The Travel Bargain

Travellers to Dubai tend to come for sun, sand and shopping. Few seem interested in exploring anything more than the hotel beach and nearest mall. Yet, like Hong Kong, Dubai’s backstreets are endlessly fascinating. While the city’s critics complain that Dubai has no culture or soul, they only need to get out of their five star resorts or luxury apartments and wander the backstreets to find the ‘real’ Dubai. On weekends we like to stroll around Satwa, a laidback neighbourhood of vibrant-coloured houses with gates painted with palm trees. Only a block behind the sleek skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Rd, Satwa has a narrow main street lined with second-hand stores, Indian sweet shops and Pakistani eateries, and in the evenings it’s just as bustling as the busiest souqs. In the side streets you’ll find hole-in-the-wall Afghani bakeries and on Fridays the expat Filipino workers play volleyball on the vacant sandy lots just behind the plush luxury hotels. Not far away, Karama’s gritty backstreets are some of Dubai’s poorest and yet some of the city’s friendliest. Shopkeepers chat on the footpath outside their stores and neighbours stand around on street corners sharing news from home late into the night - the guys, freshly-showered and relaxed, with just a sarong wrapped around their waists. Nowhere in Dubai will you find such community spirit. And such great Goan curries.

The British Foreign Office is advising potential travellers to the UAE to ensure that they do not bring medicines containing codeine into the UAE. Codeine is banned here, and possession of it carries a maximum four year jail sentence. But here’s the thing, ‘possession’ is deemed to occur even if you have consumed the stuff some time previously (and someplace else on the planet) and are still carrying traces of it in your wee or your blood. And here’s the other thing, in the UK and most of the rest of the world, products containing codeine are available by prescription and in some cases directly over the counter from a pharmacist.

Yesterday a British visitor to Dubai was sentenced to four years in jail because she was found to have taken codeine. This is somewhat shocking, especially as she had been prescribed the med by a doctor in the UK, did not physically bring any tablets into the country, and probably did not have the slightest idea that it would be a problem here.

Come to that, I’ve lived here for 11 years, and was only vaguely aware that some commonplace Western meds are banned in the UAE. But I had absolutely no idea that ‘possession’ could carry a four year jail sentence. I can’t say exactly what I think about this (I’m pretty sure there’s a BlogCop Division at CID), but I think I can say that this sentence does nobody any good, and if it gets major publicity in the UK it will certainly damage the Dubai tourist trade.

Nobody wants to visit a country where you can get thrown in jail so easily for something that you did completely legally in your own country.

Dubai police have smashed a giant prostitution ring, arresting close to 250 people at locations across the city, the police chief announced on Tuesday.

Police raided 22 brothels operating out of villas and apartments throughout Dubai at the beginning of the month, resulting in the arrest of 170 sex workers, 12 pimps and 65 people suspected of soliciting sexual services, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said.

The operation, a collaborative effort between the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and state security, is part of a major clampdown by authorities on clamping down on prostitution and illegal human trafficking in the emirate.

“With the new law to combat human trafficking, we started following up these networks and cases have been referred to the public prosecution,” Tamim told the media, adding “but this is the biggest case.”

Tamim said police decided to go public with the busts to show the that police are taking action against prostitution and illegal human trafficking and that these type of crimes will not be tolerated in the emirate.

“Dubai Police have many crackdowns on prostitution which are not announced in the media,” Tamim said. “However, it is important in the light of the activities being carried out by these networks to show there are crackdowns and there are efforts by police.”

Tamim also implored women who may have been conned into the sex trade to contact the Al Ameen service for protection. Al Ameen is a service offered by the police whereby people can call and report crimes in confidence.

“Appropriate procedures will be taken to protect the person who makes the call which ensures that we declare a war on human trafficking,” he said.

My Middle East trip began with a day in Dubai, the most liberal city on the Arabian peninsula and the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

I am traveling with three friends from Stanford - two of my roommates, Rob and Jason, and another friend Owen. We spent our first day of the trip in Dubai basically to all meet up from our various flights in and to catch a flight to Oman.

The first thing we did upon arriving in the Middle East was, of course, go to the best water park in the Middle East. The Wild Wadi Waterpark (www.wildwadi.com) was awesome. It featured the pitch-black Tunnel of Doom, the Jumeirah Scairah (at 80 km/h the fastest waterslide outside North America), and several pretty cool water slides called blasters that shot you up the slide before you slid down it. But the best parts were the views of the Arabian Sea and the Burj al-Arab hotel right next door. The sail-shaped Burj is both the signature landmark of Dubai and reputedly the nicest hotel in the world.

Since I am coming back to Dubai for a week later this trip, I will save most of my commentary on Dubai until then.

