Bedouin Beginnings

Bedouins are animal herders who travel the desert during the wetter winter months and move toward cultivated land in summer. Bedouin society is characterized by tribal, patriarchal order. Among the Arab-speaking tribes such as those that roamed the deserts of the present-day UAE, the head of the tribal structure was called the sheikh. Today, the rulers... 

Dubai History

Looking Back at Dubai Most of Dubai’s history is known only to the desert and the sea. There’s little information about pre-Islamic activity in this corner of the Arabian Peninsula. After the spread of Islam in the 7th century, the Umayyad Caliph invaded southeast Arabia and drove out the Sassanians, one of the great powers of the time. Several... 

Up in Smoke

Shisha goes by many names, including narghile, hubbly bubbly, and hookah. This tradition is enjoyed not just at cafes and lounges throughout Dubai, but across much of the Middle East and South Asia. The pastime is gaining in popularity in Western countries as well, where chic hookah lounges have opened in cosmopolitan cities. Shisha is thought to have... 

Emirati Food

It’s difficult to find Emirati food in Dubai’s restaurants. It’s considered somewhat bland, and Arabic food here is heavily influenced by Lebanese, Moroccan, Tunisian, and even Iranian cuisine. Meals usually start with meze, Arabic appetizers such as hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanouj, falafel, and kibbeh (ground meat with spices) served with pita... 

Dubai Today

The modern emirate of Dubai, whose principal city is also called Dubai, is a land of contrasts. It sits squarely in the Arabian Desert, but has miles of beautiful coastline. Political and social turmoil stirs in parts of the broader Middle East, yet this is one of the world’s most stable cities. Its Islamic heritage and Western orientation give it... 

Dubai in Depth

Dubai is a marvel for the senses, a city that surprises just as it impresses. Within just a few short decades, it has gone from being a relative backwater to the world’s fastestgrowing modern city. Everything seems possible here. Dubai’s principal attractions are its white-sand beaches, glitzy malls, thrilling activities, and swanky nightlife....