Dubai is a city of constant wonder and amazement. Through the haze and the glaze, you will find yourself in a mini Manhattan where the city itself never sleeps. That’s because workers are busy constructing impressive architecturally designed buildings 24 – 7. Now with a skyline that spans kilometers, the city just keeps growing.

From all over the world, demand is extremely high for organizations to get their foot into the door of this growing city. Back in 2000, Dubai achieved 12 million visitors which proved to the government how important tourism is to the region. In 2008, the figures jumped to an incredible 37 million.

Hotel guests in Dubai grew from 2.8 million in 2000, to 7.5 million in 2008. Currently in Dubai there are 341 hotels, 152 apartments and 50,457 rooms. By 2017 Dubai aims to double the room numbers to over 100,000.

Eco Tourism Resorts are currently being built, along with the world’s biggest Cruise hub to encourage even more visitors to visit Dubai.

Now for the fun.

Tours / Experiences:
Choose from Desert Safaris, camel riding, sand skiing, boat and dhow river cruises, golf tours, water sports, bird watching, shopping tours, excursions to the mountains,  and my favourite – the City Tour.

    
Spice Markets                                               Dubai Museum                           Gold Souks

The City Tour is where you learn the history about Dubai while visiting the older parts of town seeing how they live. You visit the museum of Dubai which highlights the unbelievable changes that the city has experienced not to mention a short boat ride across Dubai Creek to see the spice markets and the gold souks.

Shopping:
Dubai has so many shopping centers, malls and souks that you can honestly spend weeks just trying to find your way around. A must visit is Dubai Mall, the biggest mall in Dubai which boats an aquarium inside the mall and almost every international brand. Be prepared and hydrate yourself in order to get through every level.

Another major shopping centre is the Mall of the Emirates. Linked to the opulent Kempinski hotel, this mall offers the indoor Ski Dubai, Magic Planet, Cinestar and a Community and Arts Centre.

Things for the Kids – Big and Small.

The new Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark located at the new Atlantis The Palm.
Riding water slides that propel you up the slide, to falling 30 metres through a shark filled lagoon, this is truly fun for all.
The park offers a cashless opportunity where you are given a wrist watch that allows you to add money at the beginning of the experience. Once you enter, you leave everything in your private locker and from then on, you can buy food, drinks, ice-cream, lunch etc just by flashing your wrist watch on the electronic pads. No more loosing locker keys or getting your person items wet.

Brief History of Dubai:
Dubai was originally a small fishing village and in 1830 was taken over by Bani Vas tribe lead by Maktoum Family who rule the Emirate today. In 1971, Britain withdrew and the federation of the 7 Emirates was created.

Hotels and Resorts:
You can not go anywhere in Dubai and not hear about the Burj Al Arab, the seven star hotel that has now become a major icon for Dubai. This structure is in itself a man made wonder of the world. The gold columns, the two story high suites and the hanging restaurant are just a few of the extravagant scenes that make the Burj Al Arab what it is today. Please be sure to arriver either by helicopter or by your private chauffer driven Rolls Royce.

Atlantis the Palm Jumeirah is the first resort to open on the island. This 1539 room resort is the newest edition in Dubai as the property boasts four celebrity chef restaurants, exciting nightclubs even for teenagers and the luscious spa and fitness centre. Each room has a private balcony and views over the Palm Jumeirah or the Arabian Gulf.  
  
                        Atlantis The Palm (Indoor Aquarium)                                 Atlantis The Palm - Lobby

Fast Facts:
- 100 nationalities live in Dubai
- Known as the commercial, leisure and sporting capital of the gulf
- Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates
- Currency is UAE Dirham
- 09/09/09 opening of the new metro (Two lines, Green and Red line linking to the Airport and to the Palms area)
- Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 is only for Emirates

What does the future hold?
With only 10% of Sheikh Mohammed’s vision now reality in Dubai, imagine what the other 90% will hold.

Dubailand is set to become the biggest development ever built. Universal City has already begun, while an international cruise port is on the agenda and with the new metro system, many major areas of Dubai will now be linked by the sky trains.

Falcon City will be 8 times bigger than Disneyland holding the 8 wonders of the world and hotel apartments. This is set to be completed by 2017.

One of the most unique and fastest growing cities in the world, Dubai is definitely a place you must see for yourself.



                                 Dubai Before                                                      Dubai Today