From the timeless tranquillity of the desert to the lively bustle of the souk, to the calm waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Emirate of Dubai offers a kaleidoscope of activities for visitors and residents. Lying on the blue waters of the southern Gulf and backing onto the majestic desert, Dubai offers visitors year-round sunshine and five-star luxury... plus the adventure of a unique Arabian experience. Dubai – one of the seven emirates which constitute the United Arab Emirates – is a place of fascinating contrasts, a distinctive blend of a modern city and timeless desert, east and west, old and new.

A century ago, it was a tranquil town whose coral-and-gypsum huts housed Bedouin traders and pearl divers. Today, commerce is truly international and science-fiction skyscrapers stand alongside the mosques and wind towers of old Dubai. Dubai has many jewels in its crown, not least the unparalleled architectural innovations that confirm Dubai as a world leader; from the Burj Al Arab, the Palm Islands developments and The World – a series of man-made islands in the shape of the continents – to what will perhaps become Dubai’s most symbolic structure, the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building.

Dubai is a dynamic international business centre as well as a laid-back tourist escape; it is a city where the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with the simplicity of a bygone era, where a diversity of activities have given it its unique flavour and personality: a cosmopolitan society with a culture deeply rooted in the traditions of Arabia.