As a destination, Dubai has typical elements of the package destination, but the emphasis and placement of the destination towards the high end of the market means that Dubai has managed to carve out a specific niche. The beaches attract a massive influx of travellers from around the globe as do the hotels which, in some cases, are a spectacle in themselves as well as the tourist draws of the month long Dubai Shopping Festival, an abundance of championship quality golf courses and the annual F1 Grand Prix. You can even take Arabic classes there to learn the beautiful local language.

But for the more independent traveller, Dubai is often overlooked simply as a western style holiday destination. The unique blend of west meets middle east typified the look and feel of Dubai, but outside the city itself there is much to interest the more curious traveller. The wider region of Dubai is a land of contrasts from the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula to the expansive coastline. One of the most popular and rewarding attractions is a Bedouin desert safari located some 50 miles outside of the city.