Dubai Today

by Stuart
June 2007

About the UAE & Dubai Today

The city of Dubai is situated directly on the Arabian Gulf and formerly enjoyed long established trade route connections with the Far East and India. In 1966 oil was discovered and the region’s growth rocketed once exports began approximately 3 years later. The UAE was originally founded in 1971, when the leaders of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and later the next year, Ras Al Khaimah, joined together to form a federation. Today, Dubai’s huge wealth and continuous expansion is overseen entirely by the leading family of Dubai, which is headed by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of the UAE, who is also Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi is the current President of the UAE.

The Building of Dubai

Dubai is currently building and creating an exciting new city at a faster rate than is seen anywhere else in the world. The massive construction of new road and inter-change layouts seem to engulf more of the desert each day, along with newer and more spectacular resorts hotels, theme parks, shopping malls and golf courses. It seems that Dubailand aims to be the Middle East's Orlando. 

Residential house building is also mushrooming around the city, partly to accommodate the growing contingent of Arab workers, professionals ex-patriates and their families and other specialist workers who are needed to expedite the inspired developments. There is also an urgent need to accommodate thousands of tourists and business visitors who are flocking to experience the city-life that Dubai is offering - many of whom are seeking self-catering villas and apartments.

With the creation of a new airport terminal and the Dubai-Metro both currently under construction, access into and around the city will enrich the lives of residents, key workers and tourists alike.

Building off-shore, Palm Jumeirah has recently received its first residents in the newly completed apartments that line either side of the entry trunk-road. Those with views looking towards the famous Burj Al Arab, also benefit from a beach-front location with beautiful landscaped gardens and their own beach-club. Luxurious Villas, hotels and other facilities are still currently under development.

Dubai employs thousand of foreign building workers and service industry workers that are housed within labour camps built around the city or who live in share rooms in residential accommodation. A high proportion of these workers are involved with the Dubai's developing construction work, general city maintenance, transport, tourism, retail shopping and catering outlets and also taxi driving.

Getting there

Daily flights are available from most international airports around the world, with Emirates being a leading national airline of the UAE and a preferred carrier by many.  Onward travel is easy too, there are multiple choices of car rental, taxi or limousine pick-ups available. Actual travel times around the city can vary according to the arrival time and day of your flight, or if you need to travel during peak periods. As yet there are no road-tolls to pay throughout the city, but the first one is planned for July this year.

Hotels & Entertainment

Dubai is proud of its reputation in offering the largest selection of top class hotels anywhere in the world. The world’s first self proclaimed 7-star hotel, The Burj Al Arab, sitting majestically on the edge of the Gulf like an ‘iconic’ statue, is renowned for sublime luxury, style and quality that you’ll find nowhere else! The hotel, built on a small island and reached by a short 'security monitored' connecting bridge, is a spectacular and well known landmark with its own high level helicopter landing pad, kept busy ferrying celebrities and business executives to and from the airport. It dominates the skyline and believed to be the most photographed hotel by visitors to Dubai. A fleet of chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce limousines is also on hand for those celebrities and guests requiring this level of service.

Dubai has over 40 five-star hotels, some with between 5 and 15 restaurants. All these hotels offer stylish accommodation at a range of levels for comfort and size, from individual deluxe rooms through to luxurious high-grade suites with some offering superbly positioned private ‘beach villas’. You’ll find that alcohol can only be served in Dubai from licensed hotel restaurants so the choice is endless, with opportunities to experience the highest quality dining and speciality cuisines available, together with top quality wines from around the globe.

Shopping

Modern Dubai is creating some of the most lavish and culturally interesting shopping Malls ever to be seen. One of the largest so far, is the ‘Mall of the Emirates’ located adjacent to the Sheikh Zated Road and adjoins the five-star Kempinski Hotel. It’s a huge and quite lavish Mall with glass lifts and escalators to all floors. There are many popular retail outlets, home furnishings stores, a multi-screen cinema, and larger stores such as Harvey Nicholls, Debenhams, Sacks and Fifth Avenue, all selling top name branded items and gifts. You’ll find plenty of facilities, numerous restaurants and eateries on all of 3 levels. The Mall is also home to Ski-Dubai, where shoppers can eat or drink while watching friends ‘perform on snow’ in this huge indoor ski resort. It even includes a challenging ‘black’ run. Car parking is easy, safe and well illuminated, with valet-parking also available.

