The Wonders Of Dubai

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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Of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is perhaps the most well known. Since oil was discovered in the region in the 1960s, Dubai has gone through a startling transformation, from a desert state into one of the wealthiest and heavily developed regions on earth.

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has sought to turn the desert state into a world class tourist destination. The result has been the construction of some of the most ostentatious structures and lavish accommodation in the world.

The Burj Khalifa embodies the drive, ambition and sheer wealth of Dubai. The building is the tallest man made structure in the world, rising 828m, and at this height the Burj Khalifa dwarfs the Empire State Building, standing over twice as tall as that iconic American structure.

Another of the gargantuan physical statements of wealth and power are the World Islands, another project driven by Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This development of some 300 manmade islands forms an archipelago in the shape of the major land masses of the world. David Beckham is rumoured to own one, and is in ...
... total 9km long and 6km wide, another of the unique attractions of Dubai.

Those who love to shop will Dubai a shopping paradise. Home to designer outlets, sprawling malls, and fascinating array of traditional souk markets, you can buy anything here from designer clothing and furs to traditional textiles and spices. Precious jewels and gold and platinum jewellery is available at the popular Gold Souk, as well as the renowned Gold and Diamond Park, where you are expected to haggle for the best prices.

As well as the ostentatious wealth, there are plenty of the more traditional holiday pastimes to be enjoyed when you stay in Dubai hotels. Granted, many of the hotels in Dubai are luxury affairs that pretty much offer a stand alone, self contained holiday, but there are also such familiar attractions such as scuba diving, and indeed swimming with sharks available in some of the well developed resort areas. Being Dubai, you can also ski and snowboard in the desert, thanks to an indoor piste system featuring real snow that is, you guessed it, the largest indoor slope of its kind in the world. Our guide to the Dubai area was written by Bonny Kominek, an experienced travel agent. They recommend checking the Octopus Travel website for the latest travel deals on Dubai hotels and flights all year round.