Jumeirah Beach Park

Jumeirah Beach Park is the first beach park in Dubai and is one of best known beaches in Dubai with crystal white sand and turquoise blue water. Actually it’s a single soft unending carpet of sand dispersed with hotels, clubs and public access areas. The beach park is an ideal location for people of all ages as a picnic spot with kid’s recreation area, games area and restaurants / food courts jewelling the area. For a family picnic you can get together at the picnic tables, have a small barbecue, children can play at the kid’s area while you can relax or swim at the beachfront. Alert lifeguards, special swimming pools and showers are available whenever you are in the mood to swim. There’s even a small amphitheatre to showcase live musical or stage performances. Palm promenades and small wooden seats complete the picturesque view. If you want to visit this God gifted marvelous place, then Dubai government charges Dhs 2 per person or Dhs 20 per vehicle. The park is open from 8.00am to 9.00pm daily with Saturday’s and Sunday’s especially reserved for women and children.

Al Mazmar Beach Park

The conceptualization behind Palm Islands, World Islands have always surprised us and the same idea takes over behind the construction of the man made Al Mazmar Beach Park. An all-in-one beach projects its amusement, relaxation and pleasure all at one place. Covering 106 hectares its includes huge expanses of green coverage, an amphitheatre, numerous swimming pools, kid’s play areas, picnic and barbecue spots, lagoons and several beaches served by alert lifeguards and all the necessary luxury options. Al Mazmar Beach Park is not just about lazing at the beaches or playing watersports but also includes enjoying the different green zones, relaxing under the trees, laying out the picnic basket, flying the kites or playing football. Colors merge together at the Al Mazmar Beach Park which is open from 8.00am to 11.00pm daily except Thursday’s and Friday’s. Wednesday’s are reserved for women and children.

Apart from shopping, entertainment activities are also available in plenty where visitors from the nearby countries are expected to be a part of the live performances, regional events, Dubai International Jazz festival, etc. that are listed during this period.
By means of various main events at the festival, many cash prizes and Luxury cars can be won. Not only this, the Dubai Festival is believed to have a weight loss conference for the fitness freaks and a Fashion festival for all fashion enthusiasts.
During the festive period, you can relish the mouth watering food festival amid the best of regional and international cuisines, shop and witness Chinese Flying Poles, The Waterway of Lights, the Art of Fire and Human Canonball.

Here is the schedule of the major events of DSF in brief:

1) DSF Family Desert Camp by ‘Watani’: It is an outdoor event where families and visitors can rent tents for some days to enjoy the number of amusing activities planned during that phase, for e.g.: camel rides, quad bikes, horse riding, barbecue facilities, souks, handicrafts, and other traditional products. For children, the rides zone, entertainment shows and outing has been made accessible.
Date: 28th January to 28th February 2010
Time: 24 hours
Venue: Al Warqa 4 Area

2) Carpet Oasis: As the name suggests, here you can get the best of the carpets in the middle of the trade fair, which is indeed a must see for those with an inclination for culture and history. Spanned across thousands of square meters area, it exhibit products from places like Iran, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan.
Date: 28th January to 28th February 2010
Time: Saturday to Thursday: 10:00am to 10:00pm, Friday: 4pm to 11:30pm
Venue: Dubai Airport Expo – West Hall

3) Watani Kids Camp: It is particularly meant for children, kind of a special camp just for kids, where Watani supports fun and entertainment. It is a boon particularly for those who are on a travel to Dubai during this period along with their children. By means of this watani camp, their kids too can have some great experience, while they themselves can take pleasure in shopping and other activities.
Date: 30th January to 13th February 2010
Time: 8:30am to 1:30pm
Venue: Al Warqa 4 Area

4) Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival: It is a festival that brings the local, regional, and international jazz artists together into two sub-events this year, where people with love for art and music can enjoy in the midst of some of the best known names in the jazz.

