TOP 10

DUBAI
& ABU DHABI

LARA DUNSTON
&
SARAh mONAghAN

EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
Contents

Left An advertisement luring shoppers to buy Dubai’s gold Right Windtowers along the Creek

Contents
Dubai & Abu Dhabi’s
Top 10
Design, Editorial and Picture Research, by
Quadrum Solutions, Krishnamai, 33B, Sir Dubai Museum 8
Pochkanwala Road, Worli, Mumbai, India
Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore Dubai Creek 10
Printed and bound in China
by Leo Paper Products Ltd
Bastakiya 12
First American Edition, 2007
07 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Jumeirah Mosque 14
Published in the United States by
DK Publishing, Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014
Burj Al Arab 16
Copyright 2007 ©
Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
Madinat Jumeirah 18
A Penguin Company
All rights reserved under International and
Dubai Souqs 20
Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No
part of this publication may be reproduced, Emirates Palace 22
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation
mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior written permission & Al Hosn Palace 24
of the copyright owner. Published in Great
Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
Desert Escapes 26
A CIP catalogue record is available from
the British Library.
Culture & Tradition 30
ISSN 1479-344X
ISBN: 978-0-75663-057-7
Audacious Projects 32
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no
hierarchy of quality or popularity is implied.
All 10 are, in the editor’s opinion, of roughly Art Galleries 34
equal merit.
Floors are referred to throughout in Malls & Souqs 36
accordance with British usage; ie the “first
floor” is the floor above ground level. Things to Buy 38

The information in this DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly.

Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date as possible at the time of
going to press. Some details, however, such as telephone numbers, opening hours, prices,
gallery hanging arrangements and travel information are liable to change. The publishers
cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book, nor for
any material on third party websites, and cannot guarantee that any website address in this
book will be a suitable source of travel information. We value the views and suggestions of
our readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling
Kindersley, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL.

Cover: Front - Alamy Images: David Copeman clb; Eric Nathan bl; Getty Images: Gulfimages / Pankaj & Insy
Shah main. Spine - Alamy Images: Yadid Levy b. Back - Alamy Images: Jon Arnold Images / Joe Malone cra;
Profimedia International s.r.o ca; Getty Images: Gulfimages / Pankaj Shah cla.


 Contents
Left The impressive Jumeirah Beach Hotel Right A desert dune drive

Middle Eastern Streetsmart

Restaurants 40
Planning Your Trip 100
Best Bars in Dubai 42
Travel Information 101
Beach Resorts 44
Arriving in Dubai &
Spas 46 Abu Dhabi 102
Activities for Kids 48 Getting Around 103

Outdoor Activities 50 Banking &

Communications 104
Indoor Activities 52
Things to be Aware of 105
Excursions 54
Things to Avoid 106
Around Town Useful Information 107
Deira 58 Security & Health 108
Bur Dubai 66 Budget Tips 109
Sheikh Zayed Road 72 Accommodation 110
Jumeirah & New Dubai 78 General Index 118
Abu Dhabi 88 Phrase Book 126

Left A windtower in Bastakiya Right Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Key to abbreviations 
Adm admission charges
 Dubai &
abu Dhabi’s
top 10
Dubai & Abu

Dubai & abu Dhabi’s Top 10

Dhabi’s Highlights
6–7
Dubai Museum
8–9
Dubai Creek
10–11
Bastakiya
12–13
Jumeirah Mosque
14–15
Burj Al Arab
16–17
Madinat Jumeirah
18–19
Dubai Souqs
20–21
Emirates Palace
22–23
Abu Dhabi Cultural
Foundation &
Al Hosn Palace
24–25
Desert Escapes
26–27
Top Ten of Everything
28–55
 Dubai & Abu Dhabi’s Highlights
The Arabian emirates of Dubai and Abu
Dhabi, the most rich and powerful of the ! Dubai Museum
Set in a well-preserved fort, the
seven city-states that make up the United Dubai museum, with its whimsical
Dubai & Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

Arab Emirates, offer the best of East and dioramas (below) and fascinating
displays, provides a comprehensive
West – Arab culture, Bedouin heritage introduction to the city (see pp8–9).
and Islamic architecture, alongside
excellent shopping, sophisticated dining
and luxurious hotels. Dubai is divided by
its bustling Creek and skirted with white
sand beaches, while Abu Dhabi is
situated on a splendid Corniche.

