Dubai

Concierge.com's insider take:

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 signature projects, the world's tallest skyscraper, Burj Dubai, has reached its apex, is now completely cladded, and is due to officially open in winter 2009. It will have both residential and commercial areas, including the first Armani Hotel (www.burjdubai.com). Meanwhile, the 1,539-room resort Atlantis The Palm, has opened its doors on Palm Jumeirah, the first of three tree-shaped islands—visible from outer space, no less (www.atlantisthepalm.com). Donald Trump will make his debut in the Middle East on Palm Jumeirah with the Trump International Hotel & Tower, a 62-story, stainless-steel and glass structure, expected to be completed by 2011.

Many of the biggest projects will remain unfinished for years to come, including The World, an archipelago of private islands forming the outline of the seven continents; The Universe, islands in the shape of planets and constellations; and the Dubai Waterfront, an artificial peninsula that's twice the size of Hong Kong.

The mother of all megaprojects, opening in phases, is Dubailand, a conglomeration of theme parks and themed suburbs including a medical community anchored by one of the world's largest plastic surgery clinics and an outpost of Harvard Medical School. An Ernie Els signed golf course is up and running in Dubai Sports City, a subdivision with stadiums for cricket, tennis, a Manchester United soccer school, and a sports-centric shopping mall (971-4425-1111; www.dubaisportscity.ae). Once completed in 2018, Dubailand will be the size of Singapore (three billion square feet!). Planned buildings include Vegas-style hotels and resorts, more golf courses (including the first-ever designed with the help of Tiger Woods), theme parks (including a Universal Studios, the Jurassic Park–inspired Restless Planet, and a 660-foot-diameter, 230-foot-high snow-dome ski resort), and copies of world monuments including the Eiffel Tower and sections of China's Great Wall. The public can visit Dubailand's HQ in the city to view an intricate 3,200-square-foot scale model of the development, as well as interactive audiovisual displays. Two massive Bengal tigers, housed in an enclosure adjacent to the entrance, watch visitors arrive (Emirates Rd.; 971-4368-0000; www.dubailand.ae; closed Fri. and Sat.).

Of course, the best way to view all these properties—and to get your bearings in Dubai's ever changing landscape—is from above. Seawings offers daily sightseeing seaplane flights starting at $243 per person (971-4883-2999; www.seawings.ae). A private and pricier option is via helicopter (Aerogulf Services Company; 971-4220-0331; www.aerogulfservices.com; tours from $1,700 for four passengers). But if you happen to be dining at the Al Muntaha restaurant at the top of the Burj Al Arab, it's also possible to see these developments from slightly farther away. An alternative view can be had from the sea via yacht charter, allowing you to get up close to some of the islands, through Art Marine (971-4338-8955; www.artmarine.net) or Blue Banana (971-4369-7378; www.bluebanana.ae).