Dubai Blog

Six Expats Jailed in Dubai

Hot news from Khaleej Times.

In one of the biggest fraud cases worth Dh1.8 billion, the Dubai Court of First Instance jailed six expatriates, including two former ex-Dubai Islamic Bank employees to 10 years each.

Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir Fahmi on Wednesday, also fined the guilty Dh1.8 billion and ordered them to repay the amount jointly to Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB). The judge also fined three of the defendants Dh7.2 million and ordered them to jointly repay the amount to the bank.

The Dubai Public Prosecution had charged the seven suspects — three Britons, two Pakistanis, a Turk and an American — with embezzling public funds, deliberately helping others to embezzle public funds, inflicting intentional loss to the government and its interests, unlawful profiting and forging official documents and using them.

The public prosecution accused the two Pakistani executives (former bank employees), the finance manager of the bank and his deputy of aiding and abetting the embezzlement of public funds, inflicting intentional loss to the government and its interests, and the forging of official documents.

The two bank employees facilitated the forging of documents and increased the credit limit for two businessmen against taking money. In return, the manager received a bribe of $750,000 while the deputy received $950,000.  The American is at large after

embezzling $2 million and establishing a company. He also forged invoices, documents of sales and purchase transactions. The British businessman along with the Turkish national and two other British nationals embezzled Dh1,841,000 from the bank using forged documents facilitated by the bank employees.

Meanwhile, the seventh suspect, a British businessman, has been acquitted. All the six including two suspects who are at large will be deported after serving the jail term. All six suspects can appeal the court ruling within 15 days.

The fraud caused a loss of $501 million (around Dh1.8 billion) worth of public funds belonging to DIB. The case was referred by the Dubai Public Prosecution to the court on March 30, 2009.

Last August, the court returned the case to the Dubai Public Prosecution to investigate the fraud and  review the charges.

The Dubai Mall World’s Largest Shopping Complex

Dubai Mall the world’s largest shopping mall opened its doors for business on November 4, 2008. It located at the heart of Dubai City and part of the Burj Dubai, has a total area of 1,124,000 sq. m. (12.1 million sq. ft.), surpassing the 890,000 sq. m. (9.58 million sq. ft.) area of the New South China Mall, which opened three years earlier in Dongguan, China.

To give you a better picture of how large the Dubai Mall is, its total area is comparable to the size of about fifty soccer fields. Its total internal floor area is 548,128 sq. m. (5.9 million sq. ft.), and its leasable space is equivalent to 350,244.5 sq. m. (3.77 million sq. ft.). Inside it are about 15 distinct malls.

The amount of materials used so far in the construction of Dubai Mall speaks of the massiveness of this shopping and recreation complex: more than 13,800 tons of structural steel; more than 179,303 sq. m. (1.93 million sq. ft.) of stone and tile works; and more than 2,600 pieces of external pre-cast completed.

The Dubai Mall houses a total 1,200 shops, likewise making it the mall with the largest number of retailers in the world. About 600 of these shops participated in the mall’s opening (i.e., they opened their doors as well for business), making that day the biggest-ever single-day mall opening in the history of the retail industry.

On the average, some 750,000 shoppers and plain leisure seekers visit the Dubai Mall every week. In April 2009, it registered about 3 million visitors – the highest single-month total so far since its opening.

Be awed by these features and attractions of the Dubai Mall:

• Gold Souq, with 220 retailers (the largest commercial quarter in any Arab city).

• Fashion Island Avenue, an haute couture-dedicated area with 70 stores.

• Fashion Catwalk atrium, with an area of 79,000 sq. m. (850,000 sq. ft.).

• Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Centre (which recorded a total 60,000 ticket sales during the first 5 days following the mall’s opening), which showcases some 33,000 aquatic animals.

• Galeries Lafayette, the first French department store company in the Middle East.

• WaterFront Atrium.

• Oasis Fountain Waterfall.

• SEGA Republic, the first SEGA indoor theme park in the Middle East, with an area of 7,100 sq. m. (76,000 sq. ft.).

