Decadent Dubai

Modern Dubai is a cosmopolitan society, with a wide range of attractions, from watersports, golf and tennis to international sporting events such as horse racing’s World Cup. Dubai’s legendary tax-free shopping ranges from traditional Arabic souqs to opulent, marble-clad malls, where the choice (and price) of products are unrivalled.

The past hasn’t been completely erased by the present, however. Dubai’s old heart can still be found in the Bastakia area around the Creek, from where wooden dhows still trade across the Gulf and further afield. And not every modern building is a hotel – the Jumeirah Mosque is a striking example of modern Islamic architecture and well worth a visit.

For those wishing to experience another facet of Dubai, there are now excellent hotels in the desert.