Dubai is probably the most well-known and prominent of the seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates. Though it has some oil and gas reserves, Dubai’s economy depends mainly on tourism and the free trade zone of Jebel Ali. . Its population has nearly doubled in the last decade, with much of that growth due to immigrants from Lebanon, Pakistan, India and the Philippines seeking jobs. In recent years, this eastern Arabian metropolis has capitalized on its Mediterranean climate and beautiful beaches by ramping up its service industry and transforming itself into an extreme luxury resort. The city is now a top destination for the rich and famous, with five-star hotels, fine dining establishments and upscale shopping centers.

	Top rated hotels
	1. Mina A Salam Madinat Jumeirah Jumeirah Road 4. Palm Beach Rotana Inn Khalid Bin Walid Street 2. Dusit Dubai 133 Sheikh Zayed Road 5. Holiday Inn Dubai-al Barsha Sheikh Zayed Road 3. Renaissance Dubai Hotel Salah Al Din Road, Deira 6. Towers Rotana - Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road View more Dubai hotel info »«

	Top rated attractions
	In Dubai 1. Deira City Centre This is one of the largest Western-style shopping malls in the city. Deira offers more than 300 shops, restaurants and other retailers. There is also a children’s entertainment centre and a Sofitel hotel. The several courtyards in the centre are organized by products sold; there is one for jewelry, another for Arabian souvenirs, and one for textiles. There are a large variety of European and American fashion retailers, such as Forever 21, French Connection UK, Burberry, Esprit, Armani, and the like. You can also find children’s stores (Earlylearning, mothercare) and leather goods shops (Carrefour, Sacoche) here.  « hide 2. Burjuman Another wonderful place to shop in Dubai is Burjuman, a recently-renovated mall with plenty of shops offering goods ranging from electronics to maternity wear. You can find classy apparel at places like Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, or Valentino. Want accessories? Try Hermes, Tiffany’s or Louis Vuitton. No matter what your shopping desire, Burjuman probably has the store you are looking for. If you get tired while shopping, stop for a gourmet snack at the Hediard Café, the Café in Saks, or La Gaufrette, a purveyor of high-quality Arabian and European pastries.  « hide 3. Jumeira Beach The long, continuous stretch of sand along Dubai’s Jumeira Road has been broken up into a number of public access beaches, hotel properties and private clubhouse facilities. The soft, white sand eases into the shallow turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf, making the scene ideal for swimming, beach sports and sunbathing. Hotel beaches tend to have excellent facilities, including beachside food and beverage services, swimming pools, and palm tree-lined lawns. Non-guests can usually use the hotel’s beach club facilities by paying a daily rate of $10 to $50.  « hide 4. Carpets A trip to the Middle East would not be complete without a viewing of Persian tapestries. As Dubai is just across the Gulf from Iran, Persian carpets are plentiful here. Prices are good if you account for bargaining with the vendor, which is acceptable and expected. The Blue Souk in Sharjah is one of the most famous places for both carpets and gold jewelry. There is a large variety in terms of designs, quality, origin and price here, so do a little research beforehand if you are in a serious buying mood.  « hide 5. Golf Besides the excellent 18-hole course at the Four Seasons Golf & Country Club, there are two other excellent golf courses in Dubai. Both are well-built and meticulously maintained, with lush fairways and luxurious clubhouses. The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, on the banks of Dubai Creek, has a clubhouse built in the form of a dhow, a traditional Arab sailing vessel. The Emirates Golf Club, south of Dubai City, was the first grass course in the Middle East. Every year, it hosts the European PGA Desert Classic, a major tournament that draws the best pros from around the world.  « hide