World of Jazz
Date: 3rd to 9th February 2010
Time: 8:30pm & 10:30pm
Venue: The Walk at JBR

Jazz Festival
Date: 10th to 19th February 2010
Time: 10th February to 16th February: 8:30pm – 11:00pm, 17th February to 19th February: 6:00pm to 12:00 midnight
Venue: Dubai Media City

5) Gulf Bike Festival 2010: You can enjoy free style bike demonstrations and stunt shows at the Gulf Bike Week during the jovial period of the festival on two wheels. The event provides an ideal lifestyle environment for music fans, sports enthusiasts, and thrill seekers of all ethnicity and age group.
Date: 4th to 6th February 2010
Time: 4th February: 2:00pm to 11:30pm, 5th to 6th February: 12:00pm to 8:00pm
Venue: Dubai Festival City

6) The 9th Traditional Poetry Forum: The forum is infact a great platform under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where the poets can get pleasure from the Forum chiefly designed for them, that will certainly bring cultures together.
Date: 13th to 18th February 2010
Time: 7:30pm onwards
Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition – Parking C

7) Kuwaiti Play ‘Bu Sara Fe Al Omara’
Date: 25th – 28th February
Time: 8:30pm – 11:30pm
Venue: H.H. Sheikh Rashid Auditorium – Indian High School

Visitors on the Costa Cruise can bathe inside the natural pools at the Hatta, a halt before Al-Bastakiya district. Also, the cruise boosts a tempting Trattoris Buffet inside its beautiful terrace. The other excursions of the Costa Cruises include a tour of the main centre of Dubai, the Dubai Heritage tour and a boat spree to the artificial Palm Islands. Furthermore, the adventure lovers can hop into the 4X4 Dune Drive Safari. Costa cruise features stylish rooms adorned with warm colours and cozy bedrooms that ensure a comfortable living. On entering, the Costa Classica you will be welcomed by a grand statue created by Arnaldo Pomodoro. There is a Piazza Navona dedicated for socializing and meeting and the Puccini Ballroom is a fantastic dancing room. Evenings can be spent inside the Colosseo Theatre that ensures a complete entertainment.

Relaxation during your holiday can be achieved inside the Dubai Dhow Cruise. The dhow is generally made of wood and is used mostly for fishing. An evening on the cruise with the cool wind and the silence spread across the creek is sure to calm down the stress and relax your mind. The boat operators take you to a beautiful spot where a stunning contrast between Deira and Bur Dubai is recognized smoothly across the water strip of the Dubai Creek, wherein one side boosts the modern side of Dubai while the other side preserves the calmness of the Arab land. Also, the belly dancing performed by the belly dancers is sure to entertain you.

If you wish to hire a cruise from Dubai to explore Muscat, Bahrain or Abu Dhabi then Costa Luminosa, Costa Deliziosa, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas and Panorama are a few of the options. Generally a 2 nights stay over, the cruises start and end at the marvelous city of Dubai. The route followed is first Muscat, then Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and back to Dubai. Travel from Dubai to Muscat on weekly basis can be enjoyed by the passengers of the Arabian Sea Cruise.

The Jewels of the Emirates Cruise and Dubai and the Emirates Cruise offer 7 nights’ cruises taking you to a trip to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain along with a night in Dubai at the start and end of your journey. Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas also boosts a 7 night trip around Muscat, Oman, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, starting and ending at Dubai. The Costa Classica also offers a 7 night trip. The tour includes a halt at Muscat, Oman, Bahrain, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi along with 2 night’s stay in Dubai. A 10 night trip around Dubai can be enjoyed in the Silver Whisper by SilverSea Cruises. You can enjoy a trip to Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Muscat, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

Almost all the cruises start from the Dubai Cruise Terminal at the Port Rashid. The best time to enjoy the Dubai Cruises is in winter, though autumn and spring are also at hand.

Online Cruise booking is available at TravelAgents.com

All the shops are open from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 5:00 pm till 7:00 pm, except for Thursdays and Fridays when they are open in the afternoons as well. The best time to turn up here is in the late afternoon when the souks are jam-packed completely, but if you are interested to ought some leisure shopping then these evenings are to be avoided.

