you’re likely to meet with strong disapproval. Many guide books will recommend a visit to Sharjah, one of Dubai’s neighbouring cities. Whilst is does offer the no-frills, real UAE experience, we personally found it uncomfortable, and had no real sites of interest that couldn’t be found in Dubai. Be warned, we were advised by our driver, that a couple had recently been imprisoned here for 1 year each, just for kissing in the back of a taxi. You’ll find parts of the UAE raw on the senses, and this may not be the experience you’re looking for.

Lastly, if you’re planning a visit to Dubai or haven’t had the chance to see a great deal there. Do some homework and choose how you’d like to spend your time. Somehow here, time seems to fly by, and you may end up doing nothing at all, but just eating, drinking and watching the sunset. This of course is also a great thing to do, and in spite of all it’s great fantasy attractions, you may prefer to just enjoy it’s contrasts of old cultures mixed with the dizzying heights of fantastic new developments, and let Dubai take you wherever it likes.

Dubai

Things to do in Dubai ? the city of gold and the architectural wonders

You will be spoilt for choice with things to do in Dubai, such as an excursion to the vast sand dunes, or strolling along the stunning beaches or shopping at the gold markets. Dubai is well known as one of the fastest growing cities in the world, backed by a booming oil industry, and claiming to some of the most exceptional architectural wonders defining its skylines.

Dubai offers many white sandy coasts, hotel beaches and public beaches, extending along Jumeira Road. If you are looking for a classy coastal experience then try the hotel beaches well furnished with posh amenities including lawns, swimming pools and refreshment outlets. If you prefer public beaches, you can visit Al Mamzar Park towards Deira, furnished with playgrounds, barbecue and picnic sites as well as refreshment kiosks.

Dubai is also known as the ‘City of Gold’ coined after the Gold Souq in Deira – the most popular gold bazaar in Dubai and the largest in the world. Souk/ Souq is an open-air marketplace. The gold sold here features exquisite elaborate designs, carefully priced according to their weight and workmanship.

If you are up for a relaxing holiday, how about going for a tee off at an exclusive golf course in Dubai? There are 2 lush courses namely the Dubai Creak Golf and Yacht Club sited along the shores of the Dubai Creek. The first grass course in the Middle East – the Emirates Golf Club – also lies towards the south of Dubai, which hosts the European PGA Desert Classic annually, where many topnotch players including Tiger Woods partake in the tournaments.

Among other things to do in Dubai, you can opt for an exciting aquatic sport hosted in Dubai beaches which includes jet-skiing, sailing, windsurfing, paragliding and water skiing. There are also diving facilities at some sites where divers from across the globe gather to explore shipwrecks of ancient times and the splendor of marine life.

If you are visiting Dubai, you would not want to miss its deserts. You can go for an exciting ride on a petite 4-wheeler, passing over the rolling sand dunes or better yet a night spent at an oasis watching the clear heavens teeming with countless stars, while reclining under a Bedouin style camp surrounded by camels.

For an exclusively sumptuous treat after a long day you can try one of the luxury Dubai hotels including the Grand Millennium Dubai, where they house classy restaurants serving delectable local and international cuisines. There are over 250 Dubai hotels furnished with modern amenities specifically oriented for the business and pleasure travelers alike.

Dubai

Dubai: when boom is bated

Planners should haggle to get the best deals in a buyers’ market.  

Love it or loathe it, Dubai is arguably the world’s most lavish meetings and incentive destination. Those planning luxury meetings will discover an embarrassment of riches in the five-star hotel sector – or perhaps a richesse d’embarras if you are one of those sensitive souls who find the unabashed opulence just a little jarring.

Dubai can no longer rely on its oil and gas reserves, and to address this shortfall it has embraced globalisation, expanding and developing to encompass alternative sectors, such as tourism, the MICE industry, real estate and financial services. Dubai’s leaders have encouraged investment which has seen development at a breakneck pace. Now the economy is slowing; financiers have slammed the brakes on. How will this affect the meetings market?

