Dubai Overview

Dubai is a unique destination. It is both a dynamic business centre and a tourist paradise, offering more attractions, shopping, fine dining and quality hotels than virtually any other destination on the planet. From the timeless tranquillity of the desert to the lively bustle of the souks, Dubai presents an infinite choice of attractions and activities for visitors. The emirate offers a wide variety of scenery in a relatively small area. In a single day, you can experience everything from rugged mountains and breathtaking sand dunes to white sandy beaches and beautifully landscaped lush green parks, from old, dusty villages to luxurious residential districts, and from ancient houses with traditional wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls.

Location, location, location

Dubai is unarguably located in one of the best spots on the planet – halfway between Europe and Asia. Few destinations take more than eight hours direct flying time to or from Dubai. Just overnight from London, four hours from Nairobi, three hours from Mumbai, seven hours from Hong Kong and a direct flight from many major cities in the US, Canada or Australia, Dubai is definitely a destination of choice for vacationing, living and conducting business.

Hotels

Dubai offers an array of hotels to suit every taste, whim and budget – from the swanky, luxurious and most expensive, including the world's only seven star hotel, to the well situated, affordable dwellings. There are resorts in the desert where you can experience unmatched peace and tranquillity, beachfront resorts where you can experience extreme water sports, business hotels right in the heart of the busiest business districts… whatever the choice, it makes for an unforgettable stay.

Shopper’s Paradise

Dubai is ranked the world’s second most popular destination for shopping after the US, ahead of other popular shopping destinations along the likes of Singapore, France, the UK, and Hong Kong. With a long history as a trading hub, Dubai is today synonymous with shopping. From souks to shopping malls, Dubai has it all: duty free, gold, electronics, textiles, cars… It is a true shopper’s paradise. Perfect for shopaholics and for a good dose of retail therapy!

Events and Festivals

Dubai has established itself as a prime destination for a diverse range of local and international events. It has also earned its reputation as the sporting capital of the Middle East. Each year, Dubai hosts a variety of popular sporting activities and incredible entertainment attractions, in addition to world-renowned conferences and exhibitions.

Nightlife

Dubai’s nightlife is second to none. You can choose from sophisticated cocktail lounges to typically informal British and Irish pubs and Western-style lounges. Most of them serve food and many feature live nightly entertainment. After-dinner revellers can enjoy the latest sounds in a number of nightclubs, each with its own ambience.

Heritage and Museums

Although the early history of Dubai is not very well documented, archaeological discoveries suggest that, as long as 4000 years ago small fishing communities lived along the coast of the Arabian Gulf, where modern Dubai lies today. In recent years, archaeologists have discovered hundreds of artefacts that point to civilized settlements dating back to 3000 B.C. Dubai’s main archaeological sites are located in Al Sufouh and Jumeirah. These historic findings have been carefully preserved and the artefacts are now housed in the archaeological section of Dubai Museum for visitors to see. Dotted around Dubai are a number of historical buildings and sites that offer a glimpse of a bygone era such as the Al Fahidi Fort, Sheikh Saeed’s House, and the Bastakiya area.