Dubai’s Transformation from Desert Kingdom to International Destination
Flying into Dubai on Emirates Airlines or arriving by cruise ship is an unusual experience. Seeing skyscrapers, resort hotels, highways and beaches suddenly emerge out of the desert is like arriving in Las Vegas. Both places were gambles that defied conventional wisdom and both places have remarkable sites to see and things to do for an unending stream of visitors.
Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, Emirati and Persian traders and local fishermen established a series of small ports along the eastern banks of the Persian Gulf. They hoped for a quiet life free from the heavy taxation of the Iranian monarchs across the gulf and the oversight of the distant British empire which claimed a protectorate over the area pursuant to an 1853 treaty. The emirs who controlled local affairs were content to allow their people and these merchants to tend to their own affairs without much governmental interference.
One Ongoing Development Project
Everything changed during the 1950s when the discovery of vast petroleum reserves in Abu Dhabi and some other nearby emirates focused new attention on the region. No one imagined, however, that a transformative group of leaders would band together in a federation of seven autonomous states called the United Arab Emirates in 1971, and turn miles of inhospitable coastland along the northeastern part of the Arabian peninsula into an international destination for transportation, commerce, and entertainment. The region is now one large economic development project after 40 years of frenetic construction and investment.
Dubai emerged at the center of this juggernaut because lacking significant oil reserves, the emirate needed to be creative. Led by the traditional leader of the Al Maktoum family, Sheikh Rashid, Dubai first built a World Trade Center and the modern Jebi Ali port to serve merchant ships seeking a connection to various Asian, African, and European destinations. He also made land available at favorable prices with low taxation for developers hoping to create a new resort destination for European and Middle Eastern travelers. However, it was his grandson, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who attracted billions of dollars of capital and spent it to build a modern city with impressive infrastructure. Dubai has developed into a location where international business is conducted in dazzling venues alongside some unique attractions, shopping options, festivals, and other forms of entertainment.
Grand Attractions and Activities
There is a long list of activities worth considering when planning a trip to Dubai. Here are a just a few of them:
Resorts and Relaxation - Some of the initial resorts in Dubai were funded and owned by the royal family such as the Jumeirah Beach Hotel built in 1995. This waterfront family hotel set a high standard for future developers. It features 600 rooms, six swimming pools, numerous restaurants, and an excellent beach. Jumeirah Beach is known for its design which resembles a cresting wave. All the brightly colored rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views of the water. The hotel was recently renovated and upgraded but it remains one of the most iconic places to stay in Dubai. The resort has a complimentary water park next door called Wild Wadi and a small marina for large yacht owners.
The Burj Al Arab, a pet project of Sheikh Mohammed, further cemented Dubai's reputation for over the top buildings and projects. Labeled a seven-star property by some, the Burj is located on a man-made island next to the Jumeirah Beach and offers guests a unique and awfully expensive experience. Built to resemble the sales of a ship, the opulent Burj is a photo stop on every city tour and can be visited by making prior reservations for lunch or afternoon tea.
Dozens of other resorts have been built in Dubai by international hoteliers. Some luxury hotels like the Moroccan-inspired The Palace at One and Only Royal Mirage are located on the shore or in the marina district. Closer to the downtown or the shopping areas, there are other luxury hotels and moderately priced rooms available such as the Hyatt Regency located on the waterfront promenade known as the Corniche which provide ready access to Dubai's attractions. For visitors transiting through Dubai as part of an international journey, the Sheraton Mall of the Emirates with its rooftop pool, direct connection to the mall, and proximity to the airport is tough to beat.
