United Arab Emirates: Dubai

Dubai in 15 years?

Palm Trilogy

Many know Palm Jumeirah as an international icon, but few realize that it was created help solve Dubai's beach shortage. The Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum drew a sketch of a palm tree, realizing its fronds would provide more beach frontage than a traditional circular island. From this insight, the idea of Palm Jumeirah was born and the Trilogy of islands envisioned including the Palm Deira and the Palm Jebel Ali.

The World

An archipelago of 300 manmade islands off the coast of Dubai, created from sand dredged from sea. The World is a landmark for future eco-tourism projects worldwide. The World is one of several tourist and commerce related projects off the coast of Dubai which can be seen from space.

Amazing Towers

Opening in 2010, The Burj Khalifa is a super tall skyscraper set to be the tallest in the world. In a breathtaking design, wich encompasses the makings of a small city in its interior, The Burj Khalifa will be the center piece of Dubai's new Dubaitown district.

The Trump International Hotel & Tower features a split-linked tower and an innovative open core design. Views from inside the tower will be spectacular as well, revealing inspiring panoramas of the island, Dubai and the Arabian Gulf, with all rooms benefiting from a sea view

Usefull Information

Religions: Muslim, Christian, Hindu and other.

Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu.

Independence Day, December 2nd.

Airlines company: Emirates.

Currency: Dirham.

Embassy in France: 3, rue de Lota, 75116 Paris.

Embassy in the Emirates: P.O. Box 4014 Abu Dhabi, UAE

Climate: Best period from November to March.

Visa: Not required for french ressortissant.

Voltage: 220V (frequence 50Hz)

T.O: Asia, Thomas cook, Aquarev, Vacances Emirats.

United Arab Emirates: Dubai

Hospitality has been our tradition for centuries. Today, Dubai extends this welcome to holiday makers as well as business visitors, offering facilities of the highest international standards combined with the charm of adventure of arabia an exceptional blend of modern city and timeless desert.

Top class hotels, superb facilities for a variety of sports and leisure activities and excellent shopping. Dubai has something to offer everyone moreover, the emirate is friendly safe and virtually crime free.

The economy of Dubai depends on oil only for 6% of its GDP, the remainder being generated mainly by services (international trade) and tourism. Dubai is currently undergoing through a rapid development phase with a large number of ongoing construction projects, the most well known being the creation of artificial islands of Dubai's coast for residential purposes and the construction of the world's tallest skyscraper, the Al Burj.

From Souk to Shopping Mall A True Shopper's Paradise

As more and more shopping malls are built in Dubai, residents wonder why another shopping mall is needed. And yet, as soon as a new one is opened, its seems to feel up very quickly. To enjoy a wander though a shopping mall, visit Mercato in Jumeirah to get a taste of an Italian market (no, we know it's nothing like the real thing) or Ibn Battuta Mall to learn a bit of history about the famous Arabian Traveller and have a coffee in the most splendid Starbucks in Dubai.

The State of Fine Cuisine And Night Life

Standards of international cuisine are high and the choice is diverse. Top class restaurants in the city's hotels offer Arabian, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Mexican, Russian, British, German, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Filipino and Korean cuisine to name just a few.Outside the hotels, small eatings places are to be found in all parts of the city.

Dubai has a lively night life. Hotel bars range from sophisticated cocktail lounges to typically informal British and Irish pubs and Western style lounges. Most of them serve food and many feature pianists, guitarists, duos and bands nightly.

For a more exotic experience, there are several excellent Middle Eastern nightclubs featuring Arab singers and dancers. Dubai increasingly attracts top names from the world of entertainment. These include popular singers and entertainments from both West and East.

Legendary Hotels

Burj Al Arab has become an iconic symbol of Dubai. It is one of the regions most famous tourist landmarks, and as a hotel it has set new standards for excellence in Arabian hospitality. The hotel, which was inaugurated in 1999, established its presence with its futuristic and magnificent exterior.

Atlantis is a ocean -themed  destination resort located at the center of the man made Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Opening in September 2008, the resort will use the 46 acres site with 17 acres of water park amusement, further marine and entertainment attractions and a collection of some of the most renowned world class chefs including Nobu, Giorgio Locatelli, Santi Santamaria and Michel Rostang. It will be home to one of the largest open air marine habitats in the world, with 65,000 marine animals in lagoons and display including The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis.

United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, as well as the largest of the seven emirates federation.

