Dubai

Dubai is the second largest of the seven territories that make up the United Arab Emirates. A cosmopolitan city, with a distinctive cultural blend of East meets West and Old meets New, Dubai ranks as the country’s leading commercial centre.

Archaeological explorations suggest that early fishing settlements were situated along the Gulf Coast from around 7,500 years ago. However, the first major settlement of Dubai did not occur until the 1830’s. At this time, the residents were led by the Maktoum family, who still rule Dubai today. Traditionally, coastal occupations included dhow building and fishing; however, it was pearl-diving that eventually led to Dubai’s rise in prominence as a trading centre. By the late 1870’s Dubai was the principal port of the Gulf coast, attracting traders from as far away as Iran and India and by the turn of the century, the largest souks in the region were reputed to be in Dubai. Pearls continued to be a mainstay of the emirate’s prosperity until the late 1940’s when demand collapsed in response to the development of Japanese cultured pearls. At this point, trading in other products such as gold, took over and ‘the city of merchants’ was able to overcome the setback. In 1966, Dubai’s oil reserves were discovered, with the first exports following in 1969 and during this period, Britain announced its withdrawal from the region. Two years later, the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain and Fujairah came together to form the sovereign state of the United Arab Emirates, with Ras al-Khaimah following suit a year later.

Dubai Creek is a natural sea-water inlet that cuts through the centre of the city and is still a focal point for life in Dubai. The colour and commotion of the loading and unloading of dhows, which still ply ancient trade routes to India and East Africa, is a captivating sight for visitors. The Bastakiya district gives a glimpse of old Dubai, whilst the largest concentration of traditional courtyard houses with their cooling windtowers, may be seen immediately to the east of Al Fahidi Fort. Dating from the late 19th century, Sheikh Saeed’s House commands a position from which he could observe all the shipping activity. The building is a splendid example of regional architecture and now houses a collection of rare photographs, coins, stamps and historic documents.

Dubai is famous for its souks, particularly its gold souk, featuring shop windows crammed full of gold necklaces, bangles, rings and brooches. In the spice souk, bags of spices, incense, rose petals and traditional medicinal products may be found stacked outside each stall.

From the beaches to the mountains, Dubai is a land of great natural beauty and variety. The desert encompasses rocky plains and high dunes, supporting a surprising diversity of wildlife and providing opportunities for visitors to indulge in an array of recreational activities. Nestled among the Hajar Mountains, 115km south of Dubai, restoration work in the Hatta Heritage Village has preserved the features of 30 buildings including a fort, mosque, watchtowers and a traditional village house.

Year round sunshine, some of the world’s finest hotels, world class sporting events, excellent shopping and miles of sun-drenched beaches have ensured that Dubai is fast becoming a leading leisure destination. These, together with the many events held throughout the year, including the increasingly popular shopping festival, make Dubai ideal as a year round holiday destination, a short break or as a stopover in combination with other destinations.