But here are a few first impressions:

* Despite the occasional English mistranslation or knockoff (like Safestway grocery store, TGI Thursdays restaurant) Dubai was impressively first world.
* Dubai is under incredible construction. 20% of the cranes in the world are currently in Dubai which is even more amazing since there are only just over 1 million Emiratis who live there (and about 3 million expats, largely poor Indian workers and rich Western expats)
* Dubai is incredibly rich. The city just exudes wealth - in fact the biggest contrast I felt with China was that while China just feels like growth, Dubai feels like money

Dubai has made an astonishing progress on improving and modernizing its structures. Only very few remnants and history of the old Dubai are still visible. Bastakia is one of the places that survived the modernization. It has been renovated and made into conservation area. Old buildings made of coral and wind towers dominate the place. Dubai Museum which is located on the same areas as Bastakia is another place worthy to visit. Traditional craftsmen working on their trades, old souks from the 1950’s and an Islamic school let visitors experience for real Arabian night in the desert.

When visiting Dubai, visitors need not go out of their hotels to do shopping, have a sumptuous food and enjoy the bustling activity of the place. Most commercial places offer all the services in one place – shops, residential facilities and entertainment areas. Shopping has never been as inviting as when in Dubai. Most visitors to Dubai share their unforgettable shopping experiences. Famous brands of dresses, gadgets and accessories dominate the shops of every shopping center. With great shops and excellent offers, visitors will surely find something to buy on any of the shops. When in the city, a renting a car or hiring a taxi is the best transport option visitors can have.

Al Bustan Center and Residence is a combination of shopping and residential facilities. It houses Fantasy Kingdom - the largest indoor amusement center for children. Horror Cave – the next major attraction of the place – offers its visitors a suspense-filled ride. True to its reputation as a place for everyone, movie fanatics can watch an assortment of movies at Al Massa Cinema. Its accessibility to Dubai International Airport and Dubai City makes it an excellent place to stay. Visitors will surely enjoy staying in one of its 640 suites, swimming on its pool and an invigorating moment at its sauna or steam room.

Al Futtaim Center houses a very large collection of toys from known brands worldwide including Toys R Us - the largest chain of toy stores in the world. Great choices and competitive prices, a visitor will go home with shopping bags on both hands.

Marks and Spencer, clothes and accessories retail outlet, is just next to Al Futtaim Center. Kids at Play will let visitors enjoy their shopping spree without worrying about kids. Al Ghurair Center, the first modern shopping mall in Dubai City, is also a mixture of residential and commercial space. Its unique concept of streetscapes makes one of the best places to visit in Dubai.

Situated on the Dubai-Sharjah Road, Almullah Plaza is another major complex that caters to all people. It is a modern shopping center with a variety of outlets and state-of-the-art facilities. Oasis Center houses chain of shops including The Baby Shop, Shoe Mart, Splash, Home Centre and Lifestyle. Another attraction of this place is Fun City where children and family can enjoy fun moments together.

Hamarain Centre is the destination for those who seek quality. It is just a short ride from the Dubai International Airport, located in the heart of business district Deira, Dubai. Its nearness to the airport makes it another favorite place to go especially by the guests of J. W. Marriot Hotel – a five-star luxury hotel. The Hamarain Centre offers three levels of quality shopping, a vast food & a snacks court and five floors of prestigious office space.

Deira City Centre with its 240 outlets offers a wide range of activities to its visitors. It is divided into sections namely Fashion Court, Home Court, Jewellery Court, A World of Good Food, Fun for all Ages, The Winter Gardens and The Palm Court. It is considered to be the largest shopping center in Dubai.

Nightlife in Dubai is buzzing of activities as in the day. The Souk Madinat houses 45 bars and restaurants in one place. Experience the nightlife of Dubai. For a relaxing evening, visit The Agency – a waterside wine bar, Jam Base - a jazz club, The Irish Village - a watering hole with its own duck pond, Rock Bottom Café – a cattle market and The Lodge.

Welcome to Dubai’s Premier Lifestyle Destination

Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai is very close to the Dubai airport and in close proximity to the city center is a wonderful habitat. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai is equipped with all kinds of modern amenities for comfortable living.

Where is Jumeirah Beach Hotel

Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai is located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. The hotel is situated 25 kilometers from Dubai. The hotel is located close to Dubai International Airport and has easy access to some of the main business and shopping areas in Dubai. It is a short distance from the Wild Wadi Water Park and Burj Al Arab. Jumeirah Beach Hotel is ideally located for pleasure travelers, especially family tours.

 

Luxurious Accommodations at Jumeirah Hotel

Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai comprises of 598 rooms and suites and 19 villas. Jumeirah Hotel has 377 well furnished rooms, the accommodation units in the hotel include 24 rooms on the Royal Peacock Floor, 96 Deluxe sea view rooms in the Palm tree Court and 24 Executive Deluxe sea front rooms in the Royal Jasmine Court. Jumeirah Beach Hotel offers a host of modern amenities like private safe deposit box, mini bar and television with satellite channels.

