Dubai 2020

IATA50200883 IATA50209994 D U BA I

D U BA I I S A C I T Y T H AT M U S T B E S E E N T O B E B E L I E V E D . D I S C OV E R A L L T H AT ’ S P O S S I B L E

and parsley (tabbouleh), spit-cooked meat in pitta bread with garlic sauce (shawama), cooked balls of chickpeas with herbs (falafel) and plenty of fish. Goat meat may also be on the menu, but no pork, in accordance with Muslim beliefs. Alcohol is tolerated and drinking is possible in the plentiful hotel bars and restaurants. Culture Culture in Dubai is rooted in Islamic traditions. Emirati men tend to dress in traditional dishdasha or khandura (long white shirt-dress), with ghutra (a white headdress) and agal (a rope worn to keep the ghutra in place), while women tend to wear an abaya (a long black cloak), with a sheyla or hijab (a scarf used to wrap around the face and head). The most religious time of the year is Ramadan, when Muslims fast for approximately a month and a festival atmosphere can be found in the evening when the locals break their fast. But as well as the minarets of mosques, you will also see temples and churches. The new opera house in downtown is now open, and a great opportunity to experiance History The human history of Dubai dates back to the bronze age (2500BC) when nomadic cattle herders are first thought to have settled in the area. A couple of millennia later and Dubai was still little more than a small fishing settlement until members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family, settled at the mouth of the creek in 1833. The creek was a natural harbour and Dubai soon became a centre for the fishing, pearling and sea trade. The population was later buoyed by the lure of tax-free living attracting traders from the Indian subcontinent. Oil was discovered in the 1950s and the first cargo left Dubai in 1969. In 1971, the six emirates agreed a Federal Constitution, gained independence from Britain becoming the United Arab Emirates, with Ras Al Khaimah joining the following year to form the UAE as it is today.

Record-breaking architecture stands alongside traditional quarters, while man-made islands jut out of the coastline. The speed of Dubai’s metamorphosis is unparalleled, creating a thriving metropolis in the heart of the desert in less than half a century. Many people are likely to be dazzled by the whiteness of the sand and the scale of the skyscrapers, but it’s also still possible to step back in time with a desert safari or boat trip on the creek. Make your holiday even more memorable, along with soaking up the sun on the prominent beaches of Dubai, enjoy limitless culinary delights in award- winning Michelin starred restaurants, some with awe-inspiring iconic views of the city. Watch your sporting heroes take part in some of the most prestigious international sporting events around the year. Alternatively, shop till you drop in any one of Dubai’s 96 malls or souks. Highlights From beaches that fringe the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf bathed in year-round sunshine, to the architectural marvels that punctuate the skyline and define the destination, Dubai is irresistibly dynamic, with some of the world’s most unique and modern attractions. Wander the laneways of the atmospheric gold and spice souks of old Dubai, piled high with aromatic and glittering treats. Visit Downtown Dubai, packed with incredible sites, including an actual dinosaur skeleton inside a shopping mall and the highest building on the planet, Burj Khalifa. Cuisine International restaurants and top global chefs are in abundance, but if you want to try Emirati cuisine, you’ll sense a range of regional influences. Most likely, you will find roast lamb with rice and nuts (ghuzi), stuffed vine leaves (warak enab), chickpea and sesame paste (hummus), bulghur wheat with mint

DUBAI 2020

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