 

The party line from the Dubai Convention Bureau is predictable but it rings true. Dubai must work harder to attract business from Europe – and when it comes to meetings and events it’s a buyers’ market.

 

“Event planners are making decisions with a much shorter lead time,” says Jerad Bachar, director at the Dubai Convention Bureau. “The global economic climate has meant that clients are keeping lead times very short and, for this reason, availability at the hotels and venues across the city is at an all-time high. The meeting planner has a freedom and flexibility not seen before, and some viable and budget-friendly opportunities exist that haven’t been available before.”

 

Bachar argues that economic difficulties seem to be restricted to the more outlandish residential developments.

 

“Yes, there is some slowing in the market,” he says, “but it’s not the practical developments that are being hit. Venues such as hotels with meeting and conference space with excellent leisure facilities are still going ahead without any issues, because there is a clear, viable need for these. It’s the larger, less practical developments and buildings that are slowing down in production.”

 

Dubai is still an exciting and vibrant location for events, particularly taking into consideration the current opportunity for availability and negotiation. The sleek, modern Dubai International Airport offers connections to over 140 destinations and the city offers a superior quality lifestyle which is perfect for creating vibrant social programmes for visiting delegates.

 

Big it up

Dubai currently offers around 320 hotels and 110 hotel apartments in the city, although the numbers are ever-increasing. The city is planning an extraordinary amount of new development. Hotels make up a large percentage of that growth, focusing on the tourist and MICE trade to replace the gap that oil depletion will create. Most of the existing – and all of the planned – hotel venues offer business and meeting facilities and cater for groups from 10 to 25,000 people.

 

The emirate is a meeting point for destinations around the world with an average flying time of seven hours or less from Europe, Asia, India and many parts of Africa. Direct flights are now available from every continent.

 

The destination boasts one of the finest airports in the world, recognised not only as one of the fastest-growing, but also as the aviation hub of the Middle East, and it’s only 15 minutes from the city centre. Over 110 airlines operate serve over 200 destinations.  With an expansion project underway, Dubai International Airport is set to handle 60 million passengers by 2010.

 

Dubai has a proven track record of staging high profile and high security global events such as the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2003 and the World and Travel Tourism Council in 2008. The staging of these types of events requires involvement from many different disciplines throughout Dubai, including the government and private sector working together to ensure a safe and secure environment is available at all times for both visitors and residents. 

 

High calibre events this year included the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March and the Arabian Travel Market in May, both held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC), as well as numerous sporting events such as the Dubai Golf World Championship at the Jumeriah Golf Estates and the Dubai Airshow at Jebel Ali.

 

Away from the luxury hotels, there are stimulating programmes to be experienced, ranging from Arabian Nights in the desert, taking in camels, 4×4 rides on the dunes and belly dancers, through Michelin star-level dining (there is currently no Michelin Guide for Dubai, but there is some incredible food) and elegant cocktail bars, to skiing in the Dubai Snowdome. Not to mention watersports, diving, flying and, of course, shopping!

 

Notable exhibition spaces include the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, which is part of the Dubai World Trade Center. As you’d expect, this venue offers a solution to most briefs, offering vast exhibition space, smaller spaces for conferences or dining and a well-equipped business centre. The Dubai World Trade Center Tower is an exclusive club, offering great views. It can seat up to 2,000 people.

 

For a property featuring white sands and wonderful views, the 138-room Ritz-Carlton Dubai is a safe bet, with its sea-facing rooms and air of old-fashioned excellence. For more active programs, the Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort has undergone a fair bit of upgrading and can offer, of course, golf, alongside clay shooting, watersports and scuba diving.

 

Into the city and the vast 674 bedroom Grand Hyatt is always a pleasure. Standing on the edge of the famous creek, this is a very well-appointed hotel with great meeting space offering a total of around 4340 sqm and state-of-the-art digital technology. And its sister hotel, the Hyatt Regency, is home to the Crystal Ballroom, which boasts a banqueting department renowned as one of the hospitality leaders in the UAE.

