Dubai Travel Guide

Travel guide to Dubai, United Arab Emirates with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Dubai sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.

Dubai Overview

Fast becoming one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, Dubai has a reputation as one of the best, with world-class hotels, incredible weather, and great shopping amongst the top attractions.

In less than half a century since the discovery of oil in this small Middle Eastern Emirate, Dubai has been changed beyond all recognition from a pearl fishing backwater into one of the business capitals of the world.

With an ambitious government keen to exploit every natural advantage of Dubai, the city has gained a reputation as a great place to enjoy a memorable holiday, with something for everyone available in close proximity to the main beach hotels and resorts.

Offering year round sunshine, and a warm welcome to match, Dubai equally suited to being the venue for a great family holiday, or a romantic break, and is increasingly visited as a stop over on the way to either the Far East, Indian Ocean, or Australia.

Top Dubai Attractions

Aside from the weather, the main attractions in Dubai include the Wild Wadi Water Park close to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the enticing souks in the city centre, and the beaches.

There are plenty of ways to get more out of your visit to Dubai, and these include getting a guided tour of the city, or better still, taking a trip out of the city in order to experience the majesty of the desert on a dune bashing trip in a 4WD vehicle. Many companies offer the chance to visit the desert, but one of the best is Emirates owned Arabian Adventures - one of the only tour companies licensed to take visitors out into the real desert landscapes within the Al Maha desert reserve.

Shopping in Dubai

Shopping in Dubai is first class, with many upscale shopping malls to choose from, including Bur Juman, The Wafi Mall, Mercato, and City Centre in Deira. There are also a number of souks or markets, where business is done in a more traditional Arabic style. The Gold Souk in Deira is particularly popular, not least because of the conspicuous displays in the windows of the jewellers.

All shopping in Dubai is duty free, but leave a little cash in your account for your trip home, as the duty free area in Dubai international Airport is amongst the best places to pick up a bargain or two anywhere in the world.

Good buys in Dubai include clothes and electronics, Gold is very cheap in the jewellers, although you should get a certificate of authenticity, and get advice about any large purchases you make.

Dubai Sporting Events

Dubai is the sporting capital of the Middle East, and scarcely a month goes by without at least one major event taking place in the city. Aside from the Dubai Desert Classic and the Dubai Gold Cup, you can also see powerboat racing off the coast, regular desert rally events, and the rugby sevens tournament in December.

The all new Dubai Motor Circuit plays host to a round of the new A1 GP world cup of motor sports calendar, and the Dubai Open tennis championship attracts the top players from all over the world with a promise of giant prizes.

Regular horse and camel racing events take place throughout the cooler months, and Dubai boasts a number of championship standard golf courses where you can play a round or two. The inviting waters of the Arabian Gulf offer good diving opportunities, and most of the luxurious Jumeirah Hotels have PADI diving schools should you want to have a go.