Dubai
If you dream of traveling both east and west, at sea and in the desert, in summer and winter, in the past and in the future, come with us for a walk in Dubai. The crossroads of cultures and civilizations for millennia, even today the emirate is one of the most colorful and curious places in the world. In recent years, it is popular among tourists mostly as a destination for unlimited shopping and world records in a variety of destinations., but Dubai is also a place with deep cultural and historical roots, where you can enjoy ancient villages, museums and works of art.
In the pre-Islamic era, the inhabitants of this region worshiped the god of ima Bajai or Bajar. After the entry of Islam in 7 century, the territory became part of the Arab Caliphate, and later the country became unimaginable after an uprising. To 18 century for the territory fighting Portugal, Iran, Turkey, Oman, the Wahhabis. The first information about the existence of the current city is from 1799 g., and later it became an important trading port. Through 1835 r. Dubai signs peace treaty with Britain, to 1971 r. is within the Treaty of Oman, and in 1971 r. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and five other emirates form the United Arab Emirates, after Britain withdrew from the Persian Gulf. Today in Dubai you can see a legacy from all these eras, but also to peek into the future.
A large collection of artifacts from the past can be seen at the Dubai Museum (Dubai Museum), which is located in the fortress of Al-Fahidi, built in 1787 r. to defend the Strait of Dubai. The walls of the fortress are built of traditional coral blocks, fused with lime. The upper floor is held on wooden columns, and the ceiling is made of palm twigs and mud. Over the years, this place was the residence of the ruling family, seat of government, garrison and prison. Through 1971 r. the fortress was rebuilt (and again before 1995 g.) and today houses the most important museum in the city. At the entrance you will see an impressive exhibition of old maps of the Emirates and Dubai, showing the spectacular expansion after the discovery of oil.
In the courtyard of the museum you will see traditional boats and houses made of palm leaves. There are more weapons in the exhibition, musical instruments, objects from the life and life of the locals, as well as artifacts from the tombs of ancient inhabitants of the 3000-4000 years.
Another important and interesting historical place is the old quarter of Bastakia (Bastakia). It was built at the end of 19 century, when it is home to wealthy Persian merchants, dealing mainly with the export of pearls and textiles. A curious element in contemporary buildings, many of which are preserved to this day in their authentic form, are the wind towers, which provided natural air conditioning in the hot state. The task of the towers is to catch the wind and carry it to the house, to cool it. It is considered, that this constructive element was brought by the Persians. On the cozy streets of the old quarter you will find more museums, galleries and cafes, some located precisely in wind towers.
Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum is the ruler of Dubai from 1921 to 1958 r. and grandfather of the current ruler. Its former residence has been restored and opened as a museum, in which you can view both its beautiful architecture, as well as documents and photographs from the period 1948 – 1953. A variety of maps are also stored there, coins, seals and other artifacts from the development of the emirate.
Another important historical place in Dubai is the Heritage and Diving village. There you can see examples of architecture, the cultural and maritime heritage of Dubai, including the collection and trade of pearls and the construction of traditional Dow ships. There are also scenes of the traditional life of the Bedouins along the coast, Persian homes, traditional cafes and a small market, where mainly pottery and textiles are sold. From October to April the place is a stage for local songs and dances.
The strait divides Dubai into two cities - Deira to the north and Bur Dubai to the south. The strait has always had a strong influence on the development of the city, attracting settlers thousands of years ago with their opportunities for fishing and collecting pearls. Small villages and communities were formed around the strait before 4000 years, and modern history begins in 1830 g., when the Bani tribe settled in the area.
On the shores of the strait is the dock for dow boats, where boats can also be seen 100 years. Local boatmen also offer a walk along the strait, during which you can learn up close about the lives of local sailors. Many of the boats travel to Kuwait, Iran, Oman, India and the Horn of Africa.
On the other side of the strait, from the country of Bur Dubai, is the neighborhood of Al Seef, dotted with traditional houses from coral blogs, pedestrian zone along the coast, floating market and many shops.