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The gypsum
and coral courtyard
houses (left) in this
quarter were
constructed by
Persian merchants
who settled here
in the last century
(see pp12–13).

$ Jumeirah
Mosque
Not only is this
mosque (right)
Dubai’s most
beautiful, it’s the
only mosque open % Burj Al Arab
This iconic, attention-
to non-Muslims. A grabbing “seven-star”
guided visit to learn hotel (above) is certainly a
about Islam and sight you cannot miss. It’s
culture is a must the world’s tallest hotel
(see pp14–15). building (see pp16–17).

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7
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28

Emirates
Palace *
The jaw-dropping
display of gold lining
the walls (right) and
Swarovski crystals
dripping from the
chandeliers at Abu
Dhabi’s Palace hotel
make for an
impressive sight
(see pp22–3).

( Al Hosn Palace &

Abu Dhabi Cultural
Foundation
Enjoy the tranquil palm-shaded
gardens of Abu Dhabi’s elegant
white fort palace (above) before ) Desert Escapes
A visit to the UAE is incomplete without
taking in the handicraft displays a desert experience. Stay at enchanting
and art shows at the Cultural desert resorts Al Maha or Bab Al Shams or
Foundation (see pp24–5). take a fun desert safari (see pp26–7).

To enjoy the highlights at a more relaxed pace, spend a few days 

in Dubai, a day or two in Abu Dhabi and a day in the desert.
 Dubai Museum
A visit to Dubai would be incomplete without a Top 10 Features
tour of this cleverly-planned museum. It offers a 1 Al Fahidi Fort
vivid picture of how Dubai has crammed into a 2 Barasti Windtower House
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

third of a century what most cities achieve in 3 Bedouin Traditions Display

several. Located near the creekside historic 4 Multimedia Presentation
Bastakiya district, the museum is housed within 5 Old Dubai Souq Dioramas
and beneath one of the city’s oldest buildings, 6 Islamic School Dioramas
7 Desert at Night Exhibitions
Al Fahidi Fort. It traces the city’s meteoric
8 Underwater Pearl Diving
development from small desert settlement to Exhibition
centre of the Arabian world for commerce, 9 Archaeological Finds
finance and tourism. Visit here to gain a sensory 0 Wooden Dhow
insight into traditions past and present.

! Al Fahidi Fort
Originally built in 1787,
this fort, with its magni-
ficent watch tower, was
constructed to defend the
Emiratis against invasion.
Bedouin wax figures Renovated in 1971, it now
serves as a city museum.
A souvenir area sells
traditional Bedouin
artefacts, but it’s @ Barasti Wind-
tower House
more fun, and The fort’s courtyard houses
cheaper, to bargain in a barasti (date palm frond)
the souqs. home (below) and wind-
tower cooling system,
After your visit, common in the region up
retain the flavour of to the 1950s.
historic Dubai with
lunch or coffee in
the shady courtyard
of nearby Basta
Art Café (see p71).

• Map K2
• Al Fahidi Fort,
Al Fahidi St
• 04 353 1862
• Open 8:30am–8:30pm
Sat–Thu, 3pm–9pm Fri
• Adm
• www.dubaitourism.ae
Bedouin Traditions
£ Display
A gallery displays the
costumes, jewellery,
weapons and tools of the
Bedouin people. A holo-
graphic video presentation
of a tribe performing the
ceremonial sword dance,
the Ardah, is hypnotic.
$ Multimedia
Presentation
A 10-minute film
presentation, with
archive footage, explains
the development of
modern Dubai from 1960
onward. The film takes
you through a pictorial
tour of Dubai’s trans-
formation over 40 years,
decade-by-decade.


