Dubai travel guide

A Metropolis that grows from the desert

This shoppers’ mecca on the shores of the Persian Gulf has been blessed with natural resources and forward-thinking leaders. As a result, it has grown into the Middle East’s primary banking and transportation hub, whose economic free zone attracts both tourists and corporations. Travelers who fly in without booking a room will find a variety of deals at the airport’s helpful kiosks. By day you can wear yourself out sightseeing, combing the beach, or even ice skating at the mall. Furthermore, because less than a fifth of the country's population is native-born, visitors have the opportunity to sample Ethiopian, Indian, and Malaysian cuisines. Dubai also caters to those who want to get out of the city and explore the desert; some popular options are camel safaris, serene and luxurious twilight picnics, and “wadi bashing,” high-adrenaline, four-wheel-drive vehicle tours through the desert’s seasonally dry riverbeds.