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Hotels in Dubai |
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It is almost impossible to believe that this extremely modern and marvelous city was, less than two decades ago, an arid desert.
Dubai is the second largest emirate situated on the shores of the Persian Gulf; it is divided by the well known Dubai Creek which has helped in making Dubai one of the main trading centers in the world. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Bin Said Al-Maktoum is the ruler of Dubai; he is also the vice president and the prime minister of the UAE. |
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As you walk down the streets of Dubai, you will see some of the best examples of modern architectural buildings due to the amazing construction boom. The city is filled with skyscrapers, the most famous of which are the Emirates Towers. Its construction rate is faster than the Western cities, and about 16% of the world’s large cranes are found in Dubai. Most of the construction is done in Mina Seyahi area. |
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| What enables Dubai to have such an advanced construction system is the fact that its economy does not depend solely on oil reserves; the government of Dubai attracts other types of revenues by encouraging profitable business activity. The city receives its main income from the Jebel Ali Free Zone which is the fifth largest in the world and has about 900 companies such as General Motors engaged in it. It also has a free trade in gold and many other industry specific free zones that boost its economy. International companies are encouraged by Dubai’s no-tax benefits, and many expatriates set their firms in Dubai because they are allowed to own property and run businesses by paying an annual rent fee to a silent local partner. In addition, Dubai has purchased real estate in foreign countries. |
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The city of Dubai is also considered a very famous tourist destination, which is also a major income source for the city. So what makes Dubai so appealing to tourists? And why has it won the gold prize for best destination in the Middle East in 1996 and still continues to draw large numbers of visitors?
One major tourist magnet is the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which is a month-long ambitious celebration that unites shoppers from all over the world. It includes many fun activities for the whole family, and offers many local and international brands. Cheerfulness, enthusiasm, adventure and brotherhood are some of the main themes of this unique festival.
Dubai isn’t considered the shopping center of the Middle East for no reason! It has many shopping malls and souqs that provide its shoppers with their needs, all of which are present in one area. If you have ever wondered what the world’s largest shopping mall looks like, you can find out in Dubai, for the Mall of Emirates is the largest mall in the world. Although it’s situated in the middle of the desert, it actually has an indoor ski slope! |
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There are other famous shopping malls in Dubai, such as Oasis Center, City Center, and Wafi Center, the three of which have theatres, restaurants and international stores within them. A recent addition to the “mall category” is the Ibn Battuta shopping mall.
If you’d prefer the more traditional souqs, you can buy aromatic spices in the spice souq, be dazzled by the beautiful jewelry in the gold souq, which is considered one of the largest retail gold markets in the world, smell aromas in the perfume souq, and purchase coffee pots and Arabian chests in the antique souq. A prominent market you must visit is Souq Madinat Jumeirah, which offers unique brands of great quality, and a warm, hospitable atmosphere.
The Dubai Summer Surprises also attract visitors who enjoy the special shopping offers and programs held during the summer months. |
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Other tourists simply come to enjoy the sea and the desert of Dubai; after all, clean white sand surrounded with palm trees does look like a very soothing vacation site! On the other hand, the excitement that awaits adventure-seekers in the desert also makes Dubai very appealing.
What are some of the major construction plans that are being worked on today? On shore, Emaar Properties is currently constructing Burj Dubai which, in 2008, will become the world’s tallest building; and Dubai Mall, which will be built next to it, will become the largest mall in the world. In addition, what is said to become the largest theme park in the world in 2009, “Dubailand,” is also currently under construction. Business Bay, a central business district, is also a project that is being worked upon, and once completed, it will contain 500 skyscrapers. Off-shore, Dubai is building the world’s largest artificial island complexes which will be known as Palm Islands. |
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| There are several means of transportation in this amazing emirate; taxis are used most often by people because they are inexpensive and can be found anywhere, at any time. Besides taxis, Dubai has a large bus system with 59 routes, but it is mostly used by lower-income groups. Dubai has unique types of tourist transportations such as the Wonder Bus, the Open Top Bus, the Cable Car, the air balloon, and the plane tour. The Wonder Bus takes tourists on a ride around the country, showing them the beautiful scenery in the emirate. The large Open Top Bus is an experience you should certainly not miss! This bus takes you on a journey through the souqs all the way to Burj Al Arab Hotel, showing you the entire city’s attractions. The tour starts and finishes at Wafi City. Finally, to get an aerial view of the city, you can ride in Cable Cars or in helicopters. There is also a Metro project being worked on for Dubai. |
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| The Dubai International Airport, considered the world’s second best transit airport, is a very important airport in the UAE; it has excellent design and service, and is very famous for its Duty Free shopping center. A second airport at Jebel Ali is expected to replace the Dubai International Airport once it is completed. |
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| Dubai also boasts two famous ports, Mina’ Rashid and Jebel Ali. Mina’ Rashid is a man-made port famous for its deep water. However, the world’s largest man-made harbor and the biggest port in the Middle East is the Jebel Ali port town. Avail Hotels in Dubai, Cheap Dubai Hotels, Dubai Accommodations, Dubai Lodging, Dubai Hotels Booking, Dubai Hotels Reservations, Holidays in Dubai Hotels, Luxury Hotels in Dubai, Best Hotels in Dubai available at Foundok.com |
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| Various types of sports are practiced in Dubai because the city has become host to many important sporting events such as the Dubai Tennis Open, Dubai Desert Golf Classic, the Dubai World Cup, and the Annual Rugby Sevens tournament. The city has become the headquarters of the International Cricket Council. Some tourists enjoy a sport called dune bashing in the desert around the city. Every year, a horse racing event is held, and it’s considered the world’s highest stakes horse race. For the more traditional sports lovers, camel-racing and boat-racing are still widespread in Dubai. |
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| Education is important in this city, and many universities are located in the city including the foreign, accredited university, the American University of Dubai. In addition, Dubai Knowledge Village is an education center that provides knowledge to both international and regional learners. |
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| The Dubai World Trade Center is known for hosting exhibitions and international fairs; it has become a symbol of economic prosperity in the Middle East. |
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To get a more historical taste of the city, visit the Al Fahidi Fort which contains the Dubai Museum and the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, where you can view a set of old photographs. Also, visit the old Bastakiya area to see what Dubai used to look like in the past.
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| The Dubai Cultural Village is being developed, as culture is being increasingly focused upon. Film festivals are abundant in the city, and they attract stars. Dubai also has several luxurious theaters such as Madinat Theater. An art museum is currently being constructed as well. |
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| The major archeological sites are situated in Al Ghusals, Al Sufooh and Jumeirah. You can see almost 2000 year old graveyards in Al Ghusals and Al Sufooh and various artifacts from the 7th up to the 15th centuries. |
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| Other fun things you can engage in include having picnics at Hatta (about an hour away from Dubai) watching the extraordinary air show, or the international boat show which exhibits yachts and boats, heading to the nightclubs and bars of the city, or riding a dhow (a traditional boat) in the creek of Dubai. |
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| Today, Dubai is considered the world’s fastest growing city; even as you read this, new projects are being worked on to ensure the fact that Dubai will become a wonderland in the future . |
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