Dubai Package Holidays

Which Hotel Should You Stay In?

2011-02-10T12:22:00.002Z

If there is one thing that Dubai is known for above all else, it is its amazing range of hotels. Perhaps the most famous one of all is the Burj Al Arab, the hotel that resembles a sail more than a hotel. This is true luxury on every level, so if you want to see the very best of Dubai whether you are in your hotel or out exploring the city itself, this could be the ideal venue to stay in.

But of course there are plenty of other hotels in Dubai too. It is a good idea to start by figuring out what your budget is for accommodation while you are there. This will save you a lot of time, as it is very easy to dream about staying in the most luxurious hotel you can find. If your budget won’t stand it though, it’s time to start searching for something else.

You should remember that if you are looking for a budget hotel, location will have a significant bearing on where you should stay and what price you can get for it. It can be wise not to go for the absolute cheapest though, as the price will be relevant to the service you are likely to get.

Most of the time we would be familiar with hotels that are ranked up to five stars. But in Dubai you can go for a seven star ranking if you really want to see what luxury is like. But even five star venues such as the Grand Hyatt in Dubai are well worth a visit, as they really know how to take care of their guests.

While you will be doing all manner of things during your stay it is nice to know you have a wonderful hotel room to look forward to getting back to at the end of your explorations. There is nothing better than using their facilities to unwind or their restaurants to enjoy a sumptuous meal. If you are looking for a good quality base for your stay in Dubai, you will certainly find it in their range of hotels.

Witness The Incredible Sight Of The Grand Mosque

2011-01-11T09:38:00.002Z

Some buildings are so stunning that you have to risk getting a crick in your neck as you stand and gaze up at them, unwilling or unable to turn away for even a second. There are arguably several buildings in Dubai that could have this effect on you, but for the purposes of this blog we are thinking of just one – the Grand Mosque.

This is one of those occasions where you may have seen pictures of the building before you actually go and visit it. But those pictures cannot possibly do the building justice when you see it with your own eyes. The sense of scale and height is quite something, and even in person it is hard to fathom.

It is one of the biggest mosques the UAE has to its name. The minarets can be a big feature of any mosque, but the Grand Mosque has earned its name in many ways – and the size of its largest minaret is one of them. There are two tall minarets forming part of the structure, and one of these is just over 231 feet high. Unless you see it for yourself it is impossible to try and imagine what it looks like.

The mosque also has a total of fifty four separate domes, nine of which are large. The smaller ones do not shrink back from the eye though, and since the larger ones feature stained glass decorations as well, you will see that this is truly an amazing building.

You will find the mosque across the road from the Dubai Museum, so if you are paying that a visit you will find it easy enough to see the Grand Mosque as well. Head for Ali bin Talib Street and go from there – with the tall minarets it is obviously hard to miss.

The mosque was built more than a century ago, but in 1998 it was renovated and has looked at its very best ever since then. Make sure you have a camera handy – you will want to be sure you have photographic evidence that you saw the mosque for yourself.

See The World – In Dubai

2010-12-13T15:03:00.002Z

Normally when someone says they want to see the world, they’re referring to the globe itself. But now you can say the exact same thing and be talking about an incredible project that has taken place in Dubai.

Most people have heard about the Palm Islands in Dubai, spreading out from the mainland like a palm tree when seen from the air. But the World is not as well known – at least not yet. That is all set to change when news of the development becomes more widespread.

The idea – as it was with the Palm Islands – is an innovative one. The idea is to reclaim more land from the sea. But this time the islands created are in the shape of the world, with every island forming a different country or part of a country. To say this is an ambitious project is to be responsible for perhaps the biggest understatement possible.

So where can you find the World? Well it is be situated between Palm Jumeirah and Palm Diera. But unlike these two Palms, the World is not attached to the mainland. Instead it is a short distance out at sea, providing an intriguing addition to the reclamation work going on in Dubai.

It is too early yet to see how the future of the World will pan out. Each island is available for purchase separately by major investors. The idea is presumably that each one will have hotels and other major attractions on it, leading to an income from tourism from each one. But as they are all available to be purchased and developed on separately, the future of the World is just as interesting as the future of, er, the world (i.e. the globe as a whole).

The World is undoubtedly Dubai’s most ambitious project yet. It is fascinating to see what the future will hold for the World, as it continues to develop. Perhaps in years to come it will be as much of a success as Palm Jumeirah and the other Palms in the area. But this is undoubtedly a lot more ambitious.

Al Mamzar Park

2010-11-11T09:16:00.002Z

Sometimes it seems as if Dubai was made to be seen from the air. The gorgeous designs of some of the locations here are only really truly appreciated if you look at them as you fly into Dubai for your holiday here.

But when you are on the ground they are pretty spectacular to see too – if from another perspective altogether. This is certainly the case with the Al Mamzar beach park. As you might guess from the name it is pretty good to look at, as the various areas are laid out in something that can only be called a geometric design. There are green terraces, perfectly created sandy areas and much more besides. It just remains for you to pay it a visit to see what else you can find there.

The good news is that it is created for all the family to enjoy. For instance there are services and facilities here that mean you don’t really have to go anywhere else during a day out there. You will find plenty of food kiosks dotted around and if the kids tire of the beach areas they certainly won’t tire of the swimming pool that is also helpfully provided. As you can imagine, it will give you a great alternative to the beach for a day or two if you want to experience something slightly different.

But even if you do decide to head for the beach you will realise that the Al Mamzar beach park has five of them. This is how big the park itself really is. Let’s face it nothing is done with a retiring point of view here – big, bold and better is the way that Dubai likes to do things. And it has certainly achieved its aim with this delightful park. While some parks try to cater for everyone and fail, this one has tried and succeeded beyond all measure. There are plenty of places to sit back, relax and drink in the sun. Whether you are visiting with friends, family or the kids, you will love exploring every inch of the Al Mamzar beach park.

Why Should You Take A Look At Dubai Creek?

2010-10-13T09:31:00.003Z

When you visit Dubai you will probably have various destinations in mind. You will head out to Palm Jumeirah, you’ll try out the Wild Wadi Water Park and get involved in many other things besides as well.

But one place you must head to is Dubai Creek. This heads inland from the sea and it divides much of Dubai into two sections. There is any number of activities to try and places to go on either side of the creek, and of course it is also good to view just by itself.

Dubai Festival City nestles on the outer corner of the creek where it turns on a virtual right angle to head towards the wildlife sanctuary called Ras al Khor. Indeed this is just one of the locations you can visit along the creek itself. The wetlands at this part of the creek make ideal areas for various types of migratory birds to come to. If you pay a visit you may be lucky enough to see kingfishers, sandpipers, herons and even storks.

You can also ride along the creek in a boat if you take your place on one of the rides they offer. It could be a nice way to spend an hour or so, seeing the land either side of the creek from a different angle.

Back at the bend in the river you can explore the Dubai Festival City as well. This is so big that the locals sometimes call it a city in and of itself, within the larger city it resides in. When you see it for yourself you will see why this is the case!

In fact parts of it are still being built, but since Dubai is still an up and coming place to go this will probably not come as a huge surprise. The Festival Centre will provide you with a day’s worth of shopping opportunities and then some as well. It is just one of the many reasons why Dubai Creek is a great place to go on any holiday to Dubai.

Exploring The Dubai Museum

2010-09-13T14:18:00.002Z

Most people would accept that if you want to know more about a place you should go to the museum there. This is certainly the case in Dubai, where you have the chance to see the Dubai Museum.

Some museums definitely have more eye catching and stunning buildings to enjoy than others, and we think the Dubai Museum has one of the best ones of all. You will find when you arrive that you are looking at a fort – the Al Fahidi Fort. This in itself is worth finding out more about, especially since the oldest part of it dates back to 1787.

You can see some of the history of Dubai even before you step inside the building as well. Not all of the city walls remain nowadays, but you can see the bits that do remain right outside the museum itself.

The museum itself does a grand job of bringing to life Dubai’s past. Indeed it manages to take you right back to the third millennium BC in some cases. Some artefacts have been recovered from graves that date back this far, and they make fascinating viewing.

One of the most interesting things about the museum in Dubai is that it is split into clearly defined sections that look at various parts of life in the region. For example you can learn more about the business lives of those who lived in Dubai in the past, as well as learning how they lived at home. This provides a full and interesting picture that is quite enthralling to see.

Of course you cannot visit an area like Dubai without visiting the souks, and you will learn much more about them in the Dubai Museum. There is an example of one of the souks in the museum itself, and you can discover more when you go outside and witness the real thing.

As such the Dubai Museum is a wonderful introduction to Dubai and its history. As with all parts of the world it has changed immeasurably since ancient times, but other parts of it remain incredibly the same.

Visiting Palm Jumeirah

2010-08-13T13:11:00.002Z

One of the most famous areas in Dubai has to be Palm Jumeirah. Even if you are not staying in this part of Dubai you have to go and see it. It will be the first time you have ever set foot on what is essentially a man made palm tree.

It does sound a little unusual, admittedly. But this has been designed to meet the needs of every holidaymaker coming to Dubai, and as such it is quite unlike anywhere else you may have visited in the past.

You won’t be able to appreciate the palm tree design unless you see Palm Jumeirah from above. But it extends out from the mainland on a trunk shaped piece of reclaimed land, and a total of sixteen different fronds extend out from this. You will also see three separate sections of island beyond the palm itself, each of which forms an essential breakwater.

You can easily find your way from the outer sections of Palm Jumeirah to the mainland by way of the monorail. This runs for over three miles, which gives you some idea of how big this man made island actually is.

Not everyone likes the artificial nature of the island. But if you are looking for a purpose built holiday haven that gives you everything you need in the way of luxury, this could be it. There is even a long water ride that brings you out into a see through pipe. Would you enjoy floating down this section while sharks and other creatures of the not so deep swim past above you? It is certainly quite an experience.

You’ve got a superb choice of hotels to stay in while you are on Palm Jumeirah too. One thing worth noting is that the design of the fronds means there is a lot of coastline to appreciate. Views of the water are everywhere you look here, and once you have got used to the design it is hard not to like it.

So why not consider venturing out to Palm Jumeirah for your first trip to Dubai? It could be the first of many.

Hop On Board Dubai’s Big Bus Tour

2010-07-14T15:28:00.000Z

You have probably heard about the Big Bus Tours in cities such as San Francisco and London. But what about Dubai – can you get the same experience there too?

As you might expect from the title of this post, the answer is a definite yes. We all know an open top tour on a bus is one of the best ways to see everything you want to see. After all you are higher up and you’ve got no windows that limit the amount you can see.

The Big Bus Tour in Dubai gives you two separate routes you can follow and it pays to try them both out. If you do you’ll see the best of Dubai and not miss out on anything during your time there.

If you do want to do both make sure you grab a forty eight hour ticket. This will give you the best value for money and you can do each route on consecutive days. You get the normal advantages that this kind of tour gives you in any location – namely the fact that you can get on and off whenever you like.

This is particularly good news because you get free entry to the Dubai Museum as part of your fare, so you will want to get off and explore the museum before getting back on the next bus that comes along.

If you have never visited Dubai before, it is an excellent idea to take the bus tour on the first full day – or two – after you arrive. This will give you the best idea of what else you can do apart from enjoying the beaches and the facilities in your hotel. You could even make a note of some of the key places you see on your way round the route. This way, even if you don’t find the time to hop off the bus and see them all, you can always go back another day.

There is something about the Big Bus Tour that doesn’t quite fit in with your images of what Dubai is like. But this is undoubtedly the most exciting way to introduce yourself to this amazing place.

Have You Ever Boarded An Abra?

2010-06-15T12:21:00.002Z

If you haven’t travelled too far in the world, the chances are you haven’t. But you can change all that when you finally get to Dubai for your annual holiday.

This is the only part of the world where you can get on an abra, and it is quite an experience. We’ll put you out of your misery now by telling you that an abra is actually a boat. But this is no ordinary kind of boat. It looks unique and it really is – and it provides you with a great experience to look forward to in Dubai itself.

For starters it is a wooden boat, so you will feel as if you are stepping into the past when you hop on board. In a world where fibreglass is now the preferred material for boat building, it is refreshingly wonderful to see these abras guiding passengers across the Dubai Creek.

The boats are operated by engines, and once upon a time they were the only way anyone could get from one side of the Dubai Creek to the other. In time builders came along and constructed bridges across the creek itself so other forms of traffic – other than foot traffic – could cross as well. But it is reassuring to see that this leap forward did not jeopardise the lives of those who run the abras for a living.

Indeed they have taken on a new dimension now as they are mostly used by tourists wanting to get a unique view of the Dubai Creek and the city which surrounds it. Even though the crossing takes just ten minutes or so it is well worth making, and of course you can cross straight back again as well if you wish.

