Hotels in Dubai

    

   The Palm

  The Palm  Islands,  also  referred  to as  The  Palm  Dubai  and The Palms,  are the  three  largest  man-made  islands  in the  world,  which  are being  built  on the  coast of the  emirate  of  Dubai,  in  the United  Arad  Emirates (UAE).  Its  concept  was  announced  in May  2002  and  the three  resort  islands are  expected  to  maintain  Dubai’s  position  as  a  premium  tourist  destination.  The  Palm  Islands  is  also  the  self-declared  “ Eighth  Wonder  of the  World”.

  Each  of  the islands ( Palm  Jumeirah,  Palm  Jebel  Ali,  and Palm Deira) are  being  built  in  the  shape  of  a  date  palm  tree  and  consist  of  a trunk,  a  crown  with  fronds,  and  are  surrounded  by a crescent  island  that  acts as a breakwater.  The  island will  support  luxury  hotels,  freehold  residential  villas,  unique  water  homes,  shoreline  apartments,  marinas,  water  theme  parks,  restaurants,  shopping malls,  sports  facilities,  health  spas,  cinemas  and  various  diving  sites.

 The World

 3000 islands,  300 opportunities:  nothing  in Dubai  is   impossible  and  this  was once  again  confirmed  when  the  Nakheel  Corporation  today  unveiled  concept  plans  to  construct  another offshore island  development  just  of  the  coast  of Dubai.  Conceived  by  His Highness  Shelikh  Mohammed  Bin Rashid  Al Maktoum,  the  development  is called  “ The World” and  will  consist  of a series of 200 islands,  positioned  strategically to form the shape of the world map.

“The  development  will  be positioned 5  kilometers off  the coast of Dubai.  It will  be 5.5 kilometers in length  and  width,  and will  cover 60 million  square  feet, including 10 million square  feet  of beach”,  said  Sultan  Ahmed Bin Sulayem,  Executive  Chairman,  Nakheel.

 Further  commenting  on the project Sulayem  said, “The  World”  is set to be the most exclusive and  private  water retreat  available  in  Dubai. It will  provide  an  intruding  and one of a kind haven for investors  looking  for  exclusive and world-class real  estate  opportunity.

 The 200  islands  will  vary  in size and will be themed  to  show some similarities  to the specific country they are representing.

 To ensure the island ambience is maximized  restrictions have  been placed on the height of  developments. A series of waterways, canals  and  lakes  have also been  integrated  into the overall  design.  Considered a first of its kind, this  development  is expected  to  cater  specifically  to the elite  residential  and tourist  market. Access  to the island will  be  entirely  by marine transport only-there  will  be no road access. To protect the development,  two  types of  breakwater will be built  to surround it;  these include an  above water revetment  and a submerged  reef.

 The  first  stages  in construction  of  the islands, know  as  reclamation,  have commenced  in  late 2003  and total  completion  of the project  is forecast for 2008.

 Dubai  over the last few  years  has become the living  embodiment of innovation,  ambition  and forward  thinking.  Much  of this is down to Sheikh  Mohammed’s  influence  and  unshakable  desire to  create  a  contemporary  role for his  country  as a  major world centre  for business, tourism and as a  model  of multi-cultural  living.

  According  to  studies, tourism to Dubai  is  growing  exponentially,  with the current number  of  visitors standing at 5 million due  to  reach 10 million by 2007, and  an incredible 40 million by 2015. 

Hotels in Dubai

   What  Dubai’s  hotels  lack  in subtlety,  they  make  up  for with  marble  fittings,  gold-leaf  fixtures  and  other nouveaux  riches  trappings.  The city’s  landmark  hotels  can  be  wildly  imaginative,  with a vast  sense  of  scale.  Business  hotels  are either  on the  Creek  or on the main  business  roads (Sheikh  Zayed  Road,  Creek  Road  (Deira  side),  Bank  Street  and Umm  Suqeim  Beach Road.)  The resorts on Beach Road  are  convenient for Dubai  Media and  Internet  City.  Note  that  finding  anything  decent  with  fewer  than  four  stars  can  be a  problem.  Prostitution  is  rife in  certain  hotels.  During  the height  of the  tourist  season  (November  to  April),  hotel  vacancies  are  scarce.  In summer  (mid-May  to  mid –September),  rates  drop by up to  half.

