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I have been lucky enough to visit Dubai on 3 occasions. My first visit was in 2004 when I went on an educational visit that also included Abu Dhabi and Qatar and at the time it was like nowhere else I had ever been before. We saw a lot of hotels some of which no longer exist but we still managed to get a real feel for the place with a meal in a local restaurant, the food was great but no alcohol was served, a day at Wild Wadi Waterpark in 55C heat so I was glad of the cool water to jump in to, a dune bashing trip out in to the desert stopping to sip champagne as we watched the sun go down before being whisked off to experience a desert camp complete with camels and traditional entertainment and a visit to the 7 star Burj Al Arab hotel which was stunning! We also travelled through Sharjah with its harbour full of traditional dhow ships to Fujairah with its great beaches and less developed than Dubai.
The second visit was in 2005 and even so soon after my first trip I could see the difference with a large amount of building work well under way including the Palm Jumeirah. Hotels that I had seen the previous year had been finished and we were lucky enough to stay at the Al Qsar, part of the Madinat Jumeirah and famous for its waterways with traditional Abras ferrying guests to different parts of the resort. It has its own Souk but we ventured out to Bur Dubai for the Spice and Gold Souks. The former was exactly as I had expected with exotic scents and winding alley ways but the Gold Souk was in an uninspiring building full of small shops which was in complete contrast to the dazzling contents! We took a Dhow cruise along the Creek and over to the modern Deira area and the shops along the Sheikh Zayed Road.
My third visit in May 2011 was different again and I saw a massive change in the city with the majority of the building work finished or stalled due to the current economic climate. The Palm Jumeirah is now finished and the Atlantis the Palm has been open to guests for a year or so now adding another water park Aquaventure and the opportunity to swim with dolphins. The Kempinksi with its slope side lodges allow skiers and snowboarders to indulge their passion whilst the Mall of the Emirates and the Dubai Mall satisfy the most avid shopper, golfers and naturalists are well catered for and the Burj Khalifa gives those not scared of heights a birds eye view over the whole city. The sun was still hot with temperatures reaching 46C but the sea was cooler and the swimming pools more refreshing still. This time we sampled Bubbalicious the Friday brunch at our hotel the Westin Mina Seyahi. The meal is a fabulous buffet with over 10 live cooking stations and all the hotels restaurants open to sample everything from traditional breakfast to steaks, seafood and stunning deserts all accompanied by unlimited champagne or wine and live music. At night the city comes alive with clubs and restaurants and the fountain show at Dubai Mall is magical
I opted for the Seawings Experience - a float plane trip from Jebel Ali Marina that took us down the coast to Dubai Creek and over the Palms Jumeirah and Jebel Ali, the World and the whole city which offered a spectacular perspective.
No trip would be complete without a trip in to the desert and this time I had two - one an evening trip to the Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa for an evening of traditional food and entertainment and the second to the Al Maha, a Luxury Collection, Desert Resort & Spa which sits inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve home to the Arabian Oryx. The resort is designed to resemble an ancient Bedouin encampment and is one of the most relaxing places I have ever been. From the moment we arrived the stress just fell away and the wonderful rooms, food and service added to the experience. We managed a wildlife drive and a visit with the Arabian Eagle Owls and Falcons. In the evening they offer a sundowner camel ride and private desert picnics - we just wished we could have stayed longer!
Dubai has something for everyone!