Further along the Sheik Zayed Road towards Jebel Ali you’ll find is the largest shopping Mall in the Middle East. The Ibn Battuta Shopping Mall, is based around the travels of the well known 14th century explorer, Ibn Battuta. He covered over 75,000 miles during his life, while visiting far away lands.  The mall comprises of 6 individually themed Courts, each displaying the respective architecture, visitor information and styling that represents a selection of his travel destinations. Individually named as Andalucia, Egypt, Tunisia, Persia, India, & China, they are intended to combine retail shopping, with multi-cinema entertainment and family activities, making a unique experience reflecting today’s cosmopolitan lifestyle of Dubai.

The Wafi City, surrounded by 3 glass pyramids, provides top-of the- range stylish designer products and stores, plus some home furnishing outlets. There are plenty of individual Gold Souks and bustling stores to be found in Bur Dubai and across the Dubai Creek in Deira. Karama is a shopping centre in itself where you’ll find some convincing imitation designer goods which are not always available on show, by law, but are worth asking to see. You’ll be amazed at the tremendous bargains to be found.

Leisure & Sport

Sunbathing in Dubai around the hotel pool, on the beach or at your private villa, is quite acceptable for holidaymakers, although being a Muslim country, topless bathing is strictly forbidden. Great care should be taken at all times when sunbathing as the temperatures can be exceptionally high. Good advice is to drink plenty of water and study all the forms of sun-care precautions.

Dubai offers its visitors and residents a huge range of both active and spectator sports. Although some are seasonal sports only, a popular selection is: Archery, Bowling, Cricket, Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Sailing, Canoeing, Surfing, Scuba Diving, Water skiing, Kite Surfing, Horse Riding, Polo, Snorkelling, Windsurfing, Power Boat racing, Horse Racing, Camel Racing, Dune bashing (in 4x4’s), Football, Rugby, Tennis and Skateboarding.

Each year, the sporting world holds a number of major events and tournaments in Dubai. The temptation of near perfect dry and warm weather, lavish hospitality and the prospect of lucrative rewards certainly help to attract the top performers in their respective field of sport. This in turn, is steadily increasing the visitor numbers and spectators from around the world.

A typical Sporting Diary could list the following top sporting events.

January:     The Dubai Marathon: A Fund raising event for research into Blindness.
February:   The Dubai Tennis Championships: The world’s top class competing players.
                International Sailing Week Regatta-an exclusive event for 10-17year olds!
March:       The prestigious Dubai Desert Golf Classic
March:       The Dubai World Cup: The top Horse Racing event for racing enthusiasts.
October:     Marlboro desert Challenge: Bikes, Trucks and 4 x 4’s all racing in the desert.
                 Camel-Racing at it’s best, twice weekly through until next April.
November:  Horse Racing Season: at Nad Al Sheba Course (by floodlight)
                 Dubai Rugby Sevens Tournament: a 3-day event for 16 + teams
December:  Powerboat Racing: The World Offshore Championships

A brand new Tiger Woods Golf Course Complex, to be located on 55million square feet of Dubailand, is due for completion in 2009. See Tiger Woods Breaks Ground and Tiger Woods's Group Breaks Ground on Dubai Golf Course Complex

Many other sporting events take place throughout the year also, so it’s always best to check prior to making your travel arrangements.

When to visit

During high summer, Dubai hotels offer exceptionally attractive accommodation rates, especially for June, July and August, a time when many expats return home. The weather gets extremely hot and humid during this period, so good advice would be for families with young children to holiday during the cooler months from October through to April.

Business and Finance

Oil rich Dubai, is now a major financial and commercial trading centre which is recognised as the largest business centre in the Middle East. With a glowing economy, a vibrant property market and excellent international trade links, Dubai has gradually transformed itself into one of the most exciting tourist and business destinations in the world. It’s a fantastic and very desirable place to live.

Weather

From October through to late March is generally the best time to visit Dubai. It’s when the temperatures are near the seasonal norm and the likelihood of rain is minimal, generally until late December / January. April onwards sees the rising sun getting gradually warmer and through May and June you’ll see days with 40 degrees. Throughout July, August and September, the heat has been known to reach into the very high 40’s and beyond, also with high degrees of humidity. Up to date forecasts are available from: www.bbc.co.uk/weather. and at  www.weather.com

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Written by – Holiday Rental Centre

HRC team realise it is essential to keep up with the fast pace of change that is taking place in fantastic holiday destinations worldwide. Their recommendation to new visitors, would be to book hotel accommodation for your first visit to the UAE and other regions, but then rent a luxury private villa, preferably with a pool, that all the family can share. Car rental is not always a necessity as taxis are relatively cheap, but it adds to the experience and gives freedom to ‘go as you please’. Once you’ve tasted this style of quality holiday, you won’t look back.