• Cineplex, the largest cinema complex in Dubai, with 22 screens.

• KidZania, a family entertainment and education center, with an area of 7,400 sq. m. (80,000 sq. ft.).

• Hamleys, a franchise of the British toy shop giant, with an area of 3,000 sq. m. (32,000 sq. ft.).

• 220 jewelry and gold outlets.

• 3 car parks, with more than 14,000 parking spaces, fully equipped with a car-locator ticketing system.

All these, and more, are manned by Dubai Mall’s over 13,000-strong workforce.

There are several roads visitors can take to get to the Dubai Mall. The access road most visitors prefer to take is the double-decker road Financial Centre Road (formerly called Doha Street).

Top 7 Restaurants in Dubai

Looking for best restaurants in Dubai? Here are our favourite restaurants in Dubai.

Dubai is a place that is known worldwide for its many “firsts” and “bests”. We hear about Dubai’s famous tourist attractions, festivals and events, and recreation and sports facilities. All these make Dubai a highly preferred tourist destination.

Finding a place to eat in Dubai is not a problem at all. Whatever one’s nationality, he or she will surely find a dining place that serves his/her favorite back home.

Some of the best restaurants in Dubai are located right inside a hotel, and these include the Benjarong Restaurant, Verre Restaurant, Le Venezia Restaurant, Blue Elephant Restaurant, Bacchus Restaurant, Ashiana Restaurant, and Al Qasr Restaurant.

The Benjarong Restaurant:

This restaurant is ideal for those who enjoy authentic Thai food. The restaurant’s specialties include fried lobster with shitake mushrooms, grilled river prawns, and Ka-Thong Tong (rice pastry cups filled with a mixture of ground chicken, peanut and coconut milk) with tamarind or lemon sauce. The Benjarong Restaurant is located on the 24th floor of the Dusit Dubai Hotel in Zayed Road.

The Verre Restaurant:

This is considered one of Dubai’s finest restaurants with its wide range of international cuisine (Western and Asian) and an exotic selection of wines. The Verre Restaurant is located at the Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel in Baniyas Road.

The Le Venezia Restaurant:

Besides being one of the best restaurants in Dubai, the Le Venezia Restaurant is also one of the newest and most frequented. It has an Italian theme with its noticeable design of gondolas and waterways. The food served here are, of course, Italian favorites, such as pizzas and pasta. This restaurant is located at the Metropolitan Hotel in Sheikh Zeyahid Road.

Blue Elephant Restaurant:

Another one of the fine restaurants in Dubai that serves authentic Thai delicacies. It is popular for its somtan (fried fish with papaya salad), lamb in rich Massaman sauce, and chicken satay, among others. The Blue Elephant Restaurant is located at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel.

The Bacchus Restaurant:

This is also an Italian-style dining place. It has outdoor dining setting and serves a fine selection of pasta, salads, sandwiches, ice cream, and juices. It also has an exotic selection of wines. The Bacchus Restaurant is located at the Fairmont Hotel.

The Ashiana Restaurant:

When it comes to serving Indian cuisine, this restaurant is one that stands out in Dubai. It is frequented by both tourists and locals. The Ashiana Restaurant is located at the 5-star Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers.

Al Qasr Restaurant:

This restaurant is famous for its fine Middle East cuisine, particularly those from Lebanon. Some of the favorite dishes that are served here include Shanklish (cheese made from sheep’s or cow’s milk), Baklava (sweetened nut-filled pastry), and Labneh (strained yoghurt). The Al Qasr Restaurant is located within the Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa complex, one of the most popular 5-star hotels in Dubai.

The best restaurants in Dubai are not necessarily only those that are located inside a hotel. The Biella Caffe Pizzeria (Wafi City Mall, Bur Dubai), Planet Hollywood (Wafi City), and Hatam Restaurant (Bani Yas Street) are just some of the other fine dining places tourists can try while traveling in Dubai.

