Dubai is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and with so much to see and do there it is no surprise.
From shopping and scuba diving to desert safaris, there is plenty to keep visitors occupied.
The emirate is regarded as the pearl of the Persian Gulf and has been called the jewel of the Middle East – and visitors will find that there is something magical about a trip there. It is one of the seven emirates belonging to the United Arab Emirates and is a multi-cultural city with a population of 1.5 million people.
Shopaholics will be let loose to their heart’s content among the many large, air-conditioned malls that are filled with designer stores.
There are also a number of adventure activities to keep visitors entertained including the fantastic desert safari trips and world-class scuba diving. Dubai also has an indoor ski area and it really is an incredible feeling to take to the slopes when the desert is just a stone’s throw away.
For those tourists who want to relax in Dubai there are a number of options: in addition to two water parks, the Jumeira Beach and Park is a popular choice.
Dubai Marina – the world’s largest manmade marina – and The World, which is an archipelago of 300 manmade islands off the coast, are also worth a visit and the nearby Nad al Sherba racetrack is an exciting day out.
The city has a wide variety of restaurants and one highlight of a trip is to take afternoon tea at the famous Burj Al Ara Hotel – an iconic symbol of Dubai.
In addition to the hotel, Dubai has some fantastic architecture and alongside its impressive skyscrapers it is home to the tallest building in the world – the Burj Dubai. The city has had a wealth of money invested into it in recent years and is made of new buildings, but some of the older historic pieces of architecture are still standing.
One place of interest is the Al Fahidi Fort, which was built in 1787 and houses the Dubai Museum. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s official residence is also worth a look as is the Bastakiya district, with its narrow lanes and tall towers that hint at old Dubai.