	Top rated restaurants
	1. Ashiana This is one of the most famous and respected Indian restaurants in Dubai. They specialize in Northern Indian food, and waiters are always helpful when it comes to recommending dishes. Resident musicians enhance the charming atmosphere with classical Indian music.  « hide 6. Quattro The Quattro specializes in contemporary Italian cuisine and offers a selection of Italian and international wines. Outdoor terrace seating and a private dining room for up to 12 are available here as well. Typical dishes include porcini ravioli with truffle emulsions, homemade tagliolini and saffron risotto.  « hide 2. Antique Bazaar This is yet another restaurant that has established itself as a leader in Indian cuisine. The décor is interesting, to say the least, because every table is different and tells a story of its origins. Unlike most hotel restaurants, Antique Bazaar is open late until 3am.  « hide 7. Al Qasr This restaurant offers some of the finest Lebanese food in the city. Have a relaxing lunch or dinner while enjoying the beautiful scenery of swimming pools, beaches and gardens outside and the entertainment of belly dancers and Arabian music. Meals are served at a relaxed pace, so make sure you have enough time to enjoy the experience.  « hide 3. Aangan This authentic Indian restaurant is decorated in traditional colors and finished with a rusty wood look. The chefs cook your orders as you watch, providing specialty dishes such as kebabs, roti, hand-made bread and curry.  « hide 8. Ayam Zamam This restaurant not only has excellent Lebanese food, it offers a complete Arabian experience. Ayam Zaman is decorated in the form of a cave and live music is played during the entire evening. Dinner can be an extravagant and long affair, so if you’re short on time, visit for lunch instead.  « hide 4. La Vigna Owned by an Italian émigré chef, Umberto, this restaurant is top-notch in terms of food and service. The food is well-priced and carefully prepared, with entirely imported produce, homemade pasta, and a wide selection of wines. Umberto is always on hand to recommend dishes to guests.  « hide 9. Majlis al Bahar This casual al fresco restaurant is located in the seven-star Burj resort. The fare is colorful, fresh and light, with an emphasis on Mediterranean cooking styles. Only dinner is open to non-guests.  « hide 5. Le Venezia Though this restaurant only opened in 2000, Le Venezia has already gained a reputation for excellence, not least due to its amazing interior decoration. Waterways with floating gondolas, replica houses and foot bridges criss-cross the restaurant. Opera singers, violinists and guitarists entertain you as you enjoy an authentic Italian meal.  « hide 10. Carter’s This stylish restaurant-bar in the Pyramids has music mixed by the house DJ from 10pm until closing time at 2 or 3am (the latest allowed by Dubai law). This is the only oxygen bar in Dubai, with either pure or aromatic oxygen shots. Carter’s is especially busy on Sundays, when all cocktails are an amazingly low 10Dh (about $3).  « hide

	Dubai Insider tips
	1. Ski Dubai You will probably be surprised to find winter sports in one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, but Dubai has created an indoor ski resort for guests who might be feeling nostalgic for the cooler climates of home. Here, you can ski, snowboard, or toboggan to your heart’s content along the five trails in this 22,500-square meter facility (nearly 250,000 square feet). The park accommodates up to 1500 guests at any time and offers sports equipment and winter clothing for rent. Shiekh Zayed Road, exit 39.  « hide 2. Gold Market Dubai, the City of Gold, is well known for its plethora of gold vendors, who sell every type of jewelry you might desire. The craftsmen of these pieces come from all corners of the earth. There is a Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group that monitors most of the larger outlets, making sure that the gold sold is of specified purity and quality. The best place to find a good selection is the Gold Souk, Dubai’s largest and most famous market, with 275 certified vendors.  « hide 3. Desert Safari Dubai’s tropical location can make the days extremely hot and dry, so take advantage of the silver lining in this arid climate by going on a desert safari. A number of guide operators exist, offering a number of tour options. Evening tours start around three or four p.m. and last five to six hours. SUVs pick guests up in Dubai city and transport them to the Bedouin tent site for camel rides, gourmet dinners, and belly dancing entertainment. Overnight tours are also available, where instead of returning to the city around 10pm, guests sleep in Bedouin tents.  « hide 4. Clubbing restrictions Though Dubai is one of the most liberal places in the Middle East in terms of nightlife, it is still predominantly a Muslim city. By law, no bar or nightclub may stay open past 3am. Furthermore, you must be at least 21 to enter a bar and 25 to enter a nightclub. As alcohol is haraam (forbidden) to Muslims, establishments that serve such drinks are almost exclusively found in Western hotels and resorts, (with Irish Village being one notable exception). Though no bar or nightclub may refuse entrance to a client, hotels often want to restrict clientele and therefore charge high entrance fees to non-guests.  « hide 5. Prostitution Though Dubai is predominantly Muslim and the government boasts about the city’s safety, prostitution is widespread in all neighborhoods. There is no red-light district, so prostitutes can be found wandering about any district or nightclub. As Dubai is one of the most popular sex-tourist destinations in the world, many men will assume any woman who is on the street alone (especially blondes) is a sex worker. Young women should not go into bars or nightclubs alone, no matter how good the reputation of the establishment. Women who go out into the city alone may be harassed or propositioned even during the day, so try to stay in groups if possible.  « hide

	Dubai nightlife
	In Dubai 1. Kasbaa This amazing nightclub in the Royal Mirage Hotel is decorated like a Moroccan palace and offers three floors for dancing and socializing to modern Arabic fusion music. Non-guests are charged a 50Dh entrance fee, and drinks tend to be expensive, but the atmosphere can’t be beat. You must be 25 to enter (a Dubai-wide law for nightclubs).  « hide 2. Atlantis Located in the Palm Resort, this disco caters mostly to 20-somethings. Many Russians hang out here, but there is a good mix of locals and the joint really gets going around midnight. The décor is modern and the music ranges from techno to trance. There are also performances by dance girls and drum masters to further liven up the atmosphere.  « hide 3. Planetarium This club, located right next to the Pyramids, is restricted to club members, ladies and couples, but entrance is usually free. The ambiance is excellent, especially after the party gets going around 11:30 or midnight. The club is open until 3am everyday except Saturday, when it is closed the whole day. Ladies receive two free drinks before 1am on Tuesday nights.  « hide