Dubai Zoo

Tourists in Dubai have many things to do and still a lot of places to see. The Dubai Zoo is one of these. This is especially true for those who have a particular interest in the many kinds, types or species of animals.

The Dubai Zoo is located opposite the Jumeirah Beach. It was built by a man named Otto Bulart in 1967. The zoo sits on a 5-acre land on the coastal residential area of Jumeirah. It marks the end or edge of the town, and for this Dubai Zoo is considered an important landmark of Dubai.

The Dubai Zoo is the oldest zoo in the entire Arabian Peninsula. In the early 1970s, the Municipality of Dubai took over the management and operation of the zoo. In the first two years of its operation, the zoo had very few animals on show. Included were the usual big cats (lions, pumas, tigers, and jaguars), several hoofed animals, and some monkeys. A few kinds of fish and some reptiles were likewise on show in an aquarium section.

Today, the zoo’s collection of animals is still rather limited. On last count, it has about 230 different species. The biggest group consists of reptiles, with about 400 specimens. Next are the mammals, with some 250 specimens. The mammals include the four big cats and the monkeys mentioned above, bears, deer, giraffes, hyenas, foxes, and porcupines. There also are baboons and chimpanzees.

The bird group consists of the golden eagle, parrots, and ostriches.

The zoo is also home to some of the animals that are in the list of endangered species. The most prominent five are as follows:

1. Cormorants – These are long-necked seabirds that are dark-colored and are noted for being voracious. A cormorant has a distensible pouch in which to hold the fish it catches. These birds are native to this region. Their odd-shaped body and unusual large posture make them ideal for zoo exhibit.

2. Siberian Tigers – These animals are believed to be natives of northern China and eastern Asia. They normally live in a harshly cold environment. For this reason, the Dubai Zoo created this exact same condition in a special facility to preserve the endangered tigers.

3. Barbary Sheep – These are goat-antelopes which originated from North Africa. However, they’re now rarely found in their native place. The sheep were introduced to southern Europe, North America, and other regions.

4. Arabian Wolves – These are subspecies of the Gray Wolf, which used to roam (often in packs) in many parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, however, only a few of these wolves can be found on the inner parts of Israel, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

5. Gorillas – These are considered the largest extant primates, and they’re found in the central African forests. They are known to have 2 species, with both being on the list of endangered animals. Destruction of their habitat and the outbreaks of the Ebola virus in their native central Africa contributed to their dwindled population.

The Dubai Zoo is likewise noted for its being the first zoo in the Arabian Peninsula to breed the Gordon’s wildcat, which is also an endangered animal.

The Dubai Zoo constantly undergoes renovation and re-designing, with the primary aim of maintaining the environment of its every section in such a condition that will be natural for their sheltered animals.

Dubai Heritage Sites

Dubai is one of the seven states (called emirates) that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although it is known to have existed about 150 years prior to the establishment of the UAE. One written account, in fact, gives the impression that Dubai already existed as early as 1095.

Heritage sites understandbly line this old emirate, with Al Fahid Fort being the most famous. The fort, which was built in 1787, houses the equally famous Dubai Museum. Next in the list of the well-known Dubai heritage sites is Sheikh Saeed’s House, the official residence of the sovereign who ruled Dubai for 46 years beginning 1912, which was built in 1896.

The list of Dubai heritage sites is simply long and, because of this, some are not known to even those who frequent the rich state. Three of the least known heritage sites in Dubai, which nonetheless represent or carry some of the most important parts of Dubai’s rich culture and tradition, are the Philately House, the House of the Camels, and the House of the Horses.

Philately House:

This heritage site was originally built in 1905 from the large leaves of the palm tree, and stayed that way for the next 25 years. In 1930, it was reconstructed to a two-story building and, much later, was renovated to its present-day museum structure.

The Philately House, as its name infers, is a gallery for the exhibition of the state’s collections of historical stamps and postmarks. More importantly, the museum showcases the history of the post as well as the development of the postal services and activities, not only in Dubai but likewise in the entire UAE.

Travelers to Dubai can find the Philately House at the Al-Bastakiyah heritage area in the historic district of Bur Dubai.