Gold Souk

Gold Souk
People with fondness for gold can shop along the narrow streets of Dubai lined with glittering windows, where 22 and 24 carat gold is offered in plenty. One can easily get confused where to begin as the whole market is crammed with dazzling gold shops. Be it gold brooches, ear rings, bangles, rings or necklaces, one can find each and every window adorned with gold ornaments and artifacts. None of the jewelry is less than 18 carat and the prices offered here are much lower than most other parts of the world.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah
A rich and brightly colored market, Souk Madinat Jumeirah hosts a bazaar-like atmosphere in its zigzag and roundabout paths. You just bounce in the lively trade and interactive culture that no doubt gives you an altogether different shopping experience. Popular for unique brands and crafts you can hear women and craftsmen at work along with tempting coffee aroma, coming from the various cafes and restaurants, while strolling off the souk.

Spice Souk

Spice Souk
Toss up into a variety of spices and fragrance from the shisha and frankincence to the different herbs used in South Asian and Arabic food inside the souk market that houses a collection of spices commonly used. Also, textiles, rugs, incense and other artifacts are also sold here. Bargaining is something that you ought not to forget to do here!

Fish Market
A worth trip for a few clicks to show it out to your loved ones, the Fish Market features a variety of seafood options. Market smell herein is filled with fish sellers that trade and bargain over the prices of fresh fish and spices too. A seafood restaurant and museum is also there inside that caters to the tastes of fish lovers.

Textile Souk

Textile Souk
Stroll off through the trove of textiles, shades, dyes, textures, knits and laces inside the textile souk adorned with gleaming threads, velvets and silks. There is a never ending choice for the shoppers and the prices are negotiable. Also, sales are put up on frequent basis.

Meena Bazaar
A popular place among the tourists, Meena Bazaar is filled in with ladies and gents clothing, jewelry and fashion shops. The market also has a few restaurants, takeaways and much more.

Perfume Souk

Perfume Souk
Fling yourself into the aroma of local and international perfumes available at the variety of shops in the Perfume Souk. Incense sticks and oily scents are also available there in abundance.

Souk Al Bahar
A perfect blend of the old and new, the Souk Al Bahar showcase crisscross passages, big pergolas and calm spots that overlook the tallest Burj Dubai.

If at all you are new in Dubai, do not worry as most of the taxi drivers here know the souks and can drop you there at a reasonable fare. And if you have lots of time and want to wander around the city then hire an available public transport .

DDF Airport Shopping

If Dubai well known in the tourism industry that is because it of the tax free shopping benefits it offers to its visitors. Dubai Duty Free is one such shopping sanctuary that caters to all kinds of shoppers with its wide-ranging quality products from leather goods to electronics.

Located at the Sheikh Rashid Terminal of Dubai International Airport it covers a huge space of 15,000 square meters doubling the retail space, which the airport previously proffered. Since its establishment in 1983 it has received more than 150 global awards and amongst them the prestigious ones are ‘Best Duty Free Shops’ from Business Traveler magazine, five time winner ‘Airport Retailer of the Year’ presented in Cannes and the one from Global Traveler Award in 2008.

Recently in 2008, it celebrated its 25^th anniversary on 20^th December which was a testimonial to its business that grew from 20 million USD in 1984 to 1.1 billion USD in 2008. The anniversary was celebrated in a variety of ways including the publication of its book ‘Fly Buy Dubai’ (its motto) which delves into the intricacies duty free shopping industry. It doubled up its retail space by inaugurating the new Emirates Terminal 3 in 2008.

Shopping at DDF (Dubai Duty Free) is an extremely enthralling experience due to the highly optimistic rates it offers on its quality products which no other retailer in the world is known to propose.

