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· Asia · united arab emirates · Dubai

Raffles Dubai, Burj Al Arab etc.

Author: Jānis Jenzis0 COMMENTS

New York of the East. It's a comparison that comes to one's mind, visiting the largest city of United Arab Emirates, dubbed a melting pot of cultures too. Pakistanis, Kazakhs, Iranians and other neighboring nationalities have flown together there, and that is why Dubai doesn't have its own inherent culture, perhaps. Occasional opera performances or other cultural events are largely commercial. Everything - the very best and most expensive, yet void of soul and a deeper comprehension, since there are no traditions either. Dubai Fashion Week seems to be a get-together of homebred fashion gurus, showing off their accomplishments of the year. Even a typical local cuisine is nonexistent, the culinary gap being filled by recipes brought by Pakistani baby-sitters and Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Moroccan cookery.
Yet, if anything is worth admiration, it's Dubai's architecture. Even Manhattan and Tokyo skyscrapers lose out to it. It's so magnificent that no one even dares to build anything less impressive. All the most fantastic, grand and crazy ideas find fertile soil there. A construction of another artificial island is planned in future with Dubai's new opera house to be built on it. The world's tallest skyscraper is expected to be completed by autumn 2009, and that is not all yet! The famous 321 meter high Burj Al Arab building towers proudly on its very own artificial island, and numerous canals and fountains refresh the city. And flowers! Dubai seems buried in blooming richness, almost every plant being provided with a tiny water duct, while across the road, the desert stretches as far as the eye can see...
Do savour Dubai at night. As if by a miracle, it seems stepping several centuries ahead, turning into a future city, like no other in the world. On top of that, the most popular city of United Arab Emirates is a paradise for shoppers and spa lovers. Shopping largely sets the rhythm of life there, as people stroll through numerous stores there. Yet, keep in mind that Dubai is one of the most expensive cities in the world, too. Only fuel is cheaper then water, therefore, massive Hummer jeeps stream along the city streets.

Raffles Dubai

The impressive, 19-storey pyramid-shaped building boasts black marble floors, tall columns, lavish gold decoration and an overall flavour of luxury. Raffles Dubai, adjacent to the Wafi shopping, entertainment and leisure centre, has been conceived by the Wafi Group as well. Till recent time the title of the most refined hotel belonged to the offspring of Hyatt hotel chain, yet not any more. Now it's overshadowed by 248 apartments, 11 restaurants, Amrita Spa and a splendid botanical garden, covering a whole hectare of land.
Anyone who steps over the Raffles Dubai threshold is instantly noticed, kindly welcomed and pampered on every step. The hotel employs mostly Asians, proving once again that they are the world's best service providers. People are fond of their job and do it with genuine joy and respect.
Four essential elements - earth, air, water and fire - lie in the bases of the hotel's concept and are featured in each apartment and the restaurant Fire&Ice, offering excellent steak and fine sea food. Toned down lighting and romantic, intimate ambiance is typical there. Each guest room has its own balcony, boasting an amazing view of Dubai, particularly marvellous at night when thousands of lights illuminate skyscrapers of this New York of the East.

Sheikh Rashid Road
Wafi City, P.O. Box 121800, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4324 8888 / Fax: +971 4324 6000
E-mail: dubai@raffles.com
http://dubai.raffles.com

Burj Al Arab

A miracle conceived by a British-born architect Tom Wright, that has become the icon of Dubai. Built in a shape of a yacht sail, it's seen from almost any spot of the city, and, the more you look at it, the more fascination it seems. Indeed, Burj Al Arab or the Tower of the Arabs possesses a hypnotising power. Brightly lit by night, it changes colours of its façade every half an hour, presenting a unique light show.
The more impressive beauty waits inside, as it features the world's tallest atrium and 202 luxury suites, one of them always reserved for its owner, sheikh of the city. Thanks to Dubai's building spurt and flow of investments, he enjoys much love and respect among citizens. Wishing to stay at Burj Al Arab, a prior booking is required. Yet, if you do not plan spending several thousand per night there, another choice is a tea ceremony or a lovely dinner at one of hotel's restaurants. Advance reservation is needed, too.

