Dubai - City of Gold, City of the Future

chillibreeze writer — Divya Babu

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A lively city, which is testimony to human innovation, Dubai is fast turning into a much-loved destination for tourists from all over the world. Architectural feats that have amazed the world, fantastic shopping festivals, water sports, sunny beaches and a distinct multi-cultural atmosphere have firmly secured Dubai as a must-visit destination. Once a quiet pearl diving town, Dubai has transformed into a world-class city that boasts of perhaps, the most innovative real estate industry in the world.

To understand the history of Dubai and experience its evolution into what it has become today, a great place to visit would be the Dubai Museum. It is housed in the Fahidi Fort, which itself is a historic site, believed to be the oldest building in Dubai (built approx in the year 1800). Not much is known about the pre-Islamic history of Dubai but a few archeological sites have been unearthed, out of which, Al Ghusais, Al Sufuoh and Jumeirah are most important. The former two have 2000 year-old graveyards.

If history is not your cup of tea and you are more of an adventure buff, there are a number of adventure themed packages for you to explore! Be a part of the Desert Safari where you can experience a thrilling ride in a 4-wheel drive vehicle (handled by expert drivers), which bashes across the scenic dunes. Go right up to the middle of the desert and enjoy a camel back ride into a traditional Bedouin village. Here, you can enjoy a wonderful Arab meal as you watch professional belly dancers entertain you. There are other activities here as well - demonstrations of falconry (a popular sport among Arabs) and for the ladies, get your hands designed with wonderful swirls of henna in minutes!

If you prefer water to sand, indulge in one of the water sport options that the city has to offer. Go scuba diving and witness colourful coral reefs and fascinating wrecks that are found just off the Jumeirah coastline. The beautiful crystal clear Gulf waters are just perfect for this kind of adventure. If you don’t want to be too adventurous, just dip your feet in the clear blue, unpolluted waters, sit back and relax!

Another favourite pastime of Dubai-ites is shopping! With a plethora of shopping malls and districts to choose from, it is an ideal shopper’s paradise. The Dubai Gold Souk is a must-see even for non-shoppers as it is an amazingly dazzling display of gold, approximately 300 shops long, one after the other. ‘Souk’ in Arabic means ‘market’ and the Dubai Gold market has few rivals. If you’re looking for well-known brands, there are many malls that house these, including the Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai City Centre, etc. The Mall of the Emirates also boasts of a ski resort, complete with artificial snow and ski lifts! This amazing feat of architecture attracts many visitors every day. The Ibn Battuta Mall has each of its wings based on the theme of a different country. One moment you’re strolling through Egypt and the next, you’re in exotic China! If you want to experience a traditional Arab atmosphere, visit the Madinat Al Jumeirah, which is modeled on simple and charming Arab architecture.

The achievement that has firmly placed Dubai on the world map is it’s ambitious real estate and architectural projects. With innovative ideas that the world has never seen before, Dubai has achieved one impossible feat after the other. The Palm Islands is one of them. This group of islands is reclaimed land on which residential property is built. From an aerial view, you will see that the island is built in the shape of a large palm tree. This is the world’s largest artificial island. Dubai also boasts of the iconic Burj Al Arab, a luxury hotel, which is the tallest in the world and built on an artificial island in the middle of the sea. Built in the shape of a sail, this, world’s only 7-star property has fast become the mascot of Dubai and is a marvel of modern architecture. With the world’s second largest marina (Dubai Marina), the world’s tallest building (Burj Dubai) and the world’s largest shopping mall nearing completion, Dubai has earned a reputation of being the ‘city of the future’.

Be it shopping, history, city life, adventure sports or architecture, there’s something that Dubai has to offer for everyone. It’s no wonder that tourists are flocking to this City of Gold (as it’s fondly referred to), now a symbol of what man and science in tandem are capable of achieving.

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—About our writer:

Divya says, "I'm a freelance artist, designer and photographer based in Singapore who has a passion for travel and different world cultures."

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