Once a tiny fishing village and now home to the world’s first 7 star hotel; Dubai is a spectacular city of glitz and glamour.
One of the best things to do in Dubai is to eat. The city is home to numerous celebrity chefs and has several Michelin star restaurants. Everyone from Gary Rhodes to Gordon Ramsey have a footing in the culinary activity of the area.
There are also a number of cheaper places to eat in the city and the Al Dhiyafah Road is the showcase for this. This area feeds the city’s huge working class who‘s backs are used to build this modern day el Dorado.
These restaurants don’t sell alcohol as they are outside of the confines of a hotel but you’ll eat very well for less than £25 for two. There’s also a selection of food as wide as the nationalities that live in the city – which is vast.
Dubai is also a wonderful place for those that love to shop. It’s a consumer paradise where everything is tax free. Its shopping festival in January and February is world famous and probably the best time to go to shop.
The city has over 50 malls and each is as spectacular as the next. The most notable shopping centres or malls are the Deira centre with over 340 shops and 6,000 parking spaces. It is situated close to the old city and the hotel and has everything the design savvy shopper could want.
The IBN Battuta Mall is the world’s largest themed mall and situated on Sheikh Zayed Road. The mall has 275 shops and is divided into six separate themes with areas luxuriously decorated to look like Indian, Chinese, Persian, Andalusia, Egyptian and Tunisian areas.
Souqs may not be as glitzy as the wonderful shopping centres but are a great place for atmosphere and for the experience. They are a great place for entertainment and a bargain. Choose from a variety that sell anything from gold to spices and haggle for the best price.
Continue in the theme of extravagance and visit the Burj al Arab, the hotel which dominates the city’s skyline is the supposed 7 star resort and world’s tallest hotel. The only way to get inside is to book a room or dinner in one of the many restaurants. Though, it is worth it to see the extensive gold leaf and sheer garishness and over the top decor of the hotel.
Escaping from the wealth and showiness of the city can almost be done on a trip to the old city. The Bastakia Quarter still shows the remnants of the old Dubai and should be visited if for anything a sense of perspective. The area is a maze of streets with numerous galleries, souqs and cafes.
While there visit the Dubai Museum, which is in the area and have a bite to eat at some of the local traditional restaurants.
The United Arab Emirates has also got one of the fastest growing transport systems and with a company like Etihad airways you can fly to Dubai with relative ease, they are also open to new ideas and have been working on a new super fast car-train to transport people at 150 mph+.