 

For the ‘wow!’ factor you’d be hard pressed to beat Burj Al Arab, the famous and oft-photographed tower, designed to look like a ship’s sail. At 321 metres it’s the second tallest building used exclusively as a hotel, smaller only than the Rose Tower. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah Beach, connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. Burj Al Arab has 202 luxury suites.

 

Then of course there’s Atlantis the Palm Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeriah Beach Hotel, Le Meridien – the cornucopia overflows.

 

New on the block

 

The Palm Islands are artificial islands – Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Jebel Ali and the Palm Deira – on which major commercial and residential infrastructures are being constructed by Nakheel Properties.

 

Each development is in the shape of a palm tree, topped with a crescent, and has a large number of residential, leisure and entertainment centres planned.

 

The three islands will offer more than 100 luxury hotels between them, plus residential beachside villas and apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities and health spas. Palm Jumeirah began in June 2001, followed shortly by Palm Jebel Ali. The Palm Deira will have a surface area of 46.35 sqkm and completion is planned over the next 10–15 years.

 

Burj Dubai, meaning ‘Dubai Tower,’ is a skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai. It’s arguably the tallest man-made building in the world, even though it’s still unfinished. It will include apartments, restaurants, library and even a cigar club. Completion is due this year, and is part of the new ‘Downtown Dubai’ development.

 

Designed to represent a flower, the Burj Al Alam, meaning ‘World Tower’, is a 108-storey, 510 meter skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay. As well as the inevitable residential and office space it will also house the highest hotel in the world, plus a six-storey ‘crown’ holding gardens, a Turkish bath and upmarket club facilities. Completion is expected next year.

 

Hydropolis is an underwater hotel. Yes you read it right, an underwater hotel… It will be the world’s first, covering about 260 hectares and will include three elements: the land station where guests are welcomed;  a connecting tunnel which offers a train ride to the main area of the hotel; and the hotel itself, which will have 220 suites within the submarine complex. It is due to open next year, if the marketing blurb is to be believed. Jules Verne, eat your heart out.

 

Case study – Speed trip

 

What better place to offer a luxury trip than Dubai, the playground of the rich and famous?  

 

To balance the exhilaration the group dined in some of Dubai’s most exclusive restaurants, including Buddha Bar at Grosvenor House and Vu’s at Emirates Towers.  On the third evening Artaaj organized a fantastic firework display after dinner and drinks at the Bab al Shams desert resort. 

 

Biju Jayaraj, chief executive officer at Artaaj, said: “This tailormade five-day package was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As Dubai residents we were able to provide BMW with a unique insight into the many premium lifestyle activities on offer, from the excitement of desert and water activities, to the glamour of evening entertaining and luxury shopping.”

 

A brief word…

 

We asked a leading Dubai destination management company to recommend venues and ideas for a hypothetical brief: A well-known electronics company has introduced an amazing incentive programme for employees who amaze. The final reward is a four-day lavish trip to Dubai for 25 achievers and their partners.

 

Rami Asaad, Emirates Oasis Tourism

 

Our tour takes you on a journey that shows you the old and new Dubai, through the spice market, fish, fruit and vegetable market and the gold souk. Then it’s on to the Bastakia area to view the traditional wind towers and the old Fahidi Fort, which is today the Dubai History Museum. We also stop for a photo shoot at the Jumeirah mosque, an architectural landmark in Dubai.

 

Next is lunch at Al  Dawaar, Dubai’s only revolving restaurant. This unique dining venue is located on the rooftop of Hyatt Regency Dubai and offers spectacular views. This will be followed by a team-building activity, the Big Picture. Teams draw and paint sections of a picture (could be the company logo) on canvasses. Communication and co-ordination is critical as not all the information is immediately available. When all teams have finished, the canvasses are joined together to create the Big Picture, highlighting the successes and challenges of working together.

 

On the second day, the group will enjoy a gala dinner or theme evening. This is often the highlight of any incentive package so we would choose a memorable venue such as Burj Al Arab or the Grand Hyatt.

