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| A comprehensive
guide
to current and future events and exhibitions in
the UAE |
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Valuable concise reference source on the UAE,
covering political system, economy, business, history and
heritage,
education, women, healthcare, tourism and environment. |
|
|
Natural history of the UAE,
covering all animals and plants recorded in the
Emirates. |
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Report by National US Arab Chamber of Commerce on the
UAE. Vol XV, No 3, June 2007. Includes analysis of UAE economy. |
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
WHAT TO SEE
General information
Abu Dhabi
Al Ain
Sharjah
Ajman
Ra's al-Khaimah
Fujairah
Umm al-Qaiwain
Visit
our Virtual Museum
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Dubai
Despite its small size (5 per cent of the UAE’s total landmass) and relative paucity of hydrocarbon resources, the Emirate of Dubai has made a significant impact on the world stage in terms of high-level investment at home and abroad and sport sponsorship, both nationally and internationally. Its success as a major tourist destination has also helped to familiarise the world with all that Dubai has to offer.
Dubai City is built along the edge of a narrow winding creek that divides the southern section of Bur Dubai, the city’s traditional heart, from the northern area, Deira, a bustling commercial centre containing a range of retail outlets, souqs, hotels and golf courses, as well as the emirate’s international airport. The southern (towards Jumeirah, ‘New Dubai’ and Abu Dhabi) and northern sections of the city (towards Sharjah, Ra’s al-Khaimah etc) are linked by Al Shindagha tunnel, which passes under Dubai Creek at its entrance to the north, and an ever-increasing series of bridges. Major developments, such as Dubai Festival City and the Business Bay project are taking place along the extended Creek.
Lined by distinctive skyscrapers, Sheikh Zayed Road leads south from the city centre, past the Dubai International Financial Centre and ‘Downtown Dubai’ towards Jumeirah about 30 minutes from Dubai City (depending on traffic conditions), This is a major tourism district with a number of award winning hotels, including the iconic Bur al-Arab, and a delightful sandy beach. Jumeirah and adjoining areas have witnessed extensive development in recent years. Offshore, The Palm Jumeirah has added hugely to the coastline. So too have the reclaimed group of islands known as The World. Further south Jebel Ali, home of a huge man-made port and the largest free-trade zone in Arabia, is the location of another Palm project, whilst nearby Dubai World Central airport is taking shape.
Dubai Museum (04 3531862)
The Al Fahidi fort located in Bur Dubai behind Al Fahidi St, houses Dubai Museum. The old fort building contains regular exhibits of weapons, traditional costumes and musical instruments and the courtyard has good examples of ‘arish huts and wooden boats. The new underground section of the museum houses wonderfully lifelike exhibits of an ancient souq, a Quran school, typical Arabic households and an oasis. There is also a display on the desert by night with interesting local wildlife. A separate room is dedicated to lively modern exhibits of pearl diving and fishing. Archaeological finds are displayed near the shop.
Bastakiya District
This was one of the original trading districts in old Dubai. Now famous for its delightful old houses with windtowers – rectangular structures that catch the wind and circulate it around the houses. The area is full of atmospheric narrow alleyways and many of the houses have been converted into art galleries.
Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House (04 3937139).
On the southern bank at the entrance to the Creek, this house was built in 1896 as a residence for the ruling family. The traditional coral-block structure has four elegant windtowers and a large central courtyard. Carved teak wood doors, wooden lattice screens and balustrades have all been restored to former glory. Delightful photographs of old Dubai.
Heritage and Diving Village (04 3937151)
Located next to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoums’s House in Al Shindagha, the village features reconstructions of Dubai’s maritime past. Displays include a tented bedouin village with traditional weapons, chests and household utensils. Shops sell handicrafts and camel and donkey rides are sometimes available. Folk dance and music performances are staged from time to time. The village boasts a number of cafeterias and a seafood restaurant.
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Dubai Creek Waterfront
A walk along the waterfront on the Deira side of Creek is a must if you want to experience Dubai’s traditional maritime roots. Here large motorized wooden dhows offload their cargos in the heart of the city.
Abra Trips
Take an abra trip across the Creek between Bur Dubai and Deira. Steps along the waterfront lead down to abras, small wooden motorized craft that are used to cross from one side of the creek to the other. Take a seat on the nearest boat. The fare will be collected by the skipper before the boat docks at similar steps on the far side.
Majlis Umm Al Sheif (Al Ghoreifa) (04 3946343)
Situated in Umm Suqeim, this house was originally constructed around 1955. The majlis (meeting room) was a summer retreat for Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum the late Ruler of Dubai. The simple two-storey stone building is constructed with traditional materials. The ground floor comprises an open liwan (terrace) and also a small storeroom, while on the second floor the majlis itself is decorated in traditional style with carpets, cushions and Arabic coffee pots.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (04 3447755)
The Centre endeavours to introduce visitors to life in the UAE and will organize visits to mosques, usually the impressive Jumeirah Mosque and to local homes. Booking is essential.
Jumeirah Archaeological Site
This affluent suburb to the south of Dubai city is the location of an important archaeological site dating to the early Islamic period. Large houses built of beach rock (farush) covered with lime plaster have been excavated at Jumeirah by a team from the Dubai Museum. Based on a study of the pottery found at the site, Jumeirah seems to date to the first two or three centuries of the Islamic era. Thus, it is in part contemporary with the sequence at Kush in northern Ra’s al-Khaimah, and with Jazirat al-Hulaylah. Jumeirah is, however, the only complete settlement with well-preserved architecture yet excavated from this important period. A selection of the finds from Jumeirah can be seen in Dubai Museum.
Al Qusais
Al Qusais is today a suburb of Dubai but in antiquity it was the site of an important settlement and associated cemetery. Excavations there in the early 1970s and 1980s revealed the existence of a settlement dating to the second and first millennium BC. Shaft graves dug straight into the sabkha, of similar date, yielded large numbers of copper or bronze vessels and weaponry, as well as many soft-stone vessels. Much of the material from Al Qusais is on display in Dubai Museum.
Al Sufouh
This name has recently been given to a suburb south of Dubai. In the early 1990s a tomb of typical Umm al-Nar-type was found here and subsequently excavated, along with parts of an adjacent settlement, by an Australian team in conjunction with Dubai Municiaplity. The most striking feature of the tomb at Al Sufouh was the fact that, just outside of it, were four pits containing human bone, most of it burnt. It is possible that this bone, which may or may not have come from the main tomb itself (i.e. been re-buried), represents the remains of extensive cremation episodes. Some pits held the remains of c. 50 individuals, all seemingly cremated at the same time.
Around Dubai
A visit to Hatta in the interior of Dubai is a delightful trip.
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