Holiday in the playground of the rich and the...very rich.
WHY GO? Expats have been known to be dragged kicking and screaming onto the plane when finishing an assignment in Dubai, where gallons of golden sunshine - and oil - have everyone on a permanent high. And the booming development and burgeoning economy is just the icing on the cake. Stunning beaches, oodles of shopping, world-class spas, fabulous nightlife, superb dining and fun activities for the kids, make Dubai a tasty holiday treat - for anyone.
WHAT TO DO
Wadi bashing Certainly not a hate crime, this hair-raising experience involves thrills - with preferably no spills - in a 4WD drive vehicle, racing along dry river beds and sand dunes.
Shop ‘til you drop Malls are aplenty, but the best retail experiences are to be had in traditional souks (markets). Take a water taxi over the Creek - a natural sea-water inlet dividing Dubai - to the old town. Here, you'll find traditional Arabic handicrafts, antiques and fashions - including stunning embroidered pashminas and shoes. The shop windows in the narrow streets of the gold souk are filled with gleaming merchandise in all forms - from jewellery, to bars and bullion coins. Don't miss the heady experience of the spice souk. And for carpets, visit Deira Tower Shopping Mall where more than 40 shops offer authentic carpets from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tee off Try the Arabian Ranches Golf Club (http://www.arabianranchesgolfdubai.com/), an 18-hole desert-style grass course designed by Ian Baker Finch. Boys who love toys will certainly appreciate the GPS-equipped golf carts! Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club (http://www.dubaigolf.com/) offers "pay as you play" and is the heart of an 80-hectare sports and leisure complex, complete with a 115-berth marina. Each one of the nine holes of the Jebel Ali Hotel and Golf Resort (www.jebelali-international.com) has panoramic views over the Arabian Gulf with four tee points allowing an 18-hole round at varying aspects. Just remember to dodge the peacocks, partridges and guinea fowl roaming the greens.
Animal Kingdom It's said to be the sport of kings and horse racing is certainly a popular part of the Dubai social - and financial - scene. Visit www.emiratesracing.com for race dates throughout the Emirates. A tamer option is the shallow lagoon at the end of the Creek, permanent home to a flock of Greater Flamingos and up to 27,000 birds at any one time during the autumn migration season.
A sense of history Visit the old Bastakiya district with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers - which once lined the Creek's banks and cooled the entire city. Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort has some impressive exhibits and also issues permits for those keen to explore archaeological dig sites.
Building blocks Stunning examples of modern architecture include Jumeirah Mosque and the easily identifiable Burj Al Arab Jumeirah (www.burj-al-arab.com) - an ultra-luxurious, billowing sail-shaped hotel soaring 321 metres above sea level.
EAT
Breakfast Lime Tree Café or Shakespeare & Co on Jumeirah Beach Road.
Lunch Automatic Restaurant & Grill (Jumeirah Beach Road) - traditional, value-for-money Lebanese food - order the mezze and lamb, divine.
Afternoon tea A great way to experience the Ritz-Carlton Dubai or Burj Al Arab.
Cocktails Vu's on the 52nd floor of Emirates Towers has amazing views of Dubai's skyline. For vistas of the Arabian Peninsula and Burj Al Arab head to Bahri Bar - atop the Madinat Jumeirah - for cocktails and a puff on a shisha pipe.
Dinner Tagine - a Moroccan restaurant with gorgeous décor at One&Only Royal Mirage. Amwaj at Shangri-La Hotel Dubai serves a wide selection of seafood dishes and an oyster bar serving oyster cocktails.
After hours Mix with the beautiful set at So Cho, Royal Mirage Jumeirah Beach or visit Trilogy at Souk Medinat Jumeirah for three levels of hedonistic nightclub action.
Designed in the shape of a breaking wave, Jumeirah Beach Hotel (http://www.jumeirah.com/) has panoramic views of the Gulf and is a great option for families. Expect 22 restaurants, five swimming pools, a National Geographic Dive Centre, huge private beach and unlimited access to Wild Wadi Water Park.
A tribute to Dubai's heritage, Madinat Jumeirah (http://www.jumeirah.com/) offers two boutique properties and 29 traditional summer houses - all styled to resemble an ancient Arabian citadel. The exclusive spa has 26 treatment rooms only accessible by boat and Souk Madinat Jumeirah - a Moroccan-styled entertainment haven filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.
One&Only Royal Mirage (http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/) overlooks The Palm Island Jumeirah - a manmade structure which will be home 40 hotels, 2,000 luxury villas and various shopping and entertainment facilities by late 2007. Even if you can't afford to stay here, try to visit the hotel's Health and Beauty Institute for a traditional Arabic hammam and a pedicure at Bastien Gonzalez Chiropody & Pedicure Centre - lauded by celebrities and supermodels.
WHEN TO GO Only 13 centimetres of rain falls each year so expect it to be very dry! Maximum temperatures range from 24°C in January to 41°C in July. Nights can be as cool as 10°C.
GETTING THERE Singapore Airlines (http://www.singaporeair.com/) flies daily, although return flights are only available on Mondays to Thursdays. Emirates (http://www.emirates.com/) flies direct to and from Dubai daily, but also offers flights from Singapore via Colombo, Kuala Lumpur and occasionally Jakarta. Qatar Airways (http://www.qatarairways.com/) flies via Doha.
CONTACT
Posted Mar 07