 

The third day includes a desert safari with a barbecue dinner including four-wheel driving on the dunes to a Bedouin campsite in the heart of the desert, where henna design, local dresses, soft drinks, water, tea or coffee are available. Try a camel ride and watch the enchanting belly dancer.

 

A shopping tour at malls like Mall of the Emirates, BurJuman, Al Ghurair City and Deira City Center is the focus of the final day followed by a buffet lunch at the hotel and transfer to airport.

 

Dubai MICE hotels and services

 

Browse MICE and corporate hotels in Dubai on the Great Hotels of the World website (http://www.ghotw.com/list/city/business/dubai.htm) – including detailed meeting information, photos, reviews and more. 

 

For great MICE offers and to request a proposal for your next event please visit the Great Hotels of the World MICE page (http://www.ghotw.com/facility/mice.htm).

 

For more information on MICE events in Dubai contact Jerad Bachar at the Dubai Convention Bureau: Tel: + 971 4 2010 220 / Fax: +971 4 2010 414 / jbachar@dubaitourism.ae

 

Dubai

What to Do In Dubai

Cities Look on the map! Is it Las Vegas? Is it New York City? Is it Miami? No, it is Dubai, the city that is experiencing the biggest construction boom of any city in the world. The most lavish and progressive emirate of the UAE obviously is thinking big, as everything raised here is the largest, the grandest or the most luxurious ever. Dubai currently boasts having the largest shopping mall, the largest manmade island and marina, and the tallest five-star resort hotel in the world. Building marinas and islands on deserts is a majestic feat that is a phenomenal accomplishment.

Since this enclave may one day soon be the most luxurious destination on the planet, we thought a little intelligence on lodgings, fine dining, and things to do would be appropriate.

Luxury Hotels in Dubai

Crowne Plaza Dubai is, that is, at least for now, Dubais most centrally located five-star hotel. It is on Sheikh Zayed Road and directly opposite the World Trade Centre, the International Convention Centre, and the Emirates Towers. Dubai International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the hotel, and a short distance from the Media City, the Internet City and the Knowledge Village. The hotel is part of the InterContinental Hotel Group. The Montgomerie, Dubai, features a championship golf course, a full service spa by Angsana Spa, an array of fine-dining options, and great proximity to daytime and nighttime fun activities. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which was built to resemble a breaking wave surging through the blue frothy waters, has its own private beach on the shoreline of the Arabian Gulf. The visually and physically exhilarating Wild Wadi Water Park also is on the premises. Jumeriahs striking architectural imagery is on display twice in Dubai with the Burj Al Arab. The billowing sail-shaped hotel was named the best hotel in the world by the Institutional Investor Magazine and the 2007 World Travel Awards.

Best Restaurants in Dubai

Century Village is a modern-day food village with an array of fine dining restaurants located in a central courtyard with fountains, rocks, benches and greenery. Restaurants include menus and influences of Portugal, Italy, Persia, India, the Mediterranean, Japan, France, Britain, and Arabia. The Yakitori House, which is located in the Ascot Hotel, is regarded as one of the best Japanese-themed restaurants of Dubai. The decorum and the menu share the same level of excellence. Ashas offers contemporary cuisine of India. The opulently designed complex puts patrons in an Old World ambiance in the middle of some of the most futuristic manmade environments ever raised.

To Do in Dubai

The entire city is a tribute to visionary architecture and ingenuity. There is the World Trade Centre, the Wild Wadi Water Park, and the Mall of the Emirates. The Mall of Emiates is the largest shopping center in the Middle East with approximately 6.5 million square feet of shopping space. It is so large that there is an indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai, inside the mall. The mall is a shoppers haven with more than 450 upscale stores and boutiques, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Company, and many more. Dubai has several major malls. It is one of the largest importers of luxury goods. The majority of nightlife occurs at the major resorts that offer fine dining and nightclubs. There are numerous manmade parks to enjoy.

When completed the Dubai Marina will be the largest manmade marina in the world. It is a city within a city. There are skyscrapers and moors for megayachts. The marina will have more than 200 high-rise buildings around it. Charter a motor or a sailing yacht with the Bristol Middle East Yacht Solution.