You shouldn’t have to wait long to jump on board either – there are well over a hundred abras making this regular journey and catering for everyone who wants to cross the creek. This really is a must do activity while you are in Dubai, so make sure you don’t miss out. It is quite an experience.

Skiing In Dubai – A Joke Or A Real Possibility?

2010-05-14T13:27:00.002Z

Dubai is known as being a relatively warm place to head to for a holiday. So what would you say if we told you that you could go skiing there?

It doesn’t sound very likely does it? And we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t believe us. But you can indeed go skiing in Dubai, albeit not outside on a mountain.

Instead the possibility here is to go indoors and try out Ski Dubai instead. This claims the record of being the first centre of its kind in the Middle East that is indoors. And what’s more it doesn’t just cater for the avid skier either. You can try out snowboarding here, as well as just wandering around and enjoying the rather unusual feeling of walking on snow, indoors… in Dubai. Yes, it still takes quite a bit of getting used to, doesn’t it?

The ski slopes are great fun to try out, and they have catered for every type of skier here as well. For instance there are slopes for the beginners, and when you have tried those out and you have worked on your skills, you can try the bigger, bolder slopes as well.

Elsewhere there are jumps and runs that have been specially designed to appeal to those who are out to do some snowboarding. Once again the facilities are designed to be encouraging for the beginner and challenging for the snowboarder who has more experience.

But perhaps the best part of Ski Dubai is the Snow Park. This is where most of the families and kids will go, since it has other activities to make the most of during your stay. Do you fancy tearing down the hill on a toboggan for example? How about exploring the Snow Cavern to see what delights and surprises it holds inside?

As you can see, Ski Dubai has been specifically developed to appeal to everyone. So even if you have never strapped on a pair of skis in your life, you will love every minute of your visit to Ski Dubai. Just make sure you wrap up warm when you go!

Witness A Fountain Like No Other

2010-04-15T16:39:00.002Z

Okay so we have all seen fountains before. And once you have seen one you have seen them all. Right?

Wrong. When you visit Dubai you have the chance to see something truly spectacular and quite breathtaking. And even these words don’t come close to describing the fountain that is near to the Dubai Mall.

You may have heard of the Fountains of Bellagio in Vegas in the US, and this fountain in Dubai has been created by the same team of people. It dwarfs their efforts in Las Vegas though, as the Dubai fountain is the biggest of its kind in the whole world. Are you starting to see why you cannot visit Dubai without seeing this fountain?

To call it a fountain is to oversimplify it however. This fountain has two arcs in the centre portion of it, along with five circles of jets shooting water at varying heights and degrees. It sounds quite simple in writing, but you only have to see one picture of the fountain to see that simplicity is not a word it makes you think of.

You can see this fountain on a daily basis while you are on holiday there, and since it is near the mall it is very easy to find. It is also huge and at night you can see the lights that form an integral part of the show from quite a distance away.

Thousands and thousands of gallons of water are said to be used to create each show, and they are all set to various pieces of music. Whether you recognise the music or not you will certainly love what you see and hear. It is said that the fountain could actually be seen from space, but whether that is true or simply an attractive marketing ploy used to further fascinate us is hard to see.

Whatever the facts are surrounding this delightful fountain, there is no doubt that it deserves another title, apart from being the biggest in the world. It should also be called the best, because it definitely is.

Are You Ready For The Wild Wadi Water Park?

2010-03-17T14:29:00.000Z

When you visit Dubai you are visiting an area renowned for its good weather. And if you want to head for the beach to enjoy the sand, sea and surf no one would blame you.

But there is more to Dubai than simply relaxing like this every day. Why not burn a few calories and get ready for a sumptuous meal in the evening by heading to the Wild Wadi Water Park first?

There are plenty of rides here to please the whole family, from a speed slide to rides that are suitable for the youngest members of the family. It’s a great view from the top of the speed slide, but you will need to be ready for the high speeds you will experience as you hurtle down 33 metres of slide.

There are also more than half a dozen ring rides, where you can grab a rubber ring and enjoy the experience of riding from top to bottom and getting soaked as you do so. Try the Master Blaster rides as well. Who would have thought it was possible to go from the bottom of a water ride to the very top? You can do just that in the Wild Wadi Water Park with the help of water jets to propel you there.

Head for the wave pool too, which is ideal if you want to enjoy a spot of swimming as the waves head towards you. You can wear a lifejacket supplied for free if you don’t feel too confident about staying above water.

Every water park has a lazy river for when the going gets too tough, and this one is no exception. Here you can head for the Juha’s Journey river, which enables you to get good views of the park as you float along calmly. The flood river is slightly more dramatic so be ready for a surprise as you tackle the volumes of water.

There is no doubt that every visitor to Dubai should head for the Wild Wadi Water Park. You won’t forget your visit in a hurry.

Taste The Best Of Dubai

2010-02-12T11:24:00.002Z

When you decide on your holiday destination you are deciding on the kind of food you will eat while you are there too. While you can get meals that remind you of home, wouldn’t you rather get a taste of the country and location you have chosen to stay in instead?

This is definitely what you should do in Dubai. There are various types of cuisine to be found in Dubai, including American, Arabic, Turkish and Lebanese. Although of course you will also find plenty of other options you could try as well. And if nothing will do but an American style burger you won’t have to go too far to taste it.

This is arguably the best part of eating out in Dubai. You can be adventurous and try some different dishes and culinary tastes that you wouldn’t have tried before. And you can also feel safe in knowing that more familiar foods are available too.

Arabic cuisine in particular is worth exploring, and since it includes both meat and fish quite widely you should be able to find something that will make your mouth water. Falafel will be found quite readily when you are in town; this consists of chicken, peas and sesame seeds all rolled together and then fried to perfection. If you want something quick and tasty when you are on the go you can’t do much better than opting for the Shawarma. This is Arabic bread rolled with either grilled chicken or lamb in the middle, complete with salad as well.

As you can see it is possible to visit either a casual stall to get a snack in Dubai, or you can go to a proper restaurant and enjoy a three course meal there. You should try both during your stay as this will open up many opportunities to try different tastes and dishes that you may otherwise miss.

There is no doubt that Dubai has plenty to offer in the way of cuisine. It’s good to know you can stick with English or American dishes if you want, but it would be a shame to miss the other delights awaiting you.

Get Your Golf Clubs Out In Dubai

2010-01-13T09:59:00.002Z

Many people travel to Dubai to experience a holiday that is unlike any other. Dubai boasts a manmade island – Palm Jumeirah – while it is also famous for such buildings as the Burj al Arab. This building looks like a sail and houses a luxury hotel for guests to enjoy during their stay.

But other people head to Dubai with one thing in mind – golf. And if the idea of playing golf appeals to you, you could do a lot worse than to try out some of the many golf clubs that exist in Dubai.

For starters the Emirates Golf Club gives you a view like no other. Imagine standing at the first hole ready to tee off, and being able to look up and see the towering buildings of Dubai not so far away. The stark contrast between the lush green grass and beautifully kept greens when compared to the tall skyscrapers in the city is quite something to see. You might end up with your camera in your hand far more often than your golf club!

The Dubai Creek Golf Club is another delight to discover. If you have ever wanted to play golf at night but thought it was impossible, you need to visit this club for sure. This is because they have floodlights so you can carry on trying to get that hole in one long into the night if you wish.

The final hole on this particular course is one of the most challenging ones you will ever play. The whole course is exciting and makes the most of its location, but there is no doubt you will be talking about your performance (or perhaps trying to live it down) for a long time afterwards.

Both clubs have great facilities to enjoy as well, so once you have completed your round you can sit down for a nice meal or a drink to congratulate or commiserate yourself on how you did. And if you took plenty of photos you will be able to relive every moment of playing golf in Dubai.

Marvel At The Dubai Aquarium And Underwater Zoo

2009-11-11T12:26:00.000Z

An underwater zoo certainly sounds like fun, and if you have kids to entertain when you arrive in Dubai for your holiday, you should certainly make sure it is a key part of your itinerary.

But what can you expect from the Dubai Aquarium?

For starters there are over 30,000 marine mammals, fish and other creatures to introduce yourself to. And the aquarium also has the honour of having the world’s biggest window looking into their aquarium, so you won’t be jostling for position with all the other visitors. You will be able to see more than you ever have at any other aquarium you’ve ever been to.

One of the key parts of the aquarium is the submerged tunnel. Kids of all ages love this because you can be right up close to all the sharks without being in any danger at all.

There are plenty of other areas of the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo you can see as well. The rainforest area is well liked by visitors and it has plenty of mammals and fish to spot too. In fact even though most kids love the attraction there is no doubt that their parents feel equally entertained by what they find here.

So where do you find the attraction? It is easy enough to spot if you happen to be going to the Dubai Mall. This is because the big window looks out on the mall itself, offering a truly unusual and fascinating shopping experience! The mall is on Doha Street and you’ll find different entrances on different levels depending on whether you want to try the underwater tunnel or the tunnel and the zoo. It’s well worth doing both.

And as if that wasn’t enough you can even try out a glass bottomed boat tour for an additional fee. This is another way in which you can get up close and personal with the many fish and other exhibits in the huge pool they call home.

So don’t miss the aquarium. You’ll regret it if you do, because it is one of the best sights in Dubai for the whole family.

Dubai world's fastest growing airport in 2007

2008-01-10T15:42:00.000Z

Dubai International was the world's fastest growing airport in 2007 in terms of international passenger throughput, handling 34.34 million travelers in a record growth of 19.31 per cent, its operator said.

Passenger throughput at Dubai International Airport is expected to reach 40 million in 2008. The record growth in 2007 over the previous year is likely to propel Dubai International higher on Airports Council International's list of the world's busiest airports in terms of international passengers.

In 2006, it was ranked 10th on the list with a passenger throughput of 28.78 million, a statement from the airport's operator said.

Mr Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Chairman of Dubai Airports, said "Dubai International's growth is a reflection of Dubai's robust economy, and its rising popularity as an international commercia l and tourism hub."

The high growth rate in passenger throughput registered in 2007 means that for the sixth consecutive year, Dubai International has maintained an average growth rate of well over 15 per cent.

Connected to over 205 destinations across six continents through 120 airlines, Dubai International accounts for over 27 per cent of all passenger and aircraft movement in the Middle East and Africa region.

The airport will open its new Terminal and an associated facility in the middle of 2008 and another A380 specific facility in 2009, tripling its total capacity.

For more information click here

South Africa, Turkey and Dubai set to become new golf holiday hot spots

2007-11-12T16:11:00.003Z

South Africa, Turkey and Dubai could overtake Spain and Portugal as the most popular destinations for golf holidays, according to two exclusive surveys conducted by KPMG Golf Advisory Services. More than 70 tour operators and 50 golf course architects in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were interviewed for the surveys. When asked which countries or regions had the most potential to become significant golf tourism destinations, both the tour operators and golf course architects tipped South Africa, Turkey and Dubai for future growth. And while golf tour operators anticipated continued growth in the established markets of Spain and Portugal, they were also seen to be the most threatened by the emerging golf destinations.

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG's specialist Golf Advisory Services Team for the EMA region, said: "The golf industry as a whole is likely to benefit from the continued growth of the broader travel and tourism industry. However, the traditional golf markets of Europe and North America can expect increasing competition from the emerging golf destinations that offer high quality golfing experiences at affordable prices."

The Caribbean and Latin America were also seen as emerging golf destinations. Ireland, Scotland and England were viewed as the most stable markets over the next 10-15 years.

Overall, 33 per cent of golf tour operators said they expected spectacular growth in the golf travel market over the next 15 years, while 56 per cent believed there would be steady growth. Eleven per cent expected the market to stagnate.

"The results confirm the changing face of the travel and tourism industry, boosted by more frequent travel, lower air fares, greater accessibility of new destinations, plus increases in family travel and sports and activity based holidays," concluded Andrea Sartori.

For more information click here

Emirates Airline may order more A380s in future to meet growing capacity

2007-10-31T15:00:00.000Z

Dubai's Emirates Airline is likely to place more orders in the future for the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, to meet its expansion plans.

Emirates Airline and Group is Airbus' biggest customer for the massive jet, with 55 A380 planes already on order. It is expected to start taking delivery of the plane in August 2008.

"Fifty-five, so far. There could be more later," Executive Vice Chairman Maurice Flanagan told the Associated Press on the sidelines of an aviation conference in Singapore. He declined to give details.

Flanagan said the airline is expanding its capacity by more than 20 percent a year, and that its rapid growth is likely to continue in tandem with Dubai's increased presence as an aviation hub.

"We see that going on and on in the future," Flanagan said. "It's linked to what's happening in Dubai and the power of Dubai as a global aviation hub whereby we can connect any two points in the world now with one stop only in Dubai."

