With humble beginnings as a trading hub for pearl diving, the Emirates have come a long way since gaining Independence in 1971. With the finding of oil, the country was able to begin its growth and in only a couple of decades, has now established itself as a leading economy.

While there are 6 other Emirates in the UAE: Abu Dhabi, the Capital, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ajman, it is Dubai that is leading the way in promoting the global recognition of this country.

Dubai has stepped out of the shadows of Abu Dhabi to establish itself as more than just a city created from oil revenues through massive investment into creating a booming tourist industry. At present, it is safe to say that it has succeeded, as GDP is comprised of only a small amount of oil revenues, and a majority amount of services- mostly tourism!

With an ongoing effort to offer the ultimate luxury lifestyle to visitors and residents alike, Dubai has most recently entered into the Freehold property market . Numerous developments such as the Burj Dubai tower and the Palm Dubai aim to offer superior entertainment and leisure facilities, several leading hotels and high quality residential property. Many recurring visitors have shown interest in buying property in Dubai as a holiday home.

Dubai is quickly becoming a leading tourist destination and should definitely be a consideration for your next trip. Find all the information you need about hotels, places to see, customs and cautions to make your holiday in Dubai an unforgettable experience.

Shot at 2007-07-24

Burj Al Arab Hotel: As the world's only 7 star hotel, the Burj Al Arab is brimming with the splendor and luxury you would expect of this unique attraction. With underwater and sky view restaurants, the finest shops and boutiques, as well as bold furnishings and fittings, everywhere you look there's gold, and a lot of it is real! This hotel is also the tallest hotel in the world that stands in water, meaning you have to cross a bridge to get to it. Access to the hotel requires a ticket which you have to pay for and can be redeemed in any of the restaurants but they aren't cheap.

Mall of the Emirates: As one of the largest malls in the world, and boasting an indoor ski slope amongst its amenities, the Mall of the Emirates is a must visit. Dubai is one of the best shopping destinations on earth and you can find almost every shop you're looking for right here. There is also a hotel, cinema, restaurants and cafes, and an entertainment center for the kids.

The Gold Souk: See how Dubai was many years ago by strolling down to the old gold souk in Deira where you will find the best bargains as prices are easily negotiable. For a more relaxed and air conditioned experience, there is also the new gold souk in Barsha that offers an extensive range of jewelry and you can still argue the price down!

Global Village: Visiting Dubai during the Shopping Festival is a must if you're idea of a holiday is shopping paradise. The Global Village is a collection of pavilions from different countries, offering the best local goods at the best prices. With a theme park and a great deal of food outlets, it's definitely worth a visit if you can stand the crowds.

The Desert: If you're looking for an adventure then going on a desert safari is a must. Day and night trips are available and they include: sand duning, sand boarding, a barbeque, belly dancing and sheeshah. There's something for everyone and the more people you book for, the cheaper the price per person.

Dubai Museum: The UAE may be a young country, but there is still a lot of heritage to discover about the region so visiting the museum is a necessary excursion. Learn about Dubai's history, how people used to live and the progress that has taken place, as well as seeing one of the oldest buildings in the area, the fort, which is where the museum is located.

Madinat Jumeirah: This luxury hotel complex, located next to the Burj Al Arab, offers a combination of old and new. Built in the style of traditional architecture, with waterways surrounding it and boats to take guests around the area, it also features two luxurious hotels and a modern souk. Shopping, dining and great nightlife are all combined to make this a top tourist destination.

Dubai Marina: The newest features of Dubai's landscape are the continuously expanding freehold property developments. The first to open is Dubai Marina which is a manmade inlet surrounded by luxury freehold apartments. The area also has a Marina Walk, with a great selection of restaurants and cafes that overlook the waterfront and the many yachts that reside there.

Wild Wadi: While theme parks are yet to be a permanent presence in Dubai, Wild Wadi waterpark more than makes up for it. This is one of the world's largest waterparks, with plenty of attractions that include one of the worlds biggest speed slides and artificial surf machines. This is definitely a great place to visit with the whole family.

Heritage attractions: The Dubai Heritage village, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's house and the Jumeirah Mosque are open to the public and a great way to experience some culture. As the only mosque with public access and tours, the Jumeirah Mosque offers spectacular architecture and an insight into the practice of Islam. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's house is another old building that shows how the ruler used to live and offers more history of the country. The Heritage village is a showcase of traditional activities that used to take place in the region and that still do today. Traditional style dancing, cooking and the old fishing culture are on display here.

Bastakiya
Dubai Cruise Terminal
Dubai Media City
Bars in Dubai
Dubai Dry Docks
Dubai Photographs
Burj Al Arab Hotel
Dubai Duty Free
Dubai Shopping Malls
Dubai Airport Free Zone
Dubai Gold & Diamond Park
Dubai World Trade Center
Dubai Attractions
Dubai Knowledge Village
Global Village Dubai
Dubai Big Bus
Dubai International Airport
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House
Dubai Children's City
Dubai Jewellery
Zabeel Park, Dubai

Dining: Perhaps the biggest difference between Dubai and most places is the popularity of eating out here. With thousands of restaurants to choose from, and every type of cuisine you can think of, you are spoilt for choice. Whether you are looking for a cheap bite to eat or something pricier and up market, there's something to meet everyone's needs and budget.

Café Culture: An important past time of residents and frequent visitors is to spend some quality time in the local coffee shop. With the numerous coffee chains in every possible location and a Starbucks every few feet, there's no shortage of places to sit, chat and have a latte.

Bars and Clubs: With so many hotels in one city, the fact that alcohol is only served in hotels or health clubs does not impede weekend socializing. Bars and nightclubs can be found in almost every hotel, and most are open every night of the week. Dubai is known for its great nightlife due to the best acts that perform here and ladies night of course!