Dubai has many outdoor attractions. There are championship golf courses, spas, water sports, and desert adventures. Sporting events in Dubai include the world’s richest horserace at the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al-Sheba; the Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament, the Dubai Tennis Championships, Rugby Sevens, the Emirates Grand Prix power-boating; the UAE Desert Challenge, and camel racing.

Dubai

Top Tourist Attractions in Dubai

 

Dubai is one of the world’s fastest expanding cities and is also a bustling metropolitan. It is always brimming with life and teeming with activity and you just cannot manage to sleep in this city of life. It is a part of the UAE and is situated in the middle-east and all of its money comes from its oil resources and of course, tourism.

Tourism is a booming industry in Dubai and there are so many things for a tourist to do in Dubai, that no amount of time will be sufficient to visit every attraction in this city. So I’ll just round up tell you about the best of Dubai’s attractions. Dubai is currently constructing the world’s tallest tower, the Burj-Dubai Tower. The height of the Burj-Dubai tower has not been revealed as yet, but they are competing with other skyscrapers being built around the world. The Burj-Dubai tower is being built in close proximity to the Dubai Mall.

The Dubai Mall is one of the world’s largest malls. The Dubai mall coupled with the Mall of the Emirates is like heaven on earth for shoppers, because there is literally nothing that you will not find in these shopping malls. Dubai is known for shopping and it has raised its standards several fold, thanks to these 2 malls. The malls in Dubai play host to every single major brand in the world. So you don’t have to worry about running out of variety.

The next stop in the line is The Restless Planet, which is situated in the City of Arabia. The City of Arabia is a very huge theme park which is currently under construction, but will be open to visitors very soon. The Restless planet is actually a reconstruction of the famous Jurassic Park. It will consist of a horde of life-size robotic dinosaurs, each of which takes more than 6 months and a whole team of over-qualified professionals and researchers to build. Some of them are even being programmed to lunge at park visitors as they pass by. Impressed?

Next on the tour is Ski Dubai, the world’s largest indoor ski slope. Believe me when I say it is HUGE. It even has an indoor ski lift to take people to the top of the slope! Now how’s that for a surprise? Well, if you do get bored of skiing, you can always try out sand boarding, which is nothing but snowboarding, but on sand. The sand boarding session is usually coupled with the Dune bashing session, which is something that you absolutely cannot miss. The Dubai desert safari usually lasts for around half an hour, which usually involves driving on the edge of treacherously shaped sand dunes, not knowing whether or not you’ll live to see the next day’s light. It involves a million times more adrenalin than going on a roller coaster! Do not miss this. This is the highlight of your Dubai tour.

Well, there’s more. Dubailand, the world’s largest amusement park is being built as you read and when it throws open its gates to visitors, rest assured that you can expect nothing less than extravagant. Apart from these attractions, Dubai is also building three islands (they are totally man-made), all shaped like palm trees, which mostly consist of residential complexes and uber-sexy beach bungalows, each with a private beach! If you are lucky enough, you can easily spot the Palm Islands, from the air just before you land at Dubai Airport. Even if you do not manage to catch it then, you can always take a private aerial tour of Dubai in a helicopter.

There are also several projects which are coming up like ‘The Cloud, Dubai’, which is actually a resort, that is being built on stilts! Yeah. You read right. It is being mounted on 300 m poles which will extend right into the clouds over the Dubai skies. There is also another project, the Hydropolis, the 1st totally underwater hotel. The hotel’s guests will be brought to the hotel in submarines or a helicopter! Stunned! Well, don’t be, because this is just the tip of the iceberg.

With an alarming number of 5 star hotels coming up, Dubai has groomed itself to be the most exciting place for the modern traveler. Right from skiing, to exotic hotels, to typical Arabian attractions, Dubai has it all and it will stop at nothing to attract tourists from all around the world to feast on its magnificence. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and have some fun!

