In the last two decades Dubai has become one of the hottest business and vacation spots on the planet. Dubai is a city of fascinating contrasts. A visitor will experience traditional Arab culture set within a dynamic ultra-modern city with new attractions springing up virtually every day.

In Dubai one can see dusty traditional villages as well as fantastically luxurious residential districts, or visit rugged mountains and majestic sand dunes only a few miles from pristine sandy beaches and lush green parks. Tourists can wander through Dubai's traditional market places or visit some of the largest and most modern indoor shopping malls in the world.

When visiting Dubai there is no shortage of luxury hotels. But for a more authentic Dubai experience visitors can rent beautifully furnished apartments or Dubai villas often for less money. Dubai apartment rentals offer visitors more value for less money, and provide a more interesting close-up look at this unique city.

Rapid Pace of Development

The almost frantic pace of new development taking place in Dubai has made it one of the most futuristic cities in the world. The city skyline now highlights sleek new skyscrapers such as the Emirates Towers and Burj Al-Arab, the world's tallest hotel. The Mall of the Emirates which opened in 2005 is the largest shopping center outside of North. It features one one of the world's only indoor ski slopes. And Dubai also boasts one of the few 18 hole golf courses in the world that is fully lit for nighttime golf.

A large number of other large developments are also underway in Dubai. Some of the more significant ones are:

- Dubai Mall - the largest indoor mall in the world when completed.

- Burj Dubai - scheduled to be completed in 2008 - will be the tallest skyscraper in the world.

- Dubai World Central including the Dubai World Central International Airport will be the world's largest passenger and cargo hub - 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.

Center for Shopping Tourism

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.

Dubai's most interesting shopping is to be found in the souks, located on either side of Dubai creek that runs through the city. Two of the most popular are the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. Bargaining in traditional middle eastern style is an important part of the shopping experience 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 Duty Free complex at the Dubai International Airport is also one of the most extensive and largest in the world. New projects such as the Dubai World Central International Airport will have even larger duty free areas.

These and many more attractions make Dubai a favorite destination of tourists and an important hub for business travelers from around the world. Future developments are likely to enhance Dubai's status as a world class business center and a haven for tourists in search of a unique and exciting adventure.

About the Author

For more information about Dubai apartments see Dubai apartments . Rick Hendershot publishes e_Marketing - an online marketing blog.Don't reprint the same version as everyone else. Get your own unique content Dubai rental apartments article here.