Flanagan said the 55 planes currently on order would take the airline into 2030. Future orders would depend on any restrictions posed by the handling capacity of the airport in Dubai, which claims to be the world's fastest growing city.

About 29 million passengers passed through Dubai International Airport last year, an increase of 16.2 percent from the previous year.

To cope with the growth, the airport is undergoing a US$4.5 billion (€ 3.1 billion) expansion that will allow it to accommodate 70 million passengers a year by 2009, according to the airport's Web site.

Flanagan said Emirates expected to have 599 "big," or wide-bodied, aircraft in its fleet by 2019 if there were no capacity constraints at the airport. The carrier's fleet comprises only wide-bodied aircraft, and it currently has 110 of them, he said.

Flanagan also said Emirates could afford to fund its own expansion and had no plans for an initial public offering. Reports earlier this week said the airline is seeking a US$20 billion-US$30 billion listing.

"There is no intention for an (initial public offering)," he said. "We are cash-rich with about US$4 billion (€2.7 billion) in the kitty. We can certainly fund our expansion."

Dubai Tourism Projects to Reach $122 Billion Dirhams by 2018

2007-05-08T09:18:00.000Z

4th May 2007

Tourism-related projects in Dubai would touch 450 billion dirhams ($122 billion) by 2018, or more than 50 percent of the 858 billion dirhams ($231 billion) being projected for the whole of United Arab Emirate (UAE), WAM news agency reported Friday.

In a press statement Thursday, the Tourism Development Projects and Investment Market (TDIM), quoting a survey, said the total value of projects for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region would be 1.2 trillion dirhams by 2018.

The survey by Reed Exhibition was commissioned in time for the first major TDIM show to be held Dubai on January 20-22,2008.

'The move to organise TDIM in Dubai underlines Reed's commitment to conceive and stage events that support the development objectives of governments and needs of the corporate sector in the region,' said Frederic Thux, president of Reed.

'And I believe the show will play a key role in acting as a catalyst in the region's tourism development,' he added.

In a press conference at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Thux said TDIM 2008 would address various important issues in the tourism industry, particularly the co-operation between and among key government institutions, private project developers, and key industry players.

TDIM said UAE's tourism projects would spread over 558 million square metres of space when completed in 2018, or more than 75 percent of the 737 million square metre area being planned for the entire GCC.

Marathon Tourism Lets you Combine Race, Vacation

2007-04-30T12:59:00.000Z

29 April 2007

Running an out-of-town marathon used to be a weekend experience: fly or drive down on Friday, go to the expo on Saturday, race on Sunday morning and head home Sunday night or Monday morning.

Now, according to travel industry experts (who are mostly people at travel agencies trying to sell trip packages), marathon tourism is on the rise. People are booking vacations around their marathons and visiting exotic destinations where they combine sight-seeing and racing, rather than zipping in and out as quickly as possible.

One thing to consider is how to fit the marathon into your vacation timeline. If you put the race at the end of your visit, pre-race anxiety and diet restrictions may limit your holiday fun. If you race first and tour later, you may have to set aside a day or two for recovery.

Many tourists head for the world's biggest marathons in New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Berlin or to other big-city races like Paris and Rome.

However, here are eight different marathons in exotic and touristy locations that promote themselves as ideal places to race and visit.

Great Wall Marathon

May 19, 2007 and May 17, 2008: Held in China's Tianjin province, the Great Wall Marathon includes six kilometres of running on the wall itself, including 3,700 steps, plus a

flatter portion through the Chinese countryside. "A little tougher than a usual course," the race website says, "but no extraordinary experience is obtained ordinarily." I'm not sure whether the second half of that sentence is Confucian or just confusing, but "a little tougher" might be an understatement. Last year, only four runners broke four hours.

Easter Island Marathon

June 10: Some marathon courses make you feel like you're running in the middle of nowhere, but Easter Island is 3,700 kilometres from any major population centre, a little dot in the South Pacific. You get to run past the giant monolith statues for which the island is famous and ... well, that's it really.

Safaricon Marathon, Kenya

June 23: Had enough of Kenyan runners coming to North America and winning our races? Then go win the marathon in Kenya. The race is run on dirt roads through an African game park and wildlife conservatory. Trying for a personal-best time? Consider that lion following you as a pace bunny. Seriously, the organizers actually provide armed rangers to protect runners from pesky animals.

Niagara Falls International Marathon

Oct. 28: The only cross-border marathon in the world, the race starts in Buffalo and crosses the Peace Bridge into Fort Erie, Ont. The course then follows the Niagara River Parkway and finishes right at the Falls. Once it's over, you can begin a second marathon of tacky souvenir shopping.

Venice Marathon

Oct. 28: The pace cars aren't gondolas but you do get to run alongside and across some of the city's famous canals. The race begins 25 kilometres outside the city and finishes in the heart of the City of Water. Just before the finish, you cross the Grand Canal on a pontoon bridge built specifically for the race.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend,

Jan. 12-13, 2008: The perfect family vacation. You get to run through all the major theme parks and then limp along in a vain attempt to keep up with your kids as they race through them the next day. They hold the half-marathon the first day, the marathon the next. Finish both and you get a special Goofy medal!

Dubai Marathon

Jan. 18, 2008: It's one of the wealthiest cities in the world and the centre for banking and commerce of the Middle East, so perhaps it's no surprise that the 2008 race is being billed as the richest marathon ever.

You may not have a shot at the $1-million U.S. purse, but you can still make it your richest marathon experience by staying in a $1,500-per-night suite at the Burj al-Arab, which markets itself as a seven-star hotel.

Antarctica Marathon

March 5, 2008: The 2008 event is already sold out and the 2009 edition is half-booked. The marathon was created by a tour company, Marathon Tours & Travel, specifically so that some of its clients could form a Seven Continents Club by running a marathon on every continent. The trip starts with a few days in Argentina, followed by a cruise down to Antarctica including lectures and wildlife excursions. "You will come face to face with icebergs, penguins, seals and whales while exploring the most pristine corner of the planet," the marketing material says.

I didn't know icebergs had faces.

EasyGroup Set to Take its Budget Hotel Franchise into the Middle East

2007-02-27T11:21:00.002Z

26 February 2007

As per the information available, the first of six budget hotels planned for Dubai under the easyHotel.com brand will open in Karama early next year. The development follows a master franchise agreement signed last year between with London-based easyHotel Limited and Istithmar Hotels, a subsidiary of Dubai investment firm Istithmar.

“In some markets like Dubai you start with attention to luxury,” easyGroup Chairman said Stelios Haji-Ioannou reportedly said in an interview. “But you need also levels of hotel accommodations that represent value for money and plug a gap in the market.”

easyHotels aims to open 38 properties in the next five years in the region through a franchise agreement with Istithmar Hotels, whose $3 billion in investments last year included New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel and W Hotel Union Square.

Dubai will have about four of the hotels and the others will be located in 17 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, India and Pakistan, Haji-Ioannou said.

The total project will cost $400 million.

The specific countries where easyHotel will be present are: Dubai (six), India (eight), Saudi Arabia (three), Pakistan (three), Egypt (two)Lebanon (two), and one each in Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Qatar, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Libya, Jordan, Tunisia and Algeria. Each hotel will contain between 80 and 120 rooms.

For more information visit eyefortravel.com

Madame Tussauds Soon in Dubai

2007-01-30T14:30:00.002Z

29 January 2007

The Tussauds Group is set to establish presence in Dubai, Mumbai besides United States by investing $75-million to open waxworks museums in Hollywood and Washington DC.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, the group, owned by the Middle Eastern investment firm Dubai International Capital sees overseas expansion as a key source of growth. After opening in Shanghai last year, it is now planning similar attractions also in Dubai and Mumbai.

In fact, the group is a large visitor attraction business operating primarily in the United Kingdom, in addition to five other countries.

Madame Tussauds in present in six cities: London, New York City, Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Its attraction in the US capital is scheduled to open this autumn on the site of Woody's, an old department store.

Hollywood's branch of Madame Tussauds will follow next year. It is being built on a brownfield site next to Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a Los Angeles landmark, and is the first overseas Tussauds to be built from scratch.

While the Hollywood attraction will mainly feature waxworks of film stars such as Cary Grant and Brad Pitt, Washington will have a more political flavour. One feature will be a replica of the Oval Office in the White House.

Tussauds has acrossed the Atlantic, with attractions in New York and Las Vegas, and it is active in Asia, having opened in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It is estimated that 4-million people visit Madame Tussauds waxworks every year.

Ronaldo Falls Under Dubai's Spell

2007-01-29T12:36:00.000Z

Manchester United and Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is in awe of Dubai after enjoying a five-day holiday in the emirate.

Ronaldo, 21, praised the emergence of Dubai as an ideal year-round business and leisure destination and was impressed by the various facilities in existence and the development taking place in the emirate.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organised a thrilling desert safari trip for Ronaldo in addition to a city tour. He was also shown a presentation on Dubai.

Hamad Bin Mejren, DTCM Manager Missions, who accompanied Ronaldo during the tour, noted that Dubai had become a popular destination for football players from around the world and that teams, especially from Europe, regularly conduct training camps or holidays in the city.

Also accompanying Ronaldo on the tour were Ahmad Sa'ad Al Shareef, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, and Mohammad Al Ka'abi, General Manager, Leaders Qualification Centre.

Mementos were presented to Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is considered to be one of the most promising talents in the modern game and is currently at the centre of a mega transfer battle with Real Madrid, who have said they are willing to lodge a £35 million bid for the winger before the end of the season.

But Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has slapped a 'not for sale' notice on his star.

A First: Brazil/Emirates by Air 6 Times a Week

2007-01-25T10:00:00.002Z

The Emirates Airline flight between Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and Sao Paulo is going to be a great success. This is the opinion of aeronautical consultant Paulo Sampaio, who talked about the airline's announcement this Tuesday, January 23, that they are going to start operating the route on October 1st.

The city of Sao Paulo will be the airline's first non-stop destination to South America. There will be six flights per week, according to a spokesperson for the company.

"Dubai is a very great air traffic center. Apart from servicing the Middle East, it offers connections to destinations like China, India and Japan, which are currently important destinations for Brazilian passengers," said Sampaio.

"This route will have a very great impact, it will be a success," he believes. There will be flights from Sao Paulo every day except Friday, and from Dubai, also every day, except Thursday.

Nowadays, to reach the countries in Asia and the Middle East, Brazilian passengers must fly to Europe, South Africa or the United States, in the case of Japan.

The route from Dubai will shorten distances and reduce the duration of the trip between these destinations, in the evaluation of the consultant. The flight from Sao Paulo to Dubai should take 14 hours and 40 minutes.

As an example he mentioned the existing flight by South African Airlines between Sao Paulo and Mumbai, in India, with a leg in Johannesburg.

"It will be much faster through Dubai," he said. Sampaio also mentioned flights to Australia and New Zealand, destinations that are greatly sought by Brazilian students, currently operated by Aerolineas Argentinas and LAN Chile, with legs in Buenos Aires and Santiago, respectively.

"Now passengers will also have an option through Dubai," he declared. Therefore, Emirates may attract clientele from other international companies and generate greater competition.

Offering South American passengers connections to a series of destinations in the Middle East and Asia, and vice-versa, is the objective of Emirates.

"The company is very good in terms of quality, and if it enters with competitive rates, the company is going to do well," said Sampaio. The company guarantees that the prices will be competitive, but had not disclosed the prices until yesterday.

According to the company, the route to Brazil will be operated in a Boeing 777-200LR, the first of an order of 10 to be delivered in the near future. The aircraft will have eight first class seats, 42 in business class and 216 in coach, and will have the capacity to transport up to 18 tons of cargo.

According to a spokesperson for the company, the president of Emirates, Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said that the company has been planning to expand its operations in the Americas for a long time.

Currently, on the continent, the company only has flights to New York. "We are pleased to be starting this service to South America as soon as we receive our first 777-200LR," said Al-Maktoum, according to a spokesperson.

The executive also pointed out, always through his press department, that Sao Paulo is the main business hub in Brazil. It is also the main economic center in Latin America. In the same way, according to him, "Dubai is the main route to the Middle East for business and tourism". "We believe that this connection is going to stimulate business and tourism between both of these economies even more," he said.

The company has already chosen an executive to run its business in Brazil. Ralf Aasmann was hired in December last year for the position of director general. According to Aasmann, the company is going to open an office in Sao Paulo - probably in February - and is going to start hiring local personnel.

"We are anxious to work closer to our commercial partners in Brazil, to make this service a success and to promote Brazil as a destination for travellers from other cities in the Emirates global network," he said, according to his press office.

Since the trip by Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the Arab world, in December 2003, the inauguration of a flight to Brazil has been expected.

