Captivating Contrasts
From the timeless tranquillity of the desert to the lively bustle of the souk, Dubai offers a kaleidoscope of attractions for visitors.
The emirate embraces a wide variety of scenery in a very small area. In a single day, the tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses with wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls.
But these contrasts give Dubai its unique flavour and personality; a cosmopolitan society with an international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia.
The Creek
The Creek, a natural sea-water inlet which cuts through the centre of the city, is the historic focal point of life in Dubai. A stroll along its banks evokes the city’s centuries-old trading traditions.
An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from an abra, one of the small water taxis which criss-cross the Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai side.
The Souks
The souks on both sides of the Creek are attractive not just for their shopping bargains but also as places for the sightseer and photographer.
Along the slightly larger lanes of the gold souk, each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches. In the evening the area is a hive of activity. Gold prices are among the lowest in the world. On the Bur Dubai side of the Creek are lanes full of textile shops, where a blaze of colourful raw silks and cottons hang in profusion in shop windows.
WonderLand
The 18-hectare WonderLand family fun park features a wide range of water attractions.
Capable of accommodating up to 8,000 visitors at a time, WonderLand’s water rides include speed slides, surf hills, twister, wave runners and a Caribbean cruise.
It also has a water mist show and water cinema, with videos projected on a thin film of water, plus a full complement of on-land attractions.
Golf Courses
Even for the non-golfer, Dubai’s golf clubs are worth a visit, both for the spectacular architecture of their clubhouses and as examples of the successful greening and landscaping of the desert.
A nine-hole ‘country’ course is also available at the Hatta Fort Hotel where golfers have a unique fun experience of playing in craggy mountain scenery.
Shopping Malls
The city of Dubai is an open port with low import duties and no taxation, and as such offers unbeatable value to the bargain hunter. Even major brand name products, widely available in the city, are often less expensive in Dubai than in their country of origin.
Few of the prominent shopping malls in the city are the luxurious Wafi Mall, Deira City Center, Mall of Emirates, Bur Juman, and Ibn Battuta Mall.
Desert Safari
This off-road Arabian adventure takes you from the bustle of Dubai city to the desert of golden sand dunes. You will travel to the desert from your pick-up point in a luxury 4WD (Toyota Land Cruiser) and reach there in around 45 minutes. Next, the Arabian roller coaster ride known as dune bashing (desert driving) will begin, where you will shriek and laugh with excitement as the car goes up and down the dunes.
Enjoy an Arabian BBQ (barbeque/barbecue) buffet dinner beside a blazing bonfire with traditional cups of coffee and dates Before you head back to Dubai, you will be entertained by the dancing of a belly dancer to traditional Arabic music, and you are welcome to join along.
Other Attractions
Dubai Museum, Dubai Zoo, Bastakiya, and Umm Al Sheif Majlis
