Dubai

Desert Safari, sand dunes adventure, and astounding infrastructure

Dubai has made a habit of making the impossible come true ever since it emerged from the desert less than a century ago to become one of the world’s most modernized cities. It embraced the new century with a passion unequaled elsewhere. Amazing structures rose one by one, defining a new landscape, taking shape out of the sand dunes that cradled a mysterious nation of people.

From a sleepy trading port, Dubai is now an independent city state; it is also one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Considered the most progressive and modern among its peer cities, this desert city has opened up its doors to the world, welcoming a deluge of workers, expatriates, and visitors from all over. Its hospitality is breathtaking; the world’s tallest hotel, the Burj Al Arab, billows like the lordly sail it resembles on the coast of the Persian Gulf; Palm Islands, set to be the world’s largest man-made islands, will soon dazzle even the most jaded of travelers with an amazing array of upscale beachfront residences, hotels, marinas, shops, and restaurants; the city has even built a ski slope, in the heart of a desert city, for its people’s additional pleasure.
 
Even as it embraces the future, Dubai does not turn its back on its past and has made a strong commitment to preserve its proud culture. When you visit Dubai seeking Old Arabia, you will not be disappointed. The souqs, colorful historic bazaars, are thriving and as populated with sellers and buyers as ever. Ancient monuments and traditions are being revitalized. The best evidence of this can be found in the Shindagha district, where heritage villages, open museums, and old wind-towers take one back to the city as it used to be, before oil was discovered. Here, traditional values and folklore are celebrated with dance, poetry, and song.

But the music of modern Dubai is just as enthralling. Actually, the city’s location, just a few hours from Europe and the Middle East, has made it an ideal stopover for party-seekers, sun-worshippers, and sports junkies.

Dubai more than adequately caters to these whims—what with numerous fine dining options, stretches of white-sand beaches, vast golf courses, a race course for thoroughbreds, and many more!