 2
0
% Old Dubai Souq
Dioramas
Holographic technology 3
combined with waxwork
figures (left), smells,
sounds and archive 4 5 6

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

footage transport you
into the creekside souq
of half a century ago. 8

^ Islamic
Dioramas
School 7

Young Emiratis recite 9

the lines of the Koran
(right) under the eye Key to plans
of their tutor in this
reconstruction of a Ground floor
1950’s school. Basement

& Desert at Night

Exhibitions
Learn how animals that
live in the Arabian desert
have adapted to cope
with lack of water,
extreme temperatures
and shortage of food.

* Underwater Pearl
Diving Exhibition
This gallery explains the
techniques used by pearl
divers (above) who wore
nose clips to descend to
impossible depths.

Bedouin Culture
Bedu, the Arabic word
from which the name
Bedouin is derived,

) AWooden Dhow
traditional Arab ( Archaeological
Finds
means “inhabitant of
the desert”. Bedouins
vessel, the dhow Interesting artefacts from would move from oasis
(above), is on show at excavations of graves that to oasis by camel and
the museum’s exit. date back to would engage in small-
For celestial navi- 3,000 BC, scale agriculture. The
gation, sailors used such as fine hardships of the desert
the kamal, a device copper and have imbued Bedouin
that determines alabaster culture with a strong
latitude using the objects and honour code and a
angle of the Pole Star pottery (left), famous hospitality.
above the horizon. are on display.

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 Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek, fed by the waters of the Arabian Gulf, is the lifeblood of old and
new Dubai – a vibrant mix of the past and the present. The contrast of
traditional wooden dhows being unloaded at the wharf side against stunning
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

modern architecture, such as the glass dome-fronted Bank of Dubai (see

p61) and the giant ball-topped Etisalat building, is fascinating. The two sides
of the Creek are Deira (north) and Bur Dubai (south) and a walk along either
is an enjoyable way to discover this multi-faceted city. Getting across the
Creek is easy: the nearest bridge for cars is Maktoum Bridge but the cheapest
and most authentic crossing has to be by abra.

Top 10 Features
1 Abra Trips
2 Dhows
3 Waterfront Heritage
4 Wharf Walk
5 Bur Dubai Waterfront
6 Bait Al Wakeel
A creek cruise
7 The Diwan
The Creek by night is 8 Creekside Park
a spectacular sight
9 Creek Cruises
with the lit up dhows
gliding along.
0 Bateaux Dubai

Stop for a fresh juice ! Abra Trips

Abras are flat-bottomed
at the stall at the water-taxis (right) and are a
entrance to the great and breezy way to
textile souq, next to travel. Cram in with other
the abra station. passengers – the abras
carry 40,000 passengers
• Map K1–K6 per day – and enjoy the
• Abra Crossing: AED 1 great views.
each way • Creekside
Park: 336 7633; Open
9am–8:30pm Sat–Thu,
@ Dhows
The dhow is the
3pm–8:30pm; Adm traditional sailing vessel
• Sheikh Saeed Al of the Emirates. These
Maktoum House: Open beautiful wooden boats
8am–10pm, Sat–Thu, (left) are used for tourist
3pm–10pm, Fri; Adm rides as well as for trade.
• Heritage & Diving
Village: Open 10am–
midnight Sat–Thu, 4pm–
£ Waterfront Heritage
In the Shindagha area near the Creek mouth you will
midnight Fri • Bateaux find the restored house and museum of the late ruler
Dubai: 399 4994; Open Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum and the Heritage and Diving
8.30pm daily; www. Village (below), which showcases Arabian culture.
bateauxdubai.com
• Al Mansour Dhow:
InterContinental Hotel,
Baniyas Road; 222 7171;
departs 8.30pm • Creek
Cruises: 393 9860;
www.creekcruises.com
• www.dubaitourism.ae

10
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Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10


the Creek on

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&

 

$+
'
,

,
Baniyas Road. 67

They arrive each Bur Dubai Waterfront

day from India, % The historic architecture of


Iran and Oman. “Old Dubai” stares back at you NP 
NP
You can sit by from the Deira side of the Creek
and watch their
interesting wares
(above): windtowers, minarets
and the 54 domes of the ^ Bait Al Wakeel
Built in 1934, this
being unloaded. spectacular Grand Mosque. was Dubai’s first office
building (below). It has
been restored and now
houses a museum devo-
ted to Dubai’s fishing and
maritime traditions.

