Dubai offers an extensive
horizon of things to do, see, experience and learn.
It is surrounded by mysterious deserts, sand dunes
and the stunning Hajar Mountains, it is divided
by the Creek which is essentially an inlet from
the gulf splitting the commercial centre of Dubai
in two, and within the city you'll find amazing
beach resorts, incredibly high tech buildings all
side by side with old traditional houses and mosques
giving you a peek of just what variety you can expect
from your time in Dubai.
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| History
& Heritage |
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A trip to the Dubai museum will give you a glimpse
into Dubai's fascinating past. You can also visit
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's house to view a collection
of old photographs. The heritage and diving village
at Dubai is a must see for all traditional arts
and crafts lovers.
A one-and-a-half hour drive along east Dubai's
road leads to Hatta. This pleasantly green valley
is a small enclave in the dramatic, arid Hajar
Mountains and is completely surrounded by land
belonging to Oman, Ajman and Ras al-Khaimah. Here,
the charming Hatta Fort Hotel with its beautiful
gardens give a warm welcome to visitors. Nearer
to Dubai, and only about 20 kilometers inland,
are the twin oases of Khawanij and Awir. These
oases can be reached in 25 minutes from the town
center. They have been extensively developed over
the past 20 years and boast fine country houses
with superb gardens for some of Dubai's leading
families.
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| Dhows |
Boat racing has cultural and historical
significance in Dubai with its roots in dhow (traditional
wooden trading vessels) racing, which still takes
place today, especially on government holidays such
as the UAE National Day on December 2. It is considered
as one of the most spectacular and graceful of sports,
the traditional dhow sailing witnesses more than
80 traditional boats take to the clear blue waters
surrounding the DIMC in precisely the same manner
as it was done in the ancient past. Adhering to
age-old tradition, the hulls are varnished teak
wood with billowing white sails made from canvas.
The three different racing categories here include
60ft, 43ft and 22ft.
Participate in the Dhow racing which takes place
throughout the winter months and well into the summer.
Racing usually takes place off the coast of Mina
Seyahi from 2 pm on a Thursday or Friday.
For a glimpse of Dubai's fishing-village roots,
wander the Jaddaf district and watch local craftsman
hand-carving dhows. |
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| Bastakiya
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Al Bastakia Area in Bur Dubai dates
back to the early 1900s, and occupies the eastern
section of the old town along the Creek, extending
to a length of 300 meters, and depth of 200 meters
in the southern direction. This area represents
an important area in the history of architecture,
and the urban development of town. The masons, who
constructed the building, have left a permanent
mark on the town's heritage.
To the east of Al Fahidi Fort is the largest concentration
of traditional courtyard houses within wind towers.
In the past, the city was famous for a mass of wind
towers which lined the creek on either side. These
were not merely decorative but served as the only
means of cooling houses in pre-electricity days.
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| Jumairah
Mosque |
| One of the largest and most beautiful
mosques is the Jumairah Mosque. It is a spectacular
example of modern Islamic architecture and is built
of stone in medieval Fatimid tradition, the mosque
is a city landmark in Dubai. It is particularly
attractive at night when subtle lighting throws
it artistry into relief. |
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| Souks |
'Souk' is the Arabic word for market
or place where any kind of goods are brought or
exchanged. Traditionally, dhows from the Far East,
China, Ceylon and India would discharge their cargos
and the goods would be bargained over in the souks
adjacent to the docks.
You can find the wonders of aromatic spices and
the beauty of hand-crafted gold through the labyrinth
of narrow winding alleys on the Deira side of the
creek. In the spice souk you will find perfumes,
incense, and delicious foods piled in sacks awaiting
your attention. Walk a bit further toward the gold
souk and you will be dazzled by the glittering displays
in each shop window. Choose from gold necklaces,
earrings, bracelets, and you can even design your
very own jewelry.
At the Perfume Souk you will literally find thousands
of aromas, and if you can't find the one that you
want, shopkeepers would be able to conjure up a
unique concoction that suits your tastes exactly.
