Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Although there are many places to visit while in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two to consider. First, Dubai is a city of wealth that depends largely on trade. Since many other cities in this part of the world depend on oil, Dubai is quite unique. Although the city itself is not one most people would consider spending any length of time in, it does offer some incredible nightlight and duty-free shopping. Because of this alone, you should plan spending two or three days in Dubai where you can wander among the various Souks, which are local markets, and take in the beautiful waterfront area.

Of the seven emirates, Dubai has worked extremely hard and diligently to maintain its independence. With this, Dubai has the most prominent profile of all the cities in the Gulf. You will find world-class tennis and golf tournaments, desert rallies, horse racing, and in 1995, it hosted the Miss World pageant. The trade typically involves merchants importing goods, at which time they then export them to make money. This type of re-export business was originally used as a means for smuggling gold, among other things, to the country of India. However, the trade done in Dubai today is legal and rather than gold, various consumer goods are exported.

Within the city of Dubai are two primary towns that include Dubai to the southwest and Deira to the northeast. Separated by a Gulf inlet called Creek, you will find the city center in Deira, along with the more reasonably priced hotels and markets. If you like, you can hire an Abra, which is a water taxi to ride along the Creek where the guide will show you the best places to visit. In addition, you can enjoy a nice walk along the docks to watch the workers prepare boats for cargo travel. One of the most interesting places to visit is the Dubai Museum, which was constructed during the 19th century. Today, this fort is believed to be the oldest standing building in the city.

The next city is Abu Dhabi, which is very different from Dubai. This city is shiny and sophisticated. Just 40 years earlier, Abu Dhabi was an isolated fishing and pearling village but today, it has much more to offer. When the Al-Nahyan family moved there in 1793, it soon became a major pearling centre but when this type of business collapsed, the town became very rundown. As oil became a major commodity, the town began to rebuild and now, is a beautiful settlement of boutiques, modern banks, custom homes, and so on. Of the seven emirates, Abu Dhabi is the richest.

We strongly recommend you spend some time in the northeast section of the city where you can visit the Dhow Wharf and Fish Market. Although not as beautiful as Dubai’s waterfront, it is indeed an interesting place, boasting boasts a find fish restaurant and a magnificent city view. Then, to the north of the city is the Old Souk (market) on the waterfront where you will discover a gold market, along with numerous houseware vendors, always offering great items for great prices.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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