UAE Attractions

Dubai- Fascinating Contrasts: From the timeless tranquility of the desert to the lively bustle of the souk, Dubai offers a kaleidoscope of attractions for visitors. The emirate embraces a wide variety of scenery in a very small area. In a single day, the tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses with wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls.

The emirate is both a dynamic international business centre and a laid-back tourist escape; a city where the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with the simplicity of a bygone era. Since earliest times, Dubai has been a meeting place, bringing together the Bedouin of the desert interior with the pearl-diver, the merchant of the city with the sea-going fisherman.

Burj al-Arab: The Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 meters (1,053 feet), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel and one of the most distinctive structures for a hotel building in the world. It stands in the sea on an artificial island 280 meters (919 feet) away from the beach in the Persian Gulf, connected to the mainland only by a curving path. The Burj al-Arab (Tower of the Arabs) is a luxury hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 meters (1,053 feet), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel and one of the most distinctive structures for a hotel building in the world. It stands in the sea on an artificial island 280 meters (919 feet) away from the beach in the Persian Gulf, connected to the mainland only by a curving path.

Burj Dubai: The Burj Dubai (Arabic for "Tower of Dubai") is a skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its exact height remains a closely-guarded secret, but is believed to be approximately 705 meters (2,314 ft). Expected to be completed in 2008, the Burj Dubai is a formidable threat to other bids to the title of world's tallest building. These include the 1,776-foot (547 meter) Freedom Tower in New York City, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the current record holder, Taipei 101. The Burj Dubai will be the latest feather in the cap of Dubai, also home to the largest man-made marina (the Dubai Marina), the world's largest man-made island (Palm Islands), and the world's tallest five-star deluxe hotel (the Burj al-Arab).

The world Archipelago: The World is an archipelago of artificial islands, shaped like the continents of the Earth, being constructed off the coast of Dubai. The project is inspired by the artificial Palm Islands also being built in Dubai. The World will consist of 250 to 300 smaller private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands. The entire project is slated for completion in 2008. The World archipelago is located 4.1 kilometers off the shore of Jumeirah, close to The Palm, Jumeirah, between Burj Al Arab and Port Rashid of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates: Jumeirah is a heavily populated coastal residential area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is well known for its expensive and large properties as well as many duplex town houses built in the traditional and western style. The area is also home to the majority of European and Western expatriates working in the oil and real estate industry, and to most of the tourists visiting Dubai. In recent years, the government of Dubai has built modern hotels such as the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the world famous Burj Al Arab in this area, as well as the water theme park Wild Wadi for the tourism industry. Most UAE nationals living in the Jumeirah area have close links to this area, as it was a residential area for fishermen for well over a hundred years.

The Creek: The Creek, a natural sea-water inlet which cuts through the centre of the city, is the historic focal point of life in Dubai. A stroll along its banks evokes the city’s centuries-old trading traditions. Visitors will be captivated by the colour and bustle of the loading and unloading of dhows which still ply ancient trade routes to places as distant as India and East Africa. Dubai Creek itself is also something of an attraction, whether visitors choose to take the traditional dhow cruises along its length or just to stroll along its banks on the promenade on the Bur Dubai side.

Dubai Museum: Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum, is another imposing building. It once guarded the city’s landward approaches. Built around 1799, it has served variously as palace, garrison and prison. A trip to Dubai is not complete without visiting the Dubai Museum, located in the newly restored Al Fahidi Fort. Originally built in 1799 as a defense against foreign invasion, it was transformed into a museum in 1993 and allows visitors to delve into the rich and unique heritage of the city. Exhibitions offer visitors an insight into desert life, depiciting traditional Arab homes, mosques, fishing, pearl diving and trade. One of the highlights at the museum is an exhibit featuring artifacts from excavated graves in the Emirates from the 3rd millennium B.C.