Top 5 Activities in Dubai

It is no surprise Dubai offers lots of fun and entertainment to choose from: architectural masterpieces, huge shopping malls, and bustling nightlife. We came up with a list of places you can visit to truly experience Dubai and can call it your hometown:

1. Sky-Dive Dubai

Got bored chilling on the beach and craving for an adrenalin rush? Just minutes away from your location you will find the world’s premier skydiving spot. Real exhilaration and thrill of free fall at your doorstep. Did it get your blood pumping? For more information please visit the website:
http://www.skydivedubai.ae/

2. Going out for ladies night?

Experience unbelievable deals at the most happening places in Dubai Marina.
http://www.ladiesnightdubai.com/

3. Friday Brunch

You probably know that our weekend starts on Thursday night, and it has become a tradition for restaurants to put on an all-you-can-eat-and-drink brunch at Friday. We guarantee you will never experience brunch anywhere like it, so don’t miss the chance and book your table. Luckily, you are surrounded with the best hotels in Dubai. We suggest Le Meridien, Westin and Fairmont the Palm.

4. Marina Walk

One of the best ways to see Dubai Marina is to experience it by foot. One of the few pedestrian-friendly areas in Dubai with a 7 km promenade, you can soak in sight of luxury boats and Dubai’s ever growing skyline. Stroll down the winding streets of the world`s largest man-made marina after dinner or start your day with a jog, this is a must do!

5. Dolphin Bay

There is another once in a lifetime experience close by Dubai Marina. Right in the Atlantis Hotel you have the chance to touch, swim and play with dolphins. It is one of the only places in the world where you can interact with dolphins in such a way, so if you are travelling with children, make sure you get to know these fantastic mammals.

For more information please visit the website:
www.atlantisthepalm.com

Dubai has been described as an architect’s playground. It is also the city with the third highest skyline in the world, crowned by the soaring spire that is Burj Khalifa, the tallest man made structure in the world.

There are hundreds of skyscrapers dotting the landscape of the city, with concentrations around the Downtown/SZR corridor, and the Dubai Marina/JLT neighborhood. Dubai is a city of wonders. It boasts the most prominent architectural Guinness World Record holders, including the tallest man-made structure on land, the tallest twisted and residential towers and the tallest hotel. Here are the top 10 skyscrapers to spot around the city:

Cayan Tower (formerly infinity Tower)

• World`s most famous tower climber, also known as “Spiderman” Alain Robert, chose Cayan Tower as his latest climbing challenge.
• Representing the new era of architecture – futuristic and bizarre, its 90-degree twist is inspired by the human DNA.
• The tallest curved residential tower.

Book now your apartment in the Cayan Tower

The Address Dubai Marina

• A massive gate arching over the waters of Dubai Marina.
• 5-star premium hotel with serviced residences created as a part of leisure and business hub which includes the Dubai Marina Mall, Marina Commercial Tower and Pier 7 – a 6-storey Food Tower housing some of the best fine dining restaurants in the city.
• A focal meeting spot for tourists and residents.
• Visible from any part of the Dubai Marina district; the hotel is the area’s primary landmark.

Burj Al Arab

• The first modern architectural masterpiece in Dubai.
• Famous British architect Tom Wright was charged with creating a unique building that would represent the whole emirate and become “The Eiffel Tower” of Dubai.
• Still referred as the only “7 star hotel” in the world.
• The architectural inspiration was derived from the modern sail billowed by the wind.
• Located on the man-made island 280 metres offshore.
• Burj Al Arab`s finishing is covered with as flat as possible mirror glass and Teflon-coated woven fiber glass screen which looks as white as snow from afar during the daytime and illuminated with multicolours during the nighttime.
• The building is also crowned with a helipad welcoming guests at 212 metres above the sea level.

The Index

• Multi-purpose 80-storey tower can be easily distinguished from Dubai Skyline by is oriented exactly along the east-west axis.
• The Tower`s orientation shelters the building from direct sunrays and protects the floors from over-heating, especially during harsh summer months.
• That not only helps to reduce the costs of air-conditioned cooling but also makes the building very eco-friendly.
• Index tower comprises 520 apartments including 12 penthouses with private swimming pools, more than 20 floors of office and retail space and ultramodern facilities.
• In 2011 the tower became a winner of the prestigious 2011 Best Tall Building Award for the Middle East and Africa region by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Book now your apartment in the Index Tower

The Maze

• Designated as the highest vertical maze, the tower combines residential and office units have the front and back facades decorated with a tremendous puzzle.
• All the horizontal lines of the maze are part of the balconies framework – some small, while others form spacious terraces overlooking the bustling Sheikh Zayed Road.
• The top of the labyrinth is crowned with an 8 metre “Maze Eye” – large video wall beaming images to great distances.
• The tower looks as if it was cut from a single rock, which distinguishes the Maze from a glass and steel facades of other towers in the area.

Emirates Towers

• The Emirates towers complex comprises of a distinctive pair of skyscrapers: the Emirates Office Tower and Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel linked by the posh retail boulevard.
• Construction of the towers commenced simultaneously with Burj Al Arab.
• The triangle form reflects beautiful Islamic themes of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon.
• It is a paradox that two towers have actually the same number of floors, however office tower is visibly much taller which is explained by the fact that individual floor heights of the office tower are greater than the ones of the hotel.

