Creative Commons: Joi

The Burj Khalifa, the Tallest Building in the World has become a hot-favorite among thousands of upcoming projects where the hospitality industry is certainly in process to create its position over there.

Giorgio Armani Spa prepares to open its first hotel, in the Burj Dubai tower, on March 18, 2010. Occupying a spacious 432,000 square feet structure on the bottom 39 floors, it will house around 160 guest rooms, suites and 144 private residences . It is believed that these things will be furnished with Armani’s Casa line where a swimming pool will be located on the 76th floor that will give you a great view.

Online bookings for the Armani Hotel in Dubai will be available later this month. So get ready to avail the experience at the Burj Khalifa skyscraper that swanks the world’s top swimming pool, a mosque and adequate glass that is rumored to cover almost 17 football pitches.

Amid crisis, it feels great to see Dubai and its magnificent building Burj Khalifa that stands by its size and grandeur. It is a good example of globalization irrespective of its strong cultural heritage, where the city truly depicts modernity at the heart of Dubai and its people. Burj Khalifa is undoubtedly the center for the world’s best shopping, dining, entertainment and home for the world’s privileged.

Further, the group Giorgio Armani has plans to open its chains in Milano, Marrakech and Egypt.

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

If you are seeking for pleasure and gratification along with some excellent shopping options and tempting delicacies escorted with enjoyable beverages in different bars and nightclubs that allow you to tap your feet on the dance floor for the whole night then Dubai is the best option for your Honeymoon! A beautiful, romantic and diverse cultured city engulfed within the desert and the coast of the Gulf of Oman, Dubai is a place with high raising skyscrapers, ancient mosques, different souks and malls and luxurious hotels just waiting to be delved by the honeymoon couples. A memorable honeymoon can be truly revered in between October and April when the city’s hot sun is dwindling itself off for a romantic weather to come in!

Things to do:
A beach holiday with a different tone, honeymoon in Dubai is an experience pampered by desert safaris, all day long excursions, shopping and relaxing.

City Tour: Just tour round the city to experience the rich and modern living of Dubai. Jumeirah Mosque, Zabeel Park, Sheik Palace, Dubai Museum, Dubai Zoo, The Palm Island, Diera Towers and the Jumeirah Beach are a few of the attractions of the city.

Desert Safari: Experience a beautiful drive at the golden sand dunes of the city. The mounds truly give you a rollercoaster ride while the car moves up and down the sand dunes. The excitement grows on further with the camel ride, belly dancer’s performances, local dressings and henna designs.

Dhow Cruise: Revere into a romantic cruises endowed with the traditional Arabic culture that delivers one of the best tours of Dubai. A three – five hour cruise taking you into the world of magic, belly dancing and fine dinning, the cruise truly forms a memorable part of your honeymoon. A few of the cruises also offer day long or long stay options that endows some more relaxation, café and bars, internet connectivity and shopping shuttles along with beautiful beaches that sop up the splendor of the resorts.

Shopping: With a lot of discounts, bargaining and duty free shopping options shopping is something that one just cannot forget in Dubai! Shoppers can enjoy themselves at the Mall of Emirates, Gold and Carpet Souks and the Dubai City Centre. There are also a few options at the Al Fahidi Street.

Other Activities: There are lots of other activities that the newly wed can enjoy other than cruising, exploring or shopping. One can spend time fishing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, paragliding, Go Karting, Skiing, ice skating, Wadi bashing, playing golf, attending different cultural events and festivals or else relax and rejuvenate at the different spas and massage treatment rooms nested inside the hotels and resorts.

Sights that you can visit:
The place of indefinite sunshine, beaches and romance offers you a lot to enjoy inside your honeymoon package.

Dubai Creek: Dubai Creek is a place near the water redolent of the ancient Arabian Ports and offers beautiful views over the skyline along with some excellent shopping options nearby.

The Gold Souks: Some serious shopping can be revered at the Dubai’s Gold Souks, wherein the window of every shop glitters with gold artifacts.
Wild Wadi Water Park: Adorned with thrilling rides, a day spent at the Wild Wadi Water Park is worth a memory. If you are someone who cannot enjoy the elating rides then you can spend your time relaxing near the lazy river.

Historic Bastakiya district: Couples can just stroll around the Bastakiya district that dwells in some marvelous sightseeing options for the newly weds.
Al-Hosn Palace: Festooned with implausible courtyards, Al hosn Palace is a place for the history lovers.

Beaches: There are a lot of silent, cozy, clean and not crowded beaches pampered by the affectionate blue seas of the Arabian Gulf. Newly weds can play different water sports or lay down lazily bathing themselves under the hot sun around the coasts.

Sheikh Zayed Road:Adorned with glass towers and sky-touching skyscrapers, Sheikh Zayed Road is the commercial and full of life district of Dubai. Emirates Tower Hotel and The World Trade Centre are the two tall edifices of the road.

Heritage and Diving Village: Nested adjacent to the aperture of the Dubai Creek, Heritage and Diving village is the place wherein the newly weds can revere into the luxurious heritage of the city. All kinds of artifacts and crafts made by different craftsmen are displayed here.