DDF Tobbaco Store

Some of the products that DDF is known best for:

1. Liquor and Tobacco
2. Perfumery
3. Ladies Designer Clothing:
4. Sunglasses
5. Men’s Designer Clothing
6. Sports Wear
7. Food Items
8. Gifts
9. Tapes, CD’s, DVD’s
10. Crystal ware
11. Leather Goods
12. Toys
13. Books

DDF constantly promotes Dubai tourism through a series of events that not only provides visitors a chance to participate in world class celebrations, but if luck favors they could also win various prizes that runs into millions of dollars.

DDF horse racing

Upcoming events for the year 2009 are:

DDF Shergar Cup 2009 (jockey championships)
8 August 2009 – 8 August 2009

Dubai Duty Free UGA Seniors Cup (golf championships for elders)
5 September 2009 – 5 September 2009

13th Dubai Duty Free International Raceday (Raceday sponsored by Dubai Duty Free)
18 September 2009 – 19 September 2009

Dubai Rugby 7s (rugby championships)
3 November 2009 – 5 November 2009

Dubai Airshow 2009 (air show with aviators displaying flying skills)
15 November 2009 – 19 November 2009

MEDFA Conference (Middle East Duty Free Association conference)
23 November 2009 – 24 November 2009

17th Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup (golf championships at The Montgomerie and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club)
25 November 2009 – 26 November 2009

Dubai Ladies Masters (golf championships for ladies)
7 December 2009 – 13 December 2009

6th Dubai International Film Festival (Film festival)
9 December 2009 – 16 December 2009

DDF GRand Prix-Offshore Powerboat Race (powerboat race championships)
11 December 2009 – 12 December 2009

Dubai Duty Free 26th Anniversary (DDF’s 26the anniversary celebrations)
20 December 2009 – 20 December 2009

Contact DDF at:
Tel: +971 4 2162453
Fax: +971 4 2244164
Toll Free: 8004443 (UAE)

The Sony Ericsson building at Dubai Internet City (CC/Sujit Sivanand)

Today, Dubai Internet City has become centre stage for the IT industry with every known IT company having its head office or regional branch located here. That’s because of the strategic location of Dubai, Middle East which is easily accessible from all corners of the earth and has very young and vibrant population that is equally learned and technology savvy. The potential growth for IT sector in Dubai is enormous due to the construction of Dubai Internet City. More than 600 IT companies employing about 11 thousand staff have their branches in Dubai Internet City making it the largest managed body in the world that encompasses most of the global ICT companies under one roof. Companies like mobile manufacturing i-Mate have moved their entire operation from Scotland to Dubai. Even companies like Fujitsu Siemens have profited by opening their regional offices here.

The Dubai Internet City was inaugurated in October 2000 to create a common base where various ICT companies from wide range of sectors, could operate from. The campus has been developed in such a way that it creates ample opportunities for networking and channel development between partners and probable partners with a chance to develop new ideas and explore newer grounds.

Dubai Internet City is a free trade zone which incorporates Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village all within close proximity to each other. Dubai Media City has been specially established for media related businesses while Knowledge Village is a learning community. A free trade zone presents unique opportunities like 100% ownership, 100% tax free, Capital Mobility, Easy Licensing, Cyber Regulations and Protection of IP which every IT company dreams of.

If companies just want to test the settings of Dubai Internet City then they could hire a temporary office with all available facilities. A fully serviced package includes temporary offices, office services, free research data, IT/Telecom services, conference facilities, trouble free licensing and quick visa processing. Dubai Internet City offers technology that is above par then the rest of the word including smart buildings, IP telephony, Call Centre solutions, LAN/WAN technologies, Broadband internet, leased circuits, VPN and Wi-FI and Frame Relay & ATM Hosting. Other support facilities like world renowned restaurants and branches of global banks  encourages team bonding within the company and outside partners alongside providing all necessary facilities at a near reach.

The World - Dubai (GFDL / Imre Solt)

The World Islands – Dubai is a set of artificial islands created by man to highlight his standard of luxury. A city that is distinctively different from any other in the world, due to its shape and the vision needed to imagine it. The World Islands are unique because such kind of man made islands can nowhere be found in the world leading to a new rise and expansion in real estate developments. The islands have produced unmatched opportunities for real estate developers and visitors.

