Life in Dubai

Dubai has a very diverse and vibrant culture. You will see the influence of Islamic and Arab culture in its architecture, music, dress, food, and general lifestyle Muslims are called to prayer from the ‘minarets of mosques’, which are scattered around the city.  Dubai has become a global city and attracts world attention through many pioneering large building projects and sports events. The city has become symbolic for its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings.

See the city from a different perspective - take a trip to the Observation Deck located on level 124 of the tallest building in the world, the 'Burj Khalifa' skyscraper (as seen in Mission Impossible 4). This skyscraper is Dubai's new urban masterpiece (www.burjkhalifa.ae).

Don’t forget the golden beaches on your doorstep. Some stretches of sand are accessible for a fee, but a free public beach is found at Al Mamzar or for AED 5 Jumeirah Beach Park. A free stretch of sand runs the length of Umm Suqeim, known as Kite Beach due to its popularity with the city's kite-surfers.

Appreciate some of Dubai’s vibrant and contemporary art galleries. Check out XVA Gallery or Majlis Gallery www.xvagallery.com, www.themajlisgallery.com

Alternatively head to Dubai’s small but interesting Dubai Museum, located in the Al Fahidi Fort built in 1787. This is the oldest existing building in Dubai.

Dubai is known for really cheap gold. Even if you’re not buying be amazed in Gold Souk, a traditional market lined with hundreds of jewellery stores located in the heart of Dubai's commercial business in Deira.

There are a plethora of restaurants. Fancy splashing out, try British chefs, the late Gary Rhodes' Grosvenor House Hotel or Gordon Ramsay's Hilton Dubai Creek restaurant. You will find an excellent Chinese restaurant, Noble House, in the Raffles Hotel. On a budget, why not try one of the restaurants in Al Dhiyafah Road so you can people-watch while enjoying food from the Lebanon, Iran or India. Pakistani Ravi Restaurant is regarded as one of the city's best regarded curry houses (good value too!)

Fancy a bit of retail therapy?  Here you will find some very familiar names in the malls The Souk Madinat www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Destinations/Dubai/Madinat-Jumeirah is inside the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel has its own waterway to transfer people from its shops, bars and restaurants.

Fancy a bit of skiing between shopping then try the enormous Mall of the Emirates www.malloftheemirates.com which has an indoor ski slope with real snow. Or for the world's largest shopping mall visit the Burj Khalifa complex and head to the Dubai Mall with its 1,200 shops www.thedubaimall.com

The national obsession in Dubai is Golf. The Emirates Golf Club hosts the annual Dubai Desert Classic. Have a go at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. If you don’t fancy their par-72 course have some fun with their ‘pitch 'n' putt’ course (www.dubaigolf.com)

Catch the latest blockbuster and if you use your student ID most offer discounted prices. Reel Cinemas, the largest in Dubai, located in The Dubai Mall has 22 screens www.thedubaimall.com

Or check out Vox Cinemas www.voxcinemas.com