In June 2004, aeronautical authorities from the Emirates visited the country and signed an aerospace agreement that permits up to 14 flights a week. There has not been a direct flight between Brazil and the Middle East since the Lebanese Middle East Airlines cancelled its flight in 1998.

The company from the Emirates already employs 80 Brazilians, men and women who work as stewards and stewardesses. Established in 1995, the airline has been growing on average 20% a year, according to the press office, and currently counts on a fleet of 101 aircraft. The company flies to 87 cities in 59 countries in Oceania, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Dubai World Central Phase 1 Construction Moves into Top Gear

2007-01-25T09:57:00.000Z

Dubai World Central (DWC), the 140-square kilometre urban aviation community being built in Jebel Ali near Downtown Dubai is taking shape with the award of two major construction contracts.

“This huge aviation city centred around Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) will place Dubai in pole position for regional logistics, tourism and commerce,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai World Central –Dubai Aviation Corporation, Government of Dubai.

The turnkey construction of its Dh1.5 billion Dubai Logistics City (DLC) headquarters and office park has gone to Kuwait-based M.A. Kharafi & Sons - a$3.3 billion privately-owned group with interests across 33 countries. Completion is scheduled for March 2009. In a second award, the contract for the construction of two Central Utility Complexes (CUC) to meet the district cooling requirements for DWC’s phase 1 facilities has gone to The National Company, part of the Kharafi Group. The first CUC will serve the airport area while the second will cater to DLC’s HQ and Office Park.

DLC, which is the world’s first truly integrated multi-modal logistics platform, is central to Dubai’s business proposition as a global and regional hub for integrated supply chain management and multi-modal transport.

Dubai Property Market to See Major Additions

2007-01-22T12:55:00.002Z

A minimum of 125,000 residential units will hit Dubai's property market between 2007 and 2009, according to a recent report by Shuaa Capital and Colliers International.

"The majority of these units is due in 2007 and 2008, where 71,800 new units will be ready for handover in 2007, and a further 43,000 units in 2008," the report said.

Last year, only 4,000 units are estimated to have been completed in high growth locations, where construction has begun. In 2009, the report estimates an additional 10,600 units will hit the market.

Meanwhile, the demand side will fall significantly short of expected supply in 2007 and 2008, unlike in recent years. Such a mismatch between supply and demand will soften the Dubai residential market.

The impact's level of intensity on the various individual residential segments will be distinct. The segment most severely affected will be that of high-end apartment units targeting high-income buyers.

By 2009, there will be a total of 77,000 units targeting high-income occupants, while the projected total demand for these units is just 36,100 for the same year.

Accordingly, the occupancy level in the high-end apartment segment will fall below 50 per cent and thus make investor objectives increasingly difficult to achieve, as they typically require average annual occupancy levels in excess of 75 per cent.

In contrast, the mid-end apartment segment is expected to maintain attractive occupancy levels, exceeding 85 per cent in 2009.

Moreover, supply-side effects of the present pace of development activity are likely to soften rents by as much as 25 per cent in certain key developments.

To put this figure into perspective, rents in Dubai have increased by an estimated average of 20-25 per cent annually since 2002.

For Abu Dhabi, the report forecasts a continued sharp shortage of supply at least up to 2009. The current occupancy levels in Abu Dhabi city are extremely high, with most areas showing full occupancy levels.

Rents in Abu Dhabi city have increased by an estimated 25 per cent annually since 2004.

Supply in high growth locations in Abu Dhabi this year is expected to be a meagre 1,100 units while the additional annual demand in the same year is projected to be 21,900.

The first large-scale deliveries in Abu Dhabi are expected to take place in 2008 when 11,000 units are slated to be handed over. However, this figure is still expected to fall short of additional demand, which is projected at 24,000.

In comparison, supply in 2009 is estimated to be 150,000 units assuming no delays in construction.

In the run up to 2009-2010 rental rates in Abu Dhabi will continue appreciating at a pace well in excess of the 7 per cent cap put in place earlier this year.

The report assumes limited compliance from landlords and delayed enforcement.

Pakistan to Sell Land for 5-star Hotels in Dubai

2007-01-22T12:50:00.000Z

Pakistan Railways will hold roadshows for selling its eight plots of land located in prime commercial areas across the country for establishing five star hotels. The government is also looking for joint venture partners for launching a chain of 55 budget hotels, said Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan's minister for railways.

"We are finalising our programme, to make our presentation in Dubai to offer our prime land for setting five star hotels, budget hotels and electric power stations to lure Gulf investors", said Shaikh Rashid in an interview with Khaleej Times, yesterday.

He said that of these eight plots for five star hotels, three are located in the prime commercial localities of Karachi, and one each in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Sukkur.

Last year, he said, one plot in the heart of Karachi was sold out to a Sharjah-based group for constructing $200 million complex. He said there is tremendous need for budget hotels. Pakistan Railways has planned to launch 55 budget hotels on joint venture basis, in all the major metropolitan cities and towns in the country. The Pakistan Railways has invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs), which will be expired this week, for the establishment of the project. The EoIs will be extended to attract gulf investors.

Giving details of the project, Shaikh Rashid said Pakistan Railway, as joint venture partner would invest its "Land as Equity", while the lead partner will plan, design, finance, develop, operate and market the project, ensuring regular revenue streams to Pakistan Railways during the agreement period.

The partners would be responsible for obtaining any approvals, sanctions and certification from local or relevant agencies for setting up the project. "These hotels are aimed at providing better accommodation to the people at comparatively affordable rates. The locations where these hotels would be established include Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Chaman, Sibbi, Taxila Cantt, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Sargodha, Golra Sharif, Peshawar, Attock, Kohat, Hassanabdal, Mardan, Charsadda ,Nowshera. Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot and other cities.

The Government of Dubai Land Department Launches its Certified 'Real Estate Broker Card'

2007-01-22T12:47:00.000Z

The Government of Dubai's Land Department launched the first stage of a groundbreaking initiative that will see all real estate brokers in the emirate certified as qualified to carry out business.

The new initiative will add a new tier of authorization to real estate trading in Dubai, one of the emirate's booming industries. The first batch of certificates will be issued by the Land Department on Monday at a special ceremony held in the Department's headquarters.

Sultan Butti Bin Mijrin, Director General of Dubai Land Department, said: 'This is an important step forward for real estate brokerage in Dubai and reflects how far the market has advanced. Real estate investment and dealing accounts for a significant proportion of the emirate's GDP and the market is becoming increasingly sophisticated to meet the demands of growing interest both within the region and globally.

'Given the interest from buyers in the most developed markets it is crucial that Dubai is able to offer them the reassurance of a strong credible system backed by a sound legal framework and well trained, well qualified professionals.

'This new certification system is the market's guarantee that it is being well conducted. Dubai Land Department is enormously pleased to have put in place this system and we believe it will add to the growing interest in Dubai real estate.'

The ceremony to award the certificates will be held in the Land Department and will offer the first opportunity for the special cards allocated to certified brokers to go on display. Only those brokers who can display the cards are certified and the Department expects these to become the norm in Dubai in the very near future.

The new initiative will clarify the position and qualifications of real estate brokers in Dubai and will resolve some practices that have detracted from the strength of the market. Dubai has rapidly become a major league real estate player, particularly since enactment of the new real estate law. The Department has responded quickly to make the necessary adjustment to ensure the market operates effectively and efficiently.

Registration is carried out electronically via the real estate evaluation and research department, as per a special programme that qualifies the broker to be one of the main participants in the real estate market.

Building Dubai's Image

2007-01-19T12:08:00.002Z

Whether it's a huge roadside billboard advertising the Palm Jumeirah in Paris, a digital representation of Nakheel's The World project hanging above a tunnel in Madrid, a CNN advertisement for the Dubai International Financial Centre on a TV screen in the USA or an image of the upcoming Burj Dubai tower embalzoned all over London's traditional black cabs, the conclusion is the same: Dubai is promoting itself all over the world.

As the city's profile continues to grow worldwide so does the ambition and scale of the global marketing campaign the leaders in Dubai are undertaking to push 'Brand Dubai' further and further.

Dubai's global marketing and public relations think-tank, under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, seems to believe the perfect way to further build Dubai's image is to brand it as a modern, global capitalist powerhouse, delivering unparalleled benefits to international finance and consumer markets.

This, of course, follows what Dubai has already done on the world stage in terms of selling itself as a dream-like oasis where anything is possible.

The world has already been exposed to every variety of advertising campaign promoting Dubai as a tourist destination. It has become known that the Palm Islands are the largest artificial islands in the world, so big they can be seen from space.

Furthermore, anyone who likes plush hotels will be able to tell you that the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, is the first seven-star hotel in the world and that its suites cost up to $15,000 a night, and come with an army of butlers and a fleet of helicopters and Rolls-Royce limousines.

People all over Europe - where Dubai has focused its marketing campaign - would know that Emaar's $8 billion Burj Dubai Tower is set to be almost a kilometre high, and will be the world's tallest building when finished next year.

Dubai: The Arab city of the future

2007-01-19T08:58:00.002Z

The skyline of Dubai is a tangible testament to the most spectacular economic transformation in modern Arabia, an emirate whose unique milieu defines the heartbeat of the globalist ethos.

Of course, the Dubai Creek was a hub of trade and finance for centuries, with the silhouette of its moored dhows a symbol of the Arab pearl diving fleets and merchant princes whose networks once extended to Bombay, Kerala’s Malabar, Basra, East Africa’s Swahili coast, Zanzibar, Aden, Kuwait, Iran’s Gulf ports and even the Indonesian archipelago.

Dubai embraced the logic of tree trade, laissez faire capitalism, an absence of xenophobia, an obsessive commitment to infrastructure roll out, a liberal social ethos a generation before it was fashionable. Dubai’s entrepreneurial spirit suffuses its traders to move goods, money and cargo in some of the most high risk emerging markets of West, South and East Asia. The gold, electronics, and textile trades, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Port Rashid, the dry docks, DXB, the establishment of Emirates Airlines, the freehold property revolution, DSF, the Monaco/Singapore style branding as a tourism and services hub, the DIFC, DIC and Media City have created a city–state that, like Venice Venice of the Serenessima or Rembrandt’s Amsterdam, has become an East–West entrepot of ideas, population exchanges and finance.

Dubai’s government is unique in the Arab world, with a ruler whose leadership model is the CEO and whose template for Arab socio economic renaissance is Cordoba, the medieval kingdom in Moorish Spain where Arabs, Jews and Christians created a unique mélange of cultures before the religious fanatics of the Reconquista engaged in one of history’s most ruthless examples of ethnic cleansing. In fact, even now, the Spanish word "convivencia" denotes more than tolerance, even pleasure in cross cultural exchanges, a recognition that the human family is a kaleidoscope, that values are relative and bigotry is abhorrent, that celebration of our common humanity is the essence of civilised existence. As the only global metropolis in the Islamic world, Dubai has resurrected the spirit of Cordoba, staked its claim as the Arabian city of the future. In fact, the Dubai model has become the DNA of iconic property projects and economic reinvention policies from Morocco to Oman at opposite ends of the Arab world.

The post 9/11 world of soaring oil prices, regional petrodollar flows, brand new financial markets, exponential wealth creation and capital flows in the emerging markets, cross border mergers and acquisitions, the bidding war for overseas infrastructure assets, even war in Iraq and Lebanon, repatriation of Arab private wealth from the US and, above all, the real estate El Dorado has transformed the economic landscape of Dubai. Without the huge oil reserves of Abu Dhabi or Qatar, without the population of Saudi Arabia, without the military power of Egypt or Iran, Dubai has carved out a unique role in the global village, become Arabia’s daring incubator of the social, urban, even financial avante–garde. Bahrain was the offshore capital market of the Gulf ever since Beirut’s descent into the Stone Age in Lebanon’s civil war in the 1970’s but Dubai’s DIFC has positioned its financial free zone as the hot new destination of international banking and fund management in a mere four years. Economic change that was measured in decades in conventional Arab economies is now telescoped by the decision makers of Dubai Inc in virtually Internet time. The bureaucratic inertia that defines societies East of Suez has simply been leapfrogged into oblivion in Dubai.

Unlike Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, Dubai was not a major player in the international financial markets. No longer. Dubai Holding’s DIC, in takeover mode with Liverpool FC, was established as recently as 2004 as a conduit for the investment of surplus state funds into trophy franchises all over the world. DIC, whose portfolio includes Daimler Chrysler and Doncaster, is only the latest example of Dubai’s diversification and global brand strategy. With a mere seven per cent GDP in oil and gas, Dubai is not the traditional Arabian Gulf petrocurrency emirate but nothing less than the cosmopolitan portal to the Middle East whose existence in mission critical in a region where the collision between global capitalism and East–West geopolitics has been traumatic.

