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Dubai
, United Arab Emirates
City Guide
Introduction
| Attractions
| Museums
| Nature
| Nightlife
and Eating Out | Shopping
| Cyber
Dubai | Getting from A to B | Tours
| Events |
Useful Websites
Introduction
Fantastic, in the very
broadest sense of the word, is the most fitting description of Dubai.
Take the Burj Al Arab, quite one of the world's most dramatic hotels which
billows like a king-of-the-world spinnaker on the shore of the Arabian
Gulf, a triumph of imagination and design. A decade or two back, there
was practically nothing here at all. But now Dubai, driven by some truly
focused marketing and a zillion barrels of oil, is being talked
about as one of the world's top tourist destinations.
With the oil wells due to run dry by 2020, the travel industry is seen
as the next big bling. If you thought the Al Arab was amazing, try the
world's first underwater hotel, as well as two-man made archipelagos in
the shape of a palm tree and the world, all of which are currently under
construction. To say nothing of an indoor ski slope, with artificial snow,
and Burj Dubai, which when completed will be the world's tallest building
at 560 metres. Part of the attraction of this part of the United Arab
Emirates is its sense of vigour, and that nothing stands still
for long.
Meantime, Dubai serves up gargantuan helpings of sun, sand,
sea, sports, sightseeing, shopping with a
capital S, and rather more sand. It's also incredibly safe, with crime
at practically zero. Largely run by expatriates, who outnumber the locals
four to one, it's very hard to fault Dubai, which has cleverly packaged
itself as the most user-friendly holiday (not to mention business) destination
in the Middle East.
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Attractions
It is not overstating
the case to say that many visitors come to Dubai and only leave their hotel
to go to the airport when it's time to fly home. Even disregarding the Burj
Al Arab, there are some truly stunning properties here. The Royal Mirage
probably heads the insider's list of preferred accommodation, and by the
sea there are obvious choices like the Ritz-Carlton and Jumeirah
Beach. In the city, both the Fairmont and the Shangri-La are
highly respected. Owners here have the money to brief architects with their
wilder fantasies - hence the horseshoe shaped Dusit and the Mina
A'Salam that looks like something from Arabian Nights.
As Dubai continues to expand at a rate of knots, so the metropolis has become
increasingly hard to define. The Creek is a natural sea water inlet that
cuts through the centre of the city, with Deira on one bank and Bur Dubai
on the other. Sheikh Zayed Road, which is rapidly becoming Dubai's "main
drag" runs inland, but parallel with the coast and the main beach hotels.
Away from the shops and the major hotels, there are plenty of traces of
the Dubai of days gone by. Of the many mosques, Jumeirah is the largest
and most beautiful, while the Grand Mosque's 70-metre minaret is
the tallest in the city.
Sports and outdoor activities rank high on most visitors' agenda, and opportunities
abound. Golfers can play at the Emirates Club, Emirates Hills, Dubai
Creek, Nad Al Sheba, Jebel Ali or Dubai Country Club - which has 'browns'
rather than greens as it is a sand based course. The Al Badia - with an
18-hole par-72 course -- is due to open in 2005 and is part of the vast
Festival City resort and residential complex on Dubai Creek.
Little current or tide and year-round constant predictable winds make for
superb sailing conditions, and dinghies and jetskis are available for hire
from hotels and local clubs. The International Marine Club at Mina Seyahi
hosts international and local water sports events, including world
championship powerboat races. Diving is very popular here (The Palm archipelago
will include tailor-made reefs once it is finished in 2007) as the sea offers
good visibility and rich marine life. The Wild Wadi - an aquatic
theme park - is a great place to cool off in the heat of the day, with some
of the rides and slides offering stacks of excitement.Go-karting, fishing,
flying, and climbing are also on offer here, while indoors there's a chance
to go ten-pin bowling and there are two ice rinks which are open year round.
More exotic activities are available, such as helicopter flightseeing
tours, and as Dubai bills itself as the cruise hub of the Gulf, visitors
can always hop aboard a liner for a few days if the fancy takes them.
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Museums
The Dubai Museum is
one of the most intriguing in the world, let alone the Middle East. Housed
in and beneath Al Fahidi Fort, which was built in 1787, it tells
the story of the Emirate from its pre oil days to present times. Colourful
and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and sound and
lighting effects (plus you can even smell the spice souk!) vividly recreate
everyday life on the Creek, in traditional houses, mosques and date gardens.
Also worth a dekko are the Hatta Heritage Village, the Jumeirah Archaeological
Site, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's traditionally constructed house and the
Al Ahmadiya School.
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Nature
Nature doesn't
automatically spring to mind when you think of Dubai, however enthusiasts
will find there is plenty to keep them satisfied. The Al Maha resort
is set in 3,300 acres of sand dunes, and is an integral part of a five-year
animal reintroduction programme that will eventually see the endangered
Arabian Oryx roaming free among gazelles, ostriches, foxes and caracals.
Recreation here includes falconry and camel and horse riding, and the 40-suite
resort is currently being expanded to become part of a 225 square kilometre
reserve.
There are also 400 species of bird in the emirate, and customised tours
take in the full range of their habitats, which includes parks, deserts,
mountains, creeks and even golf courses.
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Nightlife
and Eating Out
Let's hear it for
alcohol! You can drink in Dubai, although mainly only at clubs, restaurants
and bars attached to hotels. In other parts of the Middle East beer, wine,
spirits and home-made hooch get the thumbs down. Here, the demon drink
is tolerated, making the nightlife and entertainment scene one of the
most relaxed in the Gulf. To get off on the right foot, pick up a copy
of Time Out magazine (10 dirhams) which as well as providing a
comprehensive listing of just about everything going on in and around
Dubai, also has its finger on the contemporary pulse.
