Delve into the impressive Dubai strategic plan that runs until 2015 and you'll see that the Emirate doesn't do anything by halves. This amazing vision, which carries the strap-line: ?Dubai.....where the future begins? is authored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and clearly lays out the aims of the Dubai ruler to establish his country as a major world player.

Since the United Arab Emirates - a collection of seven separate states ? was established in 1971, Dubai has set out to differentiate itself. Unlike many of its neighbours it doesn't possess a wealth of oil reserves; instead, it is seeking to firmly establish itself as a tourist and business magnet, and a Mecca for business and personal investment. The plan aims to ensure that the whole of Dubai, from individuals to major governmental departments, knows the way forward and covers five major areas: economic development, social development, infrastructure, land and environment, security, justice and safety, and government excellence.

Instead of allowing Dubai to grow in a haphazard and opportunistic fashion, the government is guiding the development, ensuring that it is to the benefit of all concerned but primarily for the people of Dubai. Growth and prosperity is the key to the plan and anyone who has visited the area lately will tell you that it is rapidly achieving both. In fact, recent figures show that the economy of Dubai is advancing at an impressive rate that exceeds the emerging economies of India and China, and is out-performing high-flying established economies such as the USA, Ireland and Singapore.

Under such circumstances it is easy to see why the rulers of Dubai are confident that they can build further on the success of the last decade. The Emirate has become an extremely popular destination for holidays over the past ten years and in addition has hosted such prestigious international exhibitions as SoccerEx, which brings together all the movers and shakers from the football world. The Dubai Air Show is a regular fixture, celebrating its tenth anniversary in November this year. And other events, exhibitions and conferences are regularly held in the Emirate; everything from kitchen and bath fairs to china sourcing events take place in Dubai, and many feature delegates from all over the world.

With a proliferation of five-star hotels and the Emirate is aiming to establish itself as the world's premier playground, as well as being the Middle East's most important business hub. It appears that the future does indeed ?begin? in Dubai.