The emirate embraces a wide variety of scenery in a very small area. In a single day, the tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses with wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls.

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.

But 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.

Since earliest times, Dubai has been a meeting place, bringing together the Bedouin of the desert interior with the pearl diver, the merchant of the city with the sea-going fisherman.

Having expanded along both banks of the Creek, Dubai’s central business district is separated by a Creek, Deira on the northern side and Bur Dubai to the southern side. Each has its share of fine mosques and busy souks, of public buildings, shopping malls, hotels, office towers, banks, hospitals, schools, apartments and villas.

Besides this, the city extends to the neighboring emirate of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Qwain and Ras Al Khaimah.

At first glance, the city presents a predominantly modern face, an ever-changing skyline of new developments, from striking glass and concrete towers to gracious modern buildings incorporating traditional Arabian architectural motifs and features.

No visit to Dubai would be complete without a trip into the desert. Such excursions, which are best organized as part of a group tour, offer a taste of the true heartland of Arabia.