When Israel bombed Hezbollah last summer, the best and brightest of Lebanon considered Dubai in the same league as a haven destination as London and Paris. When Iranian political risk escalated after the election of President Ahmedinijad and the uranium enrichment dispute with the West, Tehran’s merchant elite often bought properties in New Dubai, an alternative to squirreling funds in Swiss banks, the traditional mode of Persian capital flight since the reign of the Shah.

Dubai hosts the Gulf’s benchmark conferences for hedge find managers, Islamic financiers, even for travel agents and software engineers. From Australian pilots at Emirates to Gujarati gold traders, Sindhi textile millionaires, Lebanese advertising yuppies and Bohra hardware merchants, Dubai has its own ethnic clusters and professional networks that create value for the entire society and contribute to its role as the magnet for the young, the rich, the restless in societies elsewhere in the region wounded by war, terror and economic sclerosis. In an age of hyperkinetic offshore capital, a mass communications revolution and digital culture, Dubai is a compelling model and catalyst for change in Arabia, the ideal place to live for those of us who define our identify not by our passport, tribe or ancestry but our determination to live lives of excitement and intellectual self discovery, to evolve into quintessential citizens of the world in the new millennium.

Dubai: Sky's no limit

2007-01-18T10:46:00.002Z

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Tiny Dubai has big plans. Armed with riches seemingly as endless as its ambition, Dubai aims to exploit its Persian Gulf perch to become an aviation superpower.

Leaders of this booming Middle Eastern financial center have budgeted $82 billion to construct the world's largest airport on barren desert 30 miles from its downtown and make its home-town carrier, Emirates Airline, one of the biggest on the planet.

Dubai wants to make the most of its setting, a crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa and a natural link between new economic powers like China and India. Blessed with year-round sunshine, stunning beaches and azure gulf waters, Dubai also is pumping billions of dollars into turning itself into a layover playland.

Its plans threaten to redirect travelers from Europe's largest cities and upend American airline dominance of intercontinental travel.

"We want to be one of the biggest," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, who oversees Dubai's airport and is chairman, chief executive and co-founder of Emirates Airline. "Not only in size, but in being effective around the world."

But not if its next-door rival has anything to say about it.

The oil-rich capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, is building a new airline, as well as an airport due to open in 2010, only a 90-mile drive from downtown Dubai.

Etihad Airways, the carrier that Abu Dhabi started a little more than two years ago, already flies to 35 cities, including New York, and has a fleet of more than 20 wide-body aircraft--with new planes arriving at the rate of about one per month.

Was Abu Dhabi driven to keep pace as Emirates started taking off as a global carrier?

"Of course, it played a role," said Geert Boven, vice president of commercial with Etihad.

But Abu Dhabi, too, believes that sufficient traffic will flow through the region to support another supercarrier. "That was one of the ideas of the government: We are an important financial center in the world, so let's connect the world to Abu Dhabi," said Boven.

Qatar, another tiny Persian Gulf state, harbors similar ambitions. In fact, the handful of carriers in that region account for nearly one-quarter of all the long-range airplanes on order at Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS. Some question whether the market will soon be glutted with aircraft and new airports.

"People are saying that this market is reaching its limits," said Habib Fekih, Airbus president for the Middle East. "I'm saying, check later and watch out."

Dubai is taking on plenty of risk in its bet. While Abu Dhabi has a financial cushion in that it sits atop one of the world's largest oil reserves, Dubai's oil is running out. Moreover, the airline industry is notoriously cyclical.

Oil shocks, terror attacks and war could all dampen demand for air travel in the gulf region, and especially hurt the economy of Dubai, the second-largest of the seven city-states that make up the U.A.E.

What's more, Dubai's aviation growth is timed, and designed to feed visitors into the mind-boggling welter of developments rising from the emirate's desert sands. Any turbulence at Emirates Airline sends ripples through Dubai's economy.

That's one reason why government officials were so angry at the well-publicized production snafus at Airbus. The delayed delivery of the A380 jumbo jets, which won't arrive until 2008, already have cut in half Emirates' planned growth for this year.

"You can imagine why the government is miffed," said Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline.

Dubai skyscraper touted as tallest-to-be marks 100 floors

2007-01-18T09:51:00.002Z

The Burj Dubai skyscraper under construction reached its 100th story on Tuesday, nearly two-thirds of the way in its relentless climb to become the world's tallest building by next year.

With 3,000 laborers adding a new floor nearly every three days, the US$1 billion (euro770 million) spire is days away from surpassing a neighboring skyscraper that is currently the tallest in the Mideast and Europe, Dubai-based developer Emaar Properties said.

When finished in two years, the Burj Dubai is expected to rise beyond 700 meters (2,300 feet) and more than 160 floors, dozens of stories taller than skyscrapers in Taiwan, Chicago or anywhere else. Emaar isn't releasing its plans for the final height so it can add more stories if a competing developer mounts a challenge.

Predictions on skyscraper Web sites say the cylindrical Burj will loom over the city from a height of 800 meters (2,600 feet) or more.

"The tower is a symbol of the city's pride and a statement of our arrival on the global scene as one of the world-class cities," Emaar chairman Mohammed Ali Alabbar said in a prepared release.

Exhibiting a flair for the luxurious that is typical of Dubai, one of the skyscraper's high-profile tenants will be the Armani Hotel, developed with Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani. The spire will also contain private apartments and offices.

The world's tallest current building, at 101 floors and 509 meters (1,671 feet), is the Taipei 101 in Taiwan, though, the CN Tower in Toronto is 55 meters (180 feet) higher, largely because of its huge antenna.

The dramatic concrete and steel framework of the Burj Dubai has risen 347 meters (1,140 feet) above the surrounding desert since excavations began in January 2004. The area surrounding the tower is the site of a US$20 billion (euro15.44 billion) overall development that includes several smaller towers set amid winding canals and a gargantuan shopping mall.

Motorists on the adjacent highway get dramatic daily views of the tower's progress, with 10 cranes and the world's fastest construction hoists zipping concrete slabs and giant bundles of steel rods to dizzying heights. The construction division of South Korean conglomerate Samsung is building the Burj Dubai, which is one of just six buildings in the world that are 100 or more stories high, Emaar said.

Samsung's three-day-per-story construction technique was pioneered on skyscrapers in South Korea and involves pumping liquid concrete into a form that is removed and jacked to a new level after fresh concrete is allowed to dry for just one day, said Beejay Kim, Samsung's Dubai-based business manager. "We're not breaking any speed records, just the height record," Kim said.

The silvery steel-and-glass building will restore to the Middle East the honor of hosting the earth's tallest structure, a title lost in 1889 when the Eiffel Tower upset the 43-century reign of Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza.

Only one building in the Middle East remains taller: the nearby Emirates Office Tower, a skyscraper resembling a razor blade that rises to 355 meters (1,165 feet).

Elsewhere in the Mideast, Dubai's sail-shaped Burj al-Arab hotel stands at 321 meters (1,053 feet) and the Kingdom Center in the Saudi capital Riyadh is 302 meters (991 feet).

Europe's tallest building, the Triumph Palace in Moscow, rises to just 264 meters (866 feet).

Asked how long the Burj Dubai would hold the world record, Kim said he was unsure.

"If anyone is looking for an even taller building, we are happy to build it," he said.

The Persian Gulf city of Dubai has staked its fame on bold engineering, building attention-grabbing projects including manmade resort islands shaped like palm trees, a mall with indoor skiing, and a vast Disney World-style amusement complex that includes plans for an apartment building that rotates on its axis.

Dubai began building skyscrapers to gain international prestige, not, like Hong Kong and New York, because of a shortage of land. But Dubai's skyscraper binge has jacked up land prices so much that tall buildings are the only feasible use for coveted building lots in the city's central district.

The Burj Dubai owes its shape to American architect Adrian Smith, of the Chicago firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Smith also designed Shanghai's 420-meter (1,378-foot) Jin Mao tower, the world's fifth tallest.

The other 100-story buildings are: The Sears Tower in Chicago (110 floors); Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea (105 floors); the Empire State Building, New York (102 floors); Taipei 101 (101 floors); and the John Hancock Center, Chicago (100 floors).

Jewel in the crown

2007-01-12T11:46:00.000Z

Dubai has long been touted as a popular winter sun destination but it aims to be so much more than just a place for tourists. Doris Lee Butterworth looks at recent developments in the most glamorous of emirates.

Dubai has huge ambitions to be a global leader in perishables handling and is looking to the sea and skies to fulfil its goal. Its logistics resources certainly take some beating. Millions have already been ploughed into the emirates’ facilities and with more initiatives coming into fruition in the next two to three years, it is a busy time for Dubai’s perishables sector.

Often referred to as the Rotterdam of the Middle East, Dubai has big aspirations to break through to supply the European market with Middle East, Asian and African produce.

Reams of column inches worldwide have been devoted to the US$70 million (£36.3m) Dubai Flower Centre (DFC), which is strategically located in Dubai Cargo Village at the airport.

As the only state-of-the-art transhipment centre for perishable goods in the region, the DFC promotes itself as a one-stop shop for local and international buyers, traders and exporters.

Facilities at the DFC cater not just to flowers but anything that is perishable and needs a cool-chain process, like fruit, vegetables and fresh meat or fish, marketing director Ibrahim Ahli explains.

The centre provides a closed-loop supply chain system that ensures the right temperature from aircraft to the climate-controlled zone, a state-of-the-art computerised tracking system and a duty-free environment.

The DFC has the capacity to handle 180,000 tonnes of perishable products each year. With so much investment, there are high hopes that the centre will spur exponential growth in the regional cargo sector.

Ahli claims: With the latest facilities and equipment, DFC is unique in the world technologically speaking, while the quality of service is second to none. This will give a boost to the cargo sector in the region, especially for transhipment of perishable goods, from the Middle East, Asia and African regions.

We have already received very positive responses from east African flower growers and exporters including from Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as from consuming countries like Russia and Japan.

DFC became fully operational in July 2006 and handled an impressive 3,475t of perishables in its first 10 days of operation.

The centre’s computerised tracking system enables exporters and importers to track the flight status, shipment loading and temperature of products through the supply chain.

DFC has also caught the eye of South American flower growers and exporters who, according to the centre, are looking for better transhipment of their perishable goods and to utilise DFC as a gateway to enter new markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, Middle East, and the rest of Asia.

DFC md Ian Strachan and Ahli recently visited farms in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, and also met with key government officials.

The official export promoting bodies Prompex of Peru, Corpei of Ecuador, and Proexport of Colombia along with the many growers in the region seek to expand their markets to cover the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and use Dubai as a redistribution centre,” Ahli says, adding that future alliances with Latin American logistics firms may be on the cards.

Ahli says that, in recent years, there has been renewed interest among Latin American companies to expand their presence outside of their traditional markets of Europe and North America.

Furthermore, Iran and other central Asian countries are looking keenly at DFC to boost exports to Europe and the Far East.

Iran’s floral sector is flourishing and, according to official figures, some 3,000 flower production units across Iran produce more than 1.4 million stems of cut flowers, 120m trees and shrubs and 38m pot plants a year.

The sector suffers from high wastage due to insufficient storage facilities. However, Ahli says Dubai is ready to offer its services. The DFC can surely support the Iranian floriculture industry as we have the necessary infrastructure to meet its requirements, he says.

Looking at Dubai’s logistics figures, it is impossible to be anything but impressed by the recent growth. The area’s port and airport are hoping to capture further business and significant investment has been ploughed into the facilities.

During the period of January to September 2006, Dubai Cargo Village handled 1.03mt of cargo, compared to 969,296t in the first nine months of 2005, an increase of 6.72 per cent. May was the busiest month for the Cargo Village, when it handled 124,366t of cargo, compared to 107,487t in May 2005, a 15.7 per cent increase.

Dubai International Airport has been growing at an average rate of 15 per cent annually since 2000, and HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and chairman and ceo of Emirates Group expects the growth rate to pick up pace over the coming years.

Ambitious plans are underway, including the expansion of Concourses 2 and 3 and Terminal 3. The expanded facility will be capable of handling approximately 60m passengers by 2010.

On the sea front, DP World-UAE aims to increase its current capacity of 20m TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) to an estimated 42m TEU’s by 2010. It has continued its expansion by adding terminals in Yemen, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, and China.

DP World-UAE has been at the forefront of implementing new technologies, says Mohammed Al Muallem, senior vice president and managing director, DP World-UAE. The UAE region and Dubai in particular, has seen buoyant growth in the economy with Dubai being established as a business hub within the Middle East. Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Terminal play a vital role in contributing to the strength of Dubai as a business hub.

DP World-UAE’s flagship facility Dubai Ports was ranked as the world’s ninth top container port, handling 7.62m TEUs in 2005.

