Although it is just one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, most foreigners treat it as if it were the only one. Dubai may be situated right in the middle of a desert, but as the people who live there and frequent visitors can attest, there is never a dull moment in the city. The emirate is slightly more westernized and progressive than any other place in the region and has quickly become the most popular tourist destination in the Middle East despite stiff competition from neighbouring Abu Dhabi. At times life here can be unbelievably fast paced, totally surreal and completely exciting.
Living in this city one will never run out of food. The profusion of restaurants is probably one of the first things visitors will notice about the city. Restaurants of varying standards serving cuisine from around the world can be found lining every street, an indication of how food is central to living here. The second thing most visitors notice is the sheer volume of shops. The city truly is the shopping capital of the world and boasts some fine shopping malls. The discount season in the malls seems to run throughout the year and it can be hard to resist the allure of the giant ‘Sale’ boards.
The city is also regional hub for entertainment and has hosted concerts by many musical headliners over the past few years. The city’s calendar is packed full of events and there is always something going on be it a concert, a food festival or a sporting event. The year round entertainment completes the triangle of life in Dubai.
One thing that makes the city such an excellent holiday spot is the infrastructure. Although the roadways maybe oriented towards cars, the city has a metro system that efficiently whizzes through the city. There are also plenty of buses. Tourists looking for accommodation close to the pulse of the city should try a Deira hotel Dubai. The Copthorne Hotel Dubai hangs over the gorgeous Deira Creek and is a terrific place to stay. The Dubai hotel is just a short walk from the popular Deira City Centre and a quick ten minute drive to the Dubai International Airport.
