From a small collection of
buildings scattered along the banks of a creek between the arid sands of
the desert and the waters of the Arabian Gulf, Dubai has developed into a
center of excellence boasting world-class business and leisure facilities.
Even into the early days of the twentieth century, Dubai was little more
than a tiny trading post, its creek providing a safe haven for seafarers
who shipped goods around the Gulf and even further afield, to Africa and
the Indian subcontinent, aboard traditional wooden sailing dhows.
Dubai's modern-day development, indeed, did not begin
until the 1960s, after oil was discovered and revenues from this 'black
gold' were used to lay the foundations for a city which, today, is one of
the most dynamic and progressive in the Middle East.
While oil is still an important factor in the economy,
the Dubai Government has wisely followed the path of diversification
during the past two decades; sectors such as manufacturing, banking and
finance, communications, and tourism and leisure today account for an
ever-increasing proportion of GDP.
Dubai is a city outstanding architecture, soaring
skyscrapers mingling with luxurious palaces, suburban villas and modern
apartment buildings, and one of the best highway networks in the Middle
East, linking Dubai with neighboring cities in the UAE. Where once there
were open areas of desert there are now lush parks and public gardens, and
this 'green' city of the Gulf now boasts several world-class golf courses.
Dubai is one of the most successful business hubs in
the region. It is a well-established banking and financial center, now
supported by a dedicated Stock Exchange; it has twin sea ports which
together provide the biggest container terminal in the Middle East; the
biggest container terminal in the Middle East; the biggest free trade zone
in the region at Jebel Ali, a second free trade zone adjacent to Dubai
International Airport, and an air-cargo facility that is one of the most
modern in the world today.
The city also prides itself on its world-class
communications facilities. The growth of telecommunications in recent
years has been phenomenal and the business community is able to make use
of one of the most modern telephone, facsimile and Internet systems in the
world.
Dubai's excellence in communications has laid the
foundations for a new leap into the 21st century, with the development of
an Internet City that will position Dubai as one of the world's major
centers for e-commerce - the business sector of the future. Dubai is a
regional leader in the media business, too, and is one of less than a
dozen world centers with an internationally-recognized Press Club.
For many years, Dubai was a well-kept secret as the
most desirable leisure destination in the Gulf region. Now, thanks to
judicial promotion by government agencies, television travel shows and the
international coverage of sporting events such as the Dubai World Cup
horse race, the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament and the Duty Free
Dubai Open Tennis, Dubai has become a holiday must for travelers from all
parts of the world.
The facilities developed for tourists are extensive.
Practically every major hotel chain in the world has a property in Dubai.
Many of them are luxurious resorts, with their own golden-sand beaches
washed by the warm blue waters if the Arabian Gulf; others are
conveniently located in the downtown business are of the city. Standards
are extremely high, and Dubai is one of the few places in the world that
can boast a seven-star hotel - the all-suite Burj Al Arab, a spectacular
tower which soars to a height of more than 300 meters and lays claim to
being the tallest dedicated hotel building in the world.
Hotels offer a diverse range of dining experiences -
all of them providing a first-class environment in which to sample food
from around
International fast food chains can also be found throughout Dubai offering American, Mexican, Italian and British dishes, while Dubai is naturally an excellent place to find traditional Gulf and Middle East cuisine, including Iranian, Moroccan and Lebanese.
Dubai's night-life is modern, lively and always open until the early hours. The variety is wide and includes cocktail lounges, Irish pubs, American-style bars and nightclubs, most providing live music. Traditional Middle East nightclubs feature Arab singers and the ever-popular belly-dancers.
Another attraction for visitors is shopping, either for top-class international fashions, the latest electronics, cameras or watches is numerous modern shopping malls, or seeking out bargains in gold and jewellery in the colourful souks, or markets. Dubai is a tax-free city and the cost of many international brands is less than in Europe or the United States.
A major attraction for those keen to experience bargain shopping is the annual Dubai Shopping Festival. This month-long shopping bonanza is held every March and features significant discounts at outlets throughout the city, as well as promotions and prize draws and a host of free family entertainment.
Leading hotels participate by offering extensive reductions on room rates for the duration of the festival, while Emirates provides discounted air fares as well as an increased baggage allowance to give visiting shoppers the opportunity to purchase even more bargains.
The city continues to take on a festive air through July and August, when the Dubai Summer Surprises promotion attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city, principally from the neighboring GCC countries.
For those who enjoy an action-packed sporting holiday, the variety of activities available in Dubai is probably more extensive than in many other parts of the world - thanks to an ideal winter climate and first-class facilities.
Dubai is now highly regarded as a perfect golfing destination and has four all-grass courses - with yet more to come as the city's residential areas and allied leisure facilities continue to expand. The PGA traditionally starts its European Tour in Dubai, and in its distinguished history thus far the Dubai Desert Classic has been staged at both the Emirates Golf Club and the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. Both of these courses, along with the floodlit Nad Al Sheba course (sited alongside the horse racing track on which the Dubai World Cup is run) and the Jebel Ali Golf Resort, readily accept non-members who want to play a round of golf for a moderate green fee.
It offers enthusiasts the opportunity to follow, literally, in the footsteps of greats such as Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie.
The waters off Dubai are ideal for scuba diving and also provide perfect conditions for sailing and water skiing. Fishing enthusiasts soon discover the richness of marine life in the Gulf, including Kingfish, barracuda, jackfish and sailfish. The number of other sports played in Dubai are almost too many to list, but include horse riding, go-karting, tennis, squash, rugby, cricket, ten-pin bowling, shooting, archery and even ice-skating.
Visitors will also find that all the major hotels have well-equipped sports centers, floodlit tennis and squash courts, swimming pools and health and fitness centers, and will be happy to provide introductions for guests to sports clubs throughout the city.
For the outdoor enthusiast there is also the desert. Vast tracts of high-dune country are easily accessible from Dubai and a number of specialist companies offer tourists the opportunity to experience the thrills of a desert safari. Some offer overnight stays, with dinner under the stars. There is also the opportunity to admire scenery of a different kind, with a trip into the spectacular Hajar Mountains in the eastern part of the country.
Dubai's many and varied attractions provide an opportunity for visitors to experience a completely different way of life to the traditional tourist destinations in other parts parts of the world. Two of the most-prized virtues of the Arab population are courtesy and hospitality, and all visitors to Dubai and the UAE are sure to the charmed by the genuine warmth and friendliness of the people.
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