Room rates from 4000 AED to over 18 000 AED

PO Box 74147, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 3017777 / Fax: +971 4 3017000
www.burj-al-arab.com

Jumeirah Emirates Towers and Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Another two properties of Jumeirah Group, owning Burj Al Arab, too. Jumeirah Emirates Towers are located in the very heart of Dubai's commercial and business area. Two skyscrapers - one of them houses offices, while the other serves as a cosy hotel. Modern, contemporary décor with just a trace of typical Dubai. Do not miss an opportunity to go up to VU'S bar, sited on the level 51 of the Hotel Tower. This fascinating night-spot features good chill-out music and a fantastic nightly panorama of Dubai, gathering business people, mostly foreigners.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel too stands out with an excellent location - right on the waterfront and very close to the surreal Burj Al Arab. Jumeirah Beach Hotel is none the less surprising, in fact. Its façade resembles a huge blue wave, surging from the ocean. It is a perfect lodging if you look for an ideal value for money opportunity, while clear Arabian Sea waters splash almost at its threshold.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Rates from 800 AED
PO Box 72127, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 3300000 / Fax: +971 4 3303030
www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com

Jumeirah Beach Hotel
rates from 788 AED
PO Box 11416, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +971 4 3480000 / Fax: +971 4 3016800
www.jumeirahbeachhotel.com

InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Belonging to InterContinental chain, Dubai Festival City Hotel is situated just about 6 km from Dubai. As a brand new hotel, it hasn't yet taken up the true sparkle and ambiance of the surrounding area - it will still come, but its impressive altitude and amplitude captivates instantly. It's a great lunch place as well. A buffet-style restaurant Anise offers a multi-ethnic cuisine - Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Arab delicacies, everything for a fixed price!

Room rates from 713 AED

Dubai, 45777
Phone: +971-4-7011111 / Fax: +971-4-2329098
www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental

Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa

An amazing hotel located right on the beach, a short distance from Jumeirah Mosque, the only mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslim visitors (yet tourists are expected to be dressed appropriately - covered shoulders, long sleeves, long skirts and pants). The hotel boasts excellent service and features fabulous view of the surrounding area with waves splashing almost at your feet.

P.O. Box 5182, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 3461111 / Fax: +971 4 3460234
E-mail: dxbmarin@emirates.net.ae
www.dxbmarine.com

Dubai Marina

Dubai Marina is a very special area in the centre of „new Dubai". It is a man-made yachting port, surrounded by super-high skyscrapers, villas, hotels and multinational restaurants. In spite of artificial surroundings, it is an excellent place for savouring, for example, a local water pipe or shisha with flavoured tobacco (an apple flavour seems to be the best one!). Just find a cosy bar or a cafe, and you can lounge there for hours on a terrace, enjoying a wonderfully warm Dubai evening. It feels a little surreal too with numerous pubs and cafes surrounded by tall towering skyscrapers, water canals and constantly changing fountains. Take an aromatic puff on your pipe and watch scenery unfolding around you - sounds and colours, idle people and frolicking kids. No one seems working there. A total chill out ambiance!
While being in this area, do not miss visiting Buddha Bar, sited in a new Grosvenor House Hotel building. It's a total hot spot now, featuring Vietnamese lounge, sushi bar and Japanese style private rooms.

