Dubai Overview

Dubai’s tourism sector has been experiencing constant growth over the years, with the city receiving more than 5 million visitors annually. There are over 120 different airlines operating into and out of Dubai, with flights to over 260 destinations all over the world.

One of Dubai’s main attractions is the city itself, built as it is, right in the middle of the Arabian Desert. Dubai has neither a natural flowing river – or even an oasis, yet human ingenuity and capital has managed to build a magnificent city here.

Dubai is a city of grandeur, hosting the world’s biggest man-made harbor (Jebel Ali Port) , the world’s biggest building project (Emirate’s Towers), the world’s biggest and most expensive hotel, the Burj Al Arab, and many other grand projects, all thanks to Petro-dollars. These are great attractions for many people who like to see the wonders of capitalism.

Another feature which draws visitors to Dubai in their hordes is it’s relatively liberal nature, at least compared to other Arabic-Islamic cities. Foreign ways are entertained here, of course within certain reasonable limits. The city’s liberal nature has been a bone of contention with Islamic fundamentalists, who feel that it should uphold stricter standards.

Then there is the city’s diversity, a very unique feature in the Arab world. Dubai is one of the few cities with a smaller population of natives than visitors. In Dubai, only 17% of the population is native, with the rest being visitors and expatriate workers of all hues and accents, making a truly attractive cosmopolitan city.

Dubai’s climate makes it an all year destination, though the summer temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius can be rather uncomfortable to some.

Dubai’s location in the desert is also a great attraction, as it is only in the desert that you get to see features like dunes and desert animals, like the hardy camels. The ‘desert versions’ of many common creatures can only be described as strange, and one of the best places to see them is in Dubai.

Dubai’s vast commercial establishment is also fuelling another type of tourism, ‘commercial tourism’, with tourists who are keen on shopping and investment. As such, the city is host to the world-famous Dubai’s Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises, events which receive well over 4 million visitors annually.

Whether for the traditional sightseeing tourist, or the new shopping tourism enthusiast, Dubai makes one great destination.