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Dubai City
Having expanded along both banks of the Creek, Dubai’s central business district is divided into two parts — Deira on the northern side and Bur Dubai to the south — connected by a tunnel and two bridges. Each has its share of fine mosques and busy souks, of public buildings, shopping malls, hotels, office towers, banks, hospitals, schools, apartments and villas.
Outside this core, the city extends to the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah to the north, while extending south and west in a long ribbon of development alongside the Gulf, through the districts of Satwa, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
At first glance, the city presents a predominantly modern face, an ever-changing skyline of new developments, from striking glass and concrete towers to gracious modern buildings incorporating traditional Arabian architectural motifs and features.

The Creek
The Creek, a natural sea-water inlet which cuts through the centre of the city, is the historic focal point of life in Dubai. A stroll along its banks evokes the city’s centuries-old trading traditions.
Visitors will be captivated by the colour and bustle of the loading and unloading of dhows which still ply ancient trade routes to places as distant as India and East Africa.
An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from an abra, one of the small water taxis which criss-cross the Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai side.
Boatmen will also take visitors on a fascinating hour-long trip from the abra embarkation points to the mouth of the Creek and inland to the Maktoum Bridge, passing on the way many of the city’s historic and modern landmarks.
Redevelopment work has transformed parts of the Creek’s banks. On the Deira side, a broad and well-lit, paved promenade extends from the Corniche, which faces on the Arabian Gulf, all the way to the attractive purpose-built dhow terminal constructed beside Maktoum Bridge.
On the Bur Dubai side between Maktoum and Garhoud bridges, Creekside Park provides pleasant paved walks and extensive landscaped public gardens.
At the inland end of the Creek is a large, shallow lagoon, now a wildlife sanctuary which has become a haven for migrating shore birds. Some 27,000 birds have been counted here at one time during the autumn migration. The most spectacular are the many Greater Flamingos which have made the Creek their permanent home.

Archaeological Sites
There are three main excavation sites in Dubai, at Al Ghusais, Al Sufooh and Jumeirah.
The first two are graveyards dating back more than 2,000 years. The Jumeirah site reveals artefacts from the seventh to 15th centuries. Though not yet open to the public, tourists or tour operators may obtain a permit from Dubai Museum to visit the digs.

Bastakiya
The old Bastakiya district with its narrow lanes and tall wind-towers gives a tantalising glimpse of old Dubai. Immediately to the east of Al Fahidi Fort is the largest concentration of traditional courtyard houses with windtowers.
In the past, the city was famous for a mass of windtowers which lined the Creek on either side. These were not merely decorative; they were the only means of cooling houses in the days before mains electricity.
Bastakiya is currently undergoing renovation and preservation and will eventually become a small ‘tourist village’ with a museum, a cultural centre, restaurants and an art gallery.

Sheikh Saeed's House
Dating from the late 1800s, Sheikh Saeed’s House was built in a commanding position near the sea so the Ruler could observe shipping activity from its balconies.
With its windtowers and layers of rooms built around a central courtyard, it is a fine example of regional architecture.

Jumeirah Mosque
The city has many fine mosques. One of the largest and most beautiful — Jumeirah Mosque — is a spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture.
Built of stone in medieval Fatimid tradition, the mosque with its twin minarets and majestic dome is a city landmark. It is particularly attractive at night when subtle lighting throws its artistry into relief.
The elaborate Jumeirah Mosque is Dubai's most admired mosque from the outside and one of Dubai’s most photographed sights.

Grand Mosque
Situated on the Bur Dubai side of the Creek near the Ruler’s Court, Grand Mosque was re-built in 1998 and now has, at 70 metres, the city’s tallest minaret.
It has 45 small domes in addition to nine large ones boasting stained glass panels, making it a distinguished landmark and important place of worship.

Burj Nahar
Built around 1870 the Nahar tower was one in line of defences to the east and north of the city.
One of three watchtowers guarding the old city, the restored Burj Nahar in its picturesque gardens in Deira is popular with photographers.

Bait Al Wakeel
Built in 1934 by the late Sheikh Rashid, Bait Al Wakeel was Dubai’s first office building.
At the edge of the Creek near the abra landing, the building has been completely restored and now houses a museum devoted to Dubai’s fishing and maritime traditions.

