Ahmed Ben Kebil presents

For the past 20 years, Dubai’s buildings have increasingly been at the forefront of the world’s architectural scene. Dubai boasts many planned and completed wonders alike, one of the newest of which is the Dubai Fountain, located in the center of downtown Burj Dubai, just outside of the Dubai Mall on the Lower Ground Waterfront Promenade.

Designed by the same people who created Vegas’ Bellagio Fountains, the Dubai Fountain surpasses it as one of the world’s tallest fountains, with jets of water reaching up to 50 stories high. With an uninterrupted line of sight, the 902-foot long structure can be viewed from over 200 miles away. Possessing the capability to shoot 22,000 gallons of water into the air, the Fountain contains 25 color projectors and over 6,600 lights.

The Dubai Fountain puts on 5-minute long computer-controlled water and light shows choreographed to a variety of genres of background music, including Arabic, classical, and world music. The Fountain’s color projectors and advanced incandescent lights can create over 1,000 different visual delights. The Dubai Fountain is the brightest spot in the entire Middle East, and the light beam projecting upward from its core is visible from over 20 miles away.

The best places to view the Dubai Fountain include most restaurants in Souk Al Bahar, the bridge located between the Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar, 8 Boulevard Walk, any of the Emaar Residences, eateries along the Waterfront Promenade. Recommended viewing places inside the Dubai Mall include Joe’s Café (Level 1), and the Kinokuniya bookshop (top floor).

While you are visiting the Dubai Fountain, be sure to leave time to explore the adjacent Dubai Mall, the world’s largest, at over 12 million square feet. The Dubai Mall boasts over 1,200 shops, including the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Center, which won the Guinness World Record for world’s “Largest Acrylic Panel.” Visitors gazing through it at the Mall’s Underwater Zoo are privy to over 33,000 marine animals. The Mall also contains an Olympic-sized Ice Rink that transforms into a multipurpose room with a world-class multimedia system. The Sega Republic, the Mall’s indoor theme park, contains over 150 games, and is over 76,000 square feet. The Mall has recently also become home to the world’s largest candy store, Candylicious, featuring a gigantic chocolate tree with candy leaves.

The Mall isn’t all fun and games, though – it also contains 120 different eateries, along with a 250-room luxury hotel. Additionally, the Dubai Mall is home to KidZania, known as a children’s ‘edu-tainment’ complex, and a replica of Regent Street in London (courtesy of Hamley’s toy store). Visitors will also marvel at the Mall’s 220-retailer Gold Souk (the world’s largest!), an 850,000 square foot Fashion Catwalk atrium, 70 haute couture stores on Fashion Island, and much more. There is even an organic food mart.

Dubai is a city of incredible architectural variety. Visiting the Dubai Fountain and Mall are veritable musts, but still only two of hundreds of stunning attractions this world-famous cultural mecca has to offer.

Most descriptions do no justice to the variegated features of this grand urban exposition. Dubai would be just right for visitors from another planet. The desert, sea, and modern urban infrastructure, combine to exhibit the best earth has to offer. A secular and liberal approach to governance has brought an eclectic collection of residents. Though you can see people of all races in Dubai, the stamp of Islam and of the Middle East, are ubiquitous. Visitors tend to describe the metropolis in very different terms, yet without contradiction.

The people of Dubai are inherently generous. They also have large doses commercial acumen in their veins. These factors combine to offer luxurious hotels and shopping opportunities at prices you will probably find nowhere else. Varied dining and entertainment to cater to all tastes make time fly in Dubai. It is a pleasure to indulge in the senses in a secure and clean ambience.

A word of caution: a top-value sojourn in this Paradise requires a modicum of prior home-work. There is more to do than anyone can stuff in to a single vacation. Though the glamour and enticing fragrances of the Duty-Free section of the Dubai International Airport are most pleasurably distracting, you would not like to touch-down back home wistful about important attractions and experiences for which you had no time.

Dubai has such a contemporary image that it is easy to forget its ancient lineage. Many tour operators give short-shrift to the awesome array of romantic monuments. A suitable compromise is to insist on plenty of time for the Dubai Museum, which has a tiara of timeless and unique artifacts. Let the stunning buildings, broad avenues, and extravagant automobiles, not hide from your mind the fact that coastal communities and gold merchants have thrived here for thousands of years.

Though the Caribbean has dominated the cruise-market for years, Dubai has now emerged as a beguiling competitor. The authorities have displayed their customary diligence in building a vast terminal for the largest of ships. A sea voyage to Dubai is an excellent vacation option, which you can enjoy during any month in the calendar.

Horse-racing is another field in which Dubai has made grand strides. The vast wealth of the United Arab Emirates has been brought to bear in full measure on the best equestrian facilities at the Nad Al Sheba Club. The Dubai World Cup is now the most fancied event for top competitors, professionals, and followers of the sport.

What is a vacation without exotic food? Immigrant workers have brought their kitchens and spices from all over the Orient. There is plenty of Arab and western cuisine as well. Prices at top restaurants fit only well-heeled wallets, but there is no dearth of delightful value for the adventurous holiday-maker. A cruise in a Dhow is perhaps the top dining option, as it will cement a place for Dubai in your heart. Remember to take that special person in your life along though, when you plan a memorable holiday in this jewel of a city.

With its scheduled completion in 2010, the Burj Dubai may well be remembered as the most significant landmark of the 21st century. At a height of over 2,600 feet this picturesque tower will restore to the Middle East the distinction of having the world’s tallest free-standing structure – A characteristic that hasn’t been present since 1311 when Britain’s Lincoln Cathedral exceeded the height of the Great pyramid of Giza. The Burj Dubai will undoubtedly be celebrated as one of the premier tourist attractions of our time.

