Dubai - City of Fantastic Contrasts - By: Rick Hendershot.., Posted on: 2007-07-31

Over the last twenty years or so the Middle Eastern city of Dubai has become one of the hottest vacation and business locations in the world. It is a rapidly developing, fabulously wealthy futuristic city set within a centuries-old Arab culture. The traditional ways are still there if you look for them. But they are gradually being overtaken by the new attractions and developments springing up virtually every day.

In Dubai one can see dusty traditional villages as well as fantastically luxurious residential districts, or visit rugged mountains and majestic sand dunes only a few miles from pristine sandy beaches and lush green parks. Tourists can wander through Dubai's traditional market places or visit some of the largest and most modern indoor shopping malls in the world.

Visitors to Dubai can choose to stay in one of its many luxury hotels. Or for a more authentic Dubai experience a person can rent a beautifully furnished apartment or villa in one of Dubai's newer residential areas. Dubai apartment rentals offer the visitor more space for less money, and provide a different perspective on this unique city.

Many New Developments Underway

With the rapid pace of real estate and commercial development taking place in Dubai it has become one of the most futuristic cities in the world. The city skyline is dominated by ultra-modern office towers, hotels and skyscrapers. The Burj Al-Arab, for instance, is the world's tallest hotel. The Mall of the Emirates is the largest shopping center outside of North America, with newer even larger malls on the drawing board and under construction. Dubai has also become a serious golfing destination with several famous championship courses and one of the very few fully lit 18 hole golf courses in the world.

A large number of other large developments are also underway in Dubai. Some of the more significant ones are:

- Dubai Mall - the largest indoor mall in the world when completed.

- Burj Dubai - scheduled to be completed in 2008 - will be the tallest skyscraper in the world.

- Dubai World Central including the Dubai World Central International Airport - will be ten times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined.

- The Dubai Waterfront project - a series of canals and artificial islands with commercial, residential, and resort areas - will be the largest man-made development and largest waterfront development in the world.

Shopping is King in Dubai

The attraction that brings the most tourists to Dubai is the shopping. Market places and malls throughout the city stock an incredible array of consumer goods and draw millions of shopping tourists every year. Shoppers come from all parts of the Middle East and Europe, and even from as far away as Eastern Europe, India, and North America.

The souks of Dubai offer the most interesting shopping experience in the city. They are located on either side of Dubai creek that runs through the heart of the area. Two of the most popular are the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. When you visit the souks be prepared to bargaining in traditional middle eastern style. It is an important part of buying and selling in the souks.

In recent years traditional shopping in the souks has met with stiff competition from more western style shopping as fantastic shopping malls and boutiques have sprung up throughout the city. Dubai's modern shopping malls sell virtually any consumer good you can imagine: clothing, cars, furnishings, jewellery, electronics, sporting equipment - you name it and you can probably find it in the shopping areas and malls of Dubai. And often all of these consumer items are under the same roof.

The Duty Free complex at the Dubai International Airport is also one of the most extensive and largest in the world. New projects such as the Dubai World Central International Airport will have even larger duty free areas.

These and many more attractions make Dubai a favorite destination of tourists and business travelers from around the world. Future developments promise to make Dubai even more important as a world class business hub and a haven for tourists in search of a unique and exciting adventure.

Article Source: http://www.southerncaliforniarealestateagent.com/submit-real-estate-articles

For more information about Dubai apartments see Dubai apartments . Dubai villa rentals offer an economical and flexible alternative to expensive Dubai hotels.
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