One recently introduced craze is the beach party - with imported
DJs, a barbecue, shisha (hubble bubble pipes) and watersports adding to
the fun. Dubai also attracts live headline acts like Enrique Iglesias
on a regular basis. Dancing - ie not simply whirling your arms around
in a trance - is enjoying something of a renaissance, with classes for
salsa, ballroom, Irish jigs and jive taking place around the city.
There's probably few better ways to kick off the evening than with a sunset
drink somewhere like the Meridien Mina Seyahi - be warned that
competition for beach side tables is intense. From here cruise on into
The Agency - an upmarket metropolitan style wine bar at the base
of Emirates Towers Hotel. Noodle House is just around the corner,
with a wide ranging menu and highly popular long shared tables. Other
eateries well worth a mention and a munch include Marakech, the
Moroccan at the Shangri-La, and Bacchus, the Italian at the Fairmont.
Some of Dubai's best Lebanese cuisine is served at Awtar in the
Grand Hyatt.
Away from the hotel scene, it's heartening to see a sense of style and
individualism developing in stand-alone restaurants. The seating at Elements
in Wafi City, includes a terrace (outdoors) and two swings (indoors).
And Simply Healthy in the town centre lives up to its name with
inventive lo-cal juices and salads.
Many bars and clubs in Dubai feature Ladies' Nights and/or Aircrew Nights,
when girls get reduced price or free drinks - a not too subtle bee/honey-pot
ploy by the management. The sort of "bees" this tends to attract
can result in social situations not best described as "delicate"
or "refined". Horses for courses, and all that.
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Shopping
Shopping gets reinvented
in Dubai, from its legendary souks (where bargaining goes hand in hand
with breathing) to the swishest shopping malls. A vast swathe of choice
married to some very choice prices has reinforced Dubai's traditional
position as the trading entrepot of the Gulf. Plane loads of Russians
fly in to stock up on electronic goods, veiled women haggle for intricately
designed jewellery, and just about everybody enjoys a romp around the
Duty Free shopping at the airport which is open 24 hours a day.
Some of the city's more therapeutic retail options include: Deira Tower,
where carpet traders from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran converge by the
score; Al Fahidi Street - a buzzing, beeping conglomeration of
all things electronic; nearby Cosmos Lane is noted for its textiles;
it's also worth having a looking around the fish and spice souks for their
distinctive atmosphere; and the gold souk positively drip carats. Dubai's
malls are too numerous to mention - suffice to say they are all very smart,
usually with a food court and possibly a cinema as well. Wafi City
(look for the pyramids) is a good place to start to get an idea of
what's on offer. And yes, everywhere takes plastic. And dollars. And dirhams.
Just bring lots of them.
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Cyber
Dubai
Entry
to the more obviously outrageous parts of the Internet is blocked in Dubai.
By way of compensation, broad band is pretty much the norm. There are
a few cyber cafes around town, but in-room and hotel business centre access
is almost universally available.
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Tours
There's scads of tours
in Dubai, from bog standard trips around the city, to the rather more
exotic cruises along the Creek in a traditional sailing dhow. And truly
dedicated shoppers can also be whisked through an itinerary of selected
souks and malls. However one of the most popular jaunts involves four-wheel
driving around the sand dunes in the desert, which is usually followed
by dinner at a mock Bedouin village, with camels, hookahs, sand skiing
and belly dancing as entertainment. The drivers are extremely skilful.
So too is the belly dancer, for that matter.
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Getting
from A to B
Walking around outside
for extended periods is not really practical this side of a Survivor episode
- the heat is intense and shade at a premium. Besides, Dubai is designed
with the motor vehicle in mind. Most hotels run shuttle bus services -
to the airport, the beach or downtown for shopping. Otherwise there are
numerous taxi companies, and usually a queue of taxis waiting outside
hotels so you won't be kept hanging around overlong. Flagfall is 3 dirhams
(US$0.80) and the drivers - 99% of whom come from the sub continent --
reasonably conversant with the local geography, commonsensical rules of
the road and the English language. Most have been away from their families
for months or even years, and are only too happy to chat.
Of course, with an excellent road system and Abu Dhabi and Oman just a few
hours' drive away, there is ample temptation to hire a vehicle here. Better
still, the Middle East likes motor cars, and the ritzier the better. Stretch
limo? Top of the range Mercedes? Ferrari? Hummer? All are up for grabs,
although naturally the pricetag attracts several zeroes. More inexpensive,
though less flash models, are also available, and regular taxis can be hired
for 12 hours for a flat fee of 500 dirhams. Anyone taking to the road for
the first time in the region should note that local driving standards include
a fondness for the accelerator with a general disdain for using either mirrors
or indicators. Proceed with caution.
[Warning: Foreign women of all ages should be aware that an over familiarity
with the Internet and x-rated western movies, fuelled by myth and general
gossip, means that they are accorded an unusual status in Dubai, somewhere
between good time girl with a heart of gold and insatiable goddess.
A certain amount of - call it courtship or call it harassment - should be
expected if travelling around the city alone. Ignoring the perpetrators
usually works wonders.]
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Events
January-February marks
the Dubai Shopping Festival, though it's hard to imagine how they could
celebrate any differently from the rest of the year! Cynics remark that
this is when everybody gets rid of their old stock.
The Eid Camel Races take place in February and November, and horse racing
runs from October to April, while dhows are raced between October and
June. The Dubai Marathon is usually held in January.
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Useful
Websites
For further information
on Dubai try: http://www.dubaitourism.ae
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