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DUBAi, which has wrongly been dubbed as a safe haven for mafia, is in reality one of the safest city for tourists. Even close to midnight there is no danger of being mugged, whether in the city or far away from Dubai in the sand dunes for a desert safari. Of course, safety is not the only USP of Dubai. The city is truly international in every way. Right from the fleet of Bentleys that dot its roads to its spick and span environs, world’s best luxury hotels as well as fashion brands.
The only reminder that one is in an Islamic nation is the sight of many lovely women silhouetted in burqas as also the religious fervour that marks the observance of holy month of Ramzan. Another pointer is the safe distance between members of the opposite sex. Any public show of affection between couples is socially prohibited and frowned upon. Dubai, one of the seven emirates of UAE, has always captured the fancy of the rich and famous and lived up to many myths that surround it. The city has a seductive charm, more so in the night when taxis zip past offering a glimpse of Burj Dubai (818 metres), which is a supertall skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai and the tallest man-made structure ever built. In recent times both Burj Dubai and Burj Al Arab, a super luxury hotel, have not only eclipsed the city’s skyline but also become its biggest tourist attractions. The stinking rich soak in the luxury of this 1053-feet high awe-inspiring hotel while others gape at this modern-day architectural marvel resembling the sail of a dhow, an Arabian vessel. Though the dazzling night vision of luminous skyscrapers kissing each other establishes Dubai as a 21st century city, yet the place has on old-world charm too. The dhow cruise on Dubai creek is a passage through both modernity and tradition. On one side neon lights blaze and on the other dim-lit fa`E7ade of some of its original buildings can be discerned. Dubai is also an undisputed shopper’s paradise. The traditional gold souk is a UAE variant of Indian srafaan bazaar as a significant number of shop owners are either Indians or Pakistanis. The quality of gold available there is sterling pure. The mind-boggling variety of jewellery makes shopping a plesant experience in Dubai, especially the fact that shops are open till late in the night, unlike Europe. Shopping is not the only experience its malls offer. Ski Dubai at Mall of Emirates shopping mall brings you even snow skiing and claims to be the largest indoor ski resort in the world. The natural beauty of this man-made wonder casts a spell. The human enterprising endeavour further extends to Palm Jumeriah, an artificial fantasy island created by land reclamation. The Jumeriah beach park overlooking the Arabian Gulf, too, presents a alluring picture with its sparkling clean water, picnic tables, washing areas, pebbled pathways and much more. The desert safari brings the magic of sand dunes. Rarely does hype live up to its propaganda. But the desert safari sure does. Available at 200 dirhams, (average Rs 2,600), it is worth every penny. Ensconced within land cruisers and hummers, safety seat belts in place, the skilled native drivers manoeuvre their way up and down the sand dunes. As the vehicles stand ramrod straight atop the dune, the adrenalin rush brings a heady mix of exhilaration and fear. This sandy adventure is followed by a foray into a Bedouin look-alike camp in the desert where Bollywood music blares. Not surprising as the travel agency is owned by some Pakistani nationals. The camp offers the typical tourist paraphernalia—henna tattoos for hands, getting pictures clicked in traditional Arabic costumes. But piece de resistance is the belly dance (suspended during the holy period of Ramadan). The soaring temperatures are not much of a dampener as the air conditioning finds its best use in the UAE — in the shopping malls, in dwelling places, even inside the bus stations. Light woollens are a must irrespective of the time of the year one is visiting Dubai. During the return journey, the Dubai airport offers an out of the world shopping experience. Just four hours away from Delhi airport, with airlines offering tempting bargains and no visa hassles, Dubai offers an ideal getaway from the humdrum of life. A city where tradition and modernity mingle joyously and which has many Indians and Pakistanis living there feels like home away from home.
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