DP World claims companies can benefit from its innovative services. These include the Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) which facilitates an integrated inter-port transfer of containers between Port Rashid and Jebel Ali; or the Container Freight Station System (CFSS), which computerises the entire operations of the station.

Company officials recently met with the Dubai Municipality’s Health & Food Inspection Section and foodstuff traders to discuss a number of issues, including quality certification standards, shelf-life requirements, production limitations and municipality inspection points.

Dubai Municipality is in the process of rolling out advanced shelf-life regulations, as well as improving the efficiency of its electronic systems for dial-up internet users. Talks are also underway to increase facilities for container inspections.

This will considerably improve efficiency and allow containers to continue their journey without any delay, says Khalid Mohd Sharif Mohd Al Awadi of Dubai Municipality.

Dubai Airport targets 33m passengers

2007-01-12T11:37:00.000Z

Dubai: Dubai International Airport, the busiest airport in the Middle East, recorded 16.17 per cent growth last year as passenger numbers grew to 28.78 million from 24.78 million in 2005.

This year the airport is targeting passenger throughput of more than 33 million, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) - operator of the Dubai International Airport, said yesterday.

The emirate's hotels and serviced apartments served 6.3 million guests in 2006, merely 3.27 per cent growth over the previous year, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the emirate's tourism regulatory body said on Wednesday.

This is the sixth consecutive annual passenger growth the airport has achieved, said Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

Dubai to get tower shaped like Gulf Arab man

2007-01-11T16:09:00.000Z

DUBAI: The bustling Gulf emirate of Dubai, home to several extravagant projects, plans to build a tower in the form of a Gulf Arab man wearing the region’s traditional garb, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Burj al-Arabi, or Arab’s Tower, will be the world’s biggest costume made of concrete and glass, Al-Emarat Al-Yom said, citing developers.

The 35-storey structure, which will be 140 meters (459 feet) tall, will take the shape of a man in a white dishdasha or thob, worn by men in the conservative Muslim region, and sporting the customary headdress.

Slated for completion in 2009 at a cost of half a billion dirhams ($136 million), the tower will host offices, restaurants and shops, the daily said.

It will be built near a vast airport currently under construction in the Jebel Ali area on the outskirts of the city.

Dubai, a member of the seven-strong United Arab Emirates, has in the space of a few years turned into a regional business and tourism hub where dozens of grandiose projects are under way.

These include Burj Dubai or Dubai Tower, which at more than 700 meters (2,296 feet) high is slated to be the world’s tallest skyscraper when it is completed at the end of 2008.

Even a turning tower is in the works. Time Residences will be a building that moves with the power of the sun to become the only rotating residential structure on the planet, the developers of the 30-storey tower said in November.

Newcastle to get direct link to Dubai

2007-01-11T16:03:00.000Z

Newcastle is to become the newest addition to the Emirates route network. The airline has announced that it will start daily non-stop services from the north-east airport to its hub in Dubai from September 1. The service will be Newcastle’s first ever scheduled long-haul service.

Vic Sheppard, Emirates' vice-president UK & Ireland, says: We firmly believe there is a significant potential market for Emirates in the North-East one that currently remains largely untapped and believe this new route will prove hugely successful for both Emirates and the North-East. With the involvement of the local community, it has the potential to boost inbound trade and tourism, whilst also helping to foster strong trade and tourism links between the North-East, Dubai and other destinations we serve.

Flight EK036 will depart Newcastle International Airport each day at 1340, arriving into Dubai International Airport at 0005 the following day. The return flight, EK035, is scheduled to depart Dubai at 0720 every day, arriving in Newcastle at 1210. The service will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Dubai's hotel ocupancy rise 3.27% last year

2007-01-11T16:00:00.001Z

(MENAFN) A report issued by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said that hotels guests in Dubai increased 3.27 percent last year, reaching 6.3 million compared to 6.1 million recorded in 2005, Gulf News reported.

Dubai's tourism regulatory authority, DTCM, said the city had 415 hotels last year, just eight more than the previous year.

With a population of about 1.3 million, Dubai's tourist arrivals are high in per capita terms, but the 2006 figure shows the slowest growth in hotel guest numbers in the last five years.

A shortage of hotel rooms has been cited in the past as hampering Dubai's ambitious goal of bringing in 15 million foreign visitors by 2010.

Dubai would need between 80,000 to 100,000 hotels rooms to cater for that number of visitors.

Dubai's Cruise Tourism Industry Set to Boom

2007-01-08T16:27:00.000Z

Dubai's cruise tourism industry is set for a major turn in its fortunes in 2007 after years of slow growth as the emirate's modern "infrastructure and attitude" attract more tourists.

The city expects to receive 63,000 cruise passengers this winter season but the number could double next winter.

The Costa Classica and the AIDAcara ships of Italy-based operator Costa Crociere have begun using the Dubai Cruise Terminal as their hub for Gulf cruise programmes and 25 sailings are scheduled between December and April.

Most passengers on the two vessels will be Europeans. The AIDAcara will carry Germans and Austrians, while the Costa Classica will serve Italian, German, Austrian, French, British and Spanish tourists.

The tourists will fly to Dubai from Europe on charter flights. The seven-day itinerary includes two nights in Dubai and one-day stopovers in Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

"Demand is very strong for this itinerary. We are going to increase the cap-acity next year. Hopefully we can extend [the itinerary] to other countries in the region," Costa Crociere chairman Pier Luigi Foschi told Gulf News. The AIDAcara carried 1,154 passengers and 370 crew on its debut Gulf voyage on December 21.

Costa Crociere will deploy three ships next winter and there will be a total of 39 sailings out of Dubai. This will bring 103,000 passengers to Dubai.

Foschi said before starting the Dubai operations "there was anxiety, but we are very happy to have taken the decision.

"We were attracted to Dubai because of the infrastructure and the tourist-friendly attitude of the government. At this point we see Dubai as a hub for us to do turnarounds and exchange passengers," he said.

George Varghese, a general manager with shipping agent Rais Hassan Saadi Group, said other international cruise operators are watching Costa's operations before they take the plunge.

The five-year-old Dubai Cruise Terminal was used for 13 cruise stopovers with 13,000 passenger movements in 2005. It received a total of 23,000 passengers during the 2005-2006 winter season.

For the 2006-07 season, Dubai is expected to see 85,000 passenger movements, while the 2007-08 season will attract 200,000 tourists, according to Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) projections.

Southern Sun Hotels Set to Launch in Dubai

2006-12-18T11:50:00.002Z

Africa’s leading hotel group, Southern Sun Hotels, is set to tap into Dubai’s booming travel and tourism industry.

The hotel group is expanding its operations into the Middle East for the first time and will manage and operate two properties – Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels – in Dubai’s prestigious 500-acre Downtown Burj Dubai development by global real estate major Emaar Properties.

Located in Downtown Burj Dubai’s Old Town component, the hotels are in close proximity to Burj Dubai, billed to be the world’s tallest tower when completed in 2008. The two hotels will offer 21 suites and over 350 rooms as well as a host of amenities including business centres, swimming pools, all-day diners, conference and meeting rooms, speciality restaurants, coffee shops and more.

Southern Sun’s venture into the Middle East follows an agreement with Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based Public Joint Stock Company listed on the Dubai Financial Market and part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index.

“We are delighted to be moving into the Middle East region and we believe our agreement with Emaar Properties further enhances our development as one of the world’s leading hotel groups,” said Richard Weilers, Managing Director, Southern Sun Middle East.

“Dubai is a city that offers a magnificent blend of business and leisure opportunities and both of our new hotels will complement that position in every possible way,” he added.

Both the Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotel properties are located close to the spectacular Burj Dubai as well as The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination; and The Old Town, a low-rise residential cluster featuring architectural elements that are inspired from the Arabian heritage.

“The opening of Southern Sun hotels in Downtown Burj Dubai underscores our commitment to offering the best hospitality offerings in the world to a discerning clientele,” said Ahmad Al Matrooshi, UAE Managing Director of Emaar Properties. “Downtown Burj Dubai will be the new lifestyle destination of Dubai, and Southern Sun hotels, with an impeccable track-record, will be an ideal partner in creating a vibrant community of residences, businesses, lifestyle components and hotels with this 500-acre project.”

Downtown Burj Dubai is of development value US$20 billion (AED 73 billion) and ushers in a new, vibrant downtown to Dubai. The project also encompasses The Old Town Island, South Ridge, The Residences, Burj Dubai Business Hub, Burj Dubai Lake Hotel and Serviced Apartments, The Lofts, Burj Views and Burj Dubai Boulevard – set amidst a large lake, landscaped parks and gardens. The ambitious development will provide first class living, working and entertainment options.

Al Manzil will open in late December 2006 and will offer 197 rooms and a quaint Arabian-style souk which is connected to the hotel. The Qamardeen Hotel, offering 186 rooms, will open its doors in early January 2007.

“Both hotels are also in close proximity to some of the city’s most attractive tourist spots including world-class shopping malls and magnificent beaches,” said Mr Weilers. Return transfers will be available from both hotels to these locations.

“And of course we will continue to offer an unrivalled commitment to providing the very best facilities for the business traveller. With complimentary high speed Internet access, a 24-hour business centre, WiFi in public areas and close proximity to the Dubai World Trade Centre, those staying with us for business purposes will be able to operate with complete ease and effectiveness,” he added.

There will also be a sports entertainment grill and beverage outlet that can seat 96 people. Nezesaussi (short form for New Zealand, South Africa and Australia) will be Dubai’s newest speciality food and beverage outlet and is expected to become the city’s top destination for meals and drinks while watching all the sports action from around the globe.

Tourism contributes 22% to UAE's GDP

2006-12-18T09:35:00.001Z

Dubai: Tourism sector contributes 22 per cent to the UAE's GDP, a top government official said yesterday.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, yesterday called on for better cooperation among GCC private sector industries to compete with outside world rather than regionally.

The Minister spoke on the importance of diversification of exports apart from oil and GCC states coordinating on the issue while receiving a big Saudi private sector delegation at the ministry premises in Abu Dhabi, headed by President of Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdul Rahman Al Rashid.

The minister cited the example of GCC private sectors investment (Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait) in developing economy in the Arab countries.

Sheikha Lubna shed light on the UAE experience on the diversification of income especially in the service sector, tourism and real estate re-export and said that tourism sector in UAE accounts for 22 per cent of its GDP.

Replying to a question on implementation of laws and legislation she said the ministry was on better implementation of those laws. She added can be approached on solving any trade obstacles.

She also proposed the establishment of a sub-committee to solve obstacle and facilitate trade among GCC states.

On the issue of participation of private sector in the GCC ministerial committees, the minister said suggestions of private sectors are always taken into consideration before any decision is taken in those ministerial meetings .

Speaking on the ratio of investment in projects in UAE, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Economy Sector, Abdullah Al Saleh said with amendments to laws and legislations GCC investors can look forward 100 per cent equity.

Replying to another question on investment opportunities in Abu Dhabi, Lubna welcomed Saudi investments in the capital in the different sectors of industry, tourism, services etc as well as the entire country.

Dubai cruise tourism gets a boost with arrival of five ships

2006-12-11T14:15:00.003Z

Dubai welcomed five cruise ships at its state-of-the-art cruise terminal in the first 10 days of December, with a total of 1420 passengers and 831 crew members on board the luxury vessels.

The passengers and crew members hailed from various nationalities, including the US, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.

The cruise ships which docked in Dubai were: Hebridean Spirit (twice), Island Sky, Silver Cloud, and Nautica.

On arrival on different dates, the cruise tourists were accorded a warm welcome in traditional Arabian style at the pier. School children welcomed the visitors by offering flowers, and they were offered Gahwa (Arabic coffee).

Traditional dances were performed at the site which also had heritage and handicraft displays. Dubai Police band provided a memorable touch to the ceremony. Literature and brochures about Dubai, including maps, were provided to them in different languages.

The cruise tourism industry's winter season runs until March 2007 with several vessels docking at the port.

Mr. Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Acting Manager of Dubai Cruise Terminal operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), said: 'Dubai is becoming a popular cruise destination in the world. The arrival cruise ships speak volumes about the status that Dubai enjoys on the world cruise tourism map.'

Dubai handled 13,000 cruise passenger movements in 2005 and is projected to handle 85,000 cruise passengers in 2007.

The ship-shaped cruise terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre quay The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world's only cruise facility run by the government tourism body.

