You'll pinch yourself to check that this modern-day marvel of a city isn't a mirage on your first visit to Dubai. Dubai's multi-storey shopping malls are the most palatial on the planet, so bring your credit cards. Stare open mouthed at gravity-defying modern architecture like the Burj Al Arab hotel, shaped like a ship, complete with a huge sail. Delve deeper on subsequent visits to Dubai to discover the intimate charm of the Bastakiya quarter's traditional courtyard houses or take a desert safari to experience Dubai's natural beauty.
Background
Use Dubai Creek snaking down from the Arabian Gulf to get your bearings. You'll find the old merchant centre of Deira on one side of the creek, with its atmospheric souks, and Bur Dubai on the other. Get a taste of the past in Bur Dubai's Bastakiya quarter, with its traditional courtyard houses topped by distinctive open towers to catch the wind and cool the interiors. Dubai's leisure and entertainment district follows coastal Jumeirah Beach Road all the way to the Burj Al Arab hotel, while skyscraper-lined Sheikh Zayed Road runs parallel to it.
First-time visit
Lose yourself in the winding streets of the Bastakiya quarter on your first visit to Dubai. Drop into the Dubai Museum to witness the city's rapid modernisation, then cruise down the Creek in a traditional wooden dhow. Haggle for bargains in the exotic souks then go upmarket at an Italian Renaissance-, Egyptian- or bazaar-themed shopping mall. Sample traditional Middle Eastern fare by the Creek in Bur Dubai or sip champagne with Burj Al Arab views at Jumeirah and enjoy world-class dining at one of the area's award-winning restaurants.
Return visit
Delve into Dubai's past at the Heritage Village or the brilliantly restored home of a sheikh in Bur Dubai. Fill up on sub-continental street food in nearby Little India and shop for bargains in Karama souk. Swim at Jumeirah Beach or stroll through beachside gardens at Safa Park. Play golf on greens surrounded by dunes or discover the silence of the sands on a desert safari.
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