 

Spectacular Dining at Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai

Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai has 9 bars and 8 restaurants that include American Steakhouse, Delicatessen, Italian, Seafood, South East Asian and Sports Cafe. Al Khayal specializes in local cuisine and Lebanon specialties. The Apartment is well known for its contemporary European cuisine, while Beachcombers is renowned for its Far Eastern recipes. You can also chill out at Dhow and Anchor (a traditional British pub) or try out the exotic cocktails at Uptown. Waterfront offers you light snacks.

 

Recreation Facilities - Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai UAE

Jumeirah Beach Hotel has large selection of recreational facilities. The hotel has 9 hole par 36 Golf course, which includes floodlit range, putting green and Golf Academy. The wind surfing, horse riding and has room for separate Badminton and Billiards. You can try your hand at Catamarans & deep sea fishing. This apart, Jumeirah Beach Hotel has 4 swimming pools including a sea water pool and children’s pool. Your kids can have a gala time at Sinbad’s Kids Club, while you can have a rejuvenating experience at the sauna or Jacuzzi.

 

Other Services Available in Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai

Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai has a host of other services like soft toys play area, computer room, complimentary Internet access, Sony PlayStation and babysitting services. The shopping arcade allows you to splurge to your heart’s content. Moreover, the hotel has 7 meeting spacious meeting rooms and offers a plethora of business services like overhead projectors, slide projectors, TV, VCR, cassette player, simultaneous interpretation system, microphone and podium.

Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai is one of the finest hotels in the city of Dubai. The seven star hotel, the only one of its kind in the whole world, is designed to resemble a billowing sail, soars to a height of 321 meters.

The Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai is located in the Jumeirah Beach area of Dubai. The hotel is situated 15 km from the main city centre and 25 km from Dubai International Airport. Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai offers a splendid sight at night, surrounded by choreographed color sculptures of water and fire.

 

Accommodation

The Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai has 202 rooms. All rooms are richly furnished. The hotel offers a number of modern amenities like, plasma television, Satellite Channels, CD player, hairdryer, cribs, free daily newspaper, and International Direct Dialing, voicemail and butler service. Each room has a number of additional services like bathroom telephone, Wireless High Speed Internet access, and towers level room¸ connecting room and sitting area.

 

Dining at Burj Al Arab

The Dubai’s Burj Al Arab Hotel is well known for its multi-cuisine restaurants. There are 5 restaurants in the hotel premises that offer international dishes as well as local culinary delights. Some of these restaurants offer meal for lunch and dinner. Buffet style breakfast is also available. In addition, Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai has a lounge bar and a poolside bar where the guests can chill out.

 

Recreation / Nearby Attractions

Recreation facilities at Burj Al Arab Dubai Hotel include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, scuba diving, water skiing, boating and horse riding. The hotel also has a golf riding range and a running track. Burj Al Arab Hotel also has arrangements for fishing. The exotic spa, sauna, steam bath services and multi functional gym facility offered by Burj Al Arab Dubai enable you to stay in shape and take good care of yourself, even when you are traveling.

 

Your stay at Burj Al Arab include the following services

The other services offered at Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai include 24 hour reception, car rental desk, currency exchange counter, valet services, medical services, photo copy service, porter, secretarial services, security patrol, shoeshine, babysitting, concierge, parking, tour desk, etc. The hotel also has Express Check-In, Express Check-Out, Late Check-Out, babysitting, baggage hold, car rental, cellular phone rent, children’s program, guest services, handicap services, hotel operated airport shuttle, translation services, local shuttle, long distance, maid service, etc.

Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai has 8 meeting rooms, 2 lounges, and a fully equipped business centre with a capacity of 350 delegates, for meetings, interviews, conferences and corporate dinners.

Dubai is a beautiful city to visit. It is a cosmopolitan city that has been exposed to innumerable cultures.The number of languages spoken is one of the many proofs that show the cosmopolitan nature of the Dubai city. Despite this the city has succeeded in conserving its rich culture and heritage.

Among the seven emirates in the UAE Dubai comes second in terms of its size. Situated in the North-Eastern part of UAE it reaches the old village of Hatta.

When to Go: The city could be the perfect getaway when if you are looking for sunshine and warmth. The period between November and March is said to have the best climate and therefore the best time to visit Dubai. The early months of the year also have the attraction of the Dubai Shopping Festival where you can shop till you drop.

Getting There & Around: You can easily get to the city on direct flights, as the city has an excellent international airport that is rated among the world’s 10 best airports. You can get flights from important cities of the world.

Getting around the city is also easy as you can conveniently avail of the rented cars, comfortable and reasonable taxis and numerous public buses.