Emirates NBD Tower

• Emirates NBD Headquarters, included in the list of top 12 bank buildings in the world, is an elegant tower nestling on the Deira bank of the Dubai Creek.
• Its design was inspired by the shape of traditional Arabic dhow with the hull housing reception area, masts carrying the elevators and glass façade as a tremendous sail reflecting saturated sunsets and dhows sailing by.
• The mirror glass façade has a light yellow tint, which is explained by the real gold dust (around 5 kg in total) used in its glazing.
• The curvature on the bank’s façade reflects the waters and commercial dhow traffic on the creek, a reflection of sorts on Dubai`s prominent sea faring history.
• Built in 1998, the tower was the most expensive per-square-foot building at that time; it was also a novelty to use non-vertical columns in UAE.
• Best viewed from a tour on an abra, or traditional water taxi, which can be arranged from abra stations on either bank of the creek.

Twin Towers, Dubai Creek

• The buildings form part of Dubai’s old downtown along the Dubai Creek, in the locality of Rigga Al Buteen.
• The Twin Towers, constructed on April 16th 1998, are multi-use buildings and contain a shopping centre, a residential tower and an office tower.
• Each building is 102 metres (335 ft) in height and has 22 floors.
• Noted for its architectural uniqueness, the Twin Towers are regarded as one of the most photographed sites in recent times.

Hyatt Regency Deira (and the first revolving restaurant)

• Built in 1980, this vast 400-room stalwart sits close to the mouth of the Creek in downtown Deira still popular with business travellers.
• The revolving restaurant Al Dawaar, on top of the Hyatt Regency, is on the 24th floor of Galadari Galleria, the restaurant, first of its kind in Dubai during the 80s, offers an all-encompassing view of the city.
• The restaurant makes a revolution every hour, but can make a turn in just about 20 minutes.

Burj Khalifa

• It is the tallest artificial structure in the world, standing at 829.8 metres (2,722 ft) The building opened in 2010, as part of Downtown Dubai. It is designed to be the centerpiece of large-scale, mixed-use development.
• The design of Burj Khalifa is derived from patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, incorporating cultural and historical elements particular to the region such as the spiral minaret.
• The architectural glass provides solar and thermal performance as well as an anti-glare shield for the intense desert sun, extreme desert temperatures and strong winds. The exterior temperature at the top of the building is thought to be 6 °C (11 °F) cooler than at its base.
• The opening of Burj Khalifa was held on 4 January 2010. The ceremony featured a display of 10,000 fireworks.

Dear Hometown guests, we want your stay to be as pleasant as possible, and that is why we have come up with this guide to help you understand cultural and social norms in Dubai.

Dubai is built on foundations that are rich in history and tradition. Dubai is a forward-looking society that is equally bound to its culture and heritage. It is a city that is proud and rich in its tradition, with its remarkable combination of the traditional values of the East, in terms of modesty, and the technologies of the West, in terms of development.

Dubai has built a reputation for being open to new ideas and ways of doing things. This has enabled Dubai to become a global centre for innovation, tourism and business. Tourists and residents alike can experience the finest service, state-of-the-art technology and exquisite luxury.

Hospitality is central to the soul of Arabian culture and is deep rooted in Arabia’s history. Hospitality in the desert started as a custom, and has now grown into a social grace. Dubai’s culture and laws are all designed to ensure that the dignity and self-respect of everyone are upheld to the highest standards, regardless of where people come from.

The below are the top social norms every resident and visitor should know:

• Show respect for the symbols of the United Arab Emirates’ rulers, flag and national emblem. The abuse of any of those symbols is a crime punishable by law.
• Loud music and dancing are forbidden in public places like parks, beaches or residential areas and must be restricted to licensed venues only.
• Public facilities (i.e. public parks, benches, bus stops, etc.) shall be kept in good condition. Concerned authorities must be informed of any damages.
• Holding, consuming, buying or selling any kind of drug – in any quantity – as well as being tested positive to any drug by the authorities in the UAE is considered a crime.
• Alcohol consumption shall be confined to designated areas (i.e. licensed restaurants and venues that serve alcohol to their clients). The UAE has adopted a zero-tolerance policy. Being caught under the effect of alcohol outside these places (even in light doses) can lead to a fine or incarceration.
• Buying and selling alcohol is controlled by very strict laws. Alcohol is exclusively sold by specialised licensed stores. It can only be bought by holders of an alcohol-purchasing license (this license is only attainable by non-Muslims). Buyers shall respect the local culture by carrying their alcohol in paper bags such that it cannot be seen.
• Smoking is not allowed in government facilities, offices, malls and shops. Smoking areas are designated outside such facilities.
• Some medicines containing psychotropic substances are forbidden in the UAE. Their holders must carry a prescription from a UAE-licensed medical doctor. Visitors shall verify that their medicines are allowed in the UAE before entering the country.
• Personal freedoms in Dubai are guaranteed to all. However, freedom stops when it endangers people’s lives, health, security or liberty. Moreover, the exercise of these freedoms shall be governed by the laws of the UAE.
• Taking photos of people – especially photos of women and families you do not know – in public places shall not be taken without their permission. Taking photos of people is a sensitive issue in Dubai’s local culture.
• During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Throughout this month, eating, drinking or smoking in public spaces during daylight is considered a public offence and is punishable by law.
• Holding hands may be OK, but kissing and petting is not especially in public places with families.
• In the UAE it is forbidden to swear and make any indecent gestures. Giving the finger, pulling out your tongue and even a somewhat aggressive hand move are all considered indecent.
• On beaches swimwear is accepted but should be appropriate. Top-less sunbathing or the wearing of a thong is not allowed.
• An official business or business casual dress code shall be adopted by all visitors of Dubai’s official government buildings as well as business buildings and office towers. Access to Dubai’s official and business buildings may be denied if dress code is considered inappropriate.
• Dressing appropriately in public places such as streets, shopping malls and restaurants, means shorts and skirts shall be of appropriate length. Moreover, clothing shall not indecently expose parts of the body, be transparent, or display obscene or offensive pictures and slogans.

We hope this helps you better understand the UAE’s laws and cultural norms.