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By Michael Hanna
Dubai has quickly
commanded a position as the main tourist hotspot in the Middle East.
The region is one of the seven Emirates which make up UAE and is a
favoured stop off destination on long haul tours and is dominated by
the eponymous chief city of the area. Increasingly, Dubai has
garnered a reputation as a holiday destination in its own right and
is a new favourite amongst European package holiday makers attracted
by the sun, sand and abundance of cheap luxury and designer goods.
The city is dominated by the high rise luxury hotels which puncture
the skyline and Dubai has placed itself at the higher end of the
holiday market. Heavy investment in the infrastructure of Dubai in
recent years stems from the status of the Emirate as an oil rich
economy. Coupled with the income from tourism, Dubai is booming – a
feature evident in the large scale construction projects that
permeate the cityscape.
As a destination, Dubai has typical elements of the package
destination, but the emphasis and placement of the destination
towards the high end of the market means that Dubai has managed to
carve out a specific niche. The beaches attract a massive influx of
travellers from around the globe as do the hotels which, in some
cases, are a spectacle in themselves as well as the tourist draws of
the month long Dubai Shopping Festival, an abundance of championship
quality golf courses and the annual F1 Grand Prix.
But for the more independent traveller, Dubai is often overlooked
simply as a western style holiday destination. The unique blend of
west meets middle east typified the look and feel of Dubai, but
outside the city itself there is much to interest the more curious
traveller. The wider region of Dubai is a land of contrasts from the
deserts of the Arabian Peninsula to the expansive coastline. One of
the most popular and rewarding attractions is a Bedouin desert
safari located some 50 miles outside of the city. Visitors who
scratch beneath the shiny surface of the city are often with a real
glimpse into Middle Eastern life and a sample of the historic and
cultural legacy that is retained within Emirate life. Exploring the
wider region of Dubai is relatively easy, although the public
transport system doesn’t cover all areas and the best option is
perhaps car rental. Car hire in Dubai is relatively
straightforward with most of the major car rental firms retaining a
presence in Dubai.
Whatever your intentions from a holiday in Dubai, it is
possible to have a dose of history and culture as well as the modern
attractions within this emerging destination.
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About the author:
Michael Hanna is a keen
writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:
Contact details:
E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com
Phone: 0131 561 2251
Michael's Website:
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