Dubai's Tourism Revolution Attracts Crystal Cruises In 2007

2006-12-11T13:31:00.003Z

Los Angeles, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- As Dubai continues on its awe - inspiring climb as one of the world's hottest travel destinations, Crystal Cruises is expanding its travel opportunities to this stylish emirate with four diverse cruises and a new pre- and post-cruise hotel stay. For the first time, the award-winning luxury line will deploy both of its ships in the region in 2007. Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, voted the best ships in the world by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, will offer a total of four cruises that begin and end in Dubai.
Considered the "pride of United Arab Emirates," Dubai's flourishing tourism is attracting the attention of today's most sophisticated travelers. Located midway between Europe and the Far East, Dubai bridges exotic destinations on four new Crystal itineraries:

* March 3; Cape Town, South Africa to Dubai, 17 days (Crystal Serenity),
* March 20; Dubai to Istanbul, Turkey, 18 days (Crystal Serenity),
* May 1; Singapore to Dubai, 16 days (Crystal Symphony), and
* May 17; Dubai to Rome, Italy. At 14 days, this is the shortest of the
Dubai cruises that also includes visits to Salalah, Safaga, Alexandria
and Sorrento (Crystal Symphony).

With its new hotel program, Crystal guests have the option of extending their stays at the plush Grand Hyatt Dubai, a city centre resort set within 37 acres of lavishly landscaped gardens.

"We're offering twice as many cruises to Dubai in 2007 over 2006, and interest in the region still surpasses our expectations," says Bill Smith, Crystal Cruises' senior vice president, sales and marketing. "Dubai is one of the world's fastest-growing travel destinations - intriguing for its mix of architecture, cultural tolerance and welcoming hospitality. Of course, to many, one of its greatest attractions is its superb, tax-free shopping."

Famous for its courtesy and hospitality, Dubai is a land of fascinating contrasts. Ancient gold souks and traditional customs thrive alongside soaring skyscrapers, man-made islands visible from outer space, haute couture shopping and incomparable sporting opportunities such as sand dune surfing, camel racing and even ice skating and skiing.

Interesting facts about Dubai:

* In 2005, Dubai enjoyed a 60% increase over 2004 of visitors from the
U.S.
* In a single day, a tourist can experience mountains, desert, beaches,
lush green parks, small villages, luxurious residential districts,
ancient primitive architecture and ultra-modern shopping malls.
* Many say that the exceptional travel-oriented facilities of the modern
Dubai Cruise Terminal are due to it being the only cruise terminal in
the world operated by a government department of tourism.
* The gold souk may be Dubai's most famous market, but shopping ranges
from Paris and Milan couture and high-tech electronics to traditional
carpets, textiles and spices.
* Free of tax, many top brand-name products are cheaper in Dubai than in
their countries of origin.

Cruise fares start at $5,795 per person, double occupancy for the 14-day cruise beginning May 17. Pre- and post-cruise hotel stays are available at $335 for the first night and $250 for additional nights (per person, double occupancy), and include a 480-square foot Grand Creek View room, tax, porterage, transfers and daily breakfast.

The Crystal Difference

Crystal Cruises' ultra-luxurious 940-guest Crystal Symphony and 1,080- guest Crystal Serenity are distinguished by impeccable service, abundant space, excellent choices and quality throughout. The line enjoys an unparalleled reputation for excellence, grounded in more than a decade of consecutive accolades including "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines - the only cruise line, resort or hotel to have achieved such distinction.

Dubai Will Get The First Tiger Woods Golf Course

2006-12-11T12:57:00.000Z

Tiger Woods will develop his first golf course in Dubai, an oil-rich city that hosts two European Tour events and has seen a recent rise in golf-course construction.

The Tiger Woods Dubai will feature a 7,700-yard, par-72 course, a 60,000-square-foot clubhouse, a golf academy, 320 exclusive villas and a boutique hotel with 80 suites.

Dubai already has eight golf courses, including the Emirates Golf Club, which hosts the Dubai Desert Classic. Tiger Woods Dubai is a joint venture between Woods, who last month created Tiger Woods design; and Tatweer, a member of the government-affiliated Dubai Holding.

'I have been amazed by the progress of Dubai. From the time I first came to play here in 2000, I wanted to be a part of this amazing vision,' Woods said.

Woods said he chose Dubai for his first golf course because he was excited about the 'challenge of transforming a desert terrain into a world-class golf course.'

The development is scheduled to be finished in late 2009 at Dubailand, the region's largest tourism and leisure project.

Airport Expansion Needed to Maintain Dubai's Regional Hub Status, says Al Zaffin

2006-12-04T10:13:00.000Z

Addressing the Middle East Duty Free Association Conference in Dubai, Al Zaffin spelt out the increasing need for the project, which covers 140 square kilometres.

Dubai needs to press ahead with the development of Dubai World Central (DWC), the massive urban aviation community being built in Jebel Ali, just 40 kilometres from Dubai city centre, if the emirate is to maintain its billing as the region's commerce and business capital, according to Khalifa Al Zaffin, Director of Projects and Engineering, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai.

'The over 110 operating airlines which facilitate the emirate's annual travel growth - nearly 30 million for 2006 - will be amazed by the level of possibilities that Dubai World Central International Airport (JXB) offers,' said Al Zaffin. 'JXB will have the capacity for 120 million passengers and be able to handle 12 million tonnes of cargo per year when completed. This project is paramount in the continued evolution of the emirate. '

At DXB when current projects are completed, we will have no more space to build - we must go to Jebel Ali. This is not ambition; this is fact. With DWC and its components we have created verticals to generate business and finance which will be the fiscal lifeblood of the project,' Al Zaffin continued.

Al Zaffin also spoke of the emirate's desire to be the cargo capital of the Middle East and the wider region. With current construction of new concourses and terminals set to raise DXB's annual cargo capacity to five million tonnes, Al Zaffin reiterated the case for JXB if this figure is to be surpassed.

'We want to develop the air cargo industry in this part of the world - there are two billion potential consumers at our doorstep and we want Dubai World Central to service them,' he said.

Al Zaffin highlighted JXB's extensive offering, which includes six runways, six concourses, two terminals - one reserved exclusively for Emirates - an Executive Jet Terminal, a Royal Terminal, two main entrances and access to the facility via the Dubai Metro.

'The level of interest we are receiving concerning the airport and all of DWC's components is astounding even us. Dubai Logistics City, JXB, Enterprise Park, Commercial City, Golf Resort and Residential City - we can't build fast enough.'

National Airline Celebrates National Day With Fantastic Fares

2006-11-28T14:03:00.002Z

To celebrate the forthcoming UAE national day and holiday period, Etihad Airways, the UAE's national airline, is offering its fantastic fares to 31 routes on the airline's global network.

Huge demand is anticipated from UAE-residents from all communities looking to take advantage of fares. 'The UAE national day is an ideal time for friends and families to go on a short vacation, which is why Etihad is offering these incredible fares to many of our top destinations whether in Africa, Asia Europe or the Middle East,' said Geert W. Boven, vice president commercial, Etihad.

'Through this special promotion, Etihad is once again demonstrating how we listen to what our Guests want, providing them with world-class luxury on our flights for the best possible fares. We want as many people as possible to experience our new fleet and see for themselves the new seating and entertainment systems that are receiving such amazing reviews.'

Guests can now purchase tickets via the Etihad Airways website, www.etihadairways.com.

Additionally, members of Etihad's loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, can earn 500 extra miles by booking online. The special promotional fares can also be bought from Etihad sales offices and travel agents across the UAE.

The promotion is for all outbound travel between 30 November and 2 December. Furthermore, for an extra AED50 per fare, each Guest can stay up to seven nights at his or her chosen destination, enabling them to turn a short break into a longer vacation.

The destinations included are Amman, Beirut, Bangkok, Mumbai, Cairo, Paris, Jakarta, Jeddah, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kuwait City, London Gatwick and Heathrow, Manchester, Manila, Muscat, Peshawar, Doha, Dhaka, Dammam, Delhi, Frankfurt, Geneva, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Munich, Colombo, Casablanca, Riyadh, Damascus.

Britons Prefer Dubai as Second Home

2006-11-13T12:16:00.002Z

Dubai is one of the fastest emerging cities in the world, and its popularity among Britons looking to retire, or buy a second home, has made it an ideal 'place in the sun', according to Dubai Properties.

Over 100,000 Britons have purchased homes in Dubai since the start of the property boom in 2002. Dubai is competing with Spain and France in the second-home market, with both countries accounting for roughly 35 per cent and 24 per cent respectively of British homes overseas.

Fahad Al Gergawi, Director of International Relations, Dubai Properties says:

'British investors are keen to invest in Dubai because of its tax free status, low crime rate, excellent services and enviable lifestyle. The sunny weather, of course, is another favourable factor in the equation, particularly when you take into account winters in the UK.'

According to statistics issued by the international marketing arm of Dubai Properties, around 24.2 per cent of purchasers of Dubai Properties' projects live either in Dubai or the UK, and are British citizens.

'A UK resident would ideally like to live in individual houses [attached or detached], preferably with a small garden for the children. It can be a beachfront or a unit in the desert - that's not really important. It's not where the unit is but what the unit is,' said Al Gergawi. According to Dubai Properties, the overseas home market has matured considerably, particularly in this region.

At one time, Dubai used to be the perfect investment for speculators looking to make a quick profit. Capital appreciation has risen between 15 to 20 per cent annually, making Dubai the ideal place for investors with disposable income. However, the current market trend favours only people looking to own a home, or for people seeking healthy and steady investment returns both from the resale market and high rental yields on completed properties.

Rental yields in Dubai are around seven to 10 per cent, while in the UK they average around three to four per cent annually. A key factor in the recent popularity of Dubai as a second-home investment is the Freehold Property Law, issued in March, 2006, which granted non-GCC citizens the right to purchase freehold properties in designated areas.

The inclusion of Dubai Properties' key master communities in those designated areas added another dimension to the master developer's offerings. 'Business Bay, Culture Village, The Villa and Jumeirah Beach Residence were all included in areas designated as freehold by the Dubai Government. This move gave confidence to investors as well as homeowners as it ensured that their rights were protected by legislation.'

According to Al Gergawi, Dubai's main competitors are upcoming holiday resorts in the Balkans, including those in Bulgaria and Croatia, which are also good investments in terms of value for money. 'However, with the recent property ownership laws and the long link that Britons have had with Dubai as tourists or expatriates, most home owners still prefer this region for a variety of reasons,' he said. Dubai Properties international business development department has held several road shows in the UK and Europe to promote Dubai as an ideal second home destination and viable investment opportunity.

Camel Racing

2006-10-30T15:30:00.000Z

This ancient sport has been renewed with much enthusiasm in recent years. Informal desert tracks and now quite a few official ones have been assigned for this purpose - a large ten kilometre track on the Al Ain road, about forty-five kilometres from Abu Dhabi city; at Al Ain itself, at Dubai and Umm Al Quwain.

Certain slender, finely formed breeds such as the white or golden 'Anafi' and the brown or black 'Boushari' are more suitable for racing. Camel training commences at about six months, entrance for official races beginning at about three years.

Camel races, usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays, provide visitors with a unique opportunity to observe traditionally clad local people in harmony with their surroundings. Camel racing season begins on Thursdays and Saturdays, Early October (2006).

Stopover in Dubai

2006-10-24T10:39:00.002Z

Tue, October 17, 2006

Travellers from Malta can enjoy a stopover in Dubai with Emirates at prices starting from Lm25 per person per night sharing a double room.

The Dubai Stopover product features a hotel and sightseeing package marketed by the airline. These packages are valid from November 1 until October 31, 2007 where passengers get to choose from a range of 53 hotels and apartments, in the city and on the beach. The price includes buffet breakfast, a 96-hour visa, hotel transfers and personalised meet-and-assist upon arrival at Dubai International Airport.

The packages are available to all Emirates passengers, regardless of class of travel, via Emirates' sales offices or travel agents.

One of the add-ons for customers is the Arabian Adventures Welcome Pack, which includes the Arabian Adventures Privilege discount card offering discounts at retail and entertainment outlets in Dubai.

For more information call 01922 700007 or log onto the World Wide Web at http://www.cooptravel.co.uk

Dubai Boosts Travel Show Presence for 2007

2006-10-17T09:12:00.001Z

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has announced its participation in 28 overseas travel trade exhibitions and hosting of 10 road shows in different parts of the world in the year 2007 as part of its aggressive agenda to market Dubai as an ideal year-round business and tourism destination. Four new exhibitions have been added to this year's calendar of exhibitions while road shows will be held for the first time in Turkey and Korea.

The DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, said, 'The department is maintaining its aggressive promotional and marketing drive and exploring new markets to attract visitors to Dubai. We are tapping established as well as emerging source markets for Dubai's tourism industry.'

He said the participation in travel trade exhibitions and hosting of road shows in as many as 40 countries across five continents will help highlight Dubai's strengths and opportunities in tourism and other economic segments.

The efforts, he added, will help create better awareness about Dubai as tourism and lifestyle destination popularize its appeal in key foreign markets to attract more tourists to the emirate.

