Dubai

I have recently returned from a short trip to Dubai to see how the city has developed. Dubai is continually developing with many ongoing projects. What struck me was how unusual and striking the architecture is. We saw the tallest building, the Burj Dubai, opening in Sept 09, adjacent to the largest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall. Ten minutes from there we witnessed skiers and snowboarders enjoying real snow runs in the Ski Dome, attached to another vast shopping mall, the Mall of the Emirates. Another 10 mins further on we came to the Marina area, from where you could access the first of three Palm Islands. At the head of this island is the large resort of Atlantis, worth a visit even if just to look around the aquarium. Along the marina area are a variety of excellent hotels, all on the sandy beach, looking out to Palm Island. A few miles further along the coast is the Jumeirah beach area, where the iconic Burj al Arab Hotel stands. There is no current development in this area, so if you are after a beach break, then this could be the place to choose.

Worth a visit too is the Deira area, where life centres on Dubai Creek. This is the older original part of Dubai. We visited the Dubai Museum, where they have interesting displays showing traditional life in Dubai, and replicas of the pearl fishermen's boats and dhows, the large boats that sail up and down the creek. From here we crossed the creek on the traditional abras, which are small boats which ferry people across to the souks on the other side of the creek. We had fun bartering in the various souks. Start at a third of the price asked and work up to a half. The souks are divided into different areas. The Spice Souk gave off exciting aromas, whilst the Gold Souk glittered with jewellery. I loved the beautiful material on display in the area where you'd find upholstery and fabrics...an interior designer’s heaven.

Before I travelled to Dubai, I wondered if the building development would mar the enjoyment of this richly diverse city. I don't believe it does. True, at every turn a new road is under construction, and the monorail is being developed all over the city, but I noticed that even partly completed buildings had attractive fascias. So to me it just made it an interesting venture to watch.

Dubai is a city of superlatives: tallest, largest, and most unusual. It will appeal to those wanting to relax on the beautiful beaches, to those who enjoy excellent food and service, who like to see the Arabian culture, or just enjoy some time shopping and bartering. It takes about 20 mins to get to the coast or the city from the airport. The flight took just over 6 hours, which was long enough to enjoy a film or two on board.