House of the Camels:

Called “Beit Al-Rekkab” in Arabic, the House of the Camels is a relatively young edifice, having been built only in the 1940s. Nevertheless, it is considered a very important heritage site in the whole of the UAE in that it showcases the history of one of the Arab people’s closely-guarded prides – the camel.

Visitors to the House of the Camels will gain valuable knowledge about these amazing desert mammals – their species and the names by which they’re called in Arabic, their anatomy, and their special relationship with the Arab people.

The House of the Camels stands next to Sheikh Saeed’s House in the Al-Shindagha neighborhood.

House of the Horses:

This heritage site actually was conceived based on the very same principle that guided Dubai in building the House of the Camels; only this time, the less enduring but more agile horses are the subjects or honorees.

The House of the Horses was also built in the 1940s, and was originally used as the residence of the late Sheikha Moza bint Saeed Al-Maktoum. The building was renovated into its current museum status, in which everything about horses – from their history, bloodlines and names to their importance to the Arab people – is exhibited.

The House of the Horses can found in the same Al-Shindagha neighborhood where the House of the Camels is located.

Other Dubai heritage sites worth visiting are The Bastakiya, Hatta Heirtage Village, Burj Nahar, Sheikh Obaid bin Thani House, Bait Al Nakeel, Heritage and Diving Village, Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House, and Neif Museum.

Traditional Music and Folk Dances in Dubai

The traditional music and folk dances in Dubai are a reflection of the rich heritage of the entire United Arab Emirates (UAE). The celebration of the various cultural events and festivals in Dubai will not be complete without these traditional music and folk dances.

In Dubai wedding ceremonies, for example, people dance to express their joy for the occasion. In a typical festivity, dancers form in a circle or a line and encourage everyone to join them.

Drums are a common accompaniment, and so are tambourines (called Tiran or Duffuf). Other musical instruments traditionally used are the Nay (a long end-blown flute), the Rababah (a fiddle played with a horsehair bow), and the Tambura (a long-necked plucked lute). Each of these musical instruments is played for one of the different folk dances.

There are at least three folk dances in Dubai: Ayyalah, Liwa, and Haban.

The Ayyalah:

This folk dance, which is popular throughout the UAE, depicts a battle, the overcoming of the enemy, and the celebration of triumph. It is performed with at least 25 men, but may be as many as 200. The men form in two lines and face each other, with arms linked, as if ready to do battle.

Those watching a performance of this folk dance will be fascinated once the men begin to brandish their swords (camel sticks, actually), recite poems (as if challenging the other side), and swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth to the beat of drums. The concerted music is led by a big drum called Al-Ras, which is supported by 3 smaller drums called Takhamir.

The Liwa:

Like the Ayyalah, the theme of this folk dance is war. It traces its origin to East Africa, when traders from that region introduced it to the Middle East. As such, the dance is inspired by the African style of music. Some of the instruments used in its performance are the Mizmar (a pipe flute) and three drums – Jabwah, Shindo, and Jasser.

A typical performance of the Liwa opens with a 6-minute playing of the Mizmar in slow tempo; beats from the three drums immediately follow, and the 10 singers/dancers enter. The pace increases as the performance progresses, until it peaks to a whirling activity. The entire performance takes about twenty minutes.

The Liwa is traditionally performed in special occasions, such as at wedding ceremonies and in the celebration of the successful conclusion of the pearl-diving season.

The Haban:

This is another major folk dance in Dubai. Alternative names to the Haban are Khayali or Khamiri, any of which refers to the instrument that predominates the performance of this dance. The folk dance is especially performed at weddings.

The Haban is performed with 3 groups. The first group is made up of about 8 men, the second group is composed also of about 8 women, and the third group is comprised of about 10 musicians. The player of the Haban (the instrument) is usually the conductor of the ensemble.

Certain rhythm instruments and drums of varied sizes accompany the performance. The two groups of female and male dancers move back and forth on a steady 2-step rhythm as the group of musicians does its number in between the two groups.