The World islands structure which looks hard to imagine, yet is believable because of the 4 major transportation hubs that optimize travel time to Dubai. These hubs are so well located and connected by series of waterways/channels that reaching the Jumeriah beach is a matter of minutes. Also it allows easy access to other islands within the whole city/world helping to organize traffic along the network.

These continents or islands are adaptable and dependent upon the investor who decides its use, size of his estate and configuration. They are divided into four major parts: Low density, Mid-High Density, Resort and Commerical according to their uses. The network and hubs provide the main source of travel through and towards the islands. Both small and large vessels can passage in smoothly connecting various islands, their owners and visitors.

The World Islands can become your permanent home or a family vacation getaway depending on your idea of luxury. These land parcels can be sculpted together to form continents or resort sanctuaries where hoteliers have the full freedom to design their own idea of a perfect luxury resort. Visitors or residencies can enjoy indulge in luxury facilties like boutiques, cafés, restaurants and shopping. All around year sunshine, blue waters and gentle winds flowing through your hair is an ideal thought of a home away from home.

A destination that has showcased that nothing is impossible. Imagination combined with ambition is the only way to achieve your dream – The World Islands.

Gold Souk

Whenever we say the word Dubai, another word from the Oxford dictionary automatically gets affixed to it and i.e. ’shopping’. Shopping in Dubai doesn’t always mean getting more for lesser money, but it also is the enjoyment and fulfillment that you derive from wandering and maybe getting lost in large malls   gold shopping in souks and buying smaller antiques on shopping streets.

A term aptly given to Dubai as the ’shopping capital of Middle East’, doesn’t prove wrong as the city boats of duty free luxury goods compared to their price in western countries. Low custom duties have resulted in the Dubai International Airport being the best visited duty-free airports in the world for last minute shopping.
Shopping in Dubai is divided into three segregates: Shopping Malls, Souks and Shopping Areas. Shopping Malls are visited largely for designer brands and are stylized according to malls in the western countries. Souks are great places if you are looking for gold, clothes and electronic items while shopping areas will provide you the same items at a bargained price.

Mall of The Emirates

Bargaining is unofficially “authorized” in Dubai, even in shopping malls. Utter the word “best price” an you will receive an additional discount on an already discounted item. A good deal depends upon how much you are ready to pay after you should start bargaining. In souks, cut off the shop owner’s price on an item by half which in turn will form the backdrop for a good deal. Some emotional tactics like leaving the shop or refusing to buy the item may result in the shop owner accepting your bargained price.
Along with clothes, designer brands and electronics, there are quite a few people who come to Dubai just to shop for gold specially The Gold Souk in Deira which is the largest retail gold markets in the world. Other than the above mentioned items, you can shop for Arabia dates, sheesha pipes or hookahs, Arabic coffee, Persian carpets and wooden furniture.
The Dubai Shopping Festival in spring and Dubai Summer Surprises in summer are two major events where you will find lot of bargains and other entertainment activities.
Shopping Hours: Shops: 10am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm. Shopping Malls: 10am to 10pm,
Closed from 11.30am to 1.30pm on Friday for prayers

Some of the best places to visit for shopping:

BurJuman Mall
Highlights: 300 retail shops, designer brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermes, Valentino, Emanel Ungaro, Loewe, Etro, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Christian Lacroix, Salvatore Ferragamo and Just Cavalli. Also includes a variety of restaurants, a food court and cafes.
Mall Timings: Saturday to Thursday 10:00 am to 10:00pm & Friday 2:00 p.m. to 10:00pm
All Food & Beverage Outlets: From 10:00am to 11:00 pm daily
Address: BurJuman, PO Box 8022, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971-4-3520222
Fax: +971-4-3510824