The Souks
The souks on both sides of the Creek are attractive not just for their shopping bargains but also as places for the sightseer and photographer.
A huddle of narrow alleyways has survived on the Deira side despite intensive building in recent years. In the tiny lanes of the spice souk, the atmosphere and the scents of the past can be savoured. Bags of spices, incense, rose petals and traditional medicinal products are stacked outside each stall.
Along the slightly larger lanes of the gold souk, each shop window is crammed with gold necklaces, rings, bangles, earrings and brooches. In the evening the area is a hive of activity. Gold prices are among the lowest in the world.
In other small streets, the visitor can find shops selling nargilehs (hookah or hubble-bubble pipes) and coffee pots, and nearby tea stalls where both of these items are in daily use.
There are traditional bakeries where large flat loaves of delicious unleavened bread are baked to order inside a domed oven called tandoor. Small textile shops sell veils with decorated edges, pantaloons with embroidered anklets, and dress lengths with similarly embroidered necklines reminiscent of The Arabian Nights. On the Bur Dubai side of the Creek are lanes full of textile shops, where a blaze of colourful raw silks and cottons hang in profusion in shop windows.
The fish souk in Deira is an attraction in itself. Early in the morning and late at night, local fishermen unload mountains of fresh fish which they sell in a frenzied bargaining session. Kingfish, red snapper, rock cod (the popular hammour), barracuda, tuna, lobster, crab, king prawn, sea bream, squid, pomfret, shark, mackerel, sardine and other species are available in abundance for most of the year.

Dubai Museum
Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum, is another imposing building. It once guarded the city’s landward approaches. Built around 1799, it has served variously as palace, garrison and prison.
It was renovated in 1970 for use as a museum; further restoration and the addition of galleries was completed in 1995. Colourful and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and sound and lighting effects, vividly depict everyday life in pre-oil days. Galleries rescenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date gardens, desert and marine life.
One of the most spectacular exhibits portrays the underwater world of pearl-diving, and is accompanied by sets of pearl merchants’ weights, scales and sieves.
Also on display are artefacts such as fine copper, alabaster and pottery objects found in 3,000–4,000 year-old graves at Al Ghusais. The main fort is a fascinating military museum.

Umm Al Sheif Majlis
The summer resort of the late Ruler of Dubai has been restored and is open to the public.
Built in the early 1950s in the coastal Umm Suqeim area, the majlis gardens feature a reproduction of the traditional falaj irrigation system. The majlis provides an intriguing insight into Dubai’s rapid development.

Heritage and Diving Villages
A traditional heritage village, located near the mouth of the Creek, has been created where potters and weavers display their crafts. Here the visitor can look back in time and experience some of Dubai’s heritage.
The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire Shindagha area into a cultural microcosm, recreating life in Dubai as it was in days gone by.

Magic Planet
Housed in the giant Deira City Centre shopping mall, this children’s entertainment centre is a unique indoor site with ten-pin bowling, a crawling bungle-jungle, variety of electronic games and a mini pitch and putt.

WonderLand
The 18-hectare WonderLand family fun park features a wide range of water attractions.
Capable of accommodating up to 8,000 visitors at a time, WonderLand’s water rides include speed slides, surf hills, twister, wave runners and a Caribbean cruise.
It also has a water mist show and water cinema, with videos projected on a thin film of water, plus a full complement of on-land attractions.

Encounter Zone
Situated in the Wafi shopping mall, this is an entertainment centre with a difference, with areas for both children and adults.
The popular Crystal Maze is featured along with a horror chamber and fascinating 3-D films. The rollercoaster simulator feels like the real thing and children can enjoy a host of rides including the Komet which shoots around the top of the building.

Burj al Arab
The hotel standing in the sea shaped like a great sail is the only 7 star hotel in the world. Nothing here is too much for the staff to cater for; if you desire fresh English strawberries for breakfast (flown in especially), just ask you personal butler and it will be done.

Dubai World Trade Centre
Rising 39 floors above the city, the Dubai World Trade Centre’s office tower houses the regional headquarters of many of the world’s largest corporations.
Alongside, a modern conference centre and seven exhibition halls host an active programme of international trade fairs that attract exhibitors and visitors from all over the world.

Sheikh Zayed Road
The Trade Centre is the focal point of a modern business district emerging along Sheikh Zayed Road.
Ultra-modern towers of glass and steel that reflect Dubai’s international and cosmopolitan outlook line both sides of the main highway to Abu Dhabi.

Bani Yas Square
Dominating Bani Yas Square in the heart of Deira is Deira Tower with its distinctive circular ‘cap’.
An early example of the effort to blend modern architecture with the older surroundings, Deira Tower incorporates features designed to soften the impact of the harsh summer climate on the occupants of shops, offices and apartments within.
Nearby on the Creekside, strong vertical lines ending in arches on the skyline identify Al Owais Tower.

