Dubai flights and holiday guide
Dubai is on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. It is a luxury holiday destination, an ultra-modern city, and is the most populous of the seven United Arab Emirates.
The state-of-the-art Dubai International Airport services a large capacity of departing and arriving flights to dubaiThere are 22 check-in counters with bilingual flight information on 42 inch plasma screens. Passengers over 17 years of age can get a “smart card” with all the needed information to enable moving traffic quickly through electronic screening at an “E-gate”. There are 5,400 square meters of Dubai Duty Free shopping that feature high-quality merchandise. Food and drink outlets number 25 and include everything from fast food to international cuisine such as Italian, Lebanese, Indian, Chinese, and others such as an Irish Village serving Irish fare. There are various lounges and a Children’s Play Area as well as work stations with internet and round-the-clock secretarial services.
When you are ready to explore the area, you can choose between the warm waters and beautiful beaches of the Gulf where you can partake of water sports such as jet-skiing, sailing, swimming, paragliding, and others. Or you can choose to go on a desert trek where you can go to a Bedouin camp in an oasis riding on a camel.
The Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs) Hotel is the world’s most photographed structure because it has night illuminations of fire and water and is shaped like a billowing sail. It is also the world’s second tallest hotel and has the tallest atrium in the world. The hotel was amazingly built in less than three years on its own individual artificial island that has a private bridge connecting it to the mainland. Its Al Mantaha restaurant rises 27 stories above the Gulf and has a large seawater aquarium and a spectacular fountain.
Fun for the whole family is the Dubai Dolphinarium where you can swim with the bottlenose dolphins, have a professional photographer take pictures of you with the dolphins for a lasting memory, learn about these extraordinary marine mammals, and see a Dolphins and Seals Live Show. The Dolphinarium boasts of being the best family entertainment in Dubai.
Other theme parks include the Wild Wadi water amusement park (just opposite the hotel) and the Dubai Zoo. There are many parks, playgrounds, and landscaped gardens. You can have a picnic along a waterway park such as the Creekside Park which has rides in water taxis across the Creek all day long.
Dubai has a great choice of international restaurants mainly in the large hotels. Local restaurants feature traditional Pakistani, Indian, Lebanese, and Turkish cuisine. You can also find American fast food chains.
Delayed by the economy is the Dubailand attraction which is projected to be twice the size of Walt Disney World. It is to contain parks such as Universal Studios, Six Flags, a relocation of the Dubai Zoo, and more.
Dubai is a shoppers’ paradise especially for those looking for Persian carpets or gold. Dubai is just across the Gulf from Iran, so there is a large supply of the Persian carpets. Prices are determined by quality, designs, origins, and other factors. Dubai has the world’s largest gold retail market in its Covered Gold Souk in Deira. Its jewellery shops offer unusual and extravagant designs by craftsmen who are extremely creative. Featured are exquisite Indian and Italian pieces. Craftsmanship and weight determine the prices. A special March Shopping Festival attracts two million visitors. Another popular gold market is the Sharjah Blue Souk only fifteen minutes away. Dubai’s many modern malls also have many jewellery shops.
Category: Asia
