Less than a century ago, Dubai was a small fishing village, a place roamed by Bedouin tribes and settlers who crowded around the banks of the creek. Today, Dubai is an extremely popular tourists destination and an important global economic player. If we take into account the fact that when Europe was being faced with the industrial destruction brought about by World War I Dubai didn't even have running water, the dramatic changes that this emirate has experienced are all the more surprising. Dubai attracts tourists and expatriates alike, and ever since oil was struck in the 1960s, the city has made a spectacular breakthrough. The economy is high propelled by tourism, but also by expatriates coming to work in Dubai. What strikes about the city is its cosmopolitan nature, which prevents any ethnic tensions from developing. Only about twenty per cent of Dubai's population is ethnically Emirati, and this diversity has turned Dubai into one of the world's most cosmopolitan regions.



One thing is for sure: they definitely knew how to handle and channel the oil wealth, and this shows with the order and structure of the city. The dramatic evolution from the small fishing village to the gleaming office buildings and sweeping skyscrapers, which occurred in less than one hundred years, seems to be only the beginning. Grand projects are ahead for Dubai, including the building of three hundred islands in the shape of the countries of the world, altering the course of the Creek and widening it, building the world's tallest tower and a new airport, or building the largest shopping mall in the whole Middle East.

In spite of the regional instability and the rise of the Al-Qaeda, which represents a threat for Dubai tourism, the number of tourists who choose to spend their holidays in this city is increasing by the year. And after all, this comes as no surprise, given the idyllic climate in Dubai, with typically no more than five days of rainfall a year.

There are many tourist attractions in Dubai, and shopping is certainly one of them. In fact, this city can easily be referred to as the shopping capital of the Middle East. Dubai shopping is possible in a wide range of malls and souks. ?Souk?, the Arabic word for market, refers to a place, which is usually specialized on certain products, and where you are expected to barter when shopping.

Dubai shopping is a major attraction for tourists, and investors made sure that the consumers every need would be catered to. There are so many shopping malls in Dubai that even seeing all of them would take a very long time, much less doing some actual shopping in each of them. Most Dubai shopping centers are open form 10 am to at least 10 pm, except fro Fridays, when they are not open in the morning and early afternoon. Dubai shopping is probably most attractive for the rare opportunity it provides, namely that of purchasing top brand products cheaper than anywhere else, due to its duty free laws and low import taxes.

At this point, all you have to do is book a flight to Dubai, and a room in a hotel, or rent an apartment, and once you're there, you can shop all you like, or all you can afford. The good news is that all these reservations can be made online, so you a virtually a few clicks away from Dubai shopping. Can this get any better?

As amazing as shopping in Dubai may be, this is far from being the only reason why tourists choose to travel to this emirate. The exquisite hotels and restaurants, the fabulous weather, the relaxed financial environment, these are just some of Dubai's attractions. As true as it may be that the further developments in the Middle East are likely to influence Dubai's economic situation and tourist industry, one thing's for sure: the city is certainly on the rise for now, and it represents a destination that you should not miss, at least once in a lifetime. If leaving your continent seems like too much of an adventure, and the different religion and culture seem a little scary, you can rest assured. Almost everyone speaks English there, and all the information you need about the emirate can easily be found online, including hotels, restaurants, clubs and pubs, and flights to Dubai.

Finding a cheap flight to Dubai and discount for accommodation is now possible if you search the Internet and make the most of what travel agencies have to offer. Be it charter flight, economy class, or first class, you can book a flight to Dubai online, and all you have to do is get on board and prepare for an amazing experience, which will certainly determine you to go there again.