BURJ  AL  ARAB 

 The Burj  Al  Arab  is Dubai’s  most  famous  landmark.  The minimalist  white  structure,  which  resembles  a billowing  sail,  stands  on  its  own  island 280 meters  offshore.  No-one is  saying how  much  it cost to  build,  but  most  hoteliers in Dubai  are  convinced  it  will  never make  money rather,  it  pays  for  itself  by  creating  a potent  marketing  symbol  for Dubai.  This  public  relations  strategy  has,  however,  begun  inauspiciously:   in  Dubai  the  hotel  is  affectionately  known  as the  “giant  cockroach”,  thanks  to its  shell-like  exterior.

  If   you  like  golden  fountains,  mirrors on ceilings,  fawning  staff  and an ooze of opulence,  you  will  be in your  element  here.  Guests are met  at the airport  and  chauffeured  to the hotel  in  a white  Rolls  Royce,  then  whisked  to  their  rooms  by  a white gloved,  personal  butler  who  remains  on call  24  hours  a day.  Adding  yet  more  drama,  the  escalators  are  flanked  by  two  gigantic  fish  tanks.  Don’t  be  surprised to  see  scuba  divers  inside  cleaning  the  glass.    Some  guests  may  feel  a  bit  cut  off  at the  Burj.  In the  hushed  lobby,  staff  tiptoe  about,  and  gawking  tourists must  pay  an  entrance  fee just  to  step  inside.  There is  no  beach though the staff  can  drive  you to the nearby  Jumeirah  Beach  Resort  in a   golf  cart.  Not  everyone  will  want to stay  at  this  kind  of hotel,  but it is an interesting place to  visit.  The   view  from  the Al  Muntaha  restaurant  on the  top  floor is one  of the best you will  get in Dubai,  with  food  to  match.  Most  of  Dubai’s  buffets  offer  mass-produced  food  that  has  been  congealing  in  hotplates for hours in end.   At  the  Burj,  think  pan-fried  foe  grass,  seven  different  types  of  caviar,  and Kobe  beef  carved  at  your  table.  Not  bad for Dhs300(&80)  without  wine.

THE  RITZ-CARLTON  DUBAI

Arguable  Dubai’s  best-loved  hotel,  the  Ritz-Carlton  flies  in the face  of the  city’s  hospitality  norms.  While  most hoteliers  here  wage an  endless  war  to build  the  biggest,  brashest  properties  imaginable,  this hotel  is subtle  and understated,  With  just 138  rooms , a  friendly  and knowledgeable staff,  afternoon  tea  and butler  service,  it has a charm  and  intimacy  that  would  befuddle  its more  celebrated  rivals.  Instead  of  hiring  as  many  cheap  Asian  staff  as  budgets  will  stretch  to,  training  them  in  basic  English  and  putting  them on  a  crash  course  in emptying  ashtrays,  the  Ritz- Carlton  employs at  least a handful  of  staff with whom you can  have  an  instructive conversation about food and drink. The  hotel’s  sommelier, for example,  keeps  a fine cellar, which  he is happy to discuss at  length, particularly  when  hosting a regular  wine-tasting evening. The  hotel  also boasts the  prettiest  gardens on Jumeirah  beach.

