Destination Dubai – a tourist surprise

On a recent trip to the Arabian oasis, Jason Mylroie discovered that Dubai is not just an oil-rich economic powerhouse, but is fast becoming one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world.

If you were to describe Dubai in one word it would be “liquid”. But not because of the many waterways and features surrounding various buildings throughout the city built on top of a desert, but rather the way it never seems to stand still.

Whether it’s cars moving along the six-lane freeways, the roads strewn across the desert sand or the thousands of construction workers building yet another skyscraper all hours of the day and night, there is always something on the go in the city that never sleeps. And with the city preparing to host the World Expo 2020 Dubai – an event held every five years in a different major city around the world and which is set to attract 25 million visitors – the continual buzz is unlikely to die down anytime soon, if ever.

I had the privilege of visiting the United Arab Emirates a few years ago, although I stayed in Abu Dhabi, an hour’s drive away on the Sheikh Zayed Road.

At the time I was under the impression that Abu Dhabi was the pinnacle of the Middle East when it came to opulence and advancements.

That was until I arrived in Dubai. In the short time spent there, most of which was taken up on the various top-quality golf courses, I already felt the urge to return and see more.

So if you’re thinking about heading beyond the doors of Dubai International Airport (instead of merely using the city as a convenient stopover en route to somewhere else), you may only need one reason to sway the decision. I can do better than that, though. I can give you five great reasons to make the bustling city of Dubai a destination worth making an entire holiday out of.

The Els Club Dubai is a true reflection of what golf is like in the desert.

1. Golf

Being a golf publication, it makes sense that this would be the main reason.

Dubai has seen a definite boom in the golf industry over the last two decades, with every new course adding another star signature to the already extensive list of who’s who in course design.

Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els, Pete Dye, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr are but a few of the top names adorning the various designs – and Tiger Woods will soon be added to the list when his signature appears on the Trump World Golf Club Dubai that is set to launch in the not- too-distant future.

Add to this Gary Player’s Saadiyat Beach Golf Club and Kyle Phillips’Yas Links in Abu Dhabi and you have the cream of the crop in the Middle East.

The Al Badia Golf clubhouse is truly unique, yet highly functional.

The Els Club Dubai, conveniently located in Dubai Sports City (just one of the many cities within the bigger city), was my first stop. The course layout is challenging yet enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels thanks to the four different sets of tees on each hole. A noticeable trait of Els designs is the use of course characteristics from his favourite layouts around the world, and as such, the bunkers resemble those from Royal Melbourne, the greens are large and undulating like those at Pinehurst No 2, and the wide, rolling fairways are similar to those found on the links courses of the United Kingdom.

Combining these features into one course makes it easy to see why The Els Club Dubai won so many accolades upon its opening, including the Best New International Course by Links Golf Magazine.

For South Africans visiting or living in Dubai, a round at The Els Club Dubai is a must, if only to experience the highest levels of golf club excellence. Otherwise just a peek of what’s inside the Big Easy’s locker is enough to say you know a bit more about one of our greatest sportsmen. Visit www.elsclubdubai.com to find out more.

The next stop was Al Badia Golf Club, located in Festival City; a course that I’d never heard of before, but one that proved to be a pleasant surprise when I eventually saw what awaited. The course may not be as well-known as the likes of the Emirates Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates, but it carries the signature of Trent Jones Jr and his design makes the on- course experience spectacular.

On certain holes it’s easy to forget that you are in the desert, such is the dense, green foliage surrounding the immaculate tees, fairways and greens. I would highly recommend a round at Al Badia and also to spend some time in the clubhouse, with its unique design that visually reinforces that you are in the extravagant city of Dubai. Go to www.albadiagolfclub.ae for more information.

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club is one of the older golfing establishments in the city and is easily recognised thanks to the majestic clubhouse that resembles the sails of a traditional Arab dhow (fishing boat).

It is one of the more popular courses and provides spectacular views of the creek and marina, especially from the tee box of the 6th hole, which is a floating island in the creek. This creek comes into play a further three times on the course, most notably on the closing hole, while artificial lakes adorn the rest of the layout to add to the hazards of this desert oasis.

Those who don’t feel like spending four hours-plus on the championship course can work on their shorter game on the nine-hole par-three layout, or hone their skills in the cool of the evening thanks to the impressive floodlit driving range.

