Dubai has something for
everyone, from vacationers seeking a relaxing break away from the pressures of
work, to active tourists looking for a new, exciting experience. The emirate is
an international conference, exhibition, and leisure travel destination.
Lying on the calm,
blue waters of the southern Gulf and flanked by majestic desert, Dubai offers
year-round sunshine and five-star luxury along with the adventure of a unique
Arabian experience.
Twenty nine years
ago the southern coast of the lower Gulf was a barren, under-populated land
comprised of several autonomous states. Today, as the United Arab Emirates, it
has become a dynamic, modern society with the infrastructure of contemporary
twenty-first century life.
The great wealth derived from
the UAE’s oil and gas production has given the country one of the highest per
capita incomes in the world. This income has been invested over the past twenty
years in construction and development which have proceeded at an amazing rate.
All of the original settlements have become dynamic urban centers and Dubai has
grown into a large, cosmopolitan city. Rural villages have been reconstructed;
many nationals (natives of the UAE) have acquired homes which feature the modern
conveniences of major urban lifestyles.
A network of multi-lane
highways link the main city centers. The more remote regions are accessible by
all-terrain vehicles and both the desert and the mountains are popular
destinations for leisure and recreational activities.
Wherever you are in
Dubai, you will not be far from a supermarket which offers most of what can be
found in North America, Australia and Europe. In fact, you are likely to find
more variety as goods are imported to suit the needs of many different
nationalities. Prices are comparable to most western countries
Known in the region
as ‘the city of merchants’, Dubai has welcomed seafarers and traders to its
shores for generations. Today, this tradition of courtesy and hospitality lives
on. Dubai’s streets are clean and safe, and travelers are sure to be charmed by
the city’s warmth and friendliness.
Dubai has a
seemingly endless variety of unique vacation opportunities! Some of the
highlights are desert safaris, dune driving; exploring wadis (dry river beds) in
four-wheel-drive vehicles; sand-skiing; moonlit Arabian desert barbecues,
complete with traditional entertainment; camel racing, horse racing and
falconry; cruises in wooden dhow on Dubai Creek or into the Gulf; exploration of
the old city souks (markets) and creekside dhow quays. Photographic
possibilities include traditional architecture; majestic mosques, magnificent
palaces, brightly dressed children, camel and goat herds, ancient windtowers,
dusty Bedouin villages, lush oases and palm groves, and dramatic sunsets.
Dubai has
facilities for swimming, sailing, fishing, windsurfing, water-skiing,
jet-skiing, scuba-diving and snorkeling. There is golf on five
championship-standard grass courses,
Other sports
include squash and tennis; horseback riding; trekking, paragliding, cycling,
ice-skating, shooting, archery and bowling.
Families will enjoy
the child- friendly parks and playgrounds. Driving in the desert, mountains or
river beds (wadis) is a favorite weekend pastime for many people in the
Emirates. There are numerous sites for camping and picnicking. Shopping for
traditional Middle Eastern gifts is easy and enjoyable. Offerings include rugs,
silverware, jewelry, brass, inlaid rosewood furniture and much more.
Dubai is a modern
city without any of the negative aspects often associated with city life, such
as air pollution, traffic jams, poverty or crime. It is truly a vacation
paradise.
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