Burj Al Arab
Created by architect Tom Wright to resemble the billowing sail of an Arabian dhow, the massive Burj Al Arab (which translates to “Arabian Tower”) extends 321m (1,053 ft.) to the sky. The iconic structure, which rises from its own man-made island, dominates the Jumeirah Beach coastline, eclipsing the wavelike-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotel just in front. The Burj is made of a steel frame exterior wrapped around a concrete tower, with white Teflon-coated fiberglass forming the building’s white “sail.” At night, the Burj is lit up in a spectacular show of changing colors. A helipad and glass-enclosed restaurant extend from the ...
Bawadi
Bawadi aspires to be the largest hospitality and leisure development anywhere. It will have a giant cluster of hotels, adding 60,000 guest rooms to Dubai with 51 new hotels. One of these will be Asia-Asia, the world’s largest hotel expected to house 6,500 rooms. Part of the broader Dubailand project, Bawadi will create amusement centers, shopping malls, theaters, restaurants, and convention centers. It’s also meant to become a model for the region of green and sustainable design.
Burj Dubai
Still under construction at press time but already the world’s tallest building, Burj Dubai dominates the skyline with its thin silver steel structure that can be seen for miles. The final height remains a secret, but the project’s construction manager, Greg Sang, says it will be greater than 700m (2,297 ft.); many predict it will be more than 800m (2,625 ft.). In designing the building, lead architect Adrian Smith, of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, drew inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture, which uses stepped ascending spirals. The building will rise from a flower-shaped base the flower is the hymenocallis, a white ...
The Palm Islands
The largest artificial islands in the world sit off the coast of Dubai in the Arabian Gulf. Collectively, the Palm Islands are considered by some to be an Eighth Wonder of the World. Developed by UAE-based Nakheel Properties, this triad of islands includes the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, and Palm Jebel Ali. Made with hundreds of millions of cubic meters of reclaimed land from the bottom of the Gulf, the islands are each designed in the shape of a palm tree with a trunk, fronds, and crescent, adding a total of 520km (323 miles) of coastline to Dubai. The Palm Jumeirah ...
Dubai Other Works
Although the Burj Dubai is scheduled to open in 2008, Downtown Burj Dubai, which represents the area surrounding the world’s tallest building, will not be ready until 2009. In addition to housing residences and offices, Downtown Burj Dubai will feature luxury hotels and the Dubai Mall, set to become the biggest shopping center on earth. • At twice the size of Disney World, Dubailand intends to become the planet’s largest entertainment complex, featuring resorts, sports and outdoor activities, health retreats, a huge shopping mall, and six theme parks. These will include Six Flags Dubai, Universal Studios Dubai, Paramount Studios Theme ...
Entry Requirements
PASSPORTS The websites listed provide downloadable passport applications as well as the current fees for processing applications. For an up-to-date, country-bycountry listing of passport requirements around the world, go to the “International Travel” tab of the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov For Residents of Australia You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at Phone: 131- 232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au For Residents of Canada Passport applications are available at ...
Best Nightlife
• Best Bar to Watch the Sunset: The Terrace. The sun sets over the Dubai Creek and city skyline, which stretch out majestically before the Terrace deck, an excellent place to unwind after a day of seeing the sights. • Best Bar with a View: Vu’s. Appropriately named, Vu’s offers a stunning panorama of the city from the 51st floor of the Emirates Towers hotel. • Best Champagne Bar: Cin Cin. A beautiful crowd gathers to admire one another in this glamorous champagne and wine bar, with an equally exclusive cigar bar located next door. • Best Cocktail Bar: Buddha Bar. A killer sound system plays ...
Best Moderate Hotels
• Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa Al Fahidi Street in Deira. This distinctly Arabian-style hotel sits across from the Dubai museum and is an excellent base for exploring the city’s old quarter. (Phone: 4/351-9111; www.arabiancourtyard.com) • Orient Guest House Bastakiya. Situated in a restored Arabian villa in the historic Bastakiya neighborhood, this boutique hotel offers 24-hour butler service, promising guests personalized attention. This is a distinct alternative to the city’s predominantly high-rise hotels. (Phone: 4/351- 9111; www.orientguesthouse.com) • Novotel next to the World Trade Centre. You’ll discover one of the city’s best values at this Frenchchain hotel, a simple yet stylish choice ...