To find out more about Dubai Creek, go to www.dubaigolf.com and click on the Dubai Creek tab.

The iconic clubhouse at Dubai Creek GC is nothing short of spectacular.

No golf trip to Dubai would be complete without making a stop at Emirates Golf Club, home to the Dubai Desert Classic on the iconic Majlis Course. This facility was one of the first golf establishments in Dubai, and if you manage to find an image from the sky of when the course first opened, you will see how this emerald green square used to stick out like a sore thumb surrounded by desert.These days it is flanked by majestic skyscrapers and more green areas in what has become one of the most built-up areas of Dubai.

A round of golf on the Majlis Course is always special and you can play from the tees where the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Woods and Rory Mcllroy have triumphed. But for a totally awesome experience, play the Faldo Championship course… at night!

It’s one thing to play a pitch-and-putt course under floodlights, but nothing beats smashing a full drive into the night sky and watching it land down the middle when the rest of the surrounds are in darkness. And the thrill of having to find your ball should it stray into the shadows makes it all the more exciting. Plus, it is much cooler in the evenings and a great time to attempt a low score on this championship layout.

If there’s one reason to get me back to Dubai, this is it.

Finish up your round and head straight to the clubhouse bar, or stay out in the open air and practise on the floodlit range or par-three course until the late hours of the night. The choice is yours, but don’t miss out on this one. To find out more, visit www.dubaigolf.com and click on the Emirates Golf tab.

Apart from these magnificent courses, Dubai has plenty of others to quench your golfing thirst. Expect to pay in excess of R1 500 for a round of golf in Dubai, which may seem expensive in relation to green fees in South Africa, but is quite competitive when it comes to many other global golfing destinations.

Night golf on the Faldo Championship course at Emirates GC is a must.

2. Shopping

Since the 1830s, when it was first recognised as a fishing town, trade has always been at the heart of Dubai. It evolved through the 1800s into the centre of the pearling industry before oil was found in 1966, and it is this thick black liquid that accelerated the development of the city.

More recently, these oil reserves have run thin, and now only account for approximately five percent of the emirate’s revenue. However, the royal family was cognisant of this shortfall in production and reserves, and began implementing a Westernised business model in the 1980s that has allowed the region to thrive on tourism, aviation, real estate and financial services.

Today, shopping is the more modern word to describe trade, and Dubai is famous for it. People travel from around the world to see what the gigantic malls and traditional souks throughout the city have to offer. Shopping is obviously not a seasonal concept but for the more serious mall-goers, January is the best time to visit, when the city hosts the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, complete with a range of activities to entertain all ages – from international concerts to outdoor events and fashion shows.

The shopping experience at some of the malls in Dubai requires an entire day, as not only are there thousands of stores, but the entertainment for the whole family will make it feel like that time spent in the mall is a vacation on its own.The Dubai Mall is a perfect example – located at the foot of the Burj Khalifa and stretching across a massive 1.1 million square metres, this mall has just about everything, and yet it’s still expanding.

Shoppers have the choice of 1 200 stores to peruse, while the children can enjoy one of many theme parks and the Dubai Ice Rink which is situated in the mall for everyone to see. Why not go the extra mile and visit the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, where you can walk in glass tunnels through the middle of the tanks or better still, swim with the sharks.

The Mall of the Emirates doesn’t have an ice rink. Instead, it has its own indoor ski slope – complete with snow – and 90 different dining options to go with its 560 stores. You may need to book a night’s stay in one of the adjoining five-star hotels if you want to experience everything this mall has to offer.

For a more traditional Middle Eastern shopping experience, any one of the many souks will suffice, some of which are even more opulent than well-known brand-name stores. Anything from gold to jewels, to leather and spices, can be found in these bazaars where you may need to haggle to get the price you want, and very often you’ll win the bargaining war.The Souk Madinat, in the large estate known as Madinat Jumeirah, is particularly lavish if you are looking for a more modern take on the traditional markets.

The tented camps in the desert give you the chance to sample the Arabic culture.

3. Adventure

With Dubai situated in the sandy region of the Arabian Desert (the more southern regions of the UAE are dominated by gravel), it allows for plenty of adventure in the ever-changing dunes located just outside the city itself. Interestingly, some of Dubai is situated on reclaimed land in the Persian Gulf, which has allowed it to be significantly larger than was originally planned.

