Some tourist attraction ideas for Dubai, including the historic waterfront and Bastakiya quarters, shops and markets, golf and camel-racing, Bedouin camps and a unique hotel.
Dubai is a fast-growing modern city, but one of the places to capture some of the atmosphere of old Dubai is down by the waterfront in the area known as The Creek. From here, Arabic trading boats known as dhows still make regular journeys between places as distant as East Africa and India. You can easily hire one of the dhows for a trip along the waterfront, or see the area from the promenade which winds alongside the water. At the edge of the Creek, there is a small museum devoted to Dubai's maritime and trading traditions.
The other neighborhood which manages to retain some of the old flavor is Bastakiya, a short distance from the waterfront. This area still retains its narrow streets and tall stone towers, used for cooling the house's interior, along with many traditional courtyard houses. The area is still being gradually restored, and many of the houses turned into cafes and galleries. Not far from here is the Grand Mosque, which boasts the city's tallest minaret as well as many domes with beautiful stained glass panels.
One of the biggest attractions in Dubai is the shopping, which attracts visitors from all over the Middle east and even further afield. The city has no import duties; as a result many luxury items are a lot cheaper than they would be in the United States. There are many modern and stylish shopping malls in and around the city offering top brand names and designer goods - and of course, the luxury of air-conditioning as well.
For a more traditional shopping experience, visit one of the city's several "˜souks' or market places. The most popular of these specialize in local food and vegetables, gold and silver, and hand woven carpets from the surrounding region. There is also an entire street selling electronic items and photographic equipment at discount prices. Don't forget to bargain with the stallholders - it is expected, and part of the experience. Even the airport is a shoppers paradise; it is one of the largest duty-free shopping zones in the world, open 24 hours a day, and currently undergoing expansion to offer even more
shops.
Dubai is also a popular place for sports, boasting the usual selection of water sports, as well as several picturesque but challenging golf courses that make full use of the desert setting. If you are in Dubai during the cooler winter months, don't miss one of the exciting and fast-paced camel races, held in the city most weekends. Camel races are not staged just for the tourists - they are considered a serious business as well as a passion in Dubai.
Even if you can't afford to stay there, a visit to the Burj Al Arab hotel on the coast off Dubai is an unforgettable experience. This hotel is considered to be simply the best in the world - the world's only 7 star hotel - with spacious luxury suites and gourmet restaurants. The hotel was cleverly designed to reflect the character of the area, and resembles a huge billowing sail. At night, the 1000 foot high building is surrounded by spectacular choreographed displays of fire and water, making it visible from miles around.
There are several excursions you can easily take outside the city into the surrounding desert, to see various archaeological sites - or just to try sleeping under the stars. One of the most popular tours is to a nearby Bedouin village, where the activities may include a traditional feast and camel-riding lessons. For those slightly less adventurous, you can spend the night at Hatta, a luxury resort in the foothills of the Hajjar Mountains, and overlooked by the historic Hatta fort. Hatta is popular with locals as well as tourists, and is convenient for weekend getaways.
Dubai is definitely exotic - the faithful are still summoned to prayer several times every day - but at the same time it offers the familiar and comforting sights of home - malls, fast food and air-conditioned hotels. It is this successful blending of cultures which has made it into one of the top vacation and business destinations in the Middle East.
