Dubai is a spectacular blend of ancient and modern; a mix of Arabic culture and tradition with superb beaches, a modern skyline and some of the world's best tax-free shopping.

My Dubai
Dubai is often called the Las Vegas of the Middle East, and it's not hard to see why. A shimmering oasis in the desert where old meets new and east meets west, glitzy, glamorous Dubai is fast gaining a reputation for 'firsts' and 'biggests' and 'surely it's not possibles'.

You can almost smell the wealth in Dubai, in its sumptuous hotels that drip with gold, in its gold soucks and in its shopping malls - packed with designer goods.  Only in Dubai could two enormous palm islands be built off the coast - and yet be considered 'old news' before they've even opened.
The next big thing is The World, a dive park with artificial reefs that will simulate those found in the Red Sea, the Maldives, Bali, Palau and the Great Barrier Reef, closely followed by the world's first underwater hotel, the $500 million Hydropolis, opening in 2006.

Cosmopolitan, exciting and dynamic, Dubai has plenty of small oases of history and charm despite its modern facade.  The Gold Souk is a glistening eye-opener - with none of the hassle-factor you'll experience in souks elsewhere - while the nearby spice souks and abra (boat) crossing on the Dubai Creek, have a trapped-in-historical feel, refreshingly at odds for such a forward-looking city.

From families seeking a break in the sun, to thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline shot, Dubai has something for everyone.  Clean, safe and easy to get around, its theme parks, water parks, zoo, country parks and beaches are great for families.  Lavish spas, desert safaris, sand skiing, diving, fishing, world-class golf and horse-racing - the list of distractions here is endless, but it's the sun and beach life that most visitors come for, and the chance to kick-back in a luxury resort, enjoy a superb cuisine and be waited on hand and foot.

Jumeirah is where tourists head, to a long stretch of beach on the Arabian Gulf flanked by hotels that rank among the world's best, including the sail-shaped Burj al-Arab and wave-like Jumeirah Beach Resort. For those who really want to escape, Al Maha desert resort, situated in a private nature reserve, is the ultimate desert hideaway.  With five, even six-star leisure facilities, guaranteed sunshine, great beaches, shopping and exceptional levels of hospitality, Dubai offers a truly accessible and cosmopolitan taste of Arabia.

by Ben Misfud, London Sales Manager