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Over the last twenty years or so the Middle Eastern city of Dubai has become one of the hottest vacation and business locations in the world. It is a rapidly developing, fabulously wealthy futuristic city set within a centuries-old Arab culture. The traditional ways are still there if you look for them. But they are gradually being overtaken by the new attractions and developments springing up virtually every day. Dubai is a city of fascinating contrasts. In Dubai one can see dusty traditional villages only minutes from fantastically luxurious residential districts. Rugged mountains and shifting sand dunes are only a few miles from pristine sandy beaches and lush green parks. Shoppers can savor Dubai's traditional market places or visit some of the most modern and largest indoor shopping malls in the world. Visitors to Dubai also have a choice of many luxury hotels, since virtually all the major hotel chains have a presence in the city. But for a more authentic Dubai experience visitors can rent a beautifully furnished apartment or villa for a week or more in one of Dubai's newer residential areas. Dubai holiday apartment rentals offer visitors more space for less money, and provide a unique perspective on this exciting city. Rapid Pace of Development With the rapid pace of real estate and commercial development taking place in Dubai it has become one of the most futuristic cities in the world. The city skyline is dominated by ultra-modern office towers, hotels and skyscrapers. The Burj Al-Arab, for instance, is the world's tallest hotel. The Mall of the Emirates is the largest shopping center outside of North America, with newer even larger malls on the drawing board and under construction. Dubai has also become a serious golfing destination with several famous championship courses and one of the very few fully lit 18 hole golf courses in the world. A large number of other large developments are also underway in Dubai. Some of the more significant ones are: - Dubai Mall - projected to be the largest indoor shopping mall in the world. - Burj Dubai - when completed in 2008 will be the tallest skyscraper in the world. - Dubai World Central including the Dubai World Central International Airport - will be ten times larger than the current Dubai International Airport and Dubai Cargo Village combined. - The Dubai Waterfront project - the largest waterfront development and the largest man-made project in the world when completed. Shopping Tourism in Dubai The attraction that brings the most tourists to Dubai is the shopping. Market places and malls throughout the city stock an incredible array of consumer goods and draw millions of shopping tourists every year. Shoppers come from all parts of the Middle East and Europe, and even from as far away as Eastern Europe, India, and North America. The souks of Dubai offer the most interesting shopping experience in the city. They are located on either side of Dubai creek that runs through the heart of the area. Two of the most popular are the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. When you visit the souks be prepared to bargaining in traditional middle eastern style. It is an important part of buying and selling in the souks. In recent years traditional shopping in the souks has met with stiff competition from more western style shopping as fantastic shopping malls and boutiques have sprung up throughout the city. Dubai's modern shopping malls sell virtually any consumer good you can imagine: clothing, cars, furnishings, jewellery, electronics, sporting equipment - you name it and you can probably find it in the shopping areas and malls of Dubai. And often all of these consumer items are under the same roof. The Dubai International Airport also is the home of the Duty Free complex - one of the most extensive and largest duty free shopping areas in the world. New developments such as the Dubai World Central International Airport will have even larger duty free areas to draw in even more shopping tourists. Dubai is truly unique. It offers remarkable cultural contrasts and ultra-modern, high-tech attractions that make the city a favorite destination of tourists and business travelers from around the world. New developments underway will make Dubai even more vital as an important business center and a "must-visit" destination for tourists in search of a unique and exciting experience.
By: Rick Hendershot
For more information about Dubai rental apartments see Dubai apartments . Dubai holiday rentals provide a very attractive alternative to expensive Dubai hotels. Don't reprint this article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
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