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Dubai
A to Z
Spring 2007 inspiremagazine.co.nz58 inspiremagazine.co.nz Spring 2007 59
Dubai is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular stopovers. But Inspire traveller Brett Atkinson recommends you get out of the airport, extend your stay for a few days, and use this handy guide to prepare yourself for a heady encounter with Arab hospitality
dubaial maha to za’abeel
al mahaza’abeelto
AAl Maha Desert Resort and SpaOne of the best ways to break up your long-haul journey has
to be this unique haven. Part luxury spa, part eco-resort, its
lavish stand-alone tented suites are secreted amid caramel-
coloured dunes, and each luxury air-conditioned tent comes
with its own private temperature-controlled pool. And then
there are the sunset camel trips—fabulous in themselves
and an excellent opportunity to spot the rare Arabian oryx, Al
Maha, after which the resort is named
Photo: EmiratEs al maha DEEsrt rEsort & sPa
Dubai
A to Z
A to Z of Dubai
Spring 2007 inspiremagazine.co.nz60 inspireamagazine.co.nz Spring 2007 61
Burj Al ArabYou’ve seen the television ad with tennis aces
Roger Federer and Andre Agassi trading shots
on the helipad of the world’s most iconic hotel.
The (self-appointed) six star decor is pure
Arabian Nights kitsch, but to get through the
hotel’s imposing doors for a look you need to be
staying there or have a confirmed reservation at
one of Burj Al Arab’s eight bars and restaurants.
Camel racingGet up early and catch the first race at 7.30am
at the Nad Al Sheba racetrack. Races can be up
to ten kilometres long with fields of between
fifteen and 70 camels. The jockeys used to be
young children, but a minimum age of fifteen
years is now enforced. Remote-controlled ‘robot’
jockeys are also used. The annual racing season
runs from October to April.
Desert adventures Bumping and bouncing in a four-wheel-drive
through the desert dunes is a popular outing
for travellers to Dubai. Most safaris depart in
the afternoon, and include a spot of falconry
followed by a Bedouin dinner and traditional
dancing. The trips are fun, but staying in the
desert overnight will provide you with a more
authentic experience.
(Mall of the) EmiratesLondon may be another long flight away, but
don’t worry, because the Mall of the Emirates’
450-plus shops include Oxford St designer
clobber stalwarts like Next, River Island and
French Connection. The mall is the largest
shopping centre outside of North America. After
you’ve fully exercised your credit card, there’s
Ski Dubai—the Middle East’s largest indoor ski
slope. Dubai’s ski-field in the desert has two
slopes (expert and moderate), a chairlift running
through the centre you can hop off half-way up
and a snow park for children with an amazing
snow slide. Pack a warm hat and gloves if you’re
planning a trip to Ski Dubai as everything else
is included. But if you forget, you can buy these
items at the shop next to the ticket counter.
FalafelYou’re never far from shawarma stands for tasty
kebabs, delicious falafel, creamy dips and just
maybe the world’s best juices. To-die-for avocado
juice is a global craze in waiting. Look out for
good value Indian and Pakistani restaurants
serving Dubai’s huge expat population.
GinsengDrinking in Dubai can be expensive, but the
coolly cosmopolitan Ginseng bar has regular
two for one cocktail nights from 7pm to 10pm.
If you don’t fancy a cocktail, the Asian-inspired
tapas menu goes well with a solid wine list and
an impressive selection of Japanese, Thai and
Chinese beers.
JJumeirah Beach ParkDubai’s favourite park gets crowded at weekends (Friday and
Saturday in Dubai), but visit on a weekday and you’ll have
the palm trees, shady grassed areas and pristine beach all
to yourself. Nearer the city, Russian Beach on the Jumeirah
Corniche has less shade but equally good swimming. Just
watch out for burly types called Vladimir and Olga.
OOld DubaiIt’s easy to overlook Dubai’s fascinating
past, and the city’s trading roots are best
explored in the quiet Bastakia area. This tiny
neighbourhood on the edge of Dubai Creek
was built in the early 1900s. The narrow lanes
are punctuated with wind-towers (left) that
provide natural cooling breezes for heritage
buildings. Many of these architectural
treasures are now being reopened as art
galleries and boutique accommodation.
