About Dubai
Dubai grew from a pearling and trading creek into one of the world's great stopovers in a few decades. Today, glass towers, huge malls and desert dunes all sit within an hour of each other.
Direct flights from South India make it a short trip, and it works very well for families and first-time international travellers.
Downtown and the skyline
Burj Khalifa rises to 828 metres, and its observation decks are best booked for sunset. At its foot, the Dubai Fountain performs in the evenings beside Dubai Mall, which has an aquarium and an ice rink indoors.
Old Dubai and the creek
Cross the creek on an abra for a few dirhams, then walk through the spice and gold souks of Deira. Al Fahidi's wind-tower houses show how the city lived before oil.
Desert evenings
A desert safari usually mixes dune driving, camel rides and a camp dinner with live performances. Winter, from November to March, is by far the most comfortable time for outdoor plans.
