SEVEN UNIQUE EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DISTINCTLY DUBAI
From the desert to the marina and all points in between, the sky’s the limit
Sure there are yachts, shopping malls and amusement parks in other areas of the world, but no one does it quite like those who live in Dubai.
Desert adventures
East of Al Khail Rd., toward the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, awaits a majestic landscape free of skyscrapers. Platinum Heritage coordinates safaris and luxury tours. Desert retreats may start with an off-road Land Rover trek through rolling sand dunes in search of endangered Arabian oryx and gazelles. Then observe a falconry demonstration against the golden sunset, head to a Bedouin camp for a glimpse into the lifestyle of the semi-nomadic Arab desert-dwellers and enjoy a traditional dinner under the stars.
Water world
The city of Dubai stretches along the coastline and is best appreciated aboard a charted touring yacht. Cruise with Luxury Sea Boats on a 16.7-metre Azimut 54 Flybridge past the World Islands and the Palm Jumeirah and marvel at the forest of cranes (about a quarter of the world’s fleet pierces the skyline) before ducking into the Dubai Marina, where golden glitter cascades down from the surrounding waterfront highrises.
Spicy sojourn
Take an abra (water taxi) across Dubai Creek, where you’ll spot dhows (wooden cargo boats) moored at the wharf towards Deira’s Spice Souk. Go beyond saffron at this market. There’s lumi (dried black limes) from Oman or Yemen that are used in Emirati fish dishes, and crystals of frankincense that were once used as a “perfume” but now play a cultural role. A few blocks away, marvel at the elaborate metalwork at the Gold Souk.
Retail therapy
Dubai is synonymous with shopping. Besides skiing at the Mall of the Emirates, the city also offers activities at the Dubai Mall. Here, visitors can dive with sharks at the aquarium, take a spin on an Olympic-sized ice rink, check into a five-star hotel and take in the expansive Level Shoes, a marvel in architecture (the shoes, that is) featuring 40 boutiques and 300 luxury brands — known and unknown — in technicolour.
Royal history
To see how much Dubai has grown from its pre-oil days, visit historical Majlis Ghorfat Umm Al Sheif. The former summer residence of the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, established in 1955, is simple. Made of gypsum, coral rocks and imported Kandal timber, this monument is surrounded by date palms kept alive by a traditional falaj irrigation system. Appreciate the visual contrast between the relatively modest majlis (council) room to the modern villas surrounding the complex from the second-floor liwan (terrace).
Coming attractions
Now the fifth most-visited city in the world, Dubai plans to attract 20 to 25 million visitors for World Expo 2020. To accommodate the crowds, the city is undergoing a construction boom that includes Dubai Parks and Resorts. Opening later this year, the 25-million-square-foot development will have more than 100 attractions spread across theme parks (including Bollywood Parks Dubai) and Legoland Water Park.
Turtle sanctuary
Various groups are trying to protect critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles, which are native to the Middle East. The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Program, which operates out of Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah, has reintroduced 560 turtles to the wild and is open to the public. Learn about sea turtle biology from passionate caretakers or take part in a feeding at the Mina A’Salam turtle pools.