Dubai Rugby 7's

2006-10-06T13:46:00.001Z

The Dubai Rugby Seven's takes place between 30th November and the 2nd December 2006. With tickets going on sale from the 1st October, here are some interesting facts:

Takes place at the Dubai Exiles rugby ground from 30 November – 2 December 2006 (Thursday to Saturday).

The 2006 event will be its 37th year.

Emirates Airline has been the official sponsor of the Dubai Rugby Sevens since 1988.

The first day consists of local and international invitational teams in action with days two and three seeing the 16 international sides compete for the Emirates International Trophy.

Over 1,750 players will take part.

More than 12,000 overseas visitors will attend.

The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens is the first round of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.

England are the reigning Dubai Rugby Sevens champions. They beat Fiji 28-26 in the final last year.

The temporary stadium constructed at the Exiles Ground can hold over 30,000 people. Work starts on the stadium three months before the Tournament.

The television airtime in 2005 increased by 27% from the 2004 event to a total of 155 hours of coverage with 94 of those broadcast live from the event.

Over 10 million dirhams worth of press coverage was achieved.

The three-day event is brought to a close with 'Rugby Rock' featuring a international act yet to be announced.

You can book flights and trips by calling 01922 700007.

DCA Launches Free Wireless Internet Service at Dubai International Airport

2006-09-08T09:40:00.000Z

DUBAI - Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) launched in August free wireless Internet service at Dubai International Airport.

The service allows passengers free access to Internet on their laptops, PDA's (Portable Digital Assistant), and smart phones, in select areas in both the Arrivals and Departures areas of the Dubai International Airport. The availability of the service is currently being expanded under the second phase of the wireless connectivity project. The project, which is expected to be completed within this year, will make the service available almost throughout the entire airport.

"The launch of the free of charge wireless Internet service at Dubai International Airport is a milestone for the DCA, and is indicative of our keenness to keep abreast of technology which improves the services we provide to the passengers," Jamal Al Hai, Chairman DCA Executive board and Director, Strategy and Management Excellence at DCA said.

He noted that the service would be a great convenience for passengers, who will now be able to stay connected and online. "With Dubai fast emerging as a global trade and tourism hub, the wireless Internet service acquires a new meaning. Millions of passengers pass through Dubai International Airport each year, and a rising number of them depend on such a service for business, information and entertainment," Al Hai said. He added that passengers transiting through Dubai International Airport would drive immense benefit from the free service.

Under the first phase of the project, most of the concourse was brought under coverage with hotspots at Dubai Duty Free, the Food Court, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, BA Lounge, Safar Restaurant, and all lounges. The service is also available at the Food Court in the departures area.

According to Al Hai the quality, speed and capacity of the service will be further enhanced under the ongoing second phase of the project. "Telecommunication has shrunk the world, and there is an increasing need for services that keep people connected to their business and work, and to have access to information on the go. We at DCA attach great importance to this need of the passengers," Al Hai noted.

Health advice/ risks for Dubai

2006-06-08T09:28:00.000Z

Certificates of vaccination for cholera and yellow-fever are mandatory if travelling from an infected area. AIDS tests are required for those taking up residence.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is now considered to be prevalent in many areas of the world and is affecting both the male and female population. The virus can be contracted through sexual contact or through medical treament involving the use of hypodermic or blood transfusion equipment which may be infected. It is preferable, where possible, to seek medical treatment only after consultation with the British Consular representative at the British Embassy in Dubai.

Cholera, polio, tetanus and typhoid vaccinations and anti-malaria precautions are advisable.
With the exception of malaria, there are few endemic diseases. Information on health hazards, and precautions to take when travelling abroad can be found in the leaflet 'Health advice for travellers' available from main Post Offices.

Climate and Weather in Dubai

2006-05-14T15:24:00.000Z

The local climate is subtropical and arid, with a very high seasonal temperature variation. In summer (March to October) it is very hot, with temperatures around the 40 Celsius (105 Fahrenheit) mark during the day. Winters are much more bearable, with a drop to 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) at times.

Opportunities in Dubai

2006-05-05T08:44:00.000Z

27 August 2004

The liberalisation of Dubai's property laws has enabled the region to firmly establish itself as a holiday home destination. Coupled with that comes regional political and economic stability in the UAE, a tax-free environment and the opportunity of a high return rate on investment.

Dubai has enhanced and almost transformed the property-development sector. In essence, the city offers everything from the timeless tranquillity of the desert to the lively bustle of the bazaars along with a wide spectrum of attractions for visitors embracing a variety of scenery.

As a leading regional commercial hub with a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a world-class business environment, Dubai provides investors with a unique and comprehensive value-added platform that makes it the logical place to do business. It has a tropical climate and is regarded as a dynamic international business centre; a city where the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with the simplicity of a bygone era.

University of Bradford's Graduation Award Ceremony in Dubai

2006-04-07T11:14:00.000Z

Twenty students from the University of Bradford's School of Management are celebrating becoming the first students to graduate with an MBA from the new Emirates Executive programme in Dubai.

Emirates Group's Chairman, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum congratulated the students, which included three students from the original open programme, as they received their degrees from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Taylor.

The Emirates Group's Chief Support & Development Director, Gary Chapman, said: 'I would like to congratulate and thank the University, and in particular the School of Management, for the results we see.'

The University also conferred an honorary degree on UAE national Abulqader Saleh Albanna. Chairman and CEO of the Albanna Group, Mr Albanna was awarded an Honorary Doctor of the University degree in recognition of his contribution to business and commerce in Dubai and to the expansion of British system of education in the region, particularly for the development of the Bradford MBA programme in Dubai.

Professor Taylor said: 'I am delighted that the University has been able to award these degrees to graduates of the Emirates Executive MBA, we value our partnership with such a distinctive organisation as the Emirates Group and look forward to a long and fruitful association.'

Dubai Currency

2006-03-31T15:29:00.000Z

The currency in Dubai is the United Arab Emirate Dirham, which is divided into units of 100 fils, made up of denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 fils and 1 dirham, though coins below 25 fils are very rarely in use. The notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 dirhams.

The current rate of exchange against sterling is 6.953 (as of August 2006) and since 1980 the value of the dirham has been fixed to the US Dollar at the rate of 1 USD to 3.67 Dirham.

Getting around Dubai

2006-03-31T15:11:00.000Z

When you are staying in Dubai it's a shame not to get out and about to see the amazing architecture and the incredible work that is taking place to modernise the city. There is a good bus service, minibuses and taxi services throughout the city but this does not operate further out of the city limits.
Car hire is fairly inexpensive and the roads are in good condition but be warned that the driving over there can be hazardous and rules of the road aren't necessarily observed! A further word of warning, another hazard to be watchful of are wandering camels...!

Dubai Creek

2006-03-10T10:10:00.000Z

The Dubai creek can be explored with the help of an organized creek tour. It is a great way to see new and old Dubai side by side while enjoying a peaceful and relaxed journey.Many of the tours are in traditional wooden dhow or Abras (the traditional water taxi) which takes you on a short journey across the waterway from the glass-and-steel office blocks of Deira to the old-world Souks of Bur Dubai, providing a fascinating glimpse of Dubai's trading heritage.
By the way - At dusk you can wander down the cornice on the Bur Dubai side and get the best view of the stark contrast between ancient and modern Dubai, when the moored trading dhows are reflected in the glass high rises and the water of the creek.

Beaches in Dubai

2006-03-10T10:06:00.000Z

Dubai has a number of excellent beaches and beach parks. It's main beaches run along Jumeira Road. In truth, it is one long beach divided up by hotels and private clubs, interspersed by a few public access beaches. The Jumeira beaches have soft white sand that slip into the shallow warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf.
There is also a public beach at Al Mamzar Park on the Deira side of the Creek. The public facilities include playgrounds, barbecue sites, food kiosks, and picnic areas for families. January temperatures are pleasant so the beaches are full of Europeans. Summer temperatures can reach 45-50 degrees centigrade with equally high humidity.

Dubai world island project

2006-03-10T09:59:00.000Z

The World Islands are a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located of the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It will consist of 300 small private artificial islands divided into four categories - private homes, estate homes, dream resorts, and community islands. Each island will range from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet in size, with 50 to 100 metres of water between each island. It will cover a total area of 9 kilometers (5.4 miles) in length and 6 kilometers (3.6 miles) in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine transport.
The World Islands will be located 4 kilometres off the shore of Jumeirah, close to the Palm Jumeirah, between Burj Al Arab and Port Rashid. Each island will be sold to selected private developers and are expected to have pricing beginning at AED 25 million (US$ 6.85 million), for the AED 6.6 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) project.

Things to do - Wild Wadi Waterpark

2006-03-10T09:51:00.000Z

One of the most advanced water theme parks ever designed, the five-hectare (12-acre) water park at Wild Wadi offers families and thrill seekers hours of fun, relaxation and adrenalin-pumping action. Designed like an Arabian wadi (oasis), the park has an Arabian folklore theme and features some of the highest and fastest water rides outside of North America with 24 state of the art, high-adrenaline rides and slides. Rides for thrill seekers include Jumeirah Sceirah, a 108ft (33m) free-fall at 50 miles per hour (80km/hr), Master Blaster slides that are water roller coasters propelled uphill by high-powered jets, the white-knuckle ride at Rushdown Ravine or the high waves at Breakers Bay.
This fabulous waterpark can be found between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj El Arab and entrance is free if you stay at the Jumeirah Beach.

Dubai - an overview

2006-03-10T09:48:00.000Z

Originally a small fishing settlement that became a busy port of call on the ancient trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, the emirate was rapidly transformed into an international business centre and modern tourist destination following the discovery of oil in 1966.
Today Dubai ranks as the country's foremost commercial centre, a city whose skyline is constantly being upgraded with new developments providing the infrastructure and facilities needed for a progressive society, including world-class hotels, shopping plazas and outstanding sports facilities. Dubai Creek divides the city centre into two parts: Deira on the northern side and Bur Dubai to the south and each has its fair share of souks, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and fine mosques.
From within these high standards of luxury and convenience, visitors can experience exotic Arabia in the bustling souks or a night in a Bedouin tent with belly-dancing under the starlit desert skies, as well as a way of life that is still embedded in the Islamic traditions of an ancient land. Dubai's attraction lies in the contrast between the ultra modern and the enchantingly traditional, which gives the city a personality like no other and visitors a variety of experiences to choose from. From desert oases and unspoiled beaches, camel races and old wind towers, to top-class shopping opportunities, avant-garde architecture and the finest international cuisine, Dubai has more than enough depth to satisfy even the most seasoned of travellers.

Dubai Desert Safaris

2006-03-10T09:38:00.000Z

Trips to the desert in groups can be a great way to explore the desert and also know other people and find out a little bit more about the Arabic culture. Safaris are generally half day and can include an overnight stay in one of the Bedouin tents.
1. Wadi-Driving - This is a popular pastime with both residents and visitors. This involves exploring the wadis or dry beds of streams that flow after winter rains from the Hajar mountains.
2. Dune driving - Driving in sand can be a thrilling experience by itself and this combines the excitement of a roller coaster ride with the challenge of remaining mobile on the shifting surface. Courses in sand driving are available, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided, along with expert instruction.
3. Sand-Skiing - Those with a penchant for speed, a head for heights and enthusiasm for an unusual sport will enjoy sand-skiing down the dunes of the Dubai desert.
4. Desert Feasts - Safaris are made more pleasurable by culminating into an evening with spectacular sunset views followed by a traditional Arab barbecue under the stars. You can even tailor your evening to your need and round it off with some great Arabic music and belly dancing, the smoking of hubble-bubble pipes and often a display of falconry.

Camel Racing in Dubai

2006-03-10T09:36:00.000Z

This ancient sport has been renewed with much enthusiasm in recent years. Informal desert tracks and now quite a few official ones have ben assigned for this purpose - a large ten kilometre track on the Al Ain road, about forty-five kilometers from Abu Dhabi city; at Al Ain itself, at Dubai and Umm Al Quwain.

Certain slender, finely formed breeds such as the white or golden 'Anafi' and the brown or black 'Boushari' are more suitable for racing. Camel training commences at about six months, entrance for official races beginning at about three years.

Camel races, usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays, provide visitors with a unique opportunity to observe traditionally clad local people in harmony with their surroundings.

Accommodation in Dubai

2006-03-10T09:29:00.000Z

The hotels in Dubai are some of the best in the world and cater for the leisure and business traveller. Many of the world's top hotel chains run five and even six star hotels here and you'll find you'll be spending much of your time gazing skyward at the impressive structures.
You'll also find plenty of budget accommodations in Dubai and visitors have an extensive choice of places to stay, which offer superb service and facilities. There is a range of hotels to suit every traveller & every budget.