Welcome to Holidays to Dubai

Dubai - Overview

Dubai is on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf (unless you're in America, in which case it's known as the Persian Gulf), Dubai is moving from oil to tourism with an eye firmly on its long term future.

Dubai offers a real Arabian experience along side some of the world's greatest hotels and the world's most astounding building projects. It's not all just sea and desert. Life in Dubai revolves around the Dubai Creek, which runs through the centre of Dubai. Dubai is divided into Diera on the north side of the Creek and Bur Dubai to the south, the Dubai business districts. Tunnels and bridges connect the two, but mosques, markets, and hotels abound on both sides.

In the old Bastakiya district wind towers remain from pre-electricity, when they acted as mechanical air conditioners for the houses below. The Souks on both sides of the creek are great for both shopping and sight seeing. A few ancient narrow alleyways have survived on the Deira side and it's in these lanes that the atmosphere of the spice souk can be savoured.

Horse riding has become synonymous with Dubai – both for people wanting to ride and people wanting to watch horse racing, including the sport's richest event, the Dubai World Cup. Nad Al Sheba is the largest racecourse in Dubai. It's at Nad Al Sheba that the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup is held. Along with the Dubai World Cup there are a further five thoroughbred group races and a group one for purebred Arabians, ensuring the day of the Dubai World Cup is one of the most significant in global thoroughbred horseracing.

Dubai has beaches and fine ones too. Dubai's main beaches run along Jumeira Road. All of Dubai's Jumeira beaches have soft white sand and shallow warm Arabian Gulf water lapping upon them. There are swanky hotel beaches with bars and other facilities – anyone can use them, but there's usually a small fee.

There are also lots of jewellery shops in Dubai, which is no surprise because the covered gold souk in Deira is a world famous gold market. Whatever you need made of gold, from 22 carat Indian elephants to delicate18 carat car parts you can find it here or if you can't, arrange too have it made for you.

Some of the world's most luxurious hotels have risen from the Dubai desert or shoreline. The Burj Al Arab is among the more notable – you don't see many hotels the shape of a ship's sail. Not only that, it's currently the tallest hotel in the world into the bargain. Dubai is justifiably now identified with this giant and gigantically luxurious hotel, which was built on its own man made island – a cheeky technique now synonymous with Dubai.

You can discover Dubai Creek courtesy of the comfort of the local dhows and abras, where an abra is a traditional boat unique to Dubai. It's made from wood and used specifically to transfer people on Dubai creek. The journey from Deira to the other side of the Dubai Creek takes about ten minutes. Abras used to be the main way of transport between the two sides before the bridges and the tunnel were built. Those were the days.

Dubai is just across the Gulf from Iran, but you knew that didn't you? The supply of Persian carpets is considered one of the best outside of Iran. The Blue Souk in Dubai is famous throughout the UAE for its carpet shops as well as gold shops. You can also buy a handy camel at the world's largest camel souk as well. Be sure to check the mileage, and make sure it's got a full ‘main dealer' service record. Seriously though, check it's been wormed and remember camels live for up to 50 years. A camel is for life, not just for Christmas…