Recent History and Change.

Dubai is a very busy settlement situated on a ancient trade route between ancient civilisations. After the discovery of oil in 1966 Dubai has grown exponentially into the middle east's international centre for business and a highly popular tourist destination.

Dubai is clearly the hub of the country, the face of Dubai has changed completely and is constantly changing as the skyline continues to
metmorphosise with new developments, offering a varied array of visions and lifestyle choices. Facilities and infrastructure include shopping malls, hotels and an array of sporting facilities including an indoor ski slope! The city resembles London in that it is divided by a body of flowing water. In the case of London it is the Thames in the case of Dubai it is the Dubai creek. North of the creek is known as Deira and south of creek is Bur Dubai. Markets, hotels, restaraunts, cinemas, malls and mosques are present in the North and the South.

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East meets West ...

There are a whole array of Eastern Delights for you to savour in Dubai. Bedouin culture can be tasted in a variety of ways such as spending a night in a bedoiun tent under a starlit, or lose yourself for a day in one of the vibrant souks. Dubai's extreme contrast in what it can offer is one of its main attractive features. At one end of the scale is ultramodern, at the other end is the mysteriously tradional, with a host of experiences from one end of the spectrum to another.

Dubai also likes to project itself as a shoppers oasis. Dubai is an open port with low import duties as well as a tax free environment, as a result of this Dubai can offer a range of designer goods at cheaper prices, although it is not as cheap as it used to be in the past. Although Dubai has an excellent variety of shopping experiences from malls and department stores to souks and shady areas where one can supposedely get very good bargains. Although we advice that you check to see what prices you can get on the internet to see whether you really are getting a bargain before you depart on your shopping expeditions. The annual shopping festival is a a popular destination for shopping tourists and worth timing your visit for.

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The Dubai Shopping festival

This was a government sponsored event started in 1996, it has grown into a massive extravaganza attracting millions of tourists every year. The city is already regarded as a shopping hub, but this is further enhanced by the fact that during this month, hotels,airlines, and travel companies offering special discounts during this month.Highlights include: fireworks, laser/light shows, and many other events.

Taking place at: Global Village, although it happens throughout the city. Dates taking place: 20TH December 2006 - 2nd February 2007.

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Dubai Desert Classic

Ideal for golfing enthusiasts, this tournament is part of the European PGA Tour. It takes place at the desert miracle which was completed in 1988 and is regarded as the first grass golf course in the Middle East. There is $2.2 million in prize money for which some of the international players come and compete for.

Taking place at:Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf ClubDates taking place: February 2007

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Bastakiya

The Dubai of old was renouned for its wind towers and if you would like to see some of these, as well as other aspects of tradional architecture then Bastakiya is the place for you. Here you will find the traditional courtyard houses which used to be cooled by wind towers before the arrival of electricity and air conditioning.

Getting there: Bur Dubai

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The grand mosque

The grand mosque is an important place of worship and a noteworthy landmark with its multiple dome architecture as well as having the tallest minaret in the city. It can hold 1200 worshippers. NOn-muslims can admire the building from the outside but are not allowed to enter the mosque.

Getting there: Head for Al Musalla Road

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Souks

There are a number of Souks availabe some of which are outlined below: Gold Souk - sell all types of golden ware from rings and elaborate necklaces to gold bars. All at low prices.Traditional spice souk - situated in tiny lanes, as you wander through the souk you will savour a whole array of exotic smells from incense and spices to cinammon. Fish souk - for fish with a completely different smell to the spice souk so go well prepared. Al-Fahidi street- lies at the heart of the souk selling electronic items at competitive prices, worth a visit.

Getting there: The souks are present on both sides of the creek in Diera and Bur Dubai.

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Currency

The currency utilised in Dubai is known as the Dirham. one hundred fils make 1 Dirham. There is no problem converting money as this facility is available practically everywhere. From the state of the art airport to the hundreds of hotels scattered around this middle eastern oasis. The best rates tend to be found within the shopping centres and the marketplaces (souks). This is due to them being handled by private moneychangers ultimately benfeitting you. Nevertheless, check the rates in different areas to see the best price for yourself. Cash machines (ATM's) are available throughout the Emirate making withdrawal of money as easy as back home.

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Wild Wadi

A water Disney land equivalent dubai style. Designed like an Arab oasis the park has an Arabian folklore theme
and has some of the highest and fastest rides outside of North America.Clearly the highlight for water sport fans and especially the children. this park offers a thrilling assortment of rides and slides. Covering 5 hectares, this theme park (named after the arabic for oasis) boasts a total of twenty four exhilarating rides, most popular of which is the Jumeirah Sceirah, a huge water slide, propelling its victims at a heart rending 50 miles per hour down its slide. Another favourite is the artificial wave machine simulating similar movements to the natural ocean allowing keen surfers to hone their skills.

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Travel ...

The best way of travelling around Dubai whilst on your visit is by taxi. They run on a meter system and are easy to find, safe and honestly priced. They are clearly marked and are cream in color. A public bus service is in operation aswell and is fairly easy to use. Signs are written in both Arabic and English making it easier for visitors to find their way around. The Dubai creek is a natural waterway which winds its way through the city enabling one to see the various faces of this emirate. You can take a motorboat across the creek every few minutes and see the oldest and newest parts of this fascinating desert oasis.

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Customs and Traditions ...

There are a few customs to be aware of when visiting this Emirate. First of all Dubai is a predominantly Muslim populated state and does not allow the serving of alcohol except in hotels. Womens dress should be modest, generally covering the top of the arms and legs. Ramadhan is the holy month for the Muslims and people engage in fasting from sunrise to sunset. Sensitivities should be observed by visitors in this month, showing particular modesty in dress and behaviour. Dubai in general has a very close relationship with the west and is fairly safe for westerners to travel around. In fact large portions of the population are expatriots and have been settled in this state, trouble free, for many years.

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Weather ...

As far as the weather is concerned, Dubai has a dry subtropical climate. With blue skies throughout the year it can sometimes become unbearably hot. The hottest monthes are from June to September when temperatures can reach up to 50°C during the day. The best time to visit would be between December and March. In the summer months it can become so hot that hotels have to cool down the water within swimming pools for it to have any soothing effect on the visitors. Thankfully, practically every location has air conditioning and there is a huge variety of shopping malls, hotels and restaurants to spend your time wandering through.

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