Dubai is the quintessential home of sand, sun and shopping. A century ago, it was a tranquil town whose coral and gympsum huts housed Bedouin traders and pearl divers. Today the merchants have gone, and international and science-fiction skyscrapers stand alongside the mosques and wind towers of Old Dubai.
Dubai's waterfront epitomizes the city's personality. If you do only one touristy thing in Dubai, make sure to visit Dubai Creek. The best way to see the grand trading port is from the water. You can book a pricey cruise or hire an abra (small boat) for an hour so.
No holiday to Dubai would be complete without a visit to Deira's celebrated Gold Souq, which attracts buyers from all over the world. Pass through its wooden lattice archways and you'll find great dazzling heaps of gold chains, rings, earrings, bracelets and every other kind of jewellery.
On your Dubai holiday, you'll find plenty of water sports, including jet-skiing, water-skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. It costs a fortune to maintain the greens, but golfing is a huge draw and Dubai has most of the Arabian Peninsula's courses. If it's too hot consider a visit to the slides at Wild Wadi Waterpark or one of the city's two indoor skating rinks.
Article courtesy of Airport Direct Travel - www.airportdirecttravel.co.uk