The tallest building in the world to 2020 r. is without a doubt the most visited attraction in Dubai, although we mention it only in the middle of our walk. For many visitors, climbing to the observation deck on the 124th floor of the 829.8-meter tower is the number one task when visiting Dubai.. Up there you will witness stunning views of the city, of the desert on one side and the sea on the other. You will also be offered a multimedia presentation of Dubai and the building itself. Evening visits are also extremely popular, because the night panorama with the lights of Dubai is no less attractive.
Around the building are built beautiful gardens with walkways and another popular attraction - the tallest fountain in the world., built in the likeness of the famous Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas.
Located next to Burj Khalifa, the mall is a paradise for entertainment seekers, shopping opportunities and everything in general. It has an ice rink, play area, movie, endless dining options and various music and fashion events almost constantly.
The mall of the emirates (Mall of the Emirates) is another popular shopping mall in Dubai, in which there is a whole ski slope and a corner with penguins. Needless to list, that besides them there are hundreds of other attractions such as shops, restaurants, gaming halls and what not for all ages.
Deira, on the north bank of the strait, is the neighborhood, in which the mixing of people of different nationalities is most visible, took Dubai as their home. On the shore, old boats load and unload various goods, and behind them are the modern bank buildings, hotels and offices. For tourists Deira is an attractive place with its traditional markets, including the largest gold market in the world. In the spice market you can get lost in aromas from around the world, and the fish market is an exotic experience, which is more for the locals, than for visitors.
It is considered the most beautiful mosque in Dubai and it is right, but a scaled-down copy of the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, which is 8 times larger. A beautiful representative of Islamic architecture. It is very attractive at night, when beautifully lit..
It is one of the newest attractions in Dubai, with a contradictory history, but an interesting idea. 150-the meter building is in the form of a photo frame. When you stand and look through it on one side, you see the old quarters of Dubai. From the other you can see the new and modern areas. Inside the building there are galleries and museums, dedicated to the history and future of Dubai. And at the top there are panoramic observation platforms.
The aquarium is another place, impressive in its scale. They live in it 140 type and is located on the ground floor of Dubai Mall. You can take a closer look at the marine life by walking through the tunnels inside the aquarium or organize a boat trip with a transparent bottom on its surface..
The tallest hotel in the world (321 m) is also one of the most expensive, as the apartments can reach 15 000 dollars per night. Located on an artificial island off the coast of Dubai, the hotel is remarkable for its shape and beautiful lighting at night. If you can't spend the night there, but you still want to experience the hotel experience, you can dine at the underwater restaurant Al Mahara or at the fusion restaurant Scape. For impressive views, you can visit the Skyview Bar on the 27th floor.
Jumeirah Beach is a favorite place of beach tourists in Dubai. There are hotels all along the white beach, and there are plenty of restaurants on the beach, water attractions and all the necessary facilities for tourists.
For lovers of water sports and surfing, the top destination is Kite Beach, south of Jumeirah. You can hire an instructor and equipment on the beach.
If colorful attractions and giant amusement parks are your way to have a good time, there are many more in Dubai.
The IMG Worlds of Adventure theme park is also fun for children, and for adults. There are zones, dedicated to cartoon characters, of dinosaurs, of Spiderman and many other favorites from popular shows.
For lovers of water slides, the Aquaventure water park is an impressive place. It is located on the famous artificial island - Jumeirah Palm and is equipped with the longest water slide in the world. There is also a height slide 9 floors, underwater safari, areas for all ages and a 700-meter sandy beach.
Dubai Parks and Resorts is another place, in which it is most difficult to choose exactly what you are doing. This is a giant complex of theme parks, dedicated to Hollywood, Bollywood, Lego. Riverland Dubai, also part of the complex, is the place, where you can find food and evening entertainment.
Dubai is a hot destination and the most tolerable temperatures are between November and March. During the remaining months, the heat can be appalling. Although, if you do not like sightseeing and prefer to go shopping, they are all air conditioned and you can go in any season. January and July-August are the months, in which you can get the biggest discounts and promotions, if your goal is shopping.
This article was written with the assistance of BulTravel and Agent Express EOOD.
Author : Ivan Rashkov
Here you can check and find the best prices for travel services:
- Flights and Airline tickets
- Hotels and Accommodation
- Holidays package
- Activities and Tours
- Cars Rental
- Transfers to and from the hotel
- Tourist transport - Ferries, Trains and Buses