& The Diwan

With its imposing
wrought iron gates,
the Diwan, or
“Ruler’s Court”, is
an impressive
sight (below). It is
the seat of the
government.

( Creek Cruises
Several tour * Creekside Park
A wonderful expanse
operators offer creek of parkland, Creekside
cruises with buffet lunch Park (below) stretches
or dinner and enter- along the water’s edge.
tainment on traditional Walk its length and enjoy
History of Dubai
wooden sailing dhows. the watery vistas or take
A sunset trip is a treat, a fun cable car ride from Creek
especially if accompanied one side of Once a tiny fishing
by live belly-dancing and the Creek to settlement based
Arabian music. the other. around the palm-fringed
mouth of the Creek,

) Bateaux Dubai
An evening on the
Dibei, as it was known
in the 16th Century,
Creek aboard one of the owes its existence to
glass-topped Bateaux the 14-km (9 miles)
Dubai is a luxurious way Dubai Creek which led
to enjoy the views. Four- into a natural harbour
course dinners, white and established itself as
table linen and live piano a flourishing hub for
music make this a entrepôt trade.
romantic indulgence.

11
 Bastakiya
The old and atmospheric Bastakiya conservation Top 10 Features
area has benefited from extensive renovation 1 Bastakiya History
work in recent years by Dubai Municipality. It 2 Traditional Architecture
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

gives a picturesque glimpse into the city’s past in 3 Al Fahidi Fort

sharp contrast to the futuristic architecture and 4 Old City Wall
construction boom elsewhere. Traditional sand- 5 Stamp & Coin Museum
coloured windtower houses, often built from 6 Sheikh Mohamed
Centre for Cultural
coral stone, with elegant courtyards, can be
Understanding
explored as you wander the maze of shady
7 Majlis Gallery
narrow streets and alleys. The facades have 8 Basta Art Café
been restored to their original state, with 9 XVA Gallery, Café
Arabesque windows, decorative gypsum panels & Hotel
and screens. This area is now home to art 0 Bastakiah Nights
galleries, museums and stylish cafés. Restaurant

! Bastakiya History
Bastak, in southern
Iran, is the origin of the
name Bastakiya. It was
traders from Bastak who
founded this area by the
Creek in the early 1900s.
Drawn by Dubai’s liberal
A Bastakiya window tax policies, they settled
here permanently.
Set aside a couple of
hours to fully see the
Bastakiya quarter: @ Traditional
Architecture
late in the day, the The need to remain cool
dying light and long prompted the distinctive
shadows add to the vernacular style of the
atmosphere. windtower courtyard
houses (right). Thick walls
For a light lunch, and narrow windows with
XVA Gallery offers intricate Arabesque
healthy options such designs are characteristic.
as fresh soups, salad
and sandwiches.
$ Old City Wall
Restoration work
• Map K2
(below) has reinforced the
• Sheikh Mohammed
importance of this part of
Centre for Cultural
the original city as a
Understanding: 353
defensive zone following
6666; www.cultures.ae
the discovery of part of the
• Bastakiya walking
original 200-year-old wall.
tours: 10am Sun &
Thu; Adm
• XVA: 353 5383; Open
£ Al Fahidi Fort
Now Dubai Museum
(see pp8–9), this Fort
9:30am–8pm Sat–Thu;
(above) dates back to 1787.
www.xvagallery.com
A sighting recorded in 1822
• Bastakiya Nights: 353
calls this “a square castel-
7772; Open 12:30pm–
lated building, with a tower
11:30pm; DDD
at one angle... with three
or four guns mounted”.