Dinner at the atmospheric Bastakia Nights
restaurant is a must.
Highest building in the worldApparently, a quarter of all the world’s
construction cranes are currently in use across
Dubai’s bursting skyline. The rising profile
of Burj Dubai is an integral part of the local
building boom. When it is finished in 2008
it will stretch more than 800 metres high.
To give you an idea of the scale of the thing,
we’re talking more than twice the height of
Auckland’s Sky Tower. Watch its world-beating
progress at burjdubai.com.
Irish VillageThey say an Irish bar opens every hour around
the world. Anywhere with as many Western
expats as Dubai needs a good Irish bar, and the
Irish Village does nicely. The place even hosts
occasional gigs from 1980s’ musical refugees
such as The Pretenders, ABC and Sir Bob
Geldof. Supping a Guinness beside the beer
garden’s tiny duck-festooned lake might make
you think you’re in Killarney. “Sláinte!”
Karama SouqFor unbridled kitsch overkill and the best of
the faux, go to the Karama Souq in the city’s
southwest. As well as mini-versions of the Burj
Al Arab hotel, it’s a good spot for loading up on
cheap leather goods and designer gear.
Lime Tree CafeRecreate your at-home ritual of a leisurely
brunch with the morning paper at the Kiwi-
owned Lime Tree Cafe in Jumeirah. Try the
Lime Tree Mint Cooler or some of Dubai’s best
coffee. The salads and wraps are exceptionally
good any day of the week. Look out for the new
branch now at the Ibn Battuta Mall.
Madinat JumeirahThe man-made canals of Madinat Jumeirah or
Jumeirah City conceal some of Dubai’s most
atmospheric bars and restaurants. The sublime
Bahri Bar has huge rattan lounges looking
directly onto the Burj Al Arab hotel. Think
Raffles-era Singapore meets Lawrence of Arabia
with a healthy twist of the 21st century.
New developmentsWhere do we begin? The visionary, ruling Al-
Maktoum family is fast forwarding Dubai into
becoming a great world city. World’s tallest
building? Tick. Manchester United Soccer
academy? Tick again. Tip in six new golf courses,
a Formula One motor racing complex and the
incredible World project with its dozens of man-
made islands, and you’re just scratching the
surface of Dubai’s ongoing extreme makeover.
Persian carpetsIran lies just across the Persian Gulf and Dubai
is an excellent place to buy carpets from all over
the Middle East. Don’t expect huge bargains,
but the quality and range available are generally
very high. National Iranian Carpets (niccarpets.
com) have shops in Dubai’s most popular malls.
Qasr Al HusnThere’s plenty to keep you occupied in Dubai,
but if the city’s modern appeal begins to fade
you might consider a day trip to nearby Abu
Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The two-hour drive to Abu Dhabi runs along a
beautiful coastline and is highly recommended.
Qasr Al Husn, or the White Fort, is the oldest
building in Abu Dhabi and dates from the late
19th century. Restore your inner cool in the
central courtyard.
Photos: brEtt atkinsonPhoto: Carol atkinson
Dubai
A to Z
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Spring 2007 inspiremagazine.co.nz62 inspireamagazine.co.nz Spring 2007 63
A world away in just 5 hours
A tantalising world of luxury and leisure lies just 5 hours away in the most beautiful island chain on earth. Discover why so many people
have fallen in love with the unparalleled beauty that is Tahiti and her 117 islands.
Phone House of Travel on 0800 838 747 closer than you thinkTMA
1134
6
1 1 6 2 4 _ T T _ I n s p i r _ h l f . p d f P a g e 1 8 / 2 / 0 7 , 1 1 : 3 1 A M
NeeD to kNow
getting there: emirates fly to Dubai from Auckland and Christchurch daily. it is about a twenty-one hour flight depending on transit stops. You can potentially make stops in Australia or Asia. Kiwis don’t need to pay for a visa, it’s free and you can pick it up on arrival—all of which contribute to Dubai’s attractiveness as a stopover destination
Best times: You can visit Dubai any time of the year, but it can be extremely hot from July to october. if you are travelling during the month of september, the outside daytime temperature ranges from 40 to 50 degrees centigrade with humidity above 80 percent. You might want to book a hotel with a pool!