Dubai

Things to Do in Dubai (part 1)

Dubai Attractions / Things to do in Dubai

SUNDOWNER DUNE SAFARI

Are you ready to leave the city behind? Are you ready for an experience that is truly one of a kind? Do you have a stomach made of steel? If you answered yes to those three questions, you will definitely want to experience the Sundowner Dune Safari. Your safari guide will take you in a four wheel drive dunebuggy vehicle on an exciting trip over rolling sand dunes right into the heart of the desert. But be forewarned – this is not a slow, easy cruise through the Dubai desert. You’ll be driven by expert drivers who will speed you up and down the sand dunes of Dubai’s desert. Hold on for the ride of your life! As you journey deeper and deeper into the desert, you’ll stop and see camels having a rest at their camp, and from high atop a sand dune, you will watch the most incredible sunset you’ve likely ever witnessed. Down below, your Arabian camp waits to welcome you in traditional fashion. You’ll relax on cushy low cushions in Bedouin tents, your hands will be painted with intricate designs, you’ll discover a traditional spice souk, hop on a camel for a short ride, and enjoy some sweet shisha. Afterwards you’ll enjoy a delicious feast of fresh salads, grilled meats and Arabian sweets served to you under a sky so filled with stars you won’t believe it’s real. Sit back on your cushion and enjoy the entertainment provided by the amazing belly dancer as she moves to haunting Arabian melodies. This is a definite must to when in Dubai.

RIDDLE OF THE SANDS

This amazing journey has you leaving Dubai on an off road adventure into some of the toughest and most incredible land in the country of Dubai. You’ll drive over huge towering sand dunes, you’ll visit traditional desert villages and will journey down deep into the steep wadis of the rough Hajar Mountains. You’ll see a camel farm and plantations of alfalfa. You’ll visit the famous Fossil Rock, an incredible reminder of when this part of Arabia was covered by the ocean over 80 million

years ago. You’ll enjoy a trip into the rocky rough Hajar Mountains, the mountain range that goes across the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. After a nice cold lunch in one of the wadis, you’ll return be returned to Dubai. This is a full day safari.

SAND SKIING & CAMEL RIDING

Nothing can compare to the thrill of skiing on sand, or riding on a camel! Why not do them both in the same day? You’ll leave Dubai at 8am, taken by a four wheel drive car deep into the desert. There, you will join your camel caravanand ride across the beautiful red sand dunes of Margham for half an hour. Next, you’ll simply put your sand board on, and slide down the steep dunes to the valley below. Nothing is quite as fun or exhilarating as skiing on sand – make sure you try it when you are in Dubai!

WILD WADI DUBAI WATERPARK

Has the heat got you a little hot? Well, nothing is quite as spectacular than the Wild Wadi Waterpark in Dubai to cool you off. This is a great family outing, with 14 interconnected water slides. And these aren’t just any water slides, these are some of the fastest and most exhilarating rides in the world. Dubai does everything the best, the biggest and the greatest, so you can expect their water park to be the same!

SHOPPING IN DUBAI

You’re in Dubai, so I hope you like to shop! With some of the world’s most amazing shopping centers all in one area, you are in for shopping heaven. Check out Ibn Battuta Mall on Sheikh Zayed Rd, between interchanges 5 and 6, Dubai, United Arab Emirates · 4-362-1900. Ibn Battuta Mall is hands down definitely one of Dubai’s most amazing and glorious shopping centers. This theme based mall is based on the travels of Ibn Battuta, a 14th century Arabian explorer. The mall is made up of six courts, each one reflecting the unique architecture and culture of a specific region. In addition to a copious amount of clothing stores, you’ll also find a 21 screen cinema and IMAX theater, loads of restaurants, and an immense supermarket. It’s a jaw dropping place to visit, if only just to see the amazing decor of each court. You’ll see an intricate antique elephant clock and a life size replica of a Chinese junk boat in addition to many other amazing sights.

Here are some other great shopping options while in Dubai:Deira City Centre, BurJuman Centre, Mercato Mall, Wafi City Mall, Al Ghurair City Mall, Lamcy Plaza, Al Mulla Plaza, Al Bustan Centre, Al Mamzar Shopping Centre, Al Manal Center, Bin Sougat Centre, Hamarain Centre, Karama Center, Mazaya Centre, Oasis Centre, Palm Strip Shopping Mall, Town Centre, Twin Towers.