Adventures in Dubai range from hot-air ballooning to skydiving over the man- made island of Palm Jumeirah, sailing, motorsports, cycling, falconry, dune bashing and desert safari.

Most of these adventures provide an adrenaline rush; however, it is the falconry and desert safari that will add a cultural element to the experience.

The desert safari, in particular, gives you an idea of just how dangerous the dunes outside Dubai can be, but with almost every vehicle being a top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruiser orequivalent, your trip spent sliding around the tops of the sand mountains is conducted in a safe and luxurious manner, complete with air- conditioning and plenty of bottles of water.

A trip through the dunes is followed by dinner at one of the many tented camps, which includes the likes of camel rides, belly dancing, henna painting, shisha and Arabic coffee and dates.

Burj Khalifa towers above any other skyscrapers in Dubai.

4. Burj Khalifa

One wouldn’t normally travel to a foreign country just to see a building, although iconic structures like the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building in New York do have serious pulling power. However, when it comes to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, it is worth a trip to see the tallest building in the world.

The Burj Al Arab hotel is still one of the most iconic buildings in Dubai.

This modern marvel – completed in 2009 and officially opened in 2010- stands at 828 metres tall, is home to plenty of office space, 900 private residences, a 160-room Armani Hotel, 144 Armani private residences and three observation decks on floors 124,125 and 148.

For the more intrepid, and hungry, floor 122 houses Atmosphere Restaurant and Lounge, the world record holder for the highest restaurant from ground level. It sits 442 metres from the ground and offers some of the finest cuisine in Dubai.

Burj Khalifa towers above any one of the many other skyscrapers in Dubai, and is quite handy as a navigation tool on a clear day.

And once you are finished looking over the entire city from a bird’s eye view, your experience ends back in the Dubai Mall once more. From there you can continue your shopping or catch a taxi to one of the many other attractions the city has to offer.

5. Attractions

Dubai is by no means just a business- orientated city; it also offers a world of attractions. Apart from the malls, boutiques, souks and sporting facilities, entertainment also comes in the form of theme parks, art galleries, cinemas and modern architecture – each of which would interest a different family member of mine.

Burj Al Arab, or more colloquially known as the sail hotel, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and prior to the completion of Burj Khalifa, was the defining image of Dubai globally.

Considered the only seven-star hotel in the world, Burj Al Arab forms part of the Jumeirah hotels collection and is located between the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Madinat Jumeirah, an estate consisting of a private beach, four hotels, a souk and much more.

The Wild Wadi Water Park also forms part of this area and is one of the most exciting places for a family to visit, with a multitude of waterslides and other themed attractions to keep you busy in the searing heat.

Madinat Jumeirah is also the place to go to when it comes to cuisine, with over 40 restaurants and bars at your disposal, scattered throughout the hotels and souks. You won’t struggle to find a dish that appeals to you here, and for South Africans who are particularly fond of meat, MJ’s Steakhouse comes highly recommended.

Here you first choose what type of steak you would like, ranging from Australian Wagyu beef to Japanese Kobe, before having to select a steak knife from a most impressive collection presented to you moments before your meal arrives. It takes your eating experience to a new level.

The entire family is guaranteed to have fun at the Wild Wadi Water Park.

Other great attractions in Dubai include a trip to the Palm Jumeirah, where you will find Aquaventure, another waterpark, situated at The Palm Atlantis hotel. It includes the Leap of Faith, a 27.5 metre plunge pool that sends you through a glass tube surrounded by sharks and rays – definitely one for the whole family.

These five reasons to visit Dubai give you a glimpse into what this truly global city has to offer, and with the World Expo 2020 getting nearer, construction of even more hotels and bigger and better attractions is already taking place.

One thing’s for sure, you won’t be able to say you have conquered this city in one trip, so either plan your holiday in Dubai carefully, or be prepared to return many times over.

This is all made that much easier with Emirates Airlines offering daily flights to Dubai out of Durban, two a day out of Cape Town and four per day out of Johannesburg. What’s more, with Emirates offering flights from Dubai to so many destinations globally, the city serves as the perfect stopover for a few days to split trips and see more of the city each time. All you require as a South African is your passport with a valid visa.

Visit www.dubaivisa.net to find out more about this visa and make sure you visit www.dubaitourism.ae or www.facebook.com/dtcmsa for more information on everything this modern oasis has to offer.