Attractions, Family Amusements and Competitions - There is no shortage of attractions and amusements for adults and families in Dubai. Two attractions that draw people seeking a sensory experience are the Burj Khalifa and Ski Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is a half mile high building and tower that is the tallest structure in the world by some measures. Built over a period of five years by thousands of workers, the tower houses 163 floors of residences, office space, broadcasting centers, an Armani hotel and an observation deck that provides an awe inspiring view of the wonders of Dubai to the east and the desert to the west. Some people can get a little woozy from the elevator ride or the thought of being that high, but others cannot get enough. Viewing the tower and its futuristic architecture from various places on the ground such as the fountains surrounding the building is also worthwhile. Ski Dubai, located at the Mall of the Emirates, is perhaps not as spectacular in size but the concept of skiing or sledding down a slope in the middle of a desert on snow is just another way of Dubai telling the world that normal rules and limitations do not apply here.
The Dubai Parks and Resorts which opened in 2016 has three theme parks and a waterpark. The most popular attraction there is a motion picture theme park called Motiongate Dubai which brings to life the movie creations of Columbia Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Lionsgate using various rides and immersion into the world of film making. Another park called Bollywood Parks Dubai is the only theme park in the world which focuses exclusively on Bollywood movies and themes. This colorfully decorated park uses live music and dance performances, motion simulators, action performances, and interactive rides to recreate the fantasy and romantic world of selected Bollywood blockbusters. Finally, for families with young children, the park includes Legoland Dubai which has several dozen rides and shows, plus models created from millions of Lego bricks. After experiencing one or all three parks, families with young children can then relax in the Legoland Water Park or else visit the Riverland Dubai which has numerous dining and entertainment options.
Dubai has placed itself at the center of the action for a wide variety of festivals by building modern sports facilities and hosting a wide variety of competitions. Owing in part to Sheikh Mohammed’s love of horses, the Dubai World Cup held at the beautiful Meydan racetrack in March offers the richest purse of any horse race in the world. Professional tennis players and golfers also flock to the Dubai Tennis Championships and Dubai Desert Classic held in February and March. Conventions and music festivals add to the ongoing efforts to attract tourists year-round.
These local attractions are facing stiff competition lately from popular Ferrari World which is located about two hours away from Dubai. Built in 2010, this attraction is located on Yas Island which is the centerpiece of Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district. A huge complex located mostly indoors, Ferrari World has appealed to adults and children by emphasizing racing-based rides, roller coasters and simulations. New activities include a zip line attraction and a roof walk that allows guests to climb over the large red roof that envelops the park. A virtual tour of a Ferrari factory and plenty of Italian food round out the activities there. Yas Island also has its own waterpark and more entertainment planned.
Palm Jumeirah Island- Just when people thought they had seen it all in Dubai, a new project took shape there over the past two decades which has amazed everyone. The Nakheel real estate company, now owned by the government of Dubai, decided to build a residential and resort community several miles offshore of Jumeirah Beach by dredging the gulf and creating a 1400-acre island paradise on reclaimed seabed. Known as the Palm Jumeirah and built for an estimated $12 billion, this island is sculpted in the shape of palm leaves extending off a central causeway that runs about 3.1 miles from the mainland.
The dozens of streets on the island are lined with over 4500 penthouses, villas, and apartments, each with its own beachfront and in many cases a dock and swimming pool. There are over 30 hotels on the island, but at the far end of the causeway stands the 2000 room Atlantis The Palm Hotel which looms over the entire island. It offers features such as a lobby aquarium, boutique shops, a huge water park like the Paradise Island Atlantis, and other accoutrements. There is a large boardwalk type promenade that circles some of the outer rim of the island and serves as a gateway for active watersports as well.
The Palm Jumeirah may have been overhyped when classified by some as the “eighth wonder of the world”, but it represents a monumental engineering and construction achievement. The processes used to dredge, spread, and compress tens of millions of tons of sand, stone, and other materials into a buildable foundation, construct a high-density development and plant 12,000 trees will likely be studied for years. To secure this community on the water from the ravages of nature, a breakwater island was built around the exterior on three sides and later modified to improve the water flow to the interior. Many of the residences on the island were purchased by wealthy expatriates and celebrities from all over the world, and some are infrequently used. Nevertheless, the central part of the island also includes offices, retail, and resident services. There are enough residential units and hotel rooms to accommodate an estimated 80,000 people on the Palm Jumeirah. Visitors can drive onto the island via the main causeway or take a monorail that transports up to 20,000 people daily from the shore. Most Dubai tours include a visit or photo stop on the island, or a meal at one of the island’s 80 restaurants.
