Dubai is very much the face of the progressive Middle East. Sensibly setting aside its historical dependency on oil, Dubai’s economy models itself on the most successful western equivalents. Geared towards business, free trade and tourism, the new Dubai is world famous for its stunning sky scrapers. With a combination of historical and modern architectural excellence, as well as extensive malls and very competitive prices, Dubai holidays saw such significant tourist numbers that they became the eight most popular by 2007. By 2015, Dubai is hoping to have a tourist population of 15 million. Aside from letting business grow to accommodate this (including several new high profile hotels), the airport has a programme of expansion planned well into the next decade.

A top official recently reassured that the upcoming Maktoum Terminal at Dubai International Airport would be delayed only by a matter of months from its original March 2011 opening. The Government plans a programme of investment into the already state of the art airport, with an eventual capacity peak of 160 million travellers in the decades to come. Aviation and Tourism are massive elements of Dubai’s economy, and the proposed expansion of the airport isn’t just about bringing tourists into the city. Dubai is currently (and presumably in the future it will remain so) a crucial Middle Eastern hub to Africa, South Asia and Europe. Europeans on journeys heading to Maldives holidays routinely pass through the city, which is continually interested in positioning itself to receive such stop-over tourism, Entry for EU citizens no longer requires a Visa. Dubai shows no hostility to foreigners, but it is worth familiarising yourself with some local standards as people have been caught out by them in the past (such as the widely publicised prohibition of public kissing).

Dubai has been gradually evolving beyond its status as a glorified shopping centre too. The recent Maldives wedding scandal may have put you off the idea, but you can go halfway there for an extremely memorable Weddings abroad. Honeymooners and general sun worshippers will be well served by a stay in the Dubai resorts. Here it is a sea of sand that stretches for miles, and there’s never been a friendlier way to experience a desert paradise in the Middle East.

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