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see + do
Dubai see + do
Prosperity came to this previously sleepy city relatively recently. Before the oil boom in the 1970s, it had an exclusively sea-based economy concentrating on pearl diving and trade routes, so if you are looking for massive galleries, ancient artifacts, and historical sites or monuments, you'll be disappointed. The government is now trying to redress an ever more apparent dearth of culture, pouring money into restoring culturally significant buildings and areas such as the souks and Bastakiya, encouraging operators to embrace Arab culture and use it for theme resorts and experiences, and planning museums of universal art to rival neighboring Abu Dhabi's Louvre and Guggenheim projects. For the time being, Dubai is a place to shop, sunbathe, get out into the desert—and ogle an outrageous vision of the future taking shape with the ongoing massive construction. You will see half-built towers and a fourth of the world's cranes at work in a city of just 1.3 million people.
Desert safaris are cheesy and contrived but still great fun. Even the most jaded locals grudgingly admit that a dune-bashing safari is not to be missed. A 4WD...more
Cruise down the Creek (the name throws many visitors, but as it's a huge, natural inlet it is technically a creek) at a leisurely pace on a large, traditional...more
In contrast to most of Dubai's shiny new attractions, this small but informative museum near the Creek, a short walk from Bastakiya and the old Textile Souk, is...more
The majestic Jumeirah Mosque showcases Islamic heritage and promotes cultural understanding; this is the only mosque non-Muslims are allowed to enter in the UAE...more
When it comes to real estate, few cities have the financial backing, the vision, and lack of red tape to build on the same massive scale as Dubai. Of the...more
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