Even before the Palm Jumeirah was completed, a similar project was launched in Dubai called The World which consists of several hundred clustered man-made islands built to resemble the outline of various countries. Located several miles offshore, individual resorts and residences can be built to suit by private developers on an island and then reached by boat or helicopter. This project was suspended by the 2008 global recession which impacted Dubai's real estate market but construction of one group of islands known as The Heart of Europe is apparently now close to completion.
Shopping - The historic role of Dubai as a place for merchants to sell their wares continues in the 21st century. The waterways of the Dubai Creek remain the center of commerce for importers bringing goods from exotic locations around Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The shops and stalls located on both banks of the creek attract thousands of locals and tourists daily. This location also gives tourists an opportunity to enjoy the Dubai experience of crossing the creek in small wooden boats known as abras just as travelers have done for over a century.
What is unusual about the souks is that each area specializes in certain types of goods so that if you are interested in clothing you go to one area and if you are interested in jewelry you go to another. This provides certain advantages to the shopper because if one store does not have exactly what you are looking for, the one next door may. There are also plenty of opportunities to bargain for the best price. One of the most popular souks is the gold souk at which quality 18 and 22 carat gold chains and jewelry pieces are the norm. Other popular souks feature spices, textiles, perfumes, carpets, and copycat designed merchandise.
As one might expect in Dubai, however, the shopping experience also consists of visiting air-conditioned, upscale malls catering to shoppers seeking a wide variety of luxury brands from around the world. The Dubai Mall in Center City attracts an estimated 80 million visitors a year to its more than 1300 retail outlets and 200 food and beverage locations. Another still popular alternative is the Mall of the Emirates constructed in 1999 which combined flagship stores with entertainment options such as Ski Dubai, an aquarium, movie theaters and other fantasy attractions. Finally, history buffs enjoy the creatively designed Ibn Battuta Mall which uses themes from the various countries visited by the famed Arab traveler as a backdrop for its stores.
Desert Adventure - Despite the glitter of the city, some people who visit Dubai want to experience the desert environment during their trip. There are three ways to do this. The first and most common way is to book a tour through your hotel or a reputable agency for half day desert safari. These late afternoon and evening adventures include a ride through the desert by jeep and usually some “dune bashing” up and down the sand dunes for those that are interested. The tour will then take you to a modern desert encampment where a buffet feast will be prepared incorporating local favorites and plenty of meats. At the feast, other cultural activities such as camel riding, belly dancing, musical performances and possibly a falconry demonstration will take place. While these “cultural” immersions can be a bit hokey, it is usually a fun night that couples and families with older children will remember and enjoy.
The second way to see the desert is to book a guided tour for a full day excursion to one of the local oases or the Hajar mountains or arrange an overnight trip and stay in a tent or cabin there. The last way is to book a room at one of the spectacular resorts like Bab Al Shams or Al Maha Resort and Spa which are located out in the desert and offer full services along with their own cultural experiences to guests. The compromise we selected for our desert experience was to attend the regular feast and Bedouin village experience which the Bab Al Shams provides for its guests and those from some other leading Dubai hotels at the Al Hadheerah restaurant. It was a fun evening.
Diverse Population
Today, after decades of hard work, Dubai has grown exponentially into a state with a population of approximately 3.3 million people. Some residents are expatriates from the United Kingdom and North America employed in professional fields, finance, and international trade. Many others are guest workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and elsewhere employed in the construction trade, retail, or domestic services. The collective efforts of these diverse people implemented the vision of Dubai’s determined leaders and its citizens to transform their country into a world player that demands to be noticed. Today, Dubai attracts over 16 million visitors each year and generates an estimated $28 billion of economic activity from their visits.