Deira City Centre
Highlights: 340 retail shops, Magic Planet entertainment centre, International brands and shops such as Carrefour,   One of the hosts for Dubai Summer Surprises, 11-screen “CineStar Cinemas” theatre, food court encompassing 15 restaurants, direct access to Sofitel City Centre Hotel
Mall Timings: Sunday to Wednesday: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Thursday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 12:00 midnight
Carrefour: Saturday to Wednesday: 9:00 am to 12:00 midnight, Thursday to Friday: 9:00 am to 1:00 am
CineStar Cinemas: Daily: 10:00 am to 1:00 am
Magic Planet: Daily: 10:00 am to 12:00
Email: dccmarketing@maf.ae
Address: Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971-4-2951010
Fax: +971-4-2953765

The Dubai Mall
Highlights: 1200 retail shops, one of the hosts for Dubai Summer Surprises, Olympic sized ice skating rink, world’s largest aquarium and gold souk, 150 restaurants and cafes serving international cuisine, refreshments and fast food , light and water play at Dubai Fountain.
Mall, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Timings: Sunday – Wednesday 10:00 – 22:00, Thursday – Saturday 10:00 – 24:00
Ice Rink: Sunday – Wednesday 10:00 – 22:00, Thursday – Saturday 10:15 – 23.45
Address:  The Dubai Mall Downtown Burj Dubai P.O. Box 113444. Dubai, UAE
Email:  enquiry@thedubaimall.com
Telephone: +971-4-437-3200, +971-4-362-7500
Fax: +971-4-362-7566

Emirates Towers Boulevard
Highlights: 50 retail shops located within Jumeirah Emirates Towers, boutiques of leading designer brands, restaurants and cafes.
Mall Timings: 10.00am to 10.00pm daily, and 4.00pm to 10.00pm on Fridays
Address: PO BOX 72127, DUBAI, UAE
Email:JETemo@jumeirah.com
Telephone: +971-4-3198999, +971-4-3300000
Fax: +971-4-3303030

Festival Waterfront Centre
Highlights: 600 retail shops, 25 flagship stores, 100+ restaurants, cafes and bistros, 12-screen Grand Cinemas multiplex, Bowling city, entertainment centre and parking for 13,000 cars.
Mall Timings: Friday to Saturday 10am until 1am
Address: Festival Centre, Dubai Festival City, P O Box 49776, Garhoud, UAE
Email: martina.boor@dubaifestivalcity.com
Telephone: + 971-4-2325444
Fax: + 971-4-2325667

Ibn Battuta Mall
Highlights: 275 retail shops, 50 restaurants and food outlets, 21-screen cinema theatre, mall divided into various courts such as China Court, India Court, etc, UAE’s only IMAX theatre, “Fitness First” state-of-the-art gymnasium, Geant Hypermarket (a French retail store).
Mall Timings: Sunday to Wednesday: 10am to midnight, Thursday to Saturday: 10am to 1am
Restaurants & Food Court: Saturday to Friday: 10am to midnight
Geant Hypermarket: Saturday to Friday: 9am to midnight
Address: P.O. Box: 261177, Dubai, UAE
Email: info@ibnbattutamall.com
Telephone: +971-4-3621901 or +971-4-3621902
Fax: +971-4-3685140

Mall of Emirates
Highlights: 400 retail shops, International brands and shops such as Carrefour supermarket, Harvey Nichols and Debenhams, Middle East’s first indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai, 14-screen cinema theatre, Al Accad Group’s organic supermarket.
Mall Timings: Sunday – Wednesday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 12:00 midnight
Carrefour: 9:00 am – 12:00 midnight every day
Address: Interchange 4, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE
Email: info@malloftheemirates.com
Telephone: +971-4-409 9000, Ski Dubai +971-4-409 4000, Carrefour +971-4-409 4899, Magic Planet +971-4-341 4444, Cinestar Cinemas +971-4-341 4222, DUCTAC +971-4-341 4777
Fax: +971-4 409 9888

Souk Madinat
Highlights: 75 boutique shops, 23 waterfront cafes, bars and restaurants and 442 seating capacity Madinat Theatre.
Mall Timings: Daily 10 am to 11 pm
Address: PO BOX 75157, DUBAI, UAE
Email: MJinfo@jumeirah.com
Telephone: +971 4 3668888
Fax: +971 4 3667788