Two other less known, but nevertheless equally significant, folk dances in Dubai are the Harbiya and the Mated. The former is very similar to the Ayyalah, which is performed with two rows of men facing each other; the latter is rather different from the other folk dances in Dubai, in that it’s performed for a specific religious occasion – the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.

World’s Largest Aviation Hub in Dubai

DWC Airport Makes Dubai Owner Of World’s Largest Aviation Hub.

The distinction of having the largest commercial aviation hub in the world belongs to Dubai. And the subject of this special honor is the Al Maktoum International Airport, which is known to be about ten times the combined size of the Dubai Cargo Village and the Dubai International Airport (the erstwhile biggest aviation hub in the Middle East). It is located in the port town of Jebel Ali.

The Al Maktoum International Airport is named after Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s former ruler. It stands impressively at the heart of the Dubai World Central; hence, its IATA-assigned code is DWC. In fact, DWC airport is the main feature of that commercial, logistics and residential complex.

Annual cargo and passenger capacities are placed at 12 million tons and over 120 million, respectively. These figures easily dwarf those of the previous “bests” – Memphis International Airport (cargo) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (passenger).

Just how large is DWC airport? To give you an idea, it is designed to allow four aircraft to land simultaneously, round the clock. It has 5 parallel runways, each of which is 4.5 km, or 2.8 mi, in length. The runways are each separated by a distance of 800 m, or 2,600 ft. The first runway to have been completed already cost 1 billion dirham (AED 1bn).

Actually, the original plan was for DWC airport to have six runways, three on one side and the other three on the opposite side. For some reason, that plan was revised.

The DWC airport control tower, which boasts the latest in avionics and navigational technology, is 91 m high, making it the tallest in all of the Middle East. Its cost is AED 143mn. Other available data mention the costs of the fuel farms and the aprons/taxiways at AED 108mn and AED 908mn, respectively.

The 12-million-ton cargo volume mentioned earlier will be handled at the airport’s 16 cargo terminals. The passengers, on the other hand, will be served in its 3 passenger terminals, one of which is dedicated to the Emirates Airline.

Perhaps the best feature of DWC airport is its capability of handling all types of new-generation aircraft, the Airbus A380 Superjumbo included. In fact, it is forecast to be the world’s most Superjumbo-friendly airport because its hard-stand aero bridge gates are specifically designed to accommodate the massive aircraft.

Other features and facilities of DWC airport include Executive and Royal jet centers, multiple concourses, shopping malls, hotels, a trade and exhibition facility, and even a golf course. It has more than 100,000 parking spaces for the convenience of the airport’s own employees, tourists, and the residents of Dubai.

The plan is for DWC airport to be connected to the Dubai International Airport (IATA code DXB) by means of a high-speed express rail system. Once this is completed, it will take much of the load off DXB.

It is estimated that the total cost to complete the entire DWC airport complex will reach 82 billion US dollars (USD 82bn). DWC airport is expected to be fully operational by the year 2017.

History Of Dubai

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a union of seven states, called Emirates. One of these states, and perhaps the most progressive, is Dubai. Some records actually indicate that Dubai has been in existence for about one-and-a-half centuries before the UAE was formed.

There are very few accounts of the culture that prevailed in the southeastern part of the Arabian peninsula prior to the time of Islam. The evidences and accounts gathered so far have sufficed in the meantime to make some headway in tracing back the history of Dubai.

The discovery, for instance, of some material traces of an ancient mangrove swamp (estimated at 70 centuries) during the laying of the sewer lines near the Dubai Internet City on Sheikh Zayed Road led to the conclusion that the area had been blanketed by sand some fifty centuries ago as the coastline receded inland. This has now become a part of Dubai’s present coastline.

Some records indicate that many of the old places in that southeastern part of the Arabian peninsula served as trading centers between the East and the West. Before the time of Islam, the region was dominated by the Azd (a pre-Islamic Arabian tribe). The Azd worshipped Bajar, a minor deity.