                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                         

DUBAI

District  guide

Set between Europe and  Asia,  Dubai  is the jewel  in the crown of the United Arab  Emirates It offers  visitors an  oasis from the surrounding  desert. At the  same time, it remains  mostly  sunny and  warm  throughout the year.  Dubai  is  the second largest  of the seven  Emirates (  Abu  Dhabi,  Dubai, Ajman,  al-Fujaira,  Ras al-Khaimah ,  Sharjah,  and Umm  al-Qaiwain)  and  is located on the south-western  shore of the Persian  Gulf.  Dubai’s  population in  2001 was approximately  1,029,000.  Visitors from the four  corners of the earth  make their way to Dubai by land, sea and air.  The  Dubai  International  Airport is a  vital  link for business,  commerce and  tourism.  Its  state of  the art  facilities and runways permit daily  take-offs and landings  whacking  visitors in and out of the emeriti. 

  City of contrasts  

   Tourists and business travelers will  find something to provoke their imagination in this busy and cosmopolitan  city.  The central city itself  is designed with ultra-modern offices,  hotels  and shopping malls all set alongside  the Creek. This natural  sea-water inlet cuts through the center of the  city.  But just around the  corner, you might  come upon an ancient  house or  other testament to  the rich  heritage  of this city.  Don’t  think the inhabitants  of Dubai  are  living  too  abundantly  with their  dwindling  oil supply though. They  were smart enough to plan ahead  economically  to soften  the blow,  and  tourism  is one of their main plans.  Dubai  is able to  boast an Arabian  experience in a protected, open- minded  city.  Even the  desert  itself  holds tourist  appeal.

   Dubai’s  central business  district  is  divided into two parts: Diera on the  north  side of the Creek  and Bur Dubai to the south. They are connected by a tunnel and two  dirges.  But no  matter which side  you find yourself on, a stroll along its banks  will remind you of the  city’s  centuries-old trading  traditions. And each side  has everything you might want, from  great hotels and stores to mosques  and  bustling  markets  (souks.)

 For a glimpse of Old Dubai,  head to the old Bastakiya  distrist.  The narrow streets  remind you of days  gone  by and the old wind towers  are the mark  of Dubai. Before  electricity, the wind towers brought  air into the homes to help cool them.  This district is  being restored to show tourists the true old Dubai. Just outside the central city to the  north is the neighboring  emirate of  Shariah. Andto the west and south are the neighborhoods of Satwa,  Jumeirah, and Umm Suqeim.

While  in Dubai, you may want to  visit the Duabi Museum which will introduce  you to the heritage and  culture of the emirate. Another  great  site is the Diving Village. The Duabi Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Arabian  peninsula. If  your interests  run to Archeology,  there are three  main excavations in that area. One  at Ghusais, another at al Sufooh  and another at  Jumeirah.  The first  two are 2,000  year old graveyards  and the third dates from the 7^th to 15^th  century and contains artifacts  and  more. Visitors  must obtain  a  permit from the Dubai  Museum.

 Climate                                                         

   Temperatures  run from a mean  daily  maximum  of about 41 degrees Celsius  in July to a mean daily  maximum of 24 in January.  The climate in Dubai is classed as  sub-tropical,  arid. But if you’re  expecting predictable  weather,  guess again. Although Dubai is relatively regular, it does have its  share of rain, wind, and storms. Dubai is a truly international city and  it has an abundance of lodging options for the  business or leisure traveler. Depending on your circumtances you  may select from a number of fine hotels to meet your needs. For the ultimate Seven-Star Deluxe  comfort, spend your visit at the Burj Al  Arab Hotel. For Five-Star Luxury, there’s the Sheraton dubai creek hotel & Towers. A bit less luxe-plush, but still more than adequate, with all the amenities a world traveler should expect, include:  the  Fairmont Hotel; Crowne Plaza Hotel Dubai; Ritz- Carlton Dubai Hotel; and the Shangri-La Hotel.  The locally run hotels are also generally  excellent. Swimming pools, health center, and restaurants are not uncommon features to Dubai’s accommodations. But for the budget traveler, there are also self-catering apartments  and hostels.