Wafi Mall
Highlights: 350 retail shops, exclusive shopping and entertainment mall for international brands such as Chanel and Escada for clothes, Edra and VG for furnishings, 30 multi cuisine restaurants, Encounter Zone for kids, Ginseng, China Moon Bar, New Asia Club, Plan B for live entertainment and nightlife pubbing, Cleopatra’s and Medi Spa for luxury and rejuvenation.
Mall Timings: Saturday to Wednesday: 10.00am to 10.00pm, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am to 12.00 midnight
Address: 26th Street  Dubai, UAE
Email: customerservice@wafi.com
Telephone: +971 4 324 4555, Pyramids and Fort Restaurants, Bars and Clubs:+971 4 324 4100, Cleopatra’s Spa:+971 4 324 0000, Pharaohs’ Club: +971 4 324 0251, Raffles Hotel: +971 4 324 8888

Dubai Museum

Old Dubai aera and museum, UAE, November 2007

It was in 1799 when AL Fahidi Fort was established and believed to be  oldest building in Dubai.  It was built to defend the city from foreign invasion. The marvelous fort is now known as the Dubai Museum where you can experience Dubai’s heritage and rich culture since its inception in 1971. At the Museum’s entrance, you can find the majestic collection of old maps of the Gulf and the Emirates, showcasing the urban expansion of Dubai from 1960 to 1980. Dubai Museum offers an exceptional trip to desert life, traditional Arabian homes, mosques, fishing, pearl diving and trade. Among the highlights that can be witnessed in the museum are artifacts such as old weaponry and also musical instruments made of goatskin.

Grand Mosque

Grand Mosque Dubai

Located near the Ruler’s Court on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek, the Grand Mosque was constructed in 1900 and was rebuilt in 1998 with the traditional Islamic architectural design. Now at 70 meters, it is the city’s tallest minaret. It has 45 small domes, not to mention the nine large ones displaying stained glass panels, which makes it a prominent landmark of Dubai’s place of worship. Although non-Muslims are not permitted to go inside the mosque, you will be amazed of its remarkable interior designs.

Constructed in 1900, the Grand Mosque’s ancient traditional Persian designs such as the domes, astounding sky-blue mosaic, sand-hued facades, handmade stained glass and wooden shutters are very impressive. All the way through its transformation, the mosque continues to be a significant center of Dubai’s religious and cultural life. It has a capacity of 1,200 worshippers.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House (Museum, Port Rashid, Dubai)

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's historic home in Dubai

Saeed Al Maktoum House is a historical building and former residential quarters of Dubai’s former ruler, Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum. The building is located along the Dubai Creek in Al Shindagha. It was created in 1894 as the base of the Al Maktoum family. At present, it is now a museum that houses artifacts and images of the old Dubai. A magnificent restoration project has marvelously showcased the history and development of Dubai.

The burj al Arab in Dubai, UAE, November 2007

Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab, a five star hotel and often regarded as the only seven-star-hotel in the world, is built on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) offshore, with a sail-shaped building design that has a height of 321 meters (1,050 ft). It is the second tallest building in the world used exclusively as a hotel. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai’s urban transformation and to imitate the sail of a boat.

Jumeirah Archeological site

At the Jumeirah Archaeological Site, you can see the ruins and artifacts from 6^th Century AD. Remains from the site link it to the 3rd-6th centuries AD when the Persian Sassanid Empire conquered and the Umayyad Dynasty in the 7th century when Islam arrived in the Gulf.

The area was once the center of trade and commercial life, as it was positioned near a trading route utilized by merchants who were traveling between Oman and Iraq. The remains visible at the Jumeirah site include ruins of stone walls and ancient houses, possibly including the residence of a former governor. This archaeological site is completely surrounded by private homes and modern villas, in one of the heavily populated residential areas in Dubai.

