What to see in Dubai

You know you've entered the most expensive part of town (Jumeirah) once you spot the gorgeous Jumeirah Mosque. Don't just buy a postcard... stop for a quick snap shot! This is an impressive example of modern Islamic architecture; the mosque and its 2 minarets (towers) are unmistakable. It was completed in 1983 and is one of the prettiest in Dubai. It is particularly attractive at night when subtle lighting kisses each intricate detail of its artistry and increases its dramatic effect. The call to prayer was traditionally made by the Muezzin from the top of the minaret. But, Allah-u-Akbar (God is Great) is now heard courtesy of high-powered speakers 5 times a day. Dubai is a city of mosques, since it was ordered by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (former Ruler of Dubai) that mosques shall be no more than 500 meters apart. Mosque literally means a place of prostration and worship. The Muezzin is chosen to serve at the mosque for his good character, voice, and skills. When calling to prayer, the muezzin faces each of the 4 compass directions in turn while he cries out the Adhan (call to prayer). Under normal circumstances, non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques; however, The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding organises tours that gives visitors a chance to view the city's most magnificent mosque up close and to encourage expatriates and non-Muslims to know more about Islam, Arabic culture & religious practices. Their Motto is Open doors - Open minds. NOTE: Women - Please make sure when planning to visit the mosque that you are dressed decently: trousers or wide skirt covering the knees, covering the shoulders & elbows (bringing a light shawl / pashmina is very helpful). It is regarded as especially respectful to cover your hair as well.

Address: Jumeirah, near Diyafah Street
Phone: 00971-4-353 6666
Directions: Jumeirah Mosque is located in the heart of Dubai, right at the beginning of Jumeirah Beach Road and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city!
Website: http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/sheikhmohammedcentre.htm

A "Wadi" is a dry river-bed that fills rapidly once rain falls over the surrounding mountains. Wild Wadi prizes itself on being the largest water theme park in the Middle East... Well, I think it is very well done & laid out - with rides for adults & also smaller children. They've basically managed to pack as much excitement as they can into 12 acres. The park consists of 23 rides & attractions, 14 of which are interconnected. The water can be pretty cold at times, so be prepared to sport some goose bumps if you visit during December or January! There's also various food outlets around the park that serve your usual burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. Unlicensed - no alcoholic beverages They've introduced a cash free payment system of waterproof wristbands that store electronic credits. My favourites are the "Jumeirah Sceirah" (33 metres high. You reach speeds of up to 80 km/h!) and the pitch-black darkness of the "Tunnel of Doom"... smile nicely at one of the lifeguards & they'll turn you around to let you go down the slide backwards... Aaahhh! Opening Hours: September & October / March & April & May: 11:00am - 07:00pm November & December & January & February: 11:00am - 06:00pm June & July & August: 11:00am - 09:00pm (cheaper entrance fees after 07:00pm!) Rates: (as of April 2006) General Admission (13+ years): AED 150 Child (under 1.1 metres in height): AED 125 1 US Dollar = 3.67 Dirhams Includes unlimited use of all the rides, the use of rubber rings, lifejackets & body boards.

Address: Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
Phone: 00971-4-348 4444
Directions: Attached to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (by the Burj Al Arab)
Website: http://www.wildwadi.com/

When visiting or moving to Dubai with children, the choices to keep them interested, busy and happy can be quite limited. We all know that kids aren't that interested in visiting Souks or Museums, and Desert Safaris can be too strenuous or dangerous for smaller children. When my nieces from the UK visited us in April 2003, we visited Children's City for the first time and were extremely pleasantly surprised. Children's City is a big hit with both Local and International youngsters. Children's City is the first educational city in the UAE devoted to children between 2 - 15 years old where they can investigate, explore, play, discover, and learn about the world in which we live. Children's City was opened in March 5th 2002. The 7700 square metre (82,882sq-ft) fun park takes the children on a journey through the human body, science and space with the help of different "zones". There are plenty of hands-on-action that promote learning whilst playing, to keep even the most demanding children occupied. All the exhibits are in English and Arabic. The unique 3-storey complex is located in the green surroundings of the large Dubai Creek Park and offers various admission schemes for individual children, families and school groups. Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week. Sat-Thu 09:00am - 10:00pm / Fridays 04:00pm - 10:00pm.


Address: Dubai Creek Park, Bur Dubai
Phone: 00971-4-334 0808
Directions: LOCATION MAP: http://www.childrencity.ae/visit_info/e_visit_info_location.asp
Website: http://www.childrencity.ae/

It shows the history and life of the United Arab Emirates back to the very beginning, and there's nothing boring about it! The Museum is located in Al Fahidi Fort, which is thought to be one of Dubai's most ancient buildings and therefore an attraction in itself! The walls are built from coral and shell rubble from the sea, and are cemented together with lime. Wooden poles support the upper floor, and the ceiling is made of palm fronds, mud and plaster. The historic fort dates back to around 1799 (give or take a few years... nobody is absolutely sure) and was converted into a museum in 1970. It was officially inaugurated on May 12th 1971. The museum's realistic life-size displays provide an insight into the traditional occupants of Dubai. The wide ranges of exhibits include old weapons and pearl-diving outfits, scenes from every-day trading, schooling, farming, dhow building, fishing, pearl diving and social life, to an impressive array of military artifacts. Whispering is not necessary in this museum, as loudspeakers reinvent the sounds of the markets with quarrelling traders, singing children and grunting camels, which makes it great fun for children as well! At the entrance, you can browse through a collection of old maps of the Gulf and the Emirates, together with aerial photographs showing Dubai's considerable urban expansion between 1960 and 1980. The museum also shows a video of the city's rapid development throughout the past 3 decades, and believe me: it is still expanding just as rapidly today! Opening Hours: 7 days a week Sat - Thur: 08:30am - 08:30pm // Friday: 02:30pm - 08:30pm Closed on Public Holidays