ART GALLERIES IN DUBAI

Creative Art Center

Phone. : +971 4 3444394

P.O.Box. : 53673

Culture Art gallery

Phone. : +971 4 2641071

P.O.Box. : 80835

Four Season Ramesh Gallery

Phone. : +971 4 3349090

P.O.Box. : 504411

Green Art

Phone. : +971 4 3449888

P.O.Box. : 25711

Hunar Center

Phone. : +971 4 2862224

Majlis Gallery

Phone. : +971 4 3536233

P.O.Box. : 42885

Total Art

Phone. : +971 4 2282888

P.O.Box. : 14214

Burj Nahar Dubai

The Burj Nahar Watchtower was built in 1870 to guard the old city of Dubai. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, Burj Nahar is a must-see destinations when visiting Dubai. Steeped in history, Burj Nahar in Dubai is one of three original towers built to protect Dubai from north or east invasion. Burj Nahar and its surrounding beautiful landscaped gardens are a major destination for photographers, historians and tourists from around the world.

While in Dubai be sure to to visit a Bedouin Village. Outside of Dubai you can see for yourself what a traditional desert experience of life means as you visit a Bedouin Village and walk among blankets, beads, hand knotted rugs and other unique items spread before you on the ground. Take a camel riding lesson and feel the experience of sitting on top of a huge camel. Watch a camel race as the trainers follow the camels in four wheelers on the dusty track. If it is luxury that you’re looking for in Dubai, you can stay at Al Maha, a beautiful luxury resort on over 3000 acres of sand dunes.

Dubai

Dubai – Planned to Perfection

Dubai is fast establishing itself as the world’s number one location in which to hold conferences and enjoy the holidays. With the benefit of an all-year round fantastic climate and an ever-burgeoning business centre, this city offers a host of superb attractions and a multitude of reasons for visiting.

Its rise to prominence was entirely by design and determination rather than by accident. Everything that has happened in the United Arab Emirates’ leading city has been planned for the majority of the developments down to meticulous detail. Every bit of building and major construction has been linked to the expansion of the city’s infrastructure to ensure that everything runs smoothly and is sustainable. It’s all part of the big development plan for Dubai, first chalked out in 2002 to cover the period up to 2015.

Even though Dubai got its first big break from oil revenues in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the city’s leaders had the foresight to realise that they needed to develop ways of encouraging other industries and investments within the Emirate if they were to ensure a sustainable future. Now oil revenues represent less than 10% of Dubai’s GDP, with the rest coming from manufacturing, financial services and the fastest growing sector within the last ten years – tourism.

Technology is extremely advanced in the city and many of the world’s major players have established offices within Dubai. The development of the Dubai Interent City certainly helped, especially as it was established as a free trade zone in which company and private earnings are exempt from taxation. That incentive has attracted some of the world’s leading multinationals including Cisco, IBM and Microsoft.

Away from the business hub Dubai has been busy developing tourist facilities, including not only thousands of hotels but also a series of amazing and enormous visitor attractions. Already constructed is Ski Dubai which features 22,500 square metres of real snow 365 days a year spread throughout the world’s largest indoor ski facility; unique in a city whose temperature rarely falls below 70°F, even in the coldest month of January!

Under construction in the city with an anticipated completion date of sometime in 2010, the amazing MotorCity development will also prove a massive attraction. It contains the world’s first Formula One theme park – F1-X as well as a full-size F1 racing circuit interweaved amongst a series of residential apartments and hotels.

The world’s largest building is now in Dubai. The Burj Dubai stands at a staggering 818 metres high and dominates the city’s skyline. Offering residential and office space in addition to a hotel the building officially opens in December 2009.

Finally, there is the Palm Jumeirah, an island reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf in the shape of a palm tree which features a series of homes, shops and hotels that is allegedly visible from space. With such a host of fabulous attractions and outstanding features the city of Dubai will be wooing millions of visitors for years to come.