Shopping: There are many shopping malls in Dubai, and several of them are especially large and the most popular. Mall of the Emirates is currently a favourite in the city yet Deira City Center and Ibn Battuta are definitely worth a visit. With Dubai Mall, set to be the worlds biggest, on the way as part of the Dubai property expansion, visitors have a great choice. The Dubai Shopping Festival is the best time to visit for the avid shopper looking for bargains.

The Beach: Above all, people visit Dubai for the year round sunshine! With the autumn, winter and spring seasons offering great weather to sit outside, all of the beachfront hotels have guest access beach clubs with pools and restaurants, not to mention sun beds. If you're looking for a free option, there's also a lovely public beach stretching along the coast.

Exploring: Beyond the city there are some great places to visit, including trips to the neighbouring Emirates. If you can stand the drive, places like the mountains in Hatta or the East coast of Fujairah are a contrast to the hectic city life of Dubai and a must see.

Although Dubai does enjoy year-round sunshine, there are definitely certain times to visit according to weather, costs and events that may be taking place. While tourism tends to remain high throughout the year, with occupancy rates always full or close to full, choosing when to visit is an important consideration for all travelers.

Winter: The most popular time for tourists to visit is the winter, due to the drop in temperature and bearable heat. The Christmas season brings parties and festivities which appeal to residents and tourists alike, and it's still hot enough to go to the beach! It's important to consider that this is also the most expensive time to visit the Emirate. Hotels are full despite the high season rates so if you're planning a winter holiday, book early.

Summer: The summer months see a mass exodus of people, due to the extreme heat and humidity. While this might be unbearable to residents, it's a good time to visit for tourists who want to save money. As this is classed as the low season and many visitors choose to travel during the summer, hotels still see high occupancy rates due to their many special offers. If you don't mind the heat, then the summertime is a great way to see Dubai with less tourists, less traffic, and less expense.

Spring and Autumn: These seasons tend to be popular as the weather is somewhere between nice and unbearable, and so are hotel rates. Dubai doesn't really have seasons as such, just different levels of heat so visiting during the 'moderate' season's mean you don't have to suffer the heat and you don't have to suffer paying too much for your holiday.

DFS and DSS: The Dubai shopping festival has become a very popular point in the tourist calendar, especially for people that love shopping. Almost all the shops have sales, there are shows and performances everyday for a month and the city buzzes with excitement. Given the success of DFS, Dubai summer surprises is also popular with great discounts in the stores and plenty of activities for the kids in the summer months.

Ramadan: This is definitely a period to avoid. There is no food and drink allowed in public during the day and this can limit your outings, not to mention lunch plans. Hotels are more lenient on enforcing these rules but going out in the day is not the best. Live music isn't permitted at night but as you can eat and drink again there's a lot of great places to visit that only open during Ramadan.

Ski Dubai is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East and offers an amazing snow setting to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing or just playing in the snow. Young or old, there is something for everyone, from the beginner to the snow sport enthusiast. Ski Dubai is a unique mountain-themed attraction that offers you the opportunity to enjoy real snow in Dubai all year round.

If its studio, one or two bedroom residential Dubai Property that you are searching for, then allow me to introduce Nakheel's International City development. Located in close proximity to Dubai airport in the Al Warsan area of Dubai, this development offers property based on a number of international architectural styles. So here you will find apartment buildings with diverse styles, from Chinese to English, from Thailand to Spainish and many others as well, hence the developments name. So in all, this is one interesting looking residential complex. But International City is much more than just the one residential area. There are also various commercial and retail facilities based here.

International city is broken down into a number of areas. The main residential district, which will house over 60,000 people and cover an estimated 300 hectares of land, will offer around 2,100 studio and one bedroom apartments for sale. And then there is the Lakes District area, offering two and three bedroom duplex apartments. In total there will be 1375 apartments to pick from here for those looking for residential property, and all set around lakes and greenery. Then there is the central district, which will offer more in the way of commercial property and retail space, with the 21 hectares of land plots being sold to individual developers. And then there is the Dragon Mart, a commercial centre, set to play home to numerous Chinese companies. And the final area of international city is the Forbidden City area. Based on the famous Chinese location, it will feature both retail and residential property options.

And the best thing about International City is that prices here are amongst some of the lowest in Dubai for freehold residential property. So if it's a good value studio, 1, 2, or 3 bedroom apartments that you searching for, International City could well be your answer. And with being built by a Developer of Nakheels standard, the developer who brought the World the Palm Jumeirah and The Dubai Waterfront, you know you will be getting a high standard of home.

Dubai International City, a project from Dubai's well know developer Nakheel, offers a large range of freehold real estate that aims to be affordable to a large majority of Dubai's residents. A mix of commercial, residential and retail property, here buyers have a broad assortment of real estate options from which to pick. Broken down into a number of different zones, it is the Central Business District or CBD that aims to be the commercial centre point for the development as a whole. Covering a total of 21 Hectares, The Central Business District will consist of 34 land plots, which will offer investors a unique opportunity to become involved in the commercial goings on here.

Buyers can construct their own project here, so long as they follow the general themes found throughout Dubai International City and the CBD. For the majority, the CBD will consist of 10 storey buildings, all featuring basement parking, and with retail options located on the ground floors of the buildings.

With top of the range services and infrastructure, buying into the Central Business district here at International city presents buyers interested in freehold real estate with a number of opportunities. And with a location on Emirates Road, in close proximity to Dubai Airport and within a short drive from The Dubai International Finance Centre, it is also very well located for both residential and commercial purposes.

We currently are launching off plan developments from AED 529,000 in Dubai Sports City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jumeirah Village and Dubai International City CBD.

For more information contact us.

If all this sounds appealing you to, then just get in contact with us to find out more.