A Jewel In The East

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
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The stereotypical image of Dubai is one that features incredible buildings, spectacular opulence and some of the best shopping on the planet. All too often our stereotypes of a certain place are wrong, but when it comes to Dubai, the image is right on the mark.

The only way to get a real feel for the splendour of Dubai is to walk through the city centre. The buildings compete for attention all around you and each is more remarkable than the last. Without a doubt, however, the Burj Khalifa has stolen the title as jewel in the crown of Dubai''s architecture. The Khalifa is the tallest building in the world by some margin and has to be seen to be believed.

The architectural wonders continue onto the beautiful waterfront. Dubai has some amazing beaches which are famed for the care and attention that is spent on them. There are three things that must be seen on the water front. The amazing Palm Tree, the even more amazing World collection of islands, and, of course, the Burj Al-Arab, the amazing sail-shaped hotel.

Aside from the architecture, it''s the shopping that is Dubai''s greatest attraction as it is, undeniably, ...
... one of the premier places to shop in the world. There are dozens of massive shopping malls throughout the city, with shops open all hours of the day and offering everything that you could ever look for. Make sure you have some spare space in your suitcases!

Perhaps the best shopping in Dubai isn''t to be found in the malls, however, but down in the harbour areas. Historically Dubai has always been a busy centre of trade, and for hundreds of years that trade has taken place in the ''souks'' where ship''s captains used to strike deals with local traders. That tradition remains alive, and haggling is very much part of the shopping process, so don''t take anything at face value.

Now a couple of things that people don''t automatically know about Dubai. According to the New York Times, the emirate is one of the best places to party in the world. Drinking on the street is strictly forbidden, but many of the pubs and clubs are found inside the hotels and it''s possible to have an amazing night out without ever going outside.

Whilst most tourists who visit Dubai focus on the buildings, the city has a growing number of green spaces and parks and is surrounded by a desert that is teeming with life. If you have a bit of spare time, it''s definitely worth taking a desert safari, these take you through the dunes to various oasis'' and with hundreds of different species unique to the Middle-East, it''s a great way of getting up close to some rare and exotic wildlife.

In spite of high profile financial problems, Dubai is still a wonderful place to visit and with flights to the emirate cheaper than ever, it''s a great time to head out there. If you fancy a holiday which has sun, sea, and sand why not head out to Dubai? Get on the phone to DialAFlight to secure your flights to Dubai today. Travel to Dubai with confidence and luxury with an award winning flight service.