Dubai

Do You Think DUBAI Will Be The Best City In The World In A Few Years?

i just saw this yesterday….. all this new constructions and the things they are planning to do…. makes America look weak…. im an american and i think so…. they’ve made islands in the shape of the world…. http://guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/living/dubai/images/the_world/the_world_dubai.jpg
thats some work…

look at this residential housing.. http://www.invest.bulgarian-estate.net/dubai_marina_palm.jpg
they’re going to have three things like that that will have looks from tiny organisms….

the tallest building in the world. the Burj Tower… http://www.ssqq.com/archive/images/dubai25.jpg
even taller then the Grand Canyon Sky Walk

a lagoon.. airport.. http://www.dubaiprop.com/images/Dubai-Lagoon-05.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Dubai_International_airport_interior.jpg

Awesome hotels… (underwater)http://blog.miragestudio7.com/2006/02/hydropolis-underwater-hotel-dubai-uae/

a theme park that will hold its own mountain of snow so u can ski and snowboard inside while its 85 degrees outside
rollercoaster rides, swimming park…. God dam…

and they’re planning to build a new type of building, it has its own yard, plants on every floor (a total of 20) its for residential living, its not shape like a square, think of it like skipping stones stacked together, neat ha, and it spins, yes it rotates very slowly… so ur view is always changing so slow that the residents wont feel it but its rotating, uses solar power and something else, self efficient building…..

If I had the money, I would invest but that has got to be the best city in the world…. Of course that’s after they finish construction… in a few years or more….. dang… cant wait….

So what do u guys think…. Awesome city or what… and don’t hate it just because u want to represent ur city… or because u hate where Dubai is located… judge it base on what it has compared to other cities…..

Dubai

Dubai: The Pearl of the Persian Gulf

The second largest of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai can be found on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. An eclectic mix of the old and new, Dubai’s humble beginnings as a small fishing village have developed and transformed into the modern metropolis that exists today.

During the early 80s Dubai reinvented itself as a popular holiday destination and the efforts paid off, as it is now the most popular of the seven emirates and a thriving tourist hotspot. Dubai city is a bustling spot where ancient meets modern in a collision of architecture, entertainment and culture, whilst outside the city itself the emirate is sparsely inhabited and mainly consists of desert land.

Dubai Creek divides the city neatly in two. Deira lies to the north and Bur Dubai to the south, with each area having its own defining characteristics. The creek is also the main artery of Dubai, winding inland from the Gulf for roughly six miles. Traditional teak trading dhows sail along the creek by day and at night the waterfront is a hive of activity, as Abras – local water taxis – crisscross the water carrying people to their chosen destination for the evening.

When it comes to beaches, Dubai doesn’t disappoint. Jumeirah Beach is one of the best known and therefore is a popular beach in the city. This long stretch of sand on the Arabian Gulf is lined with hotels and private clubs and interspaced by a few public beaches, so anyone can secure themselves a spot here.

On the Deira side of the creek you can find a public beach at Al Mamzar Park, which also has handy barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas.

Water sports are big news in Dubai so water skiing, sailing and scuba diving are all possible. In complete contrast you can try your hand at skiing on snow as Dubai boasts the world’s third largest indoor ski slope – an ideal way to seek solace from the hot sunshine.

Back in Dubai city futuristic architecture and traditional Arab houses sit side-by-side and you can marvel at the contrast as you wander around. The icing on the cake when it comes to Dubai’s soaring skyscrapers has to be the Burj Dubai, which will be the tallest tower in the world upon completion.

With more than 50 shopping malls, Dubai is equally a shopper’s paradise and a tax-free haven where you can shop to your heart’s content. Visit the modern malls for designer goods or take a trip to the souks to haggle for some authentic bargains.

A sub-tropical climate means rainfall is infrequent and irregular whereas sunshine is a much more common sight. This is good news to know when considering the time of year to take your flights to Dubai, as you can expect good weather year round giving you the flexibility to travel whenever you like.

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