During that period, two powers lorded it over the region. These are the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) and the Sassanid (Persian) empires. The latter controlled a big part of the region.

When much of the region was converted to Islam, the Umayyad Caliphate took control of the region from the Sassanids. The Dubai Museum undertook excavations in the region of Jumeirah and discovered a number of material evidences believed to be from the period of the Umayyads.

Here are some of the earliest records that made mention of Dubai:

• The “Book of Geography” by the historian Abu Abdullah Al-Bakri;

• Gaspero Balbi, an Italian explorer in the 16th century, was said to have visited the area in 1580, referring to it as “Dibei,” and cited it for its pearling industry;

• It was only after 1799 when documented records of Dubai came into existence.

Other historical records indicate that Dubai was established by the Al Abu Falasa lineage of Banu Yas clan in the early 19th century. Until 1833, Dubai was a dependent of Abu Dhabi (now one of the 7 states and the capital of UAE). The sheikh of Dubai, along with the other sheikhs of the region, signed the “General Maritime Treaty” with the government of Britain on January 8, 1820. Thirteen years later, the Al Maktoum dynasty (also a lineage of the Banu Yas clan) left Abu Dhabi and took control of Dubai from the Al Abu Falasa clan.

Through the “Exclusive Agreement of 1892,” the United Kingdom placed Dubai under its protection, agreeing to defend it against possible invasion by the Ottoman Empire.

Today, Dubai is a vibrant city teeming with mega construction projects. It has become a favorite tourist destination and a strong trading center in the world. But despite this transformation to modernity, Dubai has retained its rich Islamic culture.

Dubai Public Holidays

The beautiful city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially observes ten holidays every year. Of these ten official Dubai holidays, five are marked as important dates on the Islamic calendar. These are the Islamic New Year, Eid Milad an Nabi, Lailat al Miraj, Eid Al Fitr, and Eid Al Adha.

The other three official Dubai holidays are exclusive to Dubai or the UAE (The Dubai Shopping Festival, His Highness Sheikh Zayed’s Ascension Day, and the National Day), while the last two are observances adopted from Western tradition (New Year’s Day and Christmas).

Let’s understand the significance of each of these holidays:

1. New Year’s Day (January 1):

This is one of two holidays adopted from the West that is officially observed in Dubai. Hence, Dubai observes the occasion also at the start of the new Gregorian year, which is January 1.

2. Islamic New Year (approx. February-March):

This occasion is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. It is the occasion when many Muslims remember the significance of the Hijra, or the migration, when the prophet Muhammad and his followers made it to the city now known as Medina in 622 (CE).

3. The Dubai Shopping Festival (First Quarter of the Gregorian Year):

An annual retail event that is also popularly referred to by its initials DSF, the Dubai Shopping Festival was first held on February 15, 1996, with the aim of revitalizing the city’s retail trade. The event was later promoted as a tourist attraction. Some three million people visit Dubai each year primarily because of this event.

4. “Mawlid (Eid Milad an Nabi)” or the Prophet’s Birthday (approx. April-May):

This day marks the observance of the birthday of the prophet Muhammad, which takes place on the twelfth day of Rabi II, the fourth month in the Islamic calendar.

5. “Lailat al Miraj” or the Ascension of the Prophet (approx. September):

This is one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar. Around the year 621 (CE), the prophet Muhammad embarked on what is known as the “Night Journey”, when he was spiritually transported to heaven. The event is observed on the twenty-seventh day of Rajab, the seventh month in the Islamic calendar.

6. H.H. Sheikh Zayed’s Ascension Day (August 6):

Through the observance of this event, Dubai remembers the great achievements of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision has placed the UAE among the top countries in the world, especially in terms of security and financial stability. It was on August 6, 1966 when Sheikh Zayed ascended to power and ruled the UAE until his death on November 2, 2004.

7. “Eid Al Fitr” (approx. November):

This holiday marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is Arabic for “festivity”, while Fitr means “to break fast”. Hence, the holiday serves as a symbol of the breaking of the fasting period. The occasion is observed after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawaal (the tenth month in the Islamic calendar).