12
 ^ Sheikh Mohamed Centre
for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1999 to promote understanding of the
customs, this centre offers walking tours, Arabic
courses and cultural awareness programmes. The
building is a stunning architectural example of a

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

courtyard house.

& Majlis Gallery

Majlis means
meeting place in Arabic
and this bijou art gallery,
Stamp & Coin with a central garden
% Museum area, is constructed
Philately House (above) around a beautifully
hosts an exhibition of the converted whitewashed
history of post and Arabic house (left). Local
currency in the UAE. It contemporary artists
explores postal activities feature alongside original,
before the federation and at times quirky,
was born. artesian work.

* Basta Art Café

Set in a traditional
courtyard of a Bastakiya
house, Basta Art Café
(below) is a great spot to
sit among flowering
bougainvillea and enjoy
lunch or a snack.

( XVA Gallery, Café

& Hotel Windtowers
Enjoy a snack in the Windtowers were the
shady courtyard of this most distinctive
restored traditional architectural element of
house (left). It has art Arabic houses in the
galleries as well as a early 20th century. With
charming boutique hotel. four open sides, each of
which was hollowed

) Bastakiah
Restaurant
Nights into a concave v-shape,
wind-towers deflected
This restaurant’s (right) Arabian the air down, cooling
atmosphere is best experienced the rooms below. Water
after dusk. The restored building was thrown on the floor
has been opulently furnished. beneath the tower to
Enjoy a traditional Arabic meal cool the house further.
inside or on the rooftop.

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 Jumeirah Mosque
Dubai’s culture is rooted in Islam, a fact that touches all aspects of everyday
life. Virtually every neighbourhood has its own mosque, but the jewel in the
crown is undoubtedly Jumeirah Mosque. This fine example of modern Islamic
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

architecture was built in 1998. It is a dramatic sight set against blue skies
and especially breathtaking at night, when it is lit up and its artistry is thrown
into relief. Built of smooth white stone, the mosque, with its elaborately
decorated twin minarets and majestic dome, is a city landmark and an
important place of worship.
Top 10 Features
1 Mosque Architecture
2 Minarets
3 Mihrab
4 Minbar
The mosque’s interiors 5 “Open Doors, Open
Opposite the mosque
Minds” Tour
is Japengo Café: it’s 6 Five Pillars of Islam
a pleasant spot for a 7 Prayers
drink or light lunch 8 Ramadan
on the terrace. 9 The Haj
0 Mosque Etiquette
The mosque tours
are intended to help
visitors gain a real
understanding of the
! Mosque
Architecture
With its vast central dome
Islamic faith, so make
(right), this mosque is
the most of the
inspired by the Anatolian
question time to find style. The exterior is
out what you would decorated in geometric
like to know. Photo– relief over the stonework.
graphy is permitted.

£ Mihrab
The attractive mihrab –
• Map E4 the niche in the wall of this
• Beach Road, Jumeirah and every mosque that
• 971 4 344 7755 indicates the qibla, the
• Mosque tours: Sat, direction one should face
Sun, Tue and Thu, 10am, when praying – gives the
AED 50, no booking impression of a door or a
required passage to Mecca (below).
• Tel: 971 4 353 6666
• Sheikh Mohammed
Centre for Cultural
Understanding: www.
cultures.ae
• Japengo Café: 971 4
345 4979, open 10am–
1am, Sat–Fri @ Minarets
Two minarets (above)
crown this mosque. The
height of the tallest one –
the highest point of the
“House of Allah” – is deter-
mined by how far the call
to prayer should be heard.

14
 % “Open Doors,
Open Minds” Tour
The “Open Doors, Open
Minds” interactive
guided mosque tour
run by the Sheikh

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

Mohammed Centre for
$ Minbar
The minbar (above) is
Cultural Understanding,
offers an opportunity to
the pulpit from which the admire the subtle interior
Imam (leader of prayer) decoration and to gain
stands to deliver the insight into the Islamic
khutba (Friday sermon). religion (right).

