Dubai

Dubai is one of the last bastions of anything - goes capitalism - a city whose wealth is based on trade, not oil - and there's no place quite like it in the Gulf. It's well worth spending a few days wandering through the souks (markets) and along the waterfront to take in the city's atmosphere, but don't expect to find anything 'old' in Dubai. Fortunately it's the one place in the Gulf where that hardly seems to matter. Of the UAE's seven emirates, Dubai boasts the highest international profile of all the Gulf cities, hosting world-class golf and tennis tournaments, horse racing and desert rallies. One of the worlds most exciting travel destinations, Dubai is a fascinating blend of east meets west, and old meets new. Enjoy glorious sunshine combined with five star luxury and the added attraction of a unique Arabian experience. In a single day a tourist can experience everything from the rugged mountains and awe inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches amid lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses to ultra modern shopping malls.