8. National Day (December 2):

This is the most significant occasion in the history of Dubai. It was on December 2, 1971 when Dubai gained independence from British colonial rule. Every year on this same day since then, the National Day of Dubai is held. The occasion is a celebration of honor, pride and patriotism.

9. “Eid Al Adha” or the Festival of Sacrifice (approx. January-February):

Also referred to as the “Greater Eid”, this is a holiday celebrated by Muslims throughout the world, as a way of commemorating Abraham’s (Ibrahim’s) act of obedience to God with his show of willingness to sacrifice his only son. Besides this, the occasion likewise provides the people of Dubai the opportunity of simply spending time with their families and enjoying the fact that they all have food to eat and homes for shelter.

10. Christmas (December 25):

Yes, Christmas is celebrated in this predominantly Muslim state. Visitors to Dubai during this period find Christmas trees and decorations in stores. Children also have lots of fun having their pictures taken with a man dressed as Santa Claus in some of the malls.

Understanding the different Dubai holidays and knowing when each of these takes place will help you plan or organize a perfect trip to this marvelous city in the UAE.

Cheap Dubai Accommodations

Tourists traveling in Dubai are kept busy by the many attractions the city offers. There are festivals to see, sporting events to watch, and malls to do endless shopping at.

A big part of a tourist’s itinerary is ensuring his or her accommodation. Accommodation in Dubai is easily obtained with its many hotels – both luxury and cheap ones.

Some of the luxury hotels in Dubai include the Palm Tree Court and Spa, Regent Beach Resort, Oasis Beach Hotel, Sheraton Sumerian Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa, Royal Ascot Hotel, Sea View Hotel, Carlton Tower Hotel, Coral Deira Hotel; the list is long.

But there also are cheap Dubai accommodations, and a tourist can choose to stay in one of these without sacrificing the comfort and convenience that he or she deserves after a busy day. The Al Sham Hotel Dubai, Panorama Hotel Bur Dubai, Semiramis Hotel, San Marco Hotel, Queens Hotel, New Peninsula Hotel, and Eureka Hotel are just some of those included in the equally long list of low-cost Dubai accommodations.

The Al Sham Hotel Dubai:

This hotel, which is located in the Deira district, is ideal for those who prefer to stay in a central location. It is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the airport and is near the Gold Souk and some of the shopping malls in the city. Beach transfers may be arranged here.

The Panorama Hotel Bur Dubai:

This hotel, which is located on Al Mankhool Road in Bur Dubai, is near the commercial and business areas of the city. It is about ten minutes from the airport and the Burj Tower.

The Semiramis Hotel:

This hotel is located in the busy district of Deira, with its many business and entertainment areas. The famous Gold Souk is near. The rooms in this hotel may be small, but they are furnished with the basic amenities just the same.

The San Marco Hotel:

This is another low-cost hotel that is situated in the Deira district. It is one of the most popular choices among tourists and even those who are on business travel. Many of the financial and corporate centers in Dubai are within walking distance of the hotel.

The Queens Hotel:

Most of the low-cost hotels in Dubai are strategically located in the Deira district, and this hotel is one of them. Besides the famous Gold Souk, the Spice Market and many other attractions are very near this hotel. Most of its rooms, which are simple but furnished with the necessary amenities, have outside balconies.

The New Peninsula Hotel:

Located in Bur Dubai, this hotel is only a few minutes drive away from the Dubai World Trade Center and some of the beaches. It is a short walk to Al-Fahidi Street, where many electrical shops can be found.

The Eureka Hotel:

Situated in the Deira district near the Fish Roundabout, this hotel has very good facilities. It is a short drive from the Dubai International Airport as well as the business centers and entertainment areas in Dubai. Some of the most important landmarks of Dubai are just a short drive away from this hotel.

All of these low-cost Dubai accommodations offer the comfort that a traveler looks for in his or her journey. It is likewise because of these affordable lodging places that many tourists are attracted to the beautiful Emirate.