Located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai has emerged as a global city and international business hub. Innovative large construction projects such as Burj Al Arab (the world’s most luxurious hotel), Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world) and the Palm islands, have  recently attracted world attention.

We recently stayed in Dubai city for two nights and beneath the mantle of glitz and glamour, Dubai seems to have a lot to offer. So we are definitely coming back – just need to save up some money!

Where to stay…

We stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel,  a five-star beach resort with views of the Gulf and Burj Al Arab. Each room is approximately 50 sq metres – all with spectacular views! Enjoy the private beach (and the purpose built coral reef 2 km off-shore!), swimming pools or one of the hotel’s many restaurants. Great hotel that I can definitely recommend!

Other hotels for you to check out: One&Only Royal Mirage or The Ritz-Carlton.

 (Picture source: www.jumeirah.com)

What to do and when to go…

  • Have drinks or dinner at Burj Al Arab‘s Skyview Bar. Located 200 m above sea level, spectacular views are guaranteed from this bar! We ordered food from Skyview Bar’s bar menu (small tapas dishes), but you can also dine in one of the hotel’s many restaurants. Bookings are essential!
  • Shop, shop, shop… Wow! Downtown Dubai offers a variety of shopping options to both residents and visitors. Visit the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, The Dubai Mall (here you can find all the international designer brands – and when you get tired of shopping then visit Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo or Dubai Ice Rink ) or Mall of the Emirates (don’t forget to shop jewellery – significant savings)! Don’t panic if you get hungry while shopping: Good food courts and restaurants are available in the shopping centres.
  • The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (the tallest building in the world) – Your trip into the sky begins in the reception area on the lower ground level of the Dubai Mall. Take the high-speed elevator to level 124 and enjoy a 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean from the observatory deck.
  • Visit Dubai Marina, book a hot-air balloon flight and enjoy an amazing view over giant red sand dunes or play golf at one of Dubai’s many golf course.
  • The best time to visit Dubai is during its cooler months (November to April). We were there in August and it was too hot: 45ºC or more.

The Burj Khalifa skyscraper is a world-class destination and the magnificent centerpiece of Downtown Dubai, Dubai’s new urban masterpiece.  The world’s tallest building is surrounded by hotels, must-visit shopping destinations  and a world of entertainment options.

(Text source: http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/)

(Picture source, Travel Habit)