top spots: staying on Jumeirah Beach is recommended if you’re in Dubai for three nights or longer. if you are staying for only two nights or less a city hotel is a better option. traders hotel is a good choice with packages from nZ$120 pp per night share twin. the majority of hotels on the beach are five star so you can’t go too far wrong. the Jumeirah Beach hotel (from nZ$268 pp per night share twin including breakfast) offers a fantastic view of the Burj Al Arab, floating majestically like a giant sail of an Arab dhow on the clear waters just off the beach. if you stay at the Jumeirah you also get unlimited access to the fantastic Wild Wadi Water park right next door—a great family choice
Feel liKe extenDing Your stAY? if you’re keen to add another country to your trip, take a one-hour flight to neighbouring oman. this diverse country boasts a huge desert, rugged mountains and a stunning coastline, and you need at least three nights to see what this great destination has to offer
For more, contact your house of travel consultant on 0800 838 747 or visit inspiremagazine.co.nz/03/dubai
Real EstateDubai is currently playing host to the world’s
most audacious real estate developments.
There are now three Palm projects underway,
with man-made islands in the shape of giant
palm fronds rising from the shallow waters
of The Gulf. If you’re keen to buy, Posh and
Becks could be your neighbours. Elsewhere on
Dubai’s golden coast, The World Development
is creating what will be privately owned islands
shaped like different countries of the world.
Theme ParkJust when you think there’s one area where
modern Dubai doesn’t lead the world, you learn
of the plans for Dubailand, the Middle East’s
answer to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, which aims
to attract fifteen million visitors annually by
2010. With 55 hotels and multiple theme parks,
Dubailand promises to be very big. How big?
The staggering answer is more than twice the
size of Florida’s Disney World.
UndergroundGetting around Dubai is best achieved using
a combination of reasonably priced taxis and
abras, the shuffling open-top boats which
shuttle to and fro across Dubai Creek. The
traffic is not too bad, except at rush hour, but in
2009 Dubai’s new underground railway system
will open. And, of course, it will be the longest
fully automated system in the world.
VerreMost of us know Gordon Ramsay only as the
foul-mouthed television celebrity chef, but his
Verre restaurant located at the Hilton Dubai
Creek is also consistently rated as one of the
city’s best eateries.
Wild WadiDubai can get mighty warm. You’ve got two
options. Head for the air-conditioned climatic
sanity of one of the city’s shopping malls, or
swim, dive and slide till you drop at Wild Wadi
Water Park. The Jumeirah Sceirah extreme slide
is actually pretty scary.
YachtingAnd you all thought Emirates’ support for
Team New Zealand was just another part of
their marketing and sponsorship strategy. Well,
yes and no. Yachting off the shores of Dubai
is rapidly growing in popularity. Dusail offers
everything from fun catamarans to larger
ketches and luxury yachts.
Za’abeel ParkIt’s no surprise that Dubai’s newest public park
(open since late 2005) is also one of its best. With
tracks for running and cycling, and a small lake
with dinky pleasure-craft for hire, it’s the perfect
spot to relax if the combination of a quarter of the
world’s construction cranes and a few too many
tasty shawarmas are beginning to overwhelm.
SSpice SouqAromatic frankincense resin from the Dhofar area
of Oman has been traded in this region since
Biblical times. The best parts of Dubai’s traditional
Deira Souq (market) are now limited to the Gold
Souq and a few lanes selling fresh spices, including
saffron and frankincense. But while more mundane
merchandise (including entire stores selling only
cigarette lighters) is steadily encroaching, there
are still several lanes offering a delicious sensory
overload of heady, natural aromas. All together
now, one ... two ... three ... breathe in.
XXVA GalleryThe XVA Gallery resides in a wonderfully restored
building tucked into the narrow lanes of Bastakia.
There are regular exhibitions, and the courtyard
cafe is good after a visit to the Dubai Museum in
the nearby Al Fahidi Fort. Try the eggplant burger
with a glass of fresh mint lemonade.
Photo: Carol atkinson Photo: XVa GallEry
Dubai
A to Z
“Learn to bargain—compare prices and don’t accept the first one. There are ATM machines and a Thomas Cook exchange bureau if you need more cash. The Souks are a male-dominated
area so women travellers should make sure their legs and shoulders are covered” shelley adkins, adventure travel specialist, house of travel