Address: Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai
Phone: 00971-4-353 1862
Directions: By the Textile Souk, down by the Creek
Website: http://www.dubaitourism.ae/HistoricalSites/default.asp

Most tour operators in the UAE organize an pretty exciting variety of excursions & tours around the Emirates & Oman, for large groups and invididuals, sight-seeing tours in the cities, and even ocean-bound cruises. If your coming to Dubai, check with your tour operator to assist you with your choice of hotel, and also in case you need to apply for a visit visa. So, what tickles your fancy? A city tour? Going wadi bashing? Deep sea fishing? Most agencies run the "standard tourist programs", but prices tend to vary by quite a bit, so it pays to "shop around" and compare! Many tour operators offer Desert Safaris (only camera shots!), eiter for 1/2 days, full days or even overnight stays, with dinner & entertainment in their respective desert camps. If you get sick easily, bring travel-sickness tablets... it gets rough & bouncy out there! :-) Here's a list of reputable tour operators in the UAE: SNTTA Emir Tours Tel: +971 - 4 - 282 9000 http://www.sntta.com Arabian Adventures (part of Emirates Airlines) Tel: +971 - 4 - 303 4888 http://www.arabian-adventures.com Desert Adventures Tel: +971 - 4 - 224 2800 http://www.desertadventures.com Net Tours Tel: +971 - 4 - 266 6655 http://www.nettoursdubai.com Do you want to take the wheel into your own hands? Go on! Rent a 4x4 car and be daring..

Souk is the Arabic word for market. Even today, "Dhows" (wooden cargo ships) from the Far East, China & India discharge their goods at the docks adjacent to the Souks.A trip to the Gold Souk truly demonstrates why Dubai has earned itself the title of City Of Gold. It's worth a visit even if you have no intention of buying, just to soak in the atmosphere of shop windows glinting with 18, 21 & 22 carat gold, showing-off the abundant riches of this part of the world. Gold is aggressively promoted with special offers & raffle draws during Dubai Shopping Festival & Dubai Summer Surprises. The sheer scale & variety of gold on offer is impressive - earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets & pendants. Many different shades of gold are available: white, pink, yellow and even purple gold. There are also a few shops selling silver jewellery, semi-precious stones & diamonds, and platinum is also widely available. Gold prices here are among the lowest in the world and are largely determined by weight; also varying depending on whether it's machine-made or by a craftsman.

TIP: Don't forget to bargain; don't accept the first price and be sure to compare prices in the numerous shops. In the narroweside streets, enjoy a relaxing break with a cup of tea or Arabic coffee in small cafes & restaurants. In these side streets, shops offer Arabic souvenirs, jewel-studded belly-dancing belts, traditional Local & Indian clothes & fabrics. Opening Hours: Sat to Wed 10:00am - 01:00pm & 05:00pm - 10:00pm Fridays: 05:00pm - 10:00pm

Address: Deira (near Baniyas Square) Sikkat al-Khali Street
Directions: Taking a car is difficult as parking is extremely scarce. It's best to go down to the Creek in Bur Dubai and take an "Abra" (water taxi). The trip takes 5-10 min and costs AED 0.50 (50 Fils).

If you are curious about Dubai in its earlier development (around 1950), you better heading to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House. The house was built in 1896 and now it is dedicated to museum after going through restoration project. You can find photographs from Dubai in the past decade. (You will be amazed to see how fast Dubai develop) Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is situated in Sindagha, Bur Dubai. (You can stop by to visit the house while you are visiting the creek ) The entrance fee is 2 Dirham per person. Timing is Sat-Thu 8.30am-9pm; Fri 3pm-10pm

Phone: +971-4-393 7139.
Directions: Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House is situated in Sindagha, Bur Dubai.

Generally, people in Dubai do their best to always look "well-groomed"... I have heard visitors call it the "Los Angeles of the Middle East". Therefore, beauty salons, barbers & spas have popped-up everywhere. One of the most exclusive, beautiful & exotic spas is the Cleopatra's Spa in Wafi City. NOTE: There is a seperate men's spa & ladies spa. All beauty salons, hair dressers, etc. are gender-seperated in the UAE. Choose from wraps, peels, massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, baths... the list is endless and it's difficult to make a choice! Although upmarket & high-class, There are treatments for almost every budget! My Favourite Bargain: The "Rasul": a herbal steam room that accommodates up to 4 ladies. First you are covered from head to toe in various special kinds of treatment-mud (white on face, red on stomach, green on legs, etc.) Then you just try to relax (and stop giggling!) in the herbal steam for approx. 1/2 hour, until a warm rain shower starts trickling from the ceiling to wash-off the mud. Afterwards, you take a shower and are covered with warm oil to moisturize the cleansed skin. Then settle down with a cup of tea on the huge pillows in the relaxation area and just relax in the candlelight. If you go with 4 people, it only costs AED 90.- per person!!! 1 USD = 3.67 AED

TIP: You may like to arrive around 30 min before your appointment, and then enjoy their steam-room & jacuzzi before my treatments begin. It's a great way to "wind down" before your sessions start!

Address: Pyramids, Wafi City
Directions: Bur Dubai, just before Garhoud Bridge
Website: http://www.cleopatras-spa.com