You will find the antique market near the souks
where you can buy coffee pots, Arabian chests, daggers,
Bedu jewelry and carvings at excellent prices. If
interested in buying textiles or silk, head for
Cosmos Lane in Bur Dubai or the streets of Satwa,
where numerous shops sell a vast array of colorful
fabrics. |
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| Wonder
Bus |
| This luxurious amphibious bus is
brand new state of the art vehicle and is approved
by US coast guard and Emirates Marine Services Dubai.
The total number of passenger capacity is 44. The
bus takes you around the beautiful city sights and
entertains you to wonderful sceneries of the classy
past and the modern present of Dubai. |
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| Open Top
Bus |
| The Big Bus aims to give you the
most enjoyable and memorable experience of your
life in Dubai. From the towering sail-shaped Burj
Al Arab hotel to the mysterious gold and spice souks,
what better way to see Dubai's breathtaking views?
So, hop onto the big red double decker bus for a
quick tour of Dubai's main attractions starting
and finishing at Wafi City. |
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| Cable Car
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Another arial view of Dubai would
be to take the cable car ride that runs the 2.3km
length of Creekside Park (between the Creek's two
bridges) in under half an hour. Suspended 30 metres
in the air, you can see for miles in each direction.
Twelve cable cars traverse the Creek Park affording
a view of the creek area from 25 meters above ground.
The cable car system spans 4,200 meters from the
park's amphitheatre to Al Maktoum Bridge. Three
stations have been set up where passengers can be
picked up. Each car accommodates up to four passengers.
A private company has been commissioned to operate
the project. |
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| Souk Madinat
Jumeirah |
The souk is a colorful and vibrant
market or part of a market in an Arabian city. Lively
trading culture, animated, interactive - this defines
Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Meandering paths lead visitors through a bazaar-like
atmosphere in which open fronted shops and intimate
galleries spill onto the paved walkways. The sounds
of craftsmen and women at work mingle with the aroma
from street cafes and boutique restaurants. Souk
Madinat is exclusively known for the unique brands,
crafted quality and an interactive experience. |
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| Shopping |
| Dubai is labeled as the "shopping
capital of the Middle East". With so many shopping
malls and souks, there's no better place to find
products at unbeatable prices. It is truly a duty
free shopper's paradise that gives you more for
your money. Dubai's numerous shopping malls cater
to every consumer need. Cars, haute couture clothing,
jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment,
and any other goods will likely all be under the
same roof. |
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| Burj Al
Arab |
Burj Al Arab is a part of The Jumeirah
Beach Resort, situated 17km south of the city of
Dubai. It is designed to resemble a billowing sail;
the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating
the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable
sight, surrounded by choreographed color sculptures
of water and fire. This all-suite hotel reflects
the finest that the world has to offer.
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| Scenic
Flying |
Take an aerial tour of Dubai. Helicopters
and plane tours offer a bird's eye view of the city
and operate throughout the year. Prices start from
Dhs. 250 for a 45 minute to 1 hour flight.
See the countryside in a Hot Air Balloon as you
have never seen it before. A flight in a Hot Air
Balloon gives you the power of the winds. You can
fly high above the haze or skim the sand dunes,
float on a gentle breeze or ride with a cloud.
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| Water Delights |
There is plenty to see and do water
wise in Dubai. The Dubai International Marine Club
has been the driving force behind the growth of
national and international water sport events in
the Middle East.
Dubai International Boat Show, the largest marine
industry exhibition in the Middle East, is a classic
showcase of yachts and boats from both local and
international builders together with the latest
innovations in marine equipment and accessories.
Apart from this there is parasailing, snorkeling,
diving and surfing at the beach.