Burj Nahar

Year 1870 marked the foundation of Burj Nahar. Three watch towers guard the city of Dubai. Burj Nahar is one of the three-watch towers, positioned in Deira. It is a must-see destination when visiting Dubai where you can see scenic gardens and exotic surroundings that offers the perfect backdrop for photographers and tourists.  Tourists from around the world often visit this beautiful tower.

Heritage House

Built in1890 and restored in 1994, the Heritage House is the rich pearl merchants’ house. Visitors are offered a traditional Emirati snack such as chick-peas and tea. The house is patterned after an old bastakiya building, built from coral and gypsum. It consists of two floors overlooking a genuine Arabian courtyard. Rooms are customarily decorated. You can see the majlis (the area in the house intended for receiving guests), as well as the main living room, where the family comes together.

These are just among the marvelous sights you will enjoy when you go to Dubai. There are still other tourist attractions that you must catch a glimpse of , or else Dubai experience will never be as exciting as you want it to be.

Desert Safari in Dubai - AP Photo/Jim Krane

The Arabian city of sun and sand is full of magical surprises and one of them is the premier attraction of Dubai: Desert Safari.
Desert Safari is also known by its colloquial name; Dune Bashing or Dune Drive which explores the sand dunes of Dubai in an off-road vehicle. Generally sport utility vehicles like Toyota Land Cruiser are used as they are at a lesser risk of getting stuck in the sand. The vehicles come with a roll cage as a security measure for the passengers in case the vehicle overturns.
Dune Bashing is not only about thrilling adventure of swimming across the sand dunes in 4X4 vehicles but involves hoards of other options such as Quad Bike Safari, Camel Safari, Dune Buggy Safari, Night Safari, Falconary and Sand Boarding. Whichever option you choose it is always packaged with complimentary attractions such as Arabic belly dancing, Henna Tattoos, BBQ dinner, refreshments, Sheesha and camel ride. So as a whole you get an exhilarating experience that is worth every penny spent. Dubai vacation without a Dune Bashing ride is never complete.

Desert Safaris companies categorize their packages into three: Morning, Evening and Overnight Safaris.

The Morning Safaris:  take you up the sand dunes at Dubai outskirts early in the morning, after which you are let into experiencing the most wonderful and roller coaster ride of dune bashing in a SUV vehicle. Later on you may be given the choice of trying Quad biking, camel riding or sand skiing. Refreshments and snacks are provided by the tour company itself and by noon you will be back to Dubai.

Quad Bike Desert Safari

The Evening Safaris:  lasts till late night and dune bashing in this case is not much different from Morning Safaris. The difference lies in the events that happen thereafter. After the dune bashing is over with you will be served with dinner which differs according to the tour company. But BBQ is the highlight of Evening Safaris along with Buffets and vegetarian options. Women try their hand at Arabic henna tattoos while the men try to puff in the sheesha. You will also be served with Arabic Coffee (gahwa) and fresh dates and have the chance to dress in traditional Arabic costumes. Opportunities of trying your hand at Quad biking, camel riding or sand skiing depend upon Tour Company. Belly Dancing and Sheesha are not available during the Ramadan month.

Overnight Safaris: are the same as Evening Safari’s except that you get to stay overnight with your group under the moonlit sky in sleeping bags and blankets. Next day breakfast is also included in Overnight Safaris.

Quad Bike Desert Safari: If you are an adventure and sports enthusiast then Quad Bike Safari can really impress you where you control the steering wheel/handlebar. Quad Biking is much more dangerous and experimental version of discovering the sand terrain and its necessary that proper safety gear and briefing about off road driving is taken.

Dune Buggy Desert Safari: Same adrenalin rush of a Quad Bike Desert Safari can be experienced while riding a Dune Buggy which is a recreational vehicle with large wheels and wide tires to be used only on sand. Rolling up and down the sand can be quite mind-blowing as you challenge the dunes. Minimum age needed is 15 years and proper safety gear and briefing about off road driving should be taken.