Dream Destinations – United Arab Emirates

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One of the most beautiful countries on the Arabian Peninsula is the United Arab Emirates which is our next featured Dream Destination. Commonly referred to as just UAE, this nation is a rapidly increasing tourist destination despite having some very strict laws and regulations that visitors need to abide by. Home to the world’s tallest building and a gorgeous metropolis that is Dubai, UAE has plenty to offer and attracts global visitors at all times of the year.

Let’s take a look at some of the key reasons why UAE is such an attractive destination worth adding to your rapidly growing bucket list.

Burj Khalifa

Image courtesy of Leandro Neumann Ciuffo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Burj Dubai  Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Leandro Neumann Ciuffo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Burj Dubai Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The centerpiece of downtown Dubai and undoubtedly the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa is one attraction you cannot miss if you are planning a trip to UAE anytime soon. The Burj Khalifa also provides a hub for much more than stunning views of the surrounding Dubai area and skyline as it is home to a variety of luxury hotels and entertainment complexes.

Standing at over 2700 feet, this skyscraper is the ultimate in tall buildings. Whenever you compare this to other leading tall buildings around the world, for the most part it dwarfs all of them.

tall buildings

It’s interesting to know that the decision to build the Burj Khalifa was to garner more international recognition and essentially put Dubai on the global map – well, I think they have well and truly achieved this with the spectacular architectural design and aesthetic appearance of this skyscraper.

Palm Islands

Image courtesy of Commander Leroy Chiao (NASA website) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Commander Leroy Chiao (NASA website) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Palm Islands are two artificial islands in Dubai. This gorgeous archipelagos has a plethora of private beaches and establishments that make this a much sought after part of the Dubai landscape. The ruler of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, has pursued development as a way to eliminate the emirate’s reliance on a declining oil supply but of course Dubai’s geographical location hinders their ability to do much in terms of expansion.

This unique palm shaped design of islands can be viewed from space and is yet another iconic symbol of UAE’s determination to become a more recognized nation throughout the world.

Jumeirah Mosque

Image courtesy of Leandro Neumann Ciuffo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Mesquita Jumeirah  Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Leandro Neumann Ciuffo from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Mesquita Jumeirah Uploaded by russavia) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai is a spectacular piece of architecture that is the only mosque throughout Dubai that is open to the public 6 days a week for 75 minutes.

Undoubtedly the Jumeirah Mosque plays a central role in Dubai’s cultural and religious lifestyle and stereotypes much of the way Dubai treats day to day life. Even though you are only able to access from a distance during certain times, it is clearly well worth trying to get a close up shot of this gorgeous architectural beauty.

Gold Souk

Image courtesy of Imre Solt [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Imre Solt [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Dubai is traditionally known for having cheap gold so of course many visitors to the region take advantage of the Gold Souk traditional market which is located in the heart of the city’s business district.

Even if you have no desire to purchase a piece of gold memorabilia, it really appears to be an interesting experience to walk through the market and see the dazzling sparkles of the Gold Souk phenomenon. One surprising aspect here is that bartering is well accepted so be sure to haggle for a bargain before committing to a final price.

Burj Al Arab

Image courtesy of Axilera at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Axilera at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons
Ever heard of a 7 star hotel accommodation? Ok well, it may be a stereotypical myth that the Burj Al Arab is 7 star quality but clearly there must be something at this gorgeous establishment that has so many people raving about it’s luxury qualities. There is honestly nothing else in terms of hotels that dominates the Dubai skyline quite like the Burj Al Arab.

With a fleet of Rolls-Royce vehicles outside the entrance to the hotel and proudly boasting as the tallest hotel in the world (yes that’s right, Dubai not only has the tallest building but also the tallest hotel), the Burj Al Arab is grandeur personified.

Rightly acclaimed as the most luxurious hotel in the world, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1100 and $9000 per night depending on the type of room or suite you prefer.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Chris Boothmanhttps://abritandasoutherner.com
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]

9 COMMENTS

  1. Good pick. I have family there and want to visit them someday. It’s my dream to stay at that hotel, so it looks like I have to save my pennies.

    • Yeah I agree Ann about the Burj Al Arab but it certainly ain’t cheap but maybe it’s one of those spots kind of like Bora Bora where you have to stay there for at least one night just to say that you have experienced the ultimate luxury accommodation.

    • Well hopefully you will get back sooner rather than later Corinne and you can explore the Emirates nations further. What was your favorite aspect of UAE?

    • That’s interesting to hear Jenny and in reality it doesn’t surprise me because Dubai really does come off as very Las Vegas like or Disneyland as you refer to it. But I would still love to visit there to experience for myself and either way, I bet the Burj Khalifa and Al Arab are really cool to see in person.

  2. I do not know why I can’t bring myself to travel to all those modern Arabic countries, I really love this part of the world! Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, etc etc but Dubai, Abu Dhabi just not my cup of tea I think.

  3. It looks like another world… so different..and so much richness , it appeals me to know it..but also I have some contrasting feelings with what you see in some other places.
    Great pictures by the way!

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