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2157 Dubai Tips. 4572 Dubai Photos. 4 Dubai Videos. Dubai Pages by SWFC_Fan
| Page Views: 16,656 Last Visit to Dubai: March, 2004 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates by SWFC_Fan - last update: May 10, 2006 |
Dubai | Modern buildings alongside Dubai creek |
Dubai has developed from a small town into an ultra-modern metropolis in the last half century.
While oil revenues were initially the catalyst for this phenomenal growth, Dubai is no longer dependent on oil production for its prosperity. In fact, today less than 10% of Dubai's GDP derives from oil, and the city has established a diversified economy in which tourism and consumerism play a vital role.
The city of Dubai is split by a creek, with Deira on one side and Bur Dubai on the other. The luxury beach hotels are situated several miles from the city, in the area of Jumeirah.
Dubai already exhibits some stunning architecture, such as the Burj al Arab hotel, the Emirates Towers, the Dusit hotel and the National Bank building, but future developments promise to be mind-blowing!
One such major development is that of Palm Island, a residential, commercial and beach district which is in the process of being built. The development is to be shaped like a palm tree and will stretch from the shore near Jumeirah. Around 150km of extra beach will be created and the luxury beachside apartments have already been snapped up by the likes of the Beckhams and Tom Cruise, so rumour has it.
Other developments in the city include a marina with luxurious apartment blocks, which is to be connected to the creek by flooding the land around it; the world's largest shopping mall, complete with a huge aquarium; and the world's tallest building.
Despite all this development, the core of Dubai is still traditional, with bustling souks,(dedicated to gold, spices, fruit and vegetables amongst other items). The presence of dhows being loaded with goods for exporting to Iran, Pakistan, India and other countries in the region, also conjures up images of the city's past as a major trading centre. And, of course, the abras (wooden water taxis) which transport locals and tourists across the creek are anything but modern!
Dubai is a fantastic city, with a forward-looking outlook. It has successfully modernised and developed an infrastructure that is capable of sustained development in future, but has also managed to retain its traditions.
I will be amazed if Dubai does not become one of the world's key cities in the 21st century! |
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|  | | Dubai Marina: work-in-progress |
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| Pros: | "Year-round sunshine, futuristic architecture, opulent malls." | | Cons: | "Stifling summer heat, beer restricted to hotel bars." | | In A Nutshell: | "THE city of the 21st Century!" |
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Helenbb Tue Jul 8, 2008 05:11 UTC haha..we just said goodbye to the raining season. so now the weather is extremely hot and dry. i can eat lots icecream. wanna competition? u will lose for sure . | xuessium Thu Feb 7, 2008 16:35 UTC Pssst! My Dubai page is up, mate! Ha ha! Greetings on the 1st day of CNY! | angiebabe Tue Nov 20, 2007 23:50 UTC found that coconut again and enjoyed the tour around Dubai thanks, esp the xlnt food tips which you seem to regularly excel at! watched an xlnt docu a while ago about the clever Dubai Sheikh's strategies to keep the revenue coming before the oil runs out. | RafaelTheSecond Mon Oct 15, 2007 21:06 UTC Dubai seems to be different from everything we saw in lfe, eh? There we see a new conceipt of rich people! Funny that people seems not to like going to the beaches!;) |
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