Al Boom Tourist Village
Adjacent to Creekside Park, the village consists of a 2,000-seat banquet hall, a coffee shop, restaurant, amusement park, ornamental lake and a marina with five cruise boats.
Its traditional architecture forms a stately city landmark. Further development will include self-catering and fully-serviced chalets and a five-star hotel built in the shape of a Gulf sailing dhow.

Deira Creekside
A group of distinctive and remarkable modern buildings are ranged near the purpose-built dhow wharfage beside the Maktoum Bridge, including the Etisalat Tower, the Department of Economic Development, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The National Bank of Dubai headquarters and Dubai Creek Tower.
The Etisalat Tower is topped by a telecommunications dome resembling a giant golf ball — particularly striking when illuminated at night.
The Department of Economic Development is a five-storey building which features delicately designed window screens and massive decorated main doors.
By contrast, the neighbouring Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry tower is a dramatic blue glass-faced structure, a symbol of the emirate’s prosperity and forward vision.
Nearby is the municipality building, which manages to convey an impression of cool shade through the use of water and screens.
The new headquarters of the National Bank of Dubai produces a shimmering reflection of the Creek through its striking use of polished steel and glass. This is also the DTCM’shead office in Dubai.

Dubai Zoo
Located in Jumeirah, the Dubai Zoo is a popular attraction, especially for families.
The zoo’s modern facilities though small, house many indigenous Arabian species, including the Arabian Wolf, which is no longer found in the wild, Gordon’s Wildcat and the world’s only captive breeding colony of Socotra Cormorants.
Featured in its large aviary are regional birds of prey. Nine species of large cats and seven species of primates are on show, along with many Arabian mammals.
The zoo is shortly to undergo relocation and redevelopment allowing animals to live in areas designed to be as similar to their natural environment as possible.

Parks and Gardens
Situated around Dubai are numerous public parks and gardens offering a peaceful respite from urban life.
Particularly popular with families, they offer attractive picnic spots and children’s play areas with a variety of entertainment facilities.
The largest of the city’s parks are Jumeirah Beach Park, Dubai Creekside Park, Mushrif Park, Al Mamzar Park and Safa Park, while many smaller ones throughout the city provide pleasant green oases.

Golf Courses
Even for the non-golfer, Dubai’s golf clubs are worth a visit, both for the spectacular architecture of their clubhouses and as examples of the successful greening and landscaping of the desert. Full details of the courses are given in the Sporting sections.
A nine-hole ‘country’ course is also available at the Hatta Fort Hotel where golfers have a unique fun experience of playing in craggy mountain scenery.

Outside the City
From seashore to mountain peaks, Dubai is a land of great natural beauty and variety. The desert, that accounts for much of the emirate’s almost 4,000 sq km area, encompasses rocky plains, high dunes and, between these two extremes, countless combinations of sand, stone and sparse vegetation.
This seemingly barren expanse supports a surprising diversity of wildlife, both plant and animal, though much of the former is seasonal and the latter nocturnal. Once isolated and forbidding, the desert now offers a fascinating and accessible experience for visitors, with an array of recreational opportunities from safaris by four-wheel-drive vehicle to sand-skiing.
A number of roads now cross the wilderness, joining settlements and oases where, thanks to irrigation, ever-larger areas are turning green under the cultivation of vegetables and fodder crops.
Along the flanks of the Hajar Mountains, naturally watered date gardens flourish, their foliage a magnet for birds. In the mountain enclave of Hatta, restoration work has preserved the old falaj or irrigation canals. Nearby, water can be found year round in wadis, steep-sided valleys gouged from the mountains by torrents unleashed by winter rains. The wadis are popular with naturalists and explorers, tranquil in contrast to the clamour of the city.
The starkly beautiful exposed rock formations of the mountainsides provide a fascinating insight into the geological origins of the area and the forces which sculpted the rugged landscape.

Dubai Shopping Festival
The annual Dubai Shopping Festival extravaganza has rapidly become an internationally-known event, with thousands of bargains, draws, shows, promotions and some of the world’s lowest prices.
In addition, the hotels and furnished apartments complexes offer reduce accommodation rates, while Emirates offers great deals on tickets.

And if this isn't enough...
Work has already commenced on the world’s tallest building, the world’s first underwater hotel, a revolving ski slope, a £3bn theme park – Dubai World and a Olympic sports centre with athletics area, soccer stadium, cricket stadium, rugby stadium, indoor swimming pools, outdoor swimming pools, velodrome, international sports academy run by Manchester United Football Club and public schooling run by Eton School, Windsor.