DUBAI
Destination of Dreams..."
Dubai is the quintessential home of sand,
sun and shopping. A century ago, it was a tranquil town whose coral-and-gypsum
huts housed Bedouin traders and pearl divers. Today the merchants have gone
international and science-fiction skyscrapers stand alongside the mosques and
wind towers of Old Dubai. Dubai Hotels are famous for their luxury and
excellent service; the Burj Al Arab
is Dubai's most famous landmark. The minimalist white structure, which
resembles a billowing sail, stands on its own island 280 metres offshore.
No-one is saying how much it cost to build, but most hoteliers in Dubai are
convinced it will never make money—rather, it pays for itself by creating a
potent marketing symbol for Dubai.
ATTRACTIONS
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
jewellery. Apex Holidays offers a wide range of Hotels in Dubai that are in
close proximity to the various souks.
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 jewellery 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 colourful fabrics.
Shopping
Dubai is labelled 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.
Dolphin Hotel Apartments& Midwest Apartments have been recently added
offering amazing value for money; these Dubai Hotels are ideally located close
to all the main shopping mall and restaurants.
Wild Wadi
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.
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.
Golf Courses
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 epicentres.
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.
GENERAL FACTS
Area
Population
Time Zone
- GMT/UTC +4 (Standard Time)
Languages
- Arabic (official)
- Persian (other)
- English (other)
- Hindi (other)
- Urdu (other)
Currency
Electricity
Electric Plug Details
- European plug with two circular metal pins
- British-style plug with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade
- South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large
circular grounding pin
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