It is a cosmopolitan city with urban architecture, lush green gardens and fountains. Its bursts with dazzling business cum leisure facilities ranging from state of the art convention center, luxurious hotels, spas, designer golf courses, theaters and very soon, some of the world's most famous museums. The palace like shopping malls and indigenous souqs make Abu Dhabi a great shopping destination. Gastronomic treats further abound from cool and sophisticated cafes, clubs and restaurants.

Go back in time: Likewise, you shouldn't miss droping by Abu Dhabi's heritage, prior or after visiting the Marina mall for your must do retail therapy. This experience will takes you back to ancient times, before the modern irrigation and agricultural system came to existence.

Sheikh Zayed Musquee

The majestic Sheikh Zayed Grand Musquee is probably the most imposing religious and national landmark in Abu Dhabi to date. It is also arguably one of the most important architectural treasures of contempary UAE society and also one of the most beautiful in the world. 

This project was initiated no less than by the late president HH Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who is fondly thought of as the father of the UAE. The Mosque is seen as a construction made to "gather the world", using craftmen and materials from many countries such as Italy, Germany, Morocco, India, Turkey, Iran, China, Greece and the UAE.

Formula 1

Yas Marina Circuit: was unveiled on October 30th 2009, with the final race of the Formula OneTM World Championship, the inaugural Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand prix.

The whole of UAE was eager to take in the beautiful landscaping, traditional Arabic culture and welcoming hospitality alongside sensational on-track action. Yas Marina Circuit would encourage the growth of sporting culture in UAE and soon become the centre for motorsport excellence in the Middle East.

Ferrari World: The world's largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is not just a theme park, but an immersive experience that will spark the Ferrari spirit within every guest.

This is the place where the passion and soul of Ferrari comes to life. When you step into Ferrari World, you become a part of the Ferrari story, in all its passion, thrill and glory.

Hit the dunes

Starting with an exciting ride up and down on some of the desert's biggest dunes, you can try sand skiing before watching the sun set.

 After driving a short distance further to a permanent desert camp, you are treated to a sumptuous barbecue, followed by shisha, camel rides, falconry displays and henna painting. You can choose to stay overnight or combine with a trip into the mountains.

Museums

Al Ain Museum was opened in 1971, and is the showcase for the city's unique heritage and history. It is housed in the same compound as the Sultan Bin Zayed Fort ( also know as the Eastern Fort). Divided into three main sections: archaeology, ethnography and gifts. Its presentation illustrate various aspects of life in the UAE and include an interesting selection of photographs, as well as Bedouin jewelry, musical instruments, weapons and a reconstruction of a traditional majlis.

Le Louvre, the future museum's intellectual and conceptual backbone. Overstepping boundaries between art forms and techniques, and between civilisations and geographic regions, to cast light on the underlying exchanges as much as each one's distinctive wealth captures something about Abu Dhabi's multicultural ethos and Arabia's millenary role as a bridge between the West and East, and between the North and South, as it was in the days of the Incense Route, and as the Persian Gulf served as a link between Europe and the Indian Ocean opening up exchanges between Asia and Africa.

The Guggenheim, designed by internationally renowned architect Franck Gehry. The museum, the largest Guggenheim in the world, will have global art, exhibitions and education programs with particular focus on Middle Eastern contempary art. The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi joins other leading international cultural institutions in the unprecedented creation of a vibrant cultural destination for visitors from round the world

United Arab Emirates

History of the United Arab Emirates

The UAE were formed from the group tribally organized along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf  and the north western coast of the Gulf of Oman. They etablished a treaty with the United Kingdom about the coast and land security, and they etablished an exclusive business relationship with UK. In 1971, six of these states: Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), Ajman al Fujayrah, Ash Shaqirah ( Sharjah), Dubay ( Dubaï) and Umm al Qaywayn, merged to form the United Arab Emirates ( UAE). The last emirate Ras al Khaymah joined the UAE in 1972.

The UAE's capital is Abu Dhabi, each emirate govern itself on diferent subject, but it remains a federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government.

Geography

The UAE is on the Middle east, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The UAE occupies an area of 83600 km along the south eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Desert, contrasting landscapes, dunes, rich oases, precipitous rocky mountains to the fertile plains. Despite the fact that four-fifths of its land is on area offshore islands, coral reefs, salts marshes of gravel plain and barren desert characterize the inland region.

Arid tropical zone, influenced by the Indian Ocean, the best period to travel is from november to march (24°C).