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Dubai - Full of Surprises
"I must have visited or been in transit in Dubai at least half a dozen times and my daughter currently has a project in the Emirate which sees her spending several months each year there.
Background
Dubai, which has a population of around 900,00O is one of the seven Emirates which together make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) The others are : Abu Dhabi,the capital,Sharjah, Ajman,Fujairah, Umm Al Quvain, and Ras Al Khaminah.
Dubai,the second largest of the Emirates is widely considered to be the business and tourism capital of the UAE and attracts the largest number of British expatriates and tourists.
@@@@@Tourism
Dubai most certainly offers the visitor a very interesting mix of the old and the new.There is the timeless desert, souk shopping, old pastimes and traditions coexisting with the most modern of hotels such as the Crowne Plaza,Hilton, Dusit,Howard Johnson,Hyatt Regency Ritz Carlton, and Le Meridien, as well as ultra modern one stop shopping complexes offering the intrepid bargain hunter wonderful shopping opportunities. Dubai is an open port with low duties and zero taxation so it really is a place for bargains.
Among the sights and attractions are Dubai Creek, Dubai Zoo, Camel Racing, Al Fahidi Street, the Spice Souk, the Gold Souk, the Dubai Golf and Yacht Club, and the Al Boom Tourist Village.
%%%%Dining and Nightlife
Visitors are usually very surprised at both the range of the cuisines and their quality to be found in Dubai. The big hotels,eg, encompass many of the world's major cuisines,including Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, French, Italian,Mexican and Middle Eastern. Outside the main hotels you can find ""humbler"" eating places serving up tasty Arab food such as shawarna, salads and pitta bread.
It is often forgotten that Dubai has a very liberal government and a huge expatriate population and there are a number of pubs,night clubs and other entertainment outlets where a good time can be had by all. For a taste of the ""exotic"" there are Arabic nightclubs and universally popular discitheques.
My daughter's top tips for dining out include :
The Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, the Ayam Zaman at the Dubai Marine Hotel and the Fish Bazaar which is located at the Metropolitan Hotel.
####Sports
Dubai again surprises many visitors for it is arguably the sports capital of the Middle East with top class golf tournaments, power boat races, rally's, soccer, cricket and tennis. Some of the sporting infrastructure is very modern and this goes for sports such as squash,badminton, windsurfing andten pin bowling as well.
The best golf courses include the 18-hole Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club,the Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Golf & Racing Club.
You can engage in horse riding at Dubai Polo Club and the Dubai Equestrian Club.
####Cultural Heritage
Although Dubai is modern and progressive it does not mean that its past,traditions and culture is by passed.Far from it ! The local residents cling tenaciouly to their culture and tradions-most will wear traditional Arab clothing and headress and Arab culture is showcased through mediums such as poetry,dancing, music and traditional art. Feasting is another rather pleasant and common tradition. The rich trading traditions in this part of the world can be witnessed by a trip to Dubai Creek. Over at Al Fahidi Fort, there is the Dubai Museum, which has a good range of archaeological finds and dioramas depicting Dubai's cultural heritage.
####Airport
Dubai International Airport is pretty impressive.It has recently been extensively refurbished at a cost of around US$500,this aviation hub houses a superb Dubai Duty Free section. This is a veritable haven for shopaholics with a simply stunning array of goods at moderate prices.The Airport is seved by a number of major airlines including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, MAS, SIA, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Emirates, PIA, Air India and Thai.
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