From the sand to the sky

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in downtown Dubai.

Dubai has grown from a desert backwater to a futuristic city in the sky in just a few generations.

Modern, exciting and safe, it has become the leisure and business hub of the Middle East.

Dubai is easily the most tourist-friendly of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE.

Its rulers are intent on ensuring it will continue to flourish long after the oil revenues dry up.

Home to just over two million people from more than 200 countries, Dubai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

Tourists are guaranteed year-round sunshine, pristine beaches and clear waters.

During the summer (June to September), daytime temperatures can soar above 40˚C with high humidity, but all hotels, malls and indoor attractions are replete with powerful air-conditioning systems if the heat gets too much.

Tourists are guaranteed year-round sunshine, pristine beaches and clear waters

By December, the temperature is much more pleasant, hovering around the mid-20s.

Thanks to a construction boom that was delayed only briefly by the financial crisis in 2008-2009, Dubai also boasts unbeatable leisure attractions and iconic landmarks.

Since 2010, it has been home to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. It stands at an impressive 828 metres high and hosts, among other things, the world’s first Armani hotel.

Peering through the haze from the Burj Khalifa’s viewing deck, you should be able to make out the man-made palm islands and the dhow sail shape of the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel on the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Children will love Aquaventure at the Atlantis Resort on The Palm Jumeira island.

The main attraction of this sprawling water park is the Leap of Faith, a near vertical drop slide that propels those who dare through a shark-filled lagoon in a transparent tunnel.

If the searing desert heat gets too much, escape to Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates, one of the biggest shopping malls in the world.

To learn more about Dubai’s history as a pearl-diving and trading centre, head to the Dubai Museum – housed in Al Fahidi Fort, Dubai’s oldest remaining building, dating from 1787.

Little remains of old Dubai, but the Madinat Jumeirah is an enjoyable replica. Housing restaurants, bars and shops, it was built around waterways to resemble a traditional Arabian souk, with wind towers and lantern-lit hallways.

For a more authentic Arabian feel, the gold and spice souks around Dubai Creek are a great place to haggle for bargains.

At night, the creek is also the perfect place for a romantic dhow cruise.

Outside of the city, a jeep safari offers the chance to glimpse Arabian oryx or gazelle while your driver navigates the stomach-churning sand dunes.

Such trips are usually timed to let you witness a dramatic sunset, followed by an Arabian barbecue and belly dancing at a desert camp. Bliss.

Seven-day guided tours of Dubai

ROCS Travel is once again offering seven-day guided tours to Dubai in September, October, November and December.

The next tour is scheduled for September 8-15, with package rates starting from €739 per person, including return Emirates flights, seven nights’ accommodation in the four-star Novotel WTC, daily buffet breakfast, experienced ROCS tour manager and passenger taxes.

For those who prefer to travel without a group, ROCS Travel’s package rates for individual travellers start from €549 per person, including return Emirates flights, three nights’ accommodation, daily buffet breakfast and passenger taxes.

* Prices quoted do not include Emirates’ airline fuel surcharge of €68 per person.