Dubai - City of Fantastic Contrasts
Over the last twenty years or so the Middle Eastern city of Dubai has become one of the hottest vacation and business locations in the world. It is a rapidly developing, fabulously wealthy futuristic city set within a centuries-old Arab culture. The traditional ways are still there if you look for them. But they are gradually being overtaken by the new attractions and developments springing up virtually every day.
Dubai is a city of fascinating contrasts. In Dubai one can see dusty traditional villages only minutes from fantastically luxurious residential districts. Rugged mountains and shifting sand dunes are only a few miles from pristine sandy beaches and lush green parks. Shoppers can savor Dubai's traditional market places or visit some of the most modern and largest indoor shopping malls in the world.
Visitors to Dubai can choose to stay in one of its many luxury hotels. Or for a more authentic Dubai experience a person can rent a beautifully furnished apartment or villa in one of Dubai's newer residential areas. Dubai apartment rentals offer the visitor more space for less money, and provide a different perspective on this unique city.
Development at a Hectic Pace
The almost frantic pace of new development taking place in Dubai has made it one of the most futuristic cities in the world. The city skyline now highlights sleek new skyscrapers such as the Emirates Towers and Burj Al-Arab, the world's tallest hotel. The Mall of the Emirates which opened in 2005 is the largest shopping center outside of North. It features one one of the world's only indoor ski slopes. And Dubai also boasts one of the few 18 hole golf courses in the world that is fully lit for nighttime golf.
A large number of other large developments are also underway in Dubai. Some of the more significant ones are:
- Dubai Mall - projected to be the largest indoor shopping mall in the world.
- Burj Dubai - scheduled to be completed in 2008 - will be the tallest skyscraper in the world.
- Dubai World Central including the Dubai World Central International Airport will be the world's largest passenger and cargo hub - ten times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined.
- The Dubai Waterfront project - the largest waterfront development and the largest man-made project in the world when completed.
Center for Shopping Tourism
The attraction that brings the most tourists to Dubai is the shopping. Market places and malls throughout the city stock an incredible array of consumer goods and draw millions of shopping tourists every year. Shoppers come from all parts of the Middle East and Europe, and even from as far away as Eastern Europe, India, and North America.
The souks of Dubai offer the most interesting shopping experience in the city. They are located on either side of Dubai creek that runs through the heart of the area. Two of the most popular are the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. When you visit the souks be prepared to bargaining in traditional middle eastern style. It is an important part of buying and selling in the souks.
In recent years the traditional type of shopping has met with stiff competition from more western style stores. Fantastic shopping malls and upscale boutiques are now everywhere throughout the city and carry virtually any consumer item you can imagine: clothing, housewares, luxury items, cars, furnishings, jewellery, electronics, sporting equipment. You name it and you will probably find it in the boutiques and malls of Dubai.
The Dubai International Airport also is the home of the Duty Free complex - one of the most extensive and largest duty free shopping areas in the world. New developments such as the Dubai World Central International Airport will have even larger duty free areas to draw in even more shopping tourists.
Dubai is truly unique. It offers remarkable cultural contrasts and ultra-modern, high-tech attractions that make the city a favorite destination of tourists and business travelers from around the world. New developments underway will make Dubai even more vital as an important business center and a "must-visit" destination for tourists in search of a unique and exciting experience.
For more information about Dubai rental villas see Dubai villas . Rick Hendershot writes for various travel websites and publishes e_Marketing - an online marketing blog.
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