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Attraction: Dubai City , Dubai Museum , Heritage & Diving Village , Hatta Village , Al Ahmadiya School , Sheik Saeed House , Jumeriah Mosque , Dubai Zoo , Sports , Archaeological Sites
The emirate embraces a wide variety of scenery in a very small area. Timeless tranquility of the desert to the lively kaleidoscope of attractions for visitors. A dynamic international business center and a laid-back tourist escape; a city where the sophistication of the 21st century walks hand in hand with simplicity. Tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses with wind towers to ultra-modern shopping malls. Dubai its unique flavor and personality; a cosmopolitan society with an international lifestyle, yet with a culture deeply rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia.
Dubai City
At first glance, the city presents a predominantly modern face, an ever-changing skyline of new developments, from striking glass and concrete towers to gracious modern buildings incorporating traditional Arabian architectural motifs and features. Dubai's central business district is divided into two parts, Deira on the northern side and Bur Dubai to the south, connected by a tunnel and two bridges.
Dubai Museum
A Visit to the Dubai museum is a must on every Dubai itinerary. Inside the beautifully restored Al Fahidi Fort, which was built around 1799 in purpose to defend the city against invasion, and was renovated in 1993 for use as museum, the museum's diverse collection of exhibits offers a fascinating insight into the rich history and cultural heritage of Dubai. Caters colorful life size dioramas vividly depict everyday life in the early days before the discovery of oil. Galleries recreate scenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses, mosques, the souk, date farms and desert and marine life. One of the more spectacular exhibits portrays pearl diving, including sets of pearl merchants' weights, scales and shieves. Also on display are artifacts from several excavations in the emirate, recovered from graves that date back to the third millennium B.C.
Heritage & Diving Village
A traditional heritage village, where potters and weavers display their crafts. Visitors can look back in time and experience some of Dubai's heritage. The Diving Village forms part of an ambitious plan to turn the entire Shindagha area into a cultural microcosm, recreating life in Dubai as it was before.
Hatta Village
Located among the Hajjar mountains and overlooking a fertile oasis, this 16th century Hatta village has Been carefully restored to provide a fine example of village architecture 400 years ago. Consisting of a mosque, a fort, two watchtowers and some 20 houses constructed of stone, mud, reeds and palm tree trunks, the village is dominated by the imposing Hatta Fort which protected the inhabitants against invasion.
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Al Ahmadiya School
Established in 1912, Al Ahmadiya School was the first regular school in Dubai, located in the Al-Ras Area of Deira. The two-storey building was renovated in 1995 for use as a museum of education.
Sheik Saeed House
Typical of late nineteenth century Arabian architecture, Sheikh Saeed's House, which dates from 1896 is a fine example of Islamic art and building design. The official residence of ruler of Dubai. Dating back to 1896, this imposing building was once the seat of local government, the nucleus for political and social organizations. Vaulted, high beamed ceilings, arched doorways, sculpted windows overhangs and exquisite trellis screens, which were fashionable in the late 1800s, characterise this historic two storey building. The ambitious restoration project, begun in 1986. On the ground floor, a large meeting room (majlis), spacious living rooms, storerooms and kitchen open onto a central courtyard that was shielded frin the hot desert winds by high perimeter walls. The upper floor, with its many bedrooms and balconies which overlook the Creek, provide a spectacular view of the city's skyline. The facade of the house is dominated by what is, perhaps, the world's earliest form of air conditioning - four elegant windtowers (Barjeel) that were the traditional means of cooling the interior during the sultry months of summer. Won a coveted award from the Arab Cities Organization for the conservation of heritage buildings. Today, fully restored to its former glory, the building houses an impressive exhibition of photographs, paintings, lithographs and art objects that vividly portray the early development of the emirate. For those with interests in Arabian history, culture, and architecture, Sheikh Saeed's House is well worth a visit.
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Jumeirah Mosque
Is a spectacular example of modern Islamic architecture. Built of stone in medieval Fatimid style, the mosque is particularly attractive at night when subtle lighting throws its artistry into sharp relief.
Dubai Zoo
It is a special place of interest and fun for tourists and the people of Dubai. Dubai Zoo is the oldest zoo of its kind not only in the United Arab Emirates but also in the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai Zoo also happens to be the first Arabian zoo to breed the rare Chimpanzee and Arabian wild cat. From June 1989 to the present there is constant re-designing and renovation.
Sports
Among the many traditional pastimes still practiced, is the sport of falconry, a unique partnership between man and bird. The ancient sport of camel racing also attracts sizeable following and substan- tial purposes for the champions. Throughout history, the Arab has maintained a great love of horses. This tradition lives on in the rapid growth and development of horse racing in Dubai, and visitors are welcome to attend race meetings that take place throughout the cooler months.
Archaeological Sites
There are four main excavation site in Dubai, at Al Qusais, Al Sufooh, Jumeirah and Hatta. The first two are graveyards dating back more than 2,000 years. The Jumeirah site reveals artifacts from the 7th to 15th centuries AD. These sites are not yet open to the public. However tourist or tour operators may obtain a special permit from Dubai Museum to visit the digs. |
