Dubai is a city that's much akin to Alladin's famed treasure…a collection of wondrous attractions that have turned the desert into the world's playground.

For over four thousand years, Dubai has been a city that's famous for international trade and was renowned the world over for its rich harvest of pearls. Over the last four millenia, a lot has changed, but Dubai remains one of the most prosperous and cosmopolitan cities among the Gulf States. Legendary Arabian hospitality combined with the will to tame the will of the desert has made it a favourite among tourists to the Gulf. To most, Dubai continues its age old legacy of being one of the best places in the world for a bargain on almost everything under the sun…but there's more to this glittering jewel of the desert than skyscrapers and shopping malls. So, let's hop onto the old magic carpet and fly into the very heart of Dubai.

From the timelessness of the desert to the bustle of the city, Dubai has something for everyone. The city and its environs are blessed with the bounty of nature and you can actually visit the desert, mountains, sea and an oasis all in one day. Ancient buildings, built in the traditional Arabic style nudge giant chrome and glass monstrosities in the City centre, while dhows gently float by on the Creek, as they have done for centuries. Dubai is a city of surprises. A city where ice-skating rinks and parks abound, despite the harsh desert temperatures. Where women still wear a 'Burkha' or traditional gown over the latest designer outfits! And the camel has been replaced by turbocharged four-wheel drive vehicles that skim the very same dunes that the ship of the desert once roamed on. But for all its commercialisation, Dubai is truly like an oasis in the parched desert. A city that entices you to rest a while longer, before you carry on to wherever it is you're headed.

As our magic carpet floats gently over Dubai, you spot a strange looking building with a columns that seem to hold up nothing more than a roof and before you know it you're transported to a world without power or air-conditioning. This strange structure with its giant wind-towers is Sheikh Saeed's house. Built over a hundred years ago, the wind towers in the house functioned as natural air-conditioners. In fact, the perfect place to get a glimpse into Arabian architecture as it existed centuries ago is in the district of Bastakiya, in old Dubai. The district is a maze of narrow lanes, crowded with old buildings with wind towers and also houses the Al-Fahidi fort. However, Bastakiya is presently being restored to its original glory, so just check before you visit the site.

Dubai is in the process of discovering its rich cultural and architectural heritage, which had seemingly been overshadowed during the oil boom of the 70's. There are three active excavations in progress around the city. The first two, at Al Qusais and Al Sufooh, are ancient graveyards, dating back over two millennia. The third site, at Jumeirah has revealed some fascinating artefacts dating from the 7th Century to the 15th Century. Although these sites are not open to the general public, it is possible to visit them by applying for a pass at the Dubai Museum.

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