The esthetically-pleasing exterior of the tower features a 3-lobed design inspired by the Hymenocallis flower; and the beauty will be exhibited in the interior as well, decorated by non other than Giorgio Armani. In excess of 1,000 pieces of art are displayed in the Burj Dubai’s interior, with the lobby hosting 196 artistic bronze and brass alloy cymbals representing the countries of the world. The sensual appeal of these is further enhanced as dripping water strikes the 18-carat gold plated cymbals, producing distinct timbres designed to mimic the sound of water falling on leaves.

The Burj Dubai’s exterior also showcases an elaborate fountain. Built with a price tag of 7 million US, the waterworks are illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors in a 900 foot long space, propelling water 490 feet into the air, employing a concept by WET Design, the company who furnished the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

In the immediate area surrounding the Burj Dubai, there will be nine hotels, 7.4 acres of parkland, a 30 acre man-made lake and the Dubai Mall. Based on total area, this mall is the world’s largest, housing approximately 1,200 shops. Tourists visiting the mall may access it via the double-decker road Doha Street and join the more than 750,000 visitors the Dubai Mall welcomes each week.

Perhaps the most unique of the Burj Dubai hotels is the Armani hotel, a first of its kind. This luxurious premier facility occupies the first 37 floors. Armani has awarded a long-term license to EMAAR Hotel & Resorts for the operation of this lush property, while Giorgio Armani himself plans to oversee all details of design and style, drawing on content from the various Armani fashion, furnishings and beauty lines. This hotel was scheduled as the first of four exceptional facilities with the others opening in Milan, London and New York, marking Armani’s 30th anniversary.

And of course an iconic tourist attraction such as the Burj Dubai draws a crowd of other developments. Visitors to the Greater Downtown Burj Dubai district experience many varied recreational and hospitality services in an integrated township that includes cafes, boutiques and restaurants. Those wishing to relocate to this vacation paradise will be pleased to hear that Burj Dubai Lake Hotel & Serviced Apartments is a firm offering accommodations for outright sale.

The construction of the Burj Dubai marks a conscious decision of the United Arab Emirates government to diversify with an economy more geared toward the tourism and service industry. Dubai has been undeniably put on the map with the erection of the spectacular Burj Dubai.

Dubai is recognized as one of the world’s most secure destinations featuring spectacular beachside resorts, world-class shopping and a rising reputation as a premier tourism destination of the 21st century.

This gem of the United Arab Emirates offers many delightful surprises to the international traveler. The Nad al Sheba racetrack schedules camel races by day and thoroughbreds in the evening. The Hyatt Regency’s Galleria shopping mall sports an ice rink on which young skaters in traditional dishdash costumes whirl for the onlookers enjoying French pastry and coffee at Frosty’s café. Another perhaps unexpected pleasure lies at the Dubai Dophinarium where dolphin performances are enjoyed in air-conditioned comfort; swimming with dolphins is also offered as part of mixed or private groups.

Traveling couples will be drawn to the Dubai Romantic Dhow Dinner Cruise. This two hour journey begins with a tour-operator arranging an air-conditioned coach from their Dubai hotel to the boat’s boarding area. The vessel itself is called a dhow, which is a traditionally decorated wooden cruise boat. Tourists only comfortable speaking English will be pleased to learn that an English-speaking guide accompanies them at all times during their outing.

Another possibility for an exotic excursion is offered in the Seawings Dubai experience, highlighted by different levels of aerial sightseeing tours of Dubai. A Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious plane ascends passengers for a breathtaking view of landmarks such as the Burj Dubai and various world-class ships. Headsets with an iPod commentary are also available. This organization has recently expanded its services to include kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, beach activities, golf, trekking and spa treatments.

The Burj Dubai Tower is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy in 2010. With a construction budget of over 4 billion dollars US, the structure will host a fountain boasting 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors, shooting water nearly 500 feet into the air in a concept by WET Design, the company who furnished the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Upon completion, the Burj Dubai at a height of 2,684 feet will restore the title of the Earth’s tallest free-standing structure to the Middle East. This distinction has not been held by the region since 1311, when England’s Lincoln Cathedral surpassed the height of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Travelers seeking accommodation in Dubai should consider becoming guests of one of the most photographed structures in the world, the Burj Al Arab. At a height of 321 metres, this majestic hotel was designed to dominate the city skyline with its resemblance to a billowing sail. It’s particularly impressive in the evening when its choreographed illumination depicts water and fire. The Fairmont Dubai located in the financial heart of the city also offers world-class accommodation at perhaps less extravagant rates than the Burj Al Arab. The Fairmont boasts ten contemporary dining and entertainment venues as well as The Willow Stream Spa designed for guests to rejuvenate their personal energy.

Dubai is a world-class tourism destination of the 21st century, still coming into its own. It’s an exciting time to witness the splendor of this unique destination in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahmed Ben Kebil welcomes all readers to DubaiStyle.

Copyright 2011 Ahmed Ben Kebil. All rights reserved. The Dubai Style logo, dubaistyle.info, the Ahmed Ben Kebil logo, ahmedbenkebil.com, benkebil.com, "Benk Finance" (name and logo), and "Benk Aviation" (name and logo), are trademarks of Ahmed Ben Kebil.

Dubai Style is been sponsored by Ahmed Ben Kebil.
Materials related to earlier projects of Benk Finance were provided by Ben Kebil.

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