Jumeirah Mosque: Jumeirah Mosque is one of the biggest and the most elegantly designed Mosque that sets an example of the contemporary Islamic architecture. Couples can come at night to encompass the impressive looks of the building.

Hotels to spend a good time at:
Dwell into the excellent Arabian hospitality at the different hotels that offer a luxurious living experience along with safety, comfort and pleasure. Almost all the hotels have their own private beach, spa, sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness centre and beauty salon. A few of them also boost up their own gift shops and shopping arcade. Tours to different destinations are also arranged to make your honeymoon more interesting.

A few of the options are:
Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah Beach Hotel
Atlantis, The Palm
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Renaissance Dubai Hotel
Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort & Towers
The Ritz-Carlton Dubai
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort

Dubai bar and restaurant,UAE

Dubai nightlife is considered to be the most lively and diverse in UAE. When the sun sets, Dubai starts showing its second wind. Whatever your liking, just sit at the bar and relax with a glass beer, listen to live music or watch your favourite sport on a large TV screen.

Some luxury hotels offer jazz clubs and piano bars but if you want to enjoy the real nightlife of Dubai you must visit the nightclubs which are located inside the hotels.

DJ in a Dubai nightclub

Many bar and clubs are overcrowded on Thursdays and Saturdays and are open up to 2.00 am in the night. Alcohol is forbidden in Arab countries but not in Dubai. But one has to be careful about behavior after consuming alcohol as the laws are equally strict. Officially only non-Muslims are allowed to consume alcohol and the minimum age for getting a license to have alcohol is 21. To enjoy nightlife in Dubai, you must be 25 or over.
Many clubs also offer “Happy Hours” which is normally up to 19.00 in the evening. Tuesday and Sunday in many of these bars they call it as “Ladies Night”, wherein the females are offered limited amount of free drinks.
Now-a-days more and more world renowned DJ’s across the globe are visiting Dubai to give performance.
Just like Dubai being famous as the best destination in Middle East for shopping, it has also gained a name as the best place for enjoying night life, as the rules here related to alcohol and clubs are much lenient visa vis the other Arab countries.

Some of the most popular bars and night clubs in Dubai are:- Kasbaa Royal Mirage Hotel, The Irish Village, Carter’s Cafe Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, Buddha Bar, Alamo Bar, Fairmont Cigar Bar, Oxygen Club, Tangerine Club, Triology, Charlie Parrot’s at Oasis Beach.

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

Modhesh, the mascot of Dubai Summer Surprises

Don’t get tired after the bizarre shopping you have done at the Dubai Shopping Festival during spring. Because summer brings in yet another ’surprise’ the Dubai Summer Surprise; a jostling place filled with shopping frenzies, hyperactive kids and their parents. Ten weeks between the months of June and August should be reserved for your everyday shopping, dining, and entertainment which is pre-arranged at the Dubai Summer Surprises.

‘Modhesh’ the mascot of Dubai Summer Surprises is always present at every nook and corner to guide you to various exhibitions, displays, recreational activities, music events, competitions, courses, etc. The event is a global extravaganza where all tourist attractions can be found under one roof.
DSS Shopping:
Since the time it started in 1998, shopping has been one of the primary foundations and success stories of DSS. Dubai tourism is mainly dependent on shopping and DSS soaks shoppers in the deluxe brands available at the most competitive rates. Souks for traditional shoppers, 4,000 retail outlets, 40 shopping malls, 800 gold retail outlets, does not let you go off so easily from the DSS exit gate.
DSS Competitions:
Bring your winning spirit along at the DSS where competitions entail you to win luxury gifts such as cars and cash prizes. If you are lucky enough you might be an overnight millionaire at the DSS! People flock at two raffle draws; DSS Grand Raffle and Shopping Malls Mega Raffle.
DSS Entertainment:
International shows are just another feather in the cap for the DSS. The last 10 years have seen many music and themed events specially the ‘Ten Surprizes’ where visitors get to enjoy a surprise event every alternate day. You also get pleasure from DSS’s trademark events such as World Stories, Kids Fashion Week, Kids Olympic Games, The Collectors, Min Bladi Al Emarat, Arts Oasis, Sheila and Abaya Fashion and Photography Exhibition.
Mega Events that go on for many days merge together international and local entertainment to provide a variety of activities such as Recycled Art Exhibition and 4 days of chocolate.
International stars are always eager to perform at the DSS, so multiple events featuring an assortment of cartoon shows, dance troupes, carnivals, and stage shows gets a thumbs up from visitors.
Modhesh Fun City:
If parents are shopping then you will find the kids at the Modhesh Fun city, the biggest indoor entertainment venue ever. Children and teenagers will enjoy a thrilling ride of events by participating in games, competitions and international debut cartoon shows. The area is divided into various zones such as Heritage Zone, Arts and Crafts Zone for those who love crafts and scissors, Modhesh Saloon for the prim and proper, Modhesh Nursery for tots, Extreme Sports Zone for adventure sports enthusiasts and Teenage Zone with billiards and snooker table.

Where it all takes place: Modhesh Fun City and at several malls in Dubai
Contact Whom: Ahlan Dubai
On the number: +971 600 54 5555