Dubai provides a variety of holiday experiences, which is what makes it one of the most popular destinations in the world. From the high-tech, futuristic landscape of downtown Dubai to the many wonders of the surrounding desert. Dubai, the City of Gold, has something to offer travellers from every corner of the planet.
The emirate is more popular than ever among travellers from the British Isles. The number of UK visitors at the end of 2012 rose from the 643,195 registered in 2011 to 685,629, an overall growth that was announced by the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce last February.
Many tourists from the UK choose to book holidays to Dubai with Kenwood Travel – a tour operator specialising in luxury trips with over 35 years of experience in the travel industry. One of the main assets of this company is their team of experienced travel experts with first-hand knowledge of the hotels in the area and the different holiday options available. Their exceptional customer service is highly regarded by travellers seeking a unique, tailor-made holiday in Dubai.
British holidaymakers especially appreciate the contrasts of this city, a predominantly Muslim enclave where one will find both Western attitudes and architecture, and Middle Eastern traditions. Besides designs that have survived for thousands of years, ultra-modern skyscrapers rise defiantly. Dubai’s old souks sell gold, perfume, spices and textiles as they always have done, while high-flying entrepreneurs sign off multibillion contracts nearby.
Shopping is one of the main activities in which holidaymakers invariably engage in when visiting Dubai. Traditional bazaars and artisan workshops are found at Souk Al Bahar, Souk Madinat Jumeirah and Khan Murjan. For a more modern shopping option, there is the Dubai Mall – the largest in the world. An important event in Dubai’s calendar is the Dubai Shopping Festival around mid-January, where visitors can receive city-wide discounts of up to 90% – practically paying for their holiday – as well as taking part in competitions, big entertainment events and fireworks shows over Dubai Creek.
Dubai is also a popular destination for family holidays, and it has fantastic water parks such as Aquaventure and Wild Wadi. Dubai Mall includes the expansive Dubai Aquarium, the SEGA Republic theme park and KidZania. Another family orientated attraction is Dubai Summer Surprises – a festival of shows, competitions and entertainment that takes place in June.
