Dubai is the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates and is located on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula along the warm waters of the Persian Gulf.

It has become known as a luxury holiday destination, and to fulfill that dream, you should stay at or at least visit the Burj Al Arab hotel (Tower of the Arabs) Hotel. This is the world’s most photographed structure and also the world’s second tallest hotel. It is amazingly shaped like a billowing sail that is lighted up at night with illuminations that look like water and fire. With a floor area of 1,200,000 square feet, it was surprisingly constructed in less than three years on its own artificial island. There is a private curving bridge that connects it to the mainland. Its Royal Dining Hall has the world’s tallest atrium and a magnificent fountain; the Al Muntaha restaurant rises 27 stories above the Arabian Gulf; and the Al Mahara top-ranking restaurant features a large seawater aquarium.

You might also want to experience the local restaurants with traditional Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

There are many interesting attractions to enjoy in Dubai. Opposite the hotel is the Wild Wadi water amusement park with its landscaped gardens and playgrounds. You can visit the Dubai Zoo. You can swim with the dolphins at the Dubai Dolphinarium plus watch their Dolphins and Seals Live Show.

An attraction named Dubailand was projected to be twice the size of Walt Disney World but has been delayed due to the economy. It is intended to have parks such as Six Flags and Universal Studios and a relocation of the Dubai Zoo. Another planned interesting feature is the first golf course designed by Tiger Woods which was to open in 2009, but the 18 holes are only slowly being completed.

The beaches at Dubai are beautiful; and popular water sports are sailing, paragliding, swimming, jet-skiing, etc. At the other end of the spectrum, you can go into the desert and visit a Bedouin camp in an oasis.

Dubai is a shopper’s paradise for those interested in Persian carpets and creative extravagant jewelry, and its famous gold market is the world’s largest. A March Shopping Festival is attended by two million visitors.

There seems to be something for every visitor when holidaying in Dubai. Flights to Dubai leave daily from Glasgow Airport.