^ Five
Islam
Pillars of

The “Five Pillars of

Islam” are: Shahadah,
the belief in the oneness
of God; Salat, the five
daily prayers; Zakat,
alms-giving; Siyam, self-
purification and Haj, the
pilgrimage to Mecca.

& Prayers
The adhan (call to
prayer) rings out five
times a day – all able
Muslims must supplicate
themselves (below) to
Allah by praying on a
musalla (traditional mat).

( The Haj
Every able-bodied * Ramadan
During the holy
Muslim is expected to month of Ramadan,
make the annual Muslims abstain from
pilgrimage to Mecca, in food, drink and other
Saudi Arabia, once. Each physical needs. This is a
year millions of Muslims time for purification and
from all over the globe to focus on Allah.
do so to be forgiven of
sins, to pray and to cele- Call to Prayer
brate the glory of Allah. Wherever you are in
Dubai, you are likely to

) Mosque Etiquette
Dubai may be cosmo-
be within earshot of a
mosque and to hear the
politan, but in keeping daily calls to prayer
with mosque etiquette, “Allahu akbar” (God is
you must dress conser– great). Today, the
vatively to enter (right). modern-day call is
No shorts or sleeveless transmitted through
tops for either sex; loudspeakers; in the
women must wear a past the muezzin made
headscarf. Remove your the call himself.
shoes before entering.

Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter mosques, but twice-weekly 15

cultural visitor tours permit you to enter this mosque’s interior.
 Burj Al Arab
So iconic that it instantly became an international symbol for modern Dubai,
the Burj Al Arab (meaning “Arabian tower”), completed in 1999, is an
exclusive all-suite “seven-star hotel” and also the world’s tallest hotel. With its
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

helipad on the 28th floor and a restaurant seemingly suspended in mid-air,

at a soaring 321 m (1,053 ft), it takes the trophy for being the world’s tallest
hotel. It is set on its own artificial island against the backdrop of the turquoise
waters of the Gulf and is dazzling white by day and rainbow-coloured by
night when its façade is used as a canvas for spectacular light displays.
Top 10 Features
1 Architectural Inspiration
2 Exterior Architecture
3 Design Details
The Skyview bar
4 Interior Architecture
Blatant sightseers 5 Fish Tanks
are frowned upon; to 6 Lobby
visit the interiors,
7 Underwater Restaurant
you must make a
8 Skyview Bar
restaurant reser-
vation. To do this, 9 Spa & Swimming Pool
call 3017600 or email 0 Suites
BAArestaurants@
jumeirah.com
! Architectural
Inspiration
The dress code at the The billowing sail of the
hotel means that you traditional Arabian dhow
cannot wear jeans, was the inspiration for this
t-shirts (collared contemporary architectural
shirts only), shorts, creation (right). Access is
sandals (not in the via the causeway (courtesy
case of women Rolls Royces) or by
however), sports helicopter.
shoes or trainers.
@ Exterior Architecture
• Map C1
• Jumeirah Beach
The shore-facing façade
of the Burj is covered by a £ Design Details
The interior oozes with
Rd, Dubai stretched translucent exotic opulence, from the
• 301 7777
fabric. This is Teflon-coated shell-shaped reception
• Minimum charge AED
woven glass fibre. It is the desk (below) to the gold-
200 redeemable first time such technology leafed surfaces. The uphol-
• Cheapest entry:
has been used in this way stery is a riot of patterns
afternoon tea at Sahn in any building worldwide. and geometric designs.
Eddar (AED 190) or
drinks package at
Skyview Bar (AED 200
for 2 drinks and
canapés)
• Al Mahara: Open
12:30pm–3pm, 7pm–
midnight; DDD
• Skyview Bar: Open
11am–2am
• www.burj-al-arab.com

