Official Language:
Arabic
Secondary Language:
French & English
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Currency:
Emirian Dirham
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Population:
Apporximately 400,000 people call Dubai home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Dubai U.A.E.: Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate. Sunny, blue skies can be expected most of the year. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular, falling mainly in winter. Temperatures range from a low of about 50°F/11°C to a high of 118°F/48°C.
The mean daily maximum is 75°F/24°C in January rising to /106°F/46°C in July.
The weather in Dubai is hot and dry reaching up to 105°F/40°C degrees during May through October. Coolest months are between November and April.
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Dubai is located on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. The second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates.
Known as the City of Merchants, Dubai is the second largest of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In the entire Gulf, there is no place quite like Dubai. Its history began in the 1830s when the city broke away from Abu Dhabi and became a center of commerce and trading in its own right. In fact, Dubai's wealth is founded on trade, not oil. When oil was discovered in 1966, it merely contributed to the city's prosperity and sped up modernization. Modern development began at the turn of the last century with heavy import-export trading, mainly in gold. What opium was to the growth of Hong Kong, gold was to Dubai. As the leading center for business and tourism in the Middle East, Dubai offers a fascinating kaleidoscope of contrasts in a distinctive blend of modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new. As an exotic destination with a cosmopolitan lifestyle, Dubai combines the comfort and conveniences of the Western world with the unique charm of Arabia. Even with a high degree of tolerance for different lifestyles, Dubai remains close to its heritage.
Dubai's souqs and shopping malls are crammed with goods - at some of the world's best prices. But there is more to the city than shopping. Visitors find an outstanding museum and superb recreational facilities, ranging from golf and watersports to desert safaris. As the sports capital of the Middle East, Dubai boasts four championship golf courses; it is a regular fixture on the European and Asian PGA circuits and hosts the Dubai World Cup - known as the world's richest horse race. An endless array of restaurants and nightspots offers a wide choice of cuisine and entertainment. Dubai is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinct blend of modern city, timeless deserts, rugged mountains and miles of sandy beaches. The streets are clean and safe –Interpol has voted Dubai as one of the safest cities in the world. With so many attractive attributes, it is not surprising that Dubai rates highly with world-class travelers, businessmen and the international jet set. Although the dress code in the UAE is more relaxed than in many other parts of the Middle East, care should be taken not to offend. Men should always wear a shirt or top in public; women are advised not to wear revealing clothing, such as very short skirts or sleeveless tops. There are no restrictions on photography in general, bearing in mind local customs and courtesies. It is considered offensive to photograph women, and courtesy demands to ask permission before taking pictures of men. Photographs must not be taken of government buildings or military installations. Cruise ships dock at Port Rashid/Dubai Harbor. Taxis are available at the port's entrance only. The town center is about 10 minutes from the port. Cruise passengers will find outstanding museums and recreational facilities.
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Attractions |
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Emirates Golf Club:
The first grass course in the Middle East and favoured venue of the PGA European Tour event, The Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates Golf Club has become a favourite of the world's top players. The original 7,101 yard, par 72 Majlis course is complemented with a second par 72 challenge, the 7,100 yard Wadi course. Both combine the natural rolling desert terrain for a serious test of golf. The Majlis course, with its lush fairways and large greens is a formidable test of golf while the Wadi course adds further interest, with superbly positioned water hazards and desert rough.
Bastakia Quarter:
This district, on the waterfront east of the Dubai Souq and Diwan, features a number of traditional wind-tower houses. Built in the late 1800s, the quarter was once the home of wealthy Persian merchants, most of them from the Bastak district and lured to Dubai by its relaxed trade tariffs.
The Souqs:
Narrow lanes of the Spice Souq are filled with the aroma of cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and incense. Wares are sold straight from open sacks. Shops in the Textile Souq offer silks, cotton, lace and wool . The glittering Gold Souq is home to one of the largest retail gold markets in the world.
Bur Dubai Souq:
Bur Dubai Souq has been beautifully rebuilt to appeal to shopping-mad tourists, but mostly caters to the Indian and Pakistani expat community. It does not sell many Arabian things, but is certainly the place to purchase a custom-made sari.
Deira Gold Souq:
Deira's celebrated Gold Souq attracts buyers from all over the world. Pass through its wooden lattice archways and you'll find great dazzling heaps of gold chains, rings, earrings, bracelets and every other kind of jewellery. It also sells silver.
Diera Covered Souq:
This souk has more of an Indian flavour than an Arabic one. It sells just about everything, but notably textiles, clothes, kitchenware, walking sticks, and all the henna you'll ever need.
Electronics Souq:
The Electronics Souq is the place to get all the televisions, calculators, stereos, digital cameras, video games, DVD players and karaoke machines you've ever wanted. It's all almost tax free, and once the haggling is done, can be got for rock bottom prices.
