Thread: Dubai Info from Lonley Planet

Travellers are often fooled by Dubai's glitzy, ritzy, come-one-come-all image into thinking it's a little piece of the West in the Middle East. It isn't, and this was brought home last weekend when Dubai authorities announced that they'll be enforcing a new set of behavioural guidelines. Dancing, swearing, kissing and wearing a bikini - along with a host of other behaviours - could result in fines or arrests. Of course it's always important to be aware of cultural sensitivities when you travel, but for travellers to Dubai an acquaintance with these guidelines is imperative.


Glitzy, glam, over-the-top and a little overexposed, Dubai lives for attention. On the surface it’s materialistic beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and by treating every visitor like a VIP, visitors respond by spending like VIPs, only to need resuscitating when the next month’s credit-card bill arrives. But this is the whole idea. We’re talking about a city that virtually invented the ‘shopping festival’ (Dubai Shopping Festival, or DSF), the simple premise of which was to get people to travel to Dubai and spend money. With myriad shopping malls, flamboyant hotels, a dizzying array of dining options and hip clubs and bars, it’s all just too easy. Driven by Sheikh Mohammed, a leader who doesn’t understand the word ‘no’, visitors and potential residents are flocking to this Middle East metropolis in increasing numbers with the promise that Dubai is like no other city on earth. And Sheikh Mohammed is delivering. However, whether you end up loving or loathing its ostentatious nature, under the surface another Dubai exists. Head to the Heritage Village during Ramadan or the DSF and you’ll witness a different Dubai, where local Emiratis take joy in their songs, dance and traditions. Spend a few fascinating hours by the creek, watching the dhow (traditional wooden boat) traffic and the abras weave along the waterway while smoking some sheesha. Walk the streets of the tranquil, restored Bastakia area or take a stroll through multicultural Karama or Satwa. You’ll find this Dubai a million miles removed from the credit-card frenzy of the five-star hotels. Whatever you end up preferring, Dubai is a fascinating experiment and a city-state that’s like no other.

Cool I am exited now, I ll have to make some money and go to Dubai heheh .... I guess I ll need all my life savings to visit Dubai

These houses were built mostly by Persian traders. Bedouin fishermen divers and pearl in Dubai is located mainly in huts made of palm leaves. Time has changed much in recent decades. The skyscrapers and glorify the image of Dubai with wind towers and magnificent mosques.

Times, Thanks for the great information, peoples must visit Dubai for enjoyment

yeah Dubai is a nice city and called the dream city. I like lifestyle and work in Dubai. Whenever i'll get chance to visit Dubai I'll must go for it.

I recently watched the latest movie from Mission Impossible series and it features Burj Khalifa. I went on to Google about it and found that it is really an architectural marvel. I think it would continue to be the tallest building in the world for very long time.

Well we have to respect the cultural values of other places and whats wrong with it. Just follow their rules and enjoy the your trip they can stop you in public areas only you can do any thing their indoors