GO...UP & AWAY - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine

AFRICA &THE MIDDLE EAST
Dubai: Home to
Super-sized Adventures
By Lisa Loverro
With an eclectic mix of traditional culture and sleek architecture,
a trip to Dubai will turn any adult into a mesmerized
child. Part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Dubai will simultaneously transport you back in time
while hitting you smack in the face with a dose of the
future. Now claiming the tallest building in the world, the
Burj Khalifa (formerly named the Burj Dubai, renamed after
the President of the United Arab Emirates) which opened
last month, Dubai could be likened to a “city on steroids”
where too much spending and shopping is always in vogue.
Formerly, this Persian Gulf region consisted of nothing more
than small fishing communities and Bedouin camps. Today,
Dubai has morphed into a city of modern buildings and artificial
islands creating a touring paradise for its visitors.
“Dubai tourism has seen a tremendous growth in visitors to
the region over the past five years, with the number of visitors
from the U.S. more than tripling since 2004,” boasts Virginia
Goff, Manager of Promotion for Dubai Tourism North
America.
“Even in 2009, as the world faced a challenging year for
tourism, Dubai tourism numbers remained consistent year on
year with 2008 and we are confident that as the economy
picks up, the region will continue to draw an increase in visitors
from North America,” Goff adds.
At first glance, its history and culture have seemingly disappeared,
but peel back its outer shell and you’ll discover it’s all
there beneath the surface. A trip on an Abra (water taxi) to Deira,
bordered by the Persian Gulf and Dubai Creek, transports visitors
to what was once the epicenter for trading in the Gulf region
where spice, gold and textile souks (markets) line the streets
while boats from Iran and Pakistan sail into port to sell goods.
Camels, Hummers and Skiing…Oh My!
A kaleidoscope of attractions, Dubai is a mixed bag of nonstop
activity. For starters and a dose of vertigo, send them up
to the observation tower on the 124th floor of the new Burj
Khalifa...the ultimate high!
Visitors can enjoy an arctic blast in the Middle East at the
Emirates Dubai Mall with Ski Dubai, an artificially made ski
slope complete with chair lift. Always a treat for children, the
Dubai mall houses one of the world’s largest aquariums containing
33,000 aquatic creatures. For a memorable experience,
book your clients a desert safari adventure. Beyond The
Dunes (www.beyondthedunes.com) will satisfy any adrenaline-seeking
junkie as they scale some of the desert’s highest
dunes in high-end Hummers. Your clients may also elect to
sleep alfresco under the stars with the company’s all-day,
overnight excursion.
Polo anyone? With an Arabian twist on an old sport, Camel
Polo is now available through Gulf Ventures (www.gulfventures.ae)
where all skill levels are welcomed. Lama Tours
(www.lama.ae) offers daily excursions throughout the city,
LISA LOVERRO
Polo with an Arabian twist
stopping at all of Dubai’s “greatest hits” including Souks and
marinas. You can arrange for a desert safari with Lama, sans
the Hummer.
A visit to the Jumeirah Mosque, organized by the Sheik Mohammed
Centre for Cultural Understanding, is a highly recommended
cultural activity. “As the only mosque in the UAE
open to non-Muslims, not only is the Jumeirah Mosque beautiful,
but the one-hour visit led by a local Emirati provides an
‘open doors, open minds’ environment where visitors can
learn about the culture and religion,” says Goff.
Eat Your Heart Out
Dining options are about as endless as their desert and most
are located within hotels. The Noble House, with panoramic
views of the city’s skyline on the 17th floor of the Raffles
Hotel, is a fine dining establishment serving contemporary Chinese
dishes. With outdoor dining, Al Nafoorah, in the Emirates
Towers, is one of Dubai’s top Lebanese restaurants and
the Exchange Grill in the Fairmont Hotel is the place to chow
down on Angus beef. London fare is served at Rivington Grill
located in the Souk al Bahar with a sticky toffee pudding that
is mind-blowing, and the ridiculously high-priced International
cuisine at The Edge on Sheikh Zayed Road has been hailed as
the best in town by “Time Out Dubai.”
Sophisticated cocktails at The Shangri-la Hotel’s iKandy
Lounge, a very cool, poolside lounge allows for mingling with
locals, and the views at Bar Vu on the 51st floor of the Emirates
Towers and Neos Sky Lounge at the Address Hotel
Downtown will leave clients breathless!
Find a Hotel to Suit Your Clients
Hotels in Dubai cater to different crowds and it can be a
daunting task to determine the best fit for your client. To get
clients “into the groove,” the Burj Khalifa will host the first
Giorgio Armani hotel aptly named, The Armani Hotel Dubai
(www.armanihotels.com). Scheduled to open March 18,
2010 bookings and registration are now available on their website.
What could be more vogue than a stay there? For honeymooners,
The Residence and Spa at the One and Only
Royal Mirage (www.oneandonlyresorts.com) is a tropical
paradise in the midst of the bustling city.
The Arabian styled private residences have 16 suites and 32
prestige rooms, all sea facing with private balcony or garden patio.
For golfers, the Park Hyatt (www.dubai.park.hyatt.com), located
just outside the city, is a luxury waterfront resort sitting adjacent
to the Dubai Creek Golf & Yachting Club; perfect to enjoy
Dubai’s skyline while playing around.
20 AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST WWW.JAXFAX.COM FEBRUARY 2010