Spice Souq:
The Diera Old Souq is a wonderful place to wander round and take in the scents of spices and fruits. In the eastern part of the market you'll find sacks brimming with frankincense, dried lemons, ginger root, chilli and cardamom. The rest of the market is full of rugs, shoes, kitchenware, glassware and amusingly tacky little trinkets.
Dubai Creek:
Dubai's waterfront epitomizes the city's personality. If you do only one touristy thing in Dubai, make sure to visit Dubai Creek and see the grand trading port from the water. You can book a cruise or abra (small boat) for an hour or so; ask the captain to take you to Al-Maktoum Bridge and back.It's also worth taking some time to walk around the Dhow wharfage on the Deira side of Dubai Creek, to the west of the abra dock. Dhows bound for ports from Kuwait to Mumbai (Bombay) dock here to unload just about everything, including kitchen sinks.
Dubai Museum:
The Dubai Museum is housed inside the Al-Fahidi Fort, which was built in the late 1790s, and is believed to be the city's oldest building. The museum has collections of everything from Arabian sailing boats to the curved daggers known as khanjars. There are multimedia and interactive displays, and all the exhibits have captions in Arabic and English.
Grand Mosque:
This multidomed mosque boasts the city's tallest minaret. The mosque might appear to be a beautiful example of restoration work, but it was in fact built in the 1990s. As well as being the centre of Dubai's religious and cultural life, the original mosque was also home to the town's kuttab (Quranic school) where children learnt to recite the Quran from memory.Maintaining the style of the original Grand Mosque, which dated from 1900 and was knocked down to make way for another mosque in 1960, its sand-coloured walls and wooden shutters blend in perfectly with the surrounding old quarter of Bur Dubai.
Perfume Souq:
While the Perfume Souq is really just a group of shops, it sells a staggering range of Arabic and European perfumes. The European perfumes are a mixture of designer originals and copies. The Arabic perfumes are much stronger and spicier. It's worth buying some of the Arabic perfumes for the kitsch packaging alone.
Sheikh Saeed al-Maktoum House:
Built in 1896, this was once the home of the ruling Al-Maktoum family. It was built using traditional methods, from coral coated with lime and plaster. Inside there's an interesting exhibition of photographs showing how little time it took for Dubai to go from a little fishing and pearling town to a big money, resort-style oil city.
Dhow Building Yard:
Down at the dhow building yards you'll see various kinds of Arabian sailing boats still being built by hand, using traditional tools and teak and shesham woods. However, not everything at the yard is done as it has been for centuries: sometimes, after the sails are done, the boys will pop an engine in.
Hatta Rock Pools:
Hatta, an enclave of Dubai nestled in the Hajar Mountains, is a great weekend getaway. The main attractions are its relatively cool, dry climate, the mountain scenery, excellent 4WD options and the magnificent Hatta rock pools, which are great for a swim, roaring year-round with plunging waterfalls.
Jumeirah Archaeological Site:
Built sometime in the 6th century AD, this township is now the biggest and perhaps the most significant archaeological site in the UAE. You'll see the remains of stone walls, a souq, several houses and what is thought to have been a governor's palace. Objects found on the site, such as pottery and coins, are on display at the Heritage Village in Diera.
Jumeirah Beach Park:
This lovely grassy park adjoins Jumeirah Beach. It has walkways, kiosks, barbecue pits, picnic tables and a children's play area. The long stretch of beach is clean, lined with shady palm trees, and regularly patrolled by lifeguards. The women's only days are an opportunity for the ladies to get a tan without unwanted male attention.
Activities:
Plenty of water sports, including jet-skiing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing are offered by dozens of operators.It costs a fortune to maintain the greens, but golfing is a huge draw and Dubai has most of the Arabian Peninsula's courses. If it's too hot to don the requisite collared shirt and slacks, consider a visit to the slides at Wild Wadi Waterpark or one of the city's two indoor ice skating rinks. Dozens of health clubs make working out a breeze.
Shopping:
Dubai is a shopper's paradise due to its free port status, low import duties and no taxation. Modern, air-conditioned shopping malls are found throughout the city. The more traditional souqs offer bargains, ambiance and entertainment. Interesting buys include everything from gold jewelry to designer creations, cameras, electronics and oriental rugs. The Gold Souq is a favorite with visitors and residents alike. General opening hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (except on Fridays). The local currency is the dirham.
Al Nasr Street, here you will find plenty of antique shops and jewellery stores along this road where bargaining is positively encouraged.Dubai's souks and air conditioned shopping malls are filled with goods. Here you will find some of the world's best prices with no taxes. The Gold Souk is a favorite with visitors and loacls alike. The possibilities are endless. Here you will find everything from gold jewelry to designer creations, cameras, electronics and oriental rugs. The city center is easy to explore on foot. The streets are clean and safe.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Dubai:
Dubai Travel Information
www.godubai.com
http://dubaitourism.co.ae
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