16
 $ Interior
Architecture
The vast gold columns
and layers of floors rising
up (left) from the lobby
give a dizzying sensation
in the atrium.
% Fish Tanks
The lobby boasts of
two-storey high tropical
fish tanks. Scuba divers
are hired for the daily
maintenance.
* Skyview
This bar
Bar
matches
expectations with
its sky-high
location, offering
vistas of the
shimmering coast-
line. It is reached
by an express
panoramic lift.
) Suites
The 202 duplex suites
(above) are equipped ( Spa
Pool
& Swimming
with the latest remote On the 18th floor is the
technology, plus in-suite Assawan Spa, a fitness
check-in and butlers. facility with soothing
The two Royal Suites ocean views. The decor
offer unsurpassed luxury, is reminiscent of baths
including a private used by ancient Middle
cinema and rotating beds. Eastern civilizations.
Sign up for DK’s email newsletter on traveldk.com
^ Lobby
The upper lobby is an
airy space of marbles,
mosaics (below) and
carpets in swirling
patterns. There is an
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10
impressive multi-hued
dancing fountain.
& Underwater
Restaurant
Eating at Al Mahara is
like taking a submarine
voyage. Dine on fresh
seafood and watch exotic
fish glide by in the
aquarium (below).
The Construction
The Burj Al Arab is said
to be one of the most
expensive buildings ever
constructed and the
cost has never been
revealed. 250 found-
ation piles were driven
40 m (132 ft) deep into
the seabed; 70,000
cubic m (2,472,026
cubic ft) of concrete and
more than 9,000 tons of
steel were needed to
construct the tower
structure; 43,446 sq m
(467,648 sq ft) of glass
cover the building; 30
different types of
marble and 8,000 sq m
(86,111 sq ft) of 22-carat
gold leaf are incor-
porated in the decor.
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 Madinat Jumeirah
The spirit of old Arabia is the inspiration for Madinat Jumeirah, an
extravagant resort located on the beachfront comprising two luxury hotels,
Al Qasr and Mina A’Salam, and the exclusive Dar Al Masyaf, 29 traditional
Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s Top 10

courtyard summer houses. The charm of the place lies in its detailed Arabian
architectural styling – sand-coloured windtowers, arches, columns and
terraces – as well as its ingenious construction around a series of man-made
waterways. As a result, navigation around the resort is Venetian-style, in old-
fashioned abras. This extensive resort also has an Arabian-style souq.

Top 10 Features
1 Souq Madinat Jumeirah
2 Madinat Arena
3 Madinat Theatre
4 Central Plaza: live music
5 Al Qasr Hotel
6 Mina A’Salam Hotel
7 Talise Spa
8 An Arabian Venice: Canals
Souq Madinat Jumeirah 9 Canal-side Eating
If you get lost, ask 0 JamBase
for a resort map at
any of the many
information points.
Guests can use a
! Souq Madinat
Jumeirah
This souq is a beautifully
connecting board–
recreated Arabian market-
walk to nearby Wild
place and as it is air-
Wadi Water Park, conditioned, is a delightful
Jumeirah Beach place to browse. On sale
Hotel and Burj are Arabian handicrafts,
Al Arab. carpets and curios, all
however, at tourist prices.
For a real pick-me-up,
try an espresso
martini on the
@ Madinat Arena
Built around a lagoon,
Koubba Bar rooftop. this multi-purpose amphi-
theatre area (below) is
capable of seating over
• Map C2
4,000. It is designed in the
• Madinat Jumeirah,
Al Sufouh Rd, Umm
style of an old fortress. The
Suqeim, Dubai
encircling citadel houses
shops and restaurants.
• 366 8888
• Jambase: Open
7pm–2am
• Koubba Bar: Open
noon–2am
• Zheng-He: Open
£ Madinat Theatre
Host to the Dubai
noon–3pm & 7pm–
International Film Festival,
11:30pm
the Madinat Theatre
(above) – a 442-seat luxury
venue – has provided this
previously rather culture-
starved city with a lively
programme of opera,
ballet, comedy and film.

18