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| Wild Wadi
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Located next to the Jumeirah Beach
Hotel, Wild Wadi offers thrill-seekers and families
hours of fun at one of the world's most advanced
water theme parks. Featuring the tallest and fastest
water speed rides outside North America, other attractions
include Log River, Ring Ride, Flood River, Wave
Pool, Flow Rides, Lazy River and much more. Check
opening timings and discounted 'sundowner' rates
as these vary from month to month.
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| Fun & Games
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Located just off the Garhoud Bridge,
Wonderland is a family fun park that caters to all
ages. Attractions include numerous water rides and
slides, roller coasters, a log flume, bumper boats,
games of skill and a nightly water mist show.
You can also spend your day with the little ones
at the encounter zone at Wafi mall which has the
popular crystal maze, horror chamber and fascinating
3D films.
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| Desert
Safari |
Trips to the desert can be a great
way to explore the sandy expanses and safaris are
generally half day and can include an overnight
stay in Bedouin tents.
Wadi bashing, a popular amusement with both residents
and visitors is all about exploring the wadis or
dry beds of streams that flow after the winter rains
from the Hajar Mountains. Many wadis offer scenes
of unexpected beauty like attractive rock pools,
some with water year-round, surrounded by greenery.
Driving in sand is an exciting activity. It is an
adventure in itself which combines the excitement
of a rollercoaster ride with the challenge of remaining
mobile on the shifting surface.
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| Golf Courses
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Even for the non-golfer, Dubai's
golf clubs are worth a visit, both for the spectacular
architecture of their clubhouses and as examples
of the successful greening and landscaping of the
desert.
More than one visitor has mistaken the lush greens
and freshwater lakes of the Emirates Golf Club and
Dubai Creek Golf Club for a desert mirage. Man-made
oasis of rolling green fairways, bunkers and lakes
materialize miraculously from a desert haze with
superbly designed clubhouses as their epicenters.
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| Dubai Zoo |
Dubai Zoo is the oldest zoo of its
kind not only in the United Arab Emirates but also
in the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai Zoo also happens
to be the first Arabian zoo to breed the rare Chimpanzee
and Arabian wild cat. It is a special place of interest
and fun for tourists and residents of Dubai.
H. H. Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum, the late Ruler
of Dubai, permitted Otto J. Bulart to build the
Zoo on a two hectare plot in Jumeirah. The Dubai
Zoo became a landmark as it indicated the "town's
end".
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| Camel Racing
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Camel-racing, a traditional sport,
is extremely popular in the Emirates. It was originally
staged in an informal setting, at weddings or special
festivals, but now customized tracks have been built
throughout the country where race meetings are held
in the winter months from October to April, culminating
in the annual camel race festival at Al Wathba which
attracts entrants from all over the world.
Sheikh Zayed's sponsorship of the Zayed Grand Prize
camel races, also held at Al Wathba racetrack to
celebrate UAE National Day, is an indication of
the special focus and encouragement given to the
revival of heritage sports and camel-racing festivals
as an occasion for the gathering of UAE citizens.
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| Dubai Horse
Racing |
The World famous Dubai world cup
is held in Dubai annually at the Nad Al Sheba club
which boasts of a 2000- metre turf course. The evening
features the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest
horse race, supported by the UAE Derby and the Dubai
Kahayla Classic for Purebred Arabians. The Dubai
Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic, Dubai Golden Shaheen
and Godolphin Mile complete a night of history.
This is also a rare opportunity for ladies to wear
hats to the occasion.
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| Dubai Autodrome |
Dubai Autodrome is the first fully
integrated automotive and motor sports facility
in the Middle East region, incorporating a world
class FIA sanctioned 5.39 km motor racing track,
international standard pit lane complex with a "state-of-the-art"
grandstand accommodating over 7,000 spectators as
well as providing modern hospitality suites for
corporate customers.
Providing a "real home" for the automotive industry
in the Gulf with a comprehensive business park being
developed around the racetrack, it will also feature
an international and local racing calendar will
be established on the Autodrome to include Single
Seater Racing, Touring Cars, Motor Bikes, Sports
Cars and Karting.
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