Overview

As of late, Dubai has been setting the standards for global tourism development. Every new project it undertakes seems grander and more ambitious than the last. Visitors will have to wait until 2010 to experience Dubailand, a massive entertainment complex that will dwarf anything else like it. For now, however, there's the charmingly restored Bastakiya district of old Persian homes and the glittering Gold Souk and Spice Souk to create pure Arabic ambiance. Wild Wadi is a wonderfully wet water park, and Jumeirah Beach Park is the place to hit the sand and sea.

Bastakiya

This neighbourhood dating to the 1800s was one of the first settlements of wealthy Persian merchants. It has been restored to its original Gulf splendour, with winding streets, ingenious wind towers and traditional Gulf houses. Several museums are in the pedestrian village of Bastakiya, as well as numerous shops, galleries and restaurants.

Gold Souk

It's hard to resist visiting the world's largest gold market, even if you're only window-shopping. Here endless gold shops create originals and copies of every style of jewellery and gold bullion imaginable amid a winding maze of streets. Gemstones, pearls and silver are also in abundance. Visit at night when the air is cool and the lighting magical.

Spice Souk

Dubai's Spice Souk is the quintessential Arabic market that hasn't seemed to age in centuries. Long before the first skyscraper pierced the skyline, the winding alleys of this market and its myriad stalls filled the air with exotic scents. This is the real deal, located right in the heart of historic Deira. Don't miss the chance to see the original face of Dubai's role as a Gulf trader.

Dubai Museum

Proving that there is more to Dubai than shopping, sand and sea, the 18th century Al Fahidi Fort has been transformed into a museum that continues to expand with the years. Life-size dioramas present a comprehensive timeline of Dubai culture and society, while desert and marine exhibitions present the natural side of the Gulf. There's quite a bit to see in this diverse and interesting museum.

Wild Wadi

This modern oasis in the middle of the desert is the ideal place to retreat when the dry baking climate of Dubai becomes too much. This fun water park has 30 excellent water rides that are just as much fun for adults as they are for kids. Rapids, lazy rivers, and a huge wave pool are just some of the attractions at this popular escape.

Creekside Park

Running right along Dubai's main creek, this wonderful park is a great escape featuring paths along the water for walking or biking, gardens, restaurants and other diversions. A cable car ferries passengers along 2.5kms of the park's area, and the fun Children's City is also located here.

Jumeirah Beach Park

Dubai's best public beach stretches for more than one kilometre along the Jumeirah neighbourhood's coastline. This is the place to go for a swim and to watch how the locals unwind at the beach. Umbrellas and chairs can be rented, and there are lifeguards on patrol from 08:00 until sunset every day. Mondays are for women and children only, and the beach closes after dark.

Jumeirah Mosque

The call to prayer is an integral aspect of life in Dubai, and you can hear this call from every corner of the city just as the sun begins its daily duties. Be sure and visit the impressive Jumeirah Mosque while you're in Dubai, as it's the only mosque in the emirate open to non-Muslims. The 90-minute guided tour starts at 10:00 and gives a valuable insight into the history and culture of Islam. It is often fully booked, so arrive early and dress modestly.

Overview

Dubai is one of the best destinations in the Gulf to enjoy outdoor recreation and sports in comfort and safety. Beach and water activities are a major part of leisure life in the city, and all of Dubai's beach resorts offer a full range of options. Horses and camels play a big role in sporting events, as does golf and boating. You can even hit the snowy slopes at the indoor Ski Dubai.

Beach clubs

You don't have to stay at one of Dubai's beach resorts to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the city. Many beach clubs offer day passes to non-guests, allowing you to enjoy a private beach with all the amenities of a resort at your disposal. Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, and the Ritz-Carlton Dubai are just a few of the options available at a reasonable price.

Golf

There are a handful of world-class golf courses in Dubai if you are an avid duffer and want to experience the unique atmosphere of golfing in the desert. If you have a valid handicap certificate, try the famous Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club for a serious taste of the posh. The Montgomerie boasts the planet's largest greens, and the Emirates Golf Club features two 18-hole classics.

Camel racing

Dubai's most traditional sport is camel racing, and it really is something to see even if you just come for the people-watching scene surrounding it. Camel races take place in the winter between October and April at the city's main course at Nad Al Sheba. There are usually two races a day, with the first starting early in the morning.

Horse racing

Even though they don't gamble on it, horse racing is one of the most serious sports in Dubai. The emirate's ruling family is deeply involved, running one of the world's most professional racing operations, Goldolphin. Dubai's racing season runs from October to April, culminating with the planet's richest race, the Dubai World Cup, in late March. The races happen at night at Nad Al Sheba, and are free.

Skiing

One of the city's icons is its massive indoor ski resort known as Ski Dubai and . It's the size of three football pitches, and offers snowboarding, skiingtobogganing on more than 6,000 tons of fake snow. There are five runs, including a quad lift that services the longest run at 400m. There's a full snowboard park and even a snow play area for little kids. A newer, bigger indoor ski park called Snowdome is set to open by the end of 2008 in Dubailand.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Although the diving is better along the eastern coast of the UAE, the waters off Jumeirah Beach are clear, warm and home to a wide range of underwater life. Divers can see creatures like sea horses, stingrays, and clownfish. There are also several wrecks in the area to explore, and several dive shops in the city provide all the gear you need.