The Best of Dubai
Best Nightlife
• Best Bar to Watch the Sunset: The Terrace. The sun sets over the Dubai Creek...
Best Cultural Experiences
• Bastakiya. This restored historic neighborhood of meandering lanes, traditional...
Best Shopping in Dubai
• Best Boutique Mall: Emirates Towers Boulevard. The elegant Boulevard features...
Read More Posts From This CategoryDubai in Depth
Bedouin Beginnings
Bedouins are animal herders who travel the desert during the wetter winter months...
Dubai History
Looking Back at Dubai Most of Dubai’s history is known only to the desert and the...
Up in Smoke
Shisha goes by many names, including narghile, hubbly bubbly, and hookah. This tradition...
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Rob Idol To Perform Robbie Williams Tribute Act In Burjuman
Rob Idol has been performing a ‘Robbie Williams’ tribute act for more than 6 years, having performed well over 1000 shows which is more shows performing as Robbie than Robbie himself and to an estimated total audience of over 2 million ranging from intimate gigs of less than 100 to an outdoor concert which was over 10,000. During his acts at BurJuman from 18-20 February, he will be...
du Launches International Toll-Free Service
du has today announced the launch of its International Toll-Free Service (ITFS), which enables multi-national enterprise customers to receive toll-free calls from payphones, landlines and mobile phones in the UAE. This application provides access to toll-free ITFS numbers for calls originating from the UAE and provides du carrier partners with a solution for audio-conferencing, call centre and business...
Three In A Row For Haile At Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon
Haile Gebrselassie clinched the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon title for the third successive year, but it was a hard-fought victory in a relatively slow time of 2h:06m:09s. All the pre-race talk had been of a new record but Gebrselassie’s world best time of 2h:03m:59s was never under serious threat after a pre-race back problem put paid to his chances of collecting a $1 million bonus offered...
Dubai Silicon Oasis Signs MoU With Zoning Authority Development Control And Dubai Industrial Academy
Dubai Silicon Oasis, the region’s premier integrated innovations hub for high tech industries, announced today the signing of a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Industrial Academy (DIA) and Zoning Authority Development Control (ZA) under the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority to implement a Site Safety Passport (SSP) programme. The signing ceremony took place...
Aramex And The Zubair Corporation Partner To Offer Total Supply Chain Solutions In Oman
Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, announced today a joint venture agreement with the Zubair Corporation (Z-Corp), a prominent regional business conglomerate headquartered in Oman. The new venture will offer businesses in Oman integrated services such as warehousing and distribution, sea, air and ground transportation, freight forwarding and customs brokerage. Consequently,...
First Call Made Using Inmarsat’s New Global Handheld
Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announced today that the first call has been made using its global handheld service, IsatPhone Pro, which is on track for launch in June 2010. The first images of the new handset have also been released. In preparation for launch, Inmarsat has passed a number of key milestones in the development of the...
Sweeten-Up Your Loved One’s Day With Kitsch Cupcakes His & Hers Offering This Valentines!
With Valentines’ day just around the corner, adding some delightful cupcakes to your gift box is the perfect way to make sure all your loved one’s senses will be satisfied! Kitsch Cupcakes, Dubai first specialized cupcakes bar will be offering a special St. Valentines His & Her box of two this Valentines. The cupcakes will be chocolate love & passionate vanilla in flavor. It...
Statement From Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC)
Following a series of extensive studies and a pilot project conducted in August, 2008, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is evaluating the possible introduction of a modern self-serve concept, as an option for motorists buying fuel across its network of service stations in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. ENOC has been evaluating customer feedback during the past year, and the responses have...
Dubai International Academic City Highlighted At ICEF Middle East And Africa Workshop
Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a member of TECOM Investments, highlighted its status as the region’s foremost dedicated higher education free zone to a group of educators and student recruitment agents at the ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) Middle East and Africa Workshop in Dubai. Held from 1-3 February, the event witnessed Dr Ayoub Kazim, Executive Director,...
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