Dubai is an incredible city where you will find skyscrapers touching the sky and opulence flowing in every nook and corner. If you are short on time and decide to take a whirlwind tour of the city then the first thing you will observe is its truly international and cosmopolitan character. Not only you will find large number of people from the Indian subcontinent but a sizeable majority of expats as well; who have chosen to make Dubai their home. Dubai’s iconic land mark, the Burj-Al-Arab hotel is the first place which tourists visit once they land in the city. Considered as the mascot of the city, this architectural marvel dominates the city’s skyline and would captivate your imagination for long. So will the Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali, an archipelago of reclaimed islands, close to the shore that are a scaled down map of the world. What’s more you can even buy a piece of land here representing the country of your choice. Presently under various stages of development, these islands, if completed would establish Dubai’s architectural superiority in the modern world.

Shopping in Dubai is a fascinating experience. Being a duty –free paradise, you will get branded goods much cheaper than any other place in the world. Buying gold in Dubai would be a good idea as the city’s dazzling gold souks offer innumerable options to jewellery enthusiasts. You can even find high quality costume jewellery made of platinum, diamond and silver at affordable prices as the Dubai government keeps a strict vigil on the quality of metal being retailed all across Dubai. Bargaining is common place here and if you are good at it, you can land yourself a really good deal. There are plenty of low cost as well as full service airlines which offer cheap tickets to Dubai. Once you are here do make a trip to the Bastakia Quarter located between the Dubai Creek and the buzzing Bur Dubai District. Strolling through the Bastakia would be an experience in itself. Flanked on both sides of the road are buildings constructed in the medieval era some of whom have now been transformed into art galleries and cafés.

For those fond of food and wines, Dubai doesn’t disappoint. Its fine dining restaurants offer the best of world cuisine and an impressive line-up of wine, beer, spirits and malt beverages. The city is famous for its ‘champagne brunches’ where you get an unlimited supply of chilled champagne along with some live entertainment. As you conclude your tour of the city you will realize that Dubai is a shining example of what private enterprise and government can accomplish, if they decide to work together.

Visitors who return from a tour of Dubai confess that the city, in its modern avatar, appears as the handiwork of a genie who is going about its work of creating a fairytale city. See it for yourself!