Buddha Bar
Sheikh Zayed Road - PO Box 118500 - Dubai
Phone: (971) (4) 3998888
www.buddha-bar.com
http://grosvenorhouse-dubai.com

Shoo Fee Ma Fee

Madinat Jumeirah complex comprises a luxury hotel and a shopping centre, perfectly attuned to tourists needs with lots of local souvenirs and shops of famous brands. Entwining among them, artificial canals are spanned by small bridges, giving a unique ambiance to this place, somewhat like a miniature Venice. There you will find also Shoo Fee Ma Fee, or "What's happening?" "What's up?" in translation from Arabic. This colourful and vibrant lounge bar spreads across three floors - traditional music, inviting ambiance and apple shisha. Be sure to book a roof-top table with a breath-taking view over to Burj Al Arab tower, lit up in lights that change colour every half an hour! Very good Moroccan cuisine - Royal couscous is just fabulous!

Madinat Jumeirah
Phone: +971 4 366 8888

Wafi and Mall of the Emirates

Wafi City Mall (www.waficity.com) definitely lives up to its name - it resembles a city within the city with its own hotels, restaurants, night-clubs, and a shopping paradise, of course. Victims of shopping fever will definitely find their favourite brands in more than 200 shops there. The city is styled after ancient Egypt, featuring sand colour columns, miniature pyramids and Pharaohs' images, adding exotic touch to its décor.
Mall of the Emirates (www.malloftheemirates.com), in its turn, boasts the very first in-door ski resort in the Middle East. Sit in a warm cosiness of one of its restaurants and watch skiers and snowboarders, sliding snowy slopes equipped with ski lifts, whilst sizzling heat of average plus 35C° surrounds this spot from outside. Or plunge into a shopping frenzy several days in a row, if you wish - the mall is huge enough!

Useful Information

- May to September is not the best choice for visiting Dubai, if you are used to a much milder climate. During scorching summer days, temperature may reach beyond +40C°! During winter, however, it is rarely below +10 C°. Interestingly enough, locals do not dress very warm then. People wish to savour the chilly weather, so they say.

- A visa is required for entering United Arab Emirates. Most of Dubai hotels can settle visa formalities, yet you have to apply in a very good time.

- The best way for travelling around Dubai is by a taxi or a rented car. The traffic is quite chaotic there, yet it is pretty cheap, as fuel is not expensive either. Public transport is non-existent or running along some incomprehensible routes - even locals cannot help make it out. Dubai is not pedestrian-friendly - quite often roads are without sidewalks, there are very few pedestrian crossings and they are not particularly fond of traffic light either.

- A must-try is a bus city tour, especially the red line. It winds through the city (a blue one goes along the beach), stopping at the chief shopping centres. It is a good way to get a quick first impression, yet you may spend a whole day exploring as well. A good choice is a boats trip too - small motor boats zigzag the gulf, and people use them a lot.

- If you wish to drive in Dubai, you must have 0% blood alcohol contents. Not a single drop at all!

- Dubai has some great golf courses, yet it's extremely expensive enjoyment. No wonder - maintaining verdant green lawns in the midst of the desert must costs some money, too.

- Many Dubai night clubs observe a so called couples only policy, meaning that only couples - a man and a woman are allowed. Moreover, alcohol prices are astronomic. Even London and New York cannot measure up to it - a rather average cocktail in a plastic glass costs about 18 USD. Nightclubs are generally opened till 3 am. Peppermint club (www.peppermint-club.com), swarming with colourful crowd, features some very good deejays as well.

- Alcohol is available only at hotel bars, restaurants and night-clubs.

- Hotel and restaurant personnel as well as taxi drivers are fluent in English; therefore no communication problems are to be expected.

- Locals use to swim in a gulf, yet better look out - you may have to share the water with jellyfish or even come upon a water snake.

- Do not miss an opportunity of trying Lebanese wines - there are some very good, high-quality wines.

- Arabs boast very good music, for example:
Ziad Rahbani "Fairuz chill out classics" - traditional Arab music, songs performed in a typical manner.
Om Kalthoum - an extremely famous Arab world's singer. Her discography comprises numerous Arabic entitled discs. One song can last for even 40 - 50 minutes, presenting a whole narration. Traditional musical instruments and a reaction of audience can be heard in the background, giving quite an exotic impression.

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