Dubai - The Desert Kingdom

If I told you of a place with magnificent beach side resorts, incredible shopping and beautiful warm weather you'd probably think I was talking about Hawaii. Think again and travel to the desert kingdom that is Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Although it's close to several Middle East hot spots this is a city which is totally driven by tourism. It is accepted that once the oil runs out, tourism will be the most important industry in Dubai so everything is done to ensure travellers feel safe and relaxed and enjoy their holiday experience.

Once a year Dubai holds its International Shopping festival, instantly attracting those among us who love to shop, and the best part is it is ALL duty free!

When leaving the airport a fleet of clean, modern cabs with working meters and polite, English-speaking drivers await the traveller to take them to their preferred destination. What a pleasure!

Among the vast array of unique activities you can enjoy as you travel around this country are horse and camel safaris, falconry, guided nature walks, sand dune skiing and 4WD excursions. There's also belly dancing displays, spice markets, museums and dining ranging from the traditional to the finest French cuisine.

Although Dubai is a Muslim country, Westerners do not have to abide by the local dress codes. It's quite OK to wear jeans or skirts however it is preferable to ensure the clothing is not too revealing.

A trip to the racetrack is an enlightening experience as betting in Dubai is forbidden. This may seem strange until you discover that raffle prizes at the track include a Bentley, delivered to anywhere in the world, a top of the line Jaguar or airline flights on Emirates, the country's national airline.

The best time to travel to Dubai is in spring and Autumn when the average daily temperature is a pleasant 24 degrees Celsius. Summer temperatures in the desert kingdom can reach 40 degrees Celsius (around 110 Fahrenheit).

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