Not so long ago, Dubai was only known to most tourists as a stopover on their way to holiday destinations further east. Today it is one of the worlds most fascinating, most sophisticated, most sought-after resorts in its own right. With good reason where else can you spend a vacation that combines sand dunes and Middle East culture with stunning high rise hotels overlooking pristine beaches and the warm turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf)?

If that's not enough, Dubai is a shopper's paradise. The tiny emirate is a duty-free zone and during its Shopping Festival, two million visitors arrive looking for discounts on gold, electronics, clothing, and Persian carpets. Together with a booming economy, where trade and tourism are encouraged, it also makes for the ultimate shopping destination.

From the timeless tranquility of the desert to the lively bustle of its souks, modern Dubai offers a kaleidoscope of attractions. The emirate embraces a wide variety of scenery in a very small area. The emirate is both a dynamic international business center and a laid-back tourist escape, a city where the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with the simplicity of a bygone era.

These contrasts give Dubai its unique flavor and personality - a cosmopolitan society with an international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia.     Its state of the art tourist infrastructure with numerous world-class hotels, sports events and shopping spectaculars held annually ensures its position as the Middle East’s number one tourist destination.