When I went to Dubai for the first time, all I could think about was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz saying, “Toto, I feel like I'm not in Kansas anymore.”
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates and is both incredibly unique and incredibly impressive, known as one of the most interesting and fastest growing cities on earth.
In a very short space of time, this desert city has transformed from a pearl-diving village into an international tourism and trade center, now a gateway between East and West. The official language is Arabic, but English is the most commonly spoken language in this fast-growing city of over 3.7 million people. In 1950, Dubai had a population of just 20,000.
Some of the things we enjoyed during our stay in Dubai were:
Take a cruise around Dubai Creek on an 'Abra' and enjoy amazing views of the city's futuristic and traditional architecture. Although it looks like an old-fashioned wooden rowing boat, the Abra is now powered by a diesel engine and can accommodate around 20 people.
Go on a shopping spree and explore the endless maze of souks (markets) and malls. Don't miss the Spice Souk and Gold Souk. Amazingly, there are over 50 shopping malls in full operation with many more under construction. My favorite is Dubai Mall with over 1,200 retailers. It's one of the largest malls in the world. On a previous trip, my husband Ron “snowboarded” at the Mall of the Emirates ski resort, which has a 200-foot man-made mountain and five slopes of varying difficulty, including the world's first indoor black run. And it's in the desert!
Just enjoy people watching as you walk through Dubai. We saw many people smoking “shisha”, a very sociable and popular habit in Dubai. Shisha, also known locally as “Habry Bubbly”, has a sweet and fruity aroma. Shisha is a water pipe for smoking tobacco through chilled water. The tobacco is heated by charcoal at the top and drawn through a water chamber at the bottom. The history of the shisha pipe dates back more than 500 years in the Middle East.
No trip to Dubai is complete without a visit to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. On the 124th floor, there is an observation deck called “At the Top” that offers amazing views of the city on a clear day. If you are in the area, be sure to visit the Dubai Fountain for a spectacular free water and music show. I was mesmerized by the spectacle of moving lights and water.
There are also plenty of great coffee shops and restaurants nearby – we enjoyed dinner at Sammach, a fantastic Lebanese seafood restaurant with a great view of the spectacular fountain.
Most people have heard of Dubai's “artificial islands” but you have to see them to believe them. The three man-made islands in the Persian Gulf are shaped like palm leaves and are made up of luxury hotels and residences, restaurants, water parks and sports facilities. Our favourite is the incredible Atlantis Palm hotel, where rooms overlook the incredible Lost Chambers Aquarium through floor-to-ceiling glass. You're literally surrounded by the giant aquarium from your bed, watching sea creatures swim around you as you fall asleep.
Consider a short day trip. We took a fun desert safari tour. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. We had an exhilarating drive through huge red and gold sand dunes, a camel ride, and an evening feast at a Bedouin camp while being entertained by belly dancers. We even got some “temporary” henna tattoos, which are very popular in the UAE.
Enjoy a sunset dinner at one of the many excellent restaurants along the waterway just steps from the magnificent “7-star” Burj Al Arab hotel. I would love to have high tea here on my next trip. Hotel guests are picked up at the airport by a Rolls Royce or, in some cases, a helicopter. This hotel claims to be the most luxurious hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab is also one of the tallest hotels in the world and is designed like a sailing ship. Everything here is top-notch. Upon arrival, guests are presented with a gold-plated 24-carat iPad worth $9,000.
This Arabian oasis is clearly an exotic place with immense wealth. Dubai is very clean, safe with almost no crime, an excellent education system, state-of-the-art medical facilities, modern infrastructure and everything is tax-free.
Dubai is hands down an incredible destination offering the best and most authentic cultural experiences imaginable.