Accommodation in Dubai: Being in a major tourist city you can get varied lodging options to choose from. You can access the airport from any point of the city. However, staying at Bur Dubai, located at the heart of the city, will help you to commute to the other parts of the city with greater convenience. Plenty of hotels can be found here.

Things to do in Dubai:

You will find the city beautiful with plenty of attractions like the Museum, Creek, Jumeira Mosque, Wonderland, Wild Wadi, Desert Safari, Wonder Bus, etc.

You can also shop extensively at the contemporary shopping complexes. Shopping is not a new trend here. You can enjoy shopping at the conventional ‘bazaars’ or souks too.

Burj Al Arab Hotel Dubai is one of the finest hotels in the city of Dubai. The seven star hotel, the only one of its kind in the whole world, is designed to resemble a billowing sail, soars to a height of 321 meters.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai is very close to the Dubai airport and in close proximity to the city center is a wonderful habitat. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai is equipped with all kinds of modern amenities for comfortable living.

Palm Island Jumeira Dubai United Arab Emirates

14,000 workers from the sub continent work day and night to complete the man made island Palm Jumeirah at Dubai’s Jumeira Beach. Dubai is still developing at a crazy pace averaging around 10% economic growth per year. Dubai is diversifying its business and economy as oil reserves run down.

Palm Jumeirah is a 12 square mile island group and will include 60,000 residents and 50,000 workers once finished.

It’s a $14 billion business project and a part of Dubai’s ambitions to rival Singapore and Hong Kong as a business hub, and surpass Las Vegas as a leisure capital.

No doubt Dubai is a money making machine.

Atlantis Site Palm Jumeira

Nakheel Developments say that on Nov. 30, the palm will open to some 4,000 residents. The offshore city is set to be completed by 2010.

A redesigned Trump Hotel and Tower on the island is also expected to open sometime in 2009
nakheel development palm jumeirah

Property is booming in Dubai as a shortage of supply to demand continues. Nakheel Developments, one of three big developers ind Dubai, has said it will release 60,000 units in the 2nd half of 2006 alone.

Dubai’s government expects to get 20,000 visitors per day to Palm Jumeira. Meanwhile the Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira and The World have run into development problems with design and sales issues holding these projects back.
Villa’s on Palm Jumeira

DUBAI: The Dubai government said Wednesday that it would invest about $5.1 billion in MGM Mirage, giving the Las Vegas casino company a partner as it expanded into real estate.

Gambling is banned in the United Arab Emirates and Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, because it contravenes Islamic Shariah law.

Kirk Kerkorian, who owns 54 percent of MGM Mirage, wants to develop more hotel, housing and entertainment complexes to reduce the dependence of the company on gambling. Dubai, flush with cash from an oil-fueled economic boom, has announced plans this year for at least $13.5 billion in acquisitions.

In afternoon trading, MGM shares jumped $6.81, or 9.16 percent, to $81.13. They have more than doubled in 12 months.

MGM “is talking to partners who can help them transition from a heavy, capital-intensive business to a management business,” said Chris Wiles, portfolio manager at Allegiant Asset Management in Pittsburgh, which owns about 300,000 MGM shares. In Dubai, “they’ve got some willing and able buyers.”

Dubai World, a government-owned company, will pay $84 each for as many as 28.4 million shares of MGM, 13 percent more than the closing price Tuesday. It will invest $2.7 billion for MGM’s stake in CityCenter, a hotel-and-casino project on the Las Vegas Strip, the companies said.

“Dubai World’s proficiency in real estate, combined with our company’s operational expertise, strong brands and world-renowned resorts, creates competitive advantages that we believe will benefit all of our stakeholders,” said Terry Lanni, the MGM chief executive.

Dubai will purchase half the 9.5 stake in MGM from the company and half from other investors via a public tender.

The price “is a bargain for Dubai,” said Larry Klatzkin, an analyst at Jefferies & Co. in New York, who has a “buy” rating on MGM stock and a target price of $112. “Dubai is a passive and positive investor.”

Among the MGM properties on the Las Vegas Strip are the Mirage, Luxor and Bellagio.

Kerkorian, 90, was an investor in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in the 1970s and has bought and sold the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio three times since 1970. In 1981, he opened the MGM Grand casino, building it into the world’s largest, and in 2000 acquired Mirage Resorts, owner of the Bellagio, for $6.4 billion.

In November, Kerkorian offered to buy as many as 15 million MGM shares for $55 in a tender offer which drove up the stock 16 percent. He ultimately bought fewer than 450,000 shares.

In May, Kerkorian said he was considering alternatives for his stake in MGM, triggering a wave of interest in the company. A month later, he said he was abandoning those plans, dampening speculation that the company would be sold after the stock surged another 37 percent. “It’s very telling that Kerkorian didn’t sell anything,” Wiles said. “He thinks it’s a company headed in right direction.”