Time with your loved one

Whether planning a honeymoon or a romantic getaway, Dubai is a destination that has it all – and then some!

With an extensive range of hotels, shopping, spas and fine restaurants, Dubai is now rivalling top romantic cities such as New York and Paris as a destination where couples really can expect the best.

Spend time relaxing in boutique hotels; Hilton Dubai Creek, home to Gordon Ramsay’s Verre or escape from it all to Desert Palm Dubai where you can relax in one of the hotel’s 24 suites and wind down with some ‘me time’ in the spa.

Once relaxed and ready for some fun, Dubai’s entertainment scene knows no bounds. Cirque de Soleil, the celebrated French-Canadian exponent of modern circus, has signed a 15-year deal with Nakheel to have a permanent show due to open in 2010 at The Palm Jumeirah. And Jumana – Secret of the Desert is the current attraction of Dubailand and is a must-see extravaganza. The show incorporates state of the art lasers, pyrotechnics, water projected imagery, fireworks and dancers who all put on a show celebrating Arabia’s rich history and culture.

Away from the bustle of the high-rise city, experience Dubai in the raw, the land of the wandering Bedouin, a place of towering dunes to race up before the spine tingling descent to the shifting sands below. After such excitement, one might well feel justified in staying on for an unforgettably romantic Arabian banquet under the stars.

Family Ties

Dubai offers the complete family package. From culture to action and adventure, the emirate has something for everyone. Combine this with year-round sunshine and beautiful beaches and there really is no need to holiday anywhere else.

If the kids want to ski then you can take them to Ski Dubai, the Middle East’s first indoor ski resort. If they want to spend their day investigating, exploring and learning about the world we live in then Children’s City is just the place. Alternatively, if adrenalin-busting fun is more their bag, there are 12 acres of unadulterated fun to be discovered at the Wild Wadi water park.

For the older kids there is the wondrous Atlantis Dubai, where they can splash around in Aquaventure, 17-hectares of water based attractions! The pinnacle of which is the 30m high Ziggurat with seven slides and the ‘leap of faith’ – a near vertical 90ft drop into Shark Tank. Not for the faint-hearted.

For the little ones who love their superheroes and comic books the Marvel Entertainment theme park in Dubailand, with its feature rides based on the Marvel crime fighters (Spider-Man, X-Men and the Incredible Hulk) is right up their street, due to open in 2011. Twice the size of Walt Disney Florida, Dubailand will also bring online Universal Studios, Dreamworks, Legoland and Nickelodeon. And also soon to be appearing at Palm Jebel Ali will be Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove. Dubai promises fun in the sun for all the family. Watch out for exciting news on developments in future editions of UPdates.

What women want

Dubai is a five-star destination for women who like the finer things in life – shopping, spas, year-round sunshine and wonderful beaches.

One of the greatest visitor attractions for women the world over is the shopping. With over 50 shopping malls selling tax-free items as well as traditional souks selling gold, spices and textiles, every taste is accounted for. Highlights are The Dubai Mall, which has more than 85,000 square feet of fashion retail space, or if you would prefer to shop for more authentic goods then Khan Murjan is a more traditional shopping mall crafted using local skills and materials. It resembles a medieval city where 240 purpose built workshops/stores are available for local artisans. It sits adjacent to Wafi Mall.

Once you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped then there is only one thing left to do – hit the spa! Most spas offer well-known international brands while others focus on more traditional Arabian ingredients.

The Givenchy spa is situated at the elegant Residence & Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage. With 12 luxury treatment rooms staffed by professionals and a dedicated Givenchy boutique, the spa has everything you’ll need to unwind and relax. And if it’s something more traditional you’re after then the Talise Spa at Madinat Jumeirah takes the best therapies from the oldest cultures, and
combines them with a selection of international techniques to treat your individual needs.

If you’re a bit hungry after all that retail therapy and relaxation then there are plenty of amazing restaurants to chose from. Gary Rhodes heads up the Grosvenor House’s signature restaurant Rhodes Mezzanine and Atlantis The Palm has eateries from such acclaimed chefs as Nobu Matsuhisa, Giorgio Locatelli and Santi Santamaria.

Man Power!

As well as being the perfect place to chill out, Dubai’s landscape serves as a natural arena for all those who like a bit of adrenaline with their relaxation.

Sports City is to be completed in 2010 and will be home to four cutting-edge stadia. It will also offer the first Manchester United Soccer School outside Europe, an ICC Global Cricket Academy, a David Lloyd Tennis Academy and a World Hockey Academy. It is hoped that Dubai Sports City, alongside other sporting ventures, will boost the UAE’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

For those adrenaline junkies, the emirate offers high-octane adventures on sand, snow and surf. Dubai’s undulating desert landscape serves as a natural rollercoaster ride for dune safaris and wadi-bashing. Whilst out towards the Gulf, the crystal clear waters of Dubai’s coastline are the ideal setting for watersports be it kite-surfing, parasailing, powerboat racing or diving amongst the reefs.

And if they’re happier on water of the frozen kind then Dubai isn’t the kind of place that would allow a little thing like the weather to get in the way, it offers Ski Dubai home to a 400 metre ski slope with 6,000 tons of real snow.

Alternatively for golf fans there really is no better place to tee off than Dubai as the choice of courses is endless. Play a round at Jumeirah Golf Estates (opening early 2009), which is themed around the elements; Fire, Earth, Water and Wind, designed by Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Greg Norman and Pete Dye, and then move on to the desert course at the Arabian Ranches golf club. Real golf fans should make an early booking at Tiger Woods’ first golf course Al Ruwaya, set to open in 2009.