Deep-sea fishing

September through April is the deep-sea fishing season in Dubai, and several outfitters run daytrips into the Gulf to try to catch sailfish, tuna, dorado and other big-time sporting fish. It's not an excursion for those on a budget, but the experience as about as good as it gets in this part of the world.

Dining and shopping

Keeping pace with Dubai's relentless development is a wealth of new restaurants catering to every genre of cuisine on the planet. This city is incredibly hot right now, and some of the world's top chefs have moved here to open restaurants in opulent surroundings. Dubai's best restaurants are found in the hotels, primarily because this is where you can publically drink alcohol. You'll need a reservation for the top spots and be sure and dress smart.

Interestingly, Dubai's local cuisine is bland and unimpressive compared to other Arabic cuisines like Moroccan or Lebanese. Not that this matters much, because you can find some of the world's finest Moroccan food in Dubai, along with top-notch fare from other Arabic regions and the rest of the world. The five-star hotels along Jumeirah Beach are the most expensive and famous, but you should also explore the more casual restaurants in the traditional neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai and Deira. Sheikh Zayed Road in another bustling strip for dining out.

The dining schedule in Dubai may be a little different from what you're used to. Lunch is served between noon and 15:00, and dinner from 19:00 and midnight. Locals typically eat around 21:00, and the city's restaurants are usually empty until that time. Friday is a special day for Dubai's residents, and they enjoy going out for a buffet brunch, which is a big tradition here. People settle in for several hours of leisurely dining with family and friends on Fridays.

Shopping is arguably the national pastime in Dubai. Its malls are glitzy, modern affairs packed with high-end retail shops which are heavily air-conditioned. The city has done an excellent job promoting itself as a shopping destination, showcasing global fashion brands from every corner of the planet at duty-free prices.

Naturally, you can find all of these fancy luxury goods at any other major city in the world but when it's nearing 50C outside, the population of Dubai flocks en masse to the shopping malls, creating quite an interesting social scene. Unfortunately, Dubai isn't known for producing any notable handicrafts of its own, so if you want a traditional shopping experience you'll need to head to one of the local souks.

The Gold Souk and Spice Souk are the city's most charismatic and engaging outdoor markets. The Gold Souk is known around the world for the sheer quantity of precious metal on sale, while the Spice Souk is a sensory overload of burning incense, spices and perfumes. Other good Arabic buys at the souks include carpets, antiques, textiles, jewellery and shisha water pipes.

Outside of the city's mega-malls, the main shopping districts are along the Bani Yas Square, Al Dhiyafa Road, and Al Rigga Road. Numerous small shops selling lots of things can be found here. For pirated and fake goods head to Karama. There are also some high-end fashion boutiques along Jumeirah Beach Road. But don't miss checking out the Dubai Mall at Burj Dubai once it's fully open. It's the world's largest shopping centre, covering a shocking one million-plus square meters.

Since local Emirates cuisine is not especially renowned, focus your eating attentions on other regional Arabic cuisine found in Dubai's amazing Moroccan, Persian and Lebanese restaurants. There is also an impressive roster of international restaurants in the city's top hotels. You'll be spoilt for choice, but expect to pay dearly for the experience of eating under a top-flight chef.

Overview

Chances are you'll arrive at Dubai International Airport or the more distant Abu Dhabi International Airport. Both are modern, clean and loaded with amenities, with the former ranking as one of the world's best airports. In Dubai itself, you can either rent a car or hire a taxi when you want to get around as there is no public transport system in Dubai.

Airports

There are two airports that service Dubai, but Dubai International Airport is the more popular. From its two terminals, more than 100 airlines operate regular flights to and from around 160 different countries. Dubai International Airport is the home base of Emirates Airlines, one of the world's finest carriers.

Both of its terminals are as modern and well-equipped as they come. Excellent duty-free shopping, restaurants, currency exchange kiosks and even a five-star hotel can be found in the Arrivals area. Taxis are the easiest way to get from the airport to your destination, and are quite affordable. There's also an RTA airport bus that departs every 30 minutes from the airport to Deira and Bur Dubai. Most international car hire firms have offices in the Arrivals area.

Another air option is to fly into Abu Dhabi International Airport. This is the home airport for Etihad Airways, another major Middle Eastern carrier. Abu Dhabi's two terminals are also modern and well equipped with everything a traveller will need upon arriving in this emirate. Sometimes the flights are cheaper into Abu Dhabi than to Dubai International, but the downside is Abu Dhabi is about two hours away.

If you are flying on Etihad Airways you can take their free airport shuttle bus to Dubai. There are also taxis on hand to drive you the two hours to Dubai or you can rent a car from the dozen or so international car hire firms located in the Arrivals area.

Public transportation

There are very few options to get to Dubai other than flying. If you are arriving from another emirate, driving a hire car is an excellent way to move around the UAE. All of Dubai's roads are in excellent condition and signs are well marked in both English and Arabic. You'll need an international driving license and a sense of caution as drivers in the UAE are notorious for their lack of adherence to road rules.

Once you get into Dubai, taxis are the only reasonable means of getting around the city. Luckily, the taxis in Dubai are very safe, quite affordable and easy to identify. If you don't rent a car, hiring taxis is the most common way to get around. Taxis in Dubai can be flagged down in the street or phoned for a pick up. Women travellers may want to travel by one of the taxis with a pink roof that are driven exclusively by women for women passengers.