Dubai city, the sparkling desert oasis
Mention Dubai and what springs to mind are cheap shopping, second hand Toyota Corona cars and the bleached skinned ‘Dubai women’ who shop there and litter their wares down Luwum Street and Kikuubo.
By Timothy Bukumunhe
in Dubai, UAE
Mention Dubai and what springs to mind are cheap shopping, second hand Toyota Corona cars and the bleached skinned ‘Dubai women’ who shop there and litter their wares down Luwum Street and Kikuubo.
But there is more to Dubai than just the bleached skinned women. It has history, culture and more importantly, it has architecture.
Apart from say Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo –– cities renowned for their stunning architecture, little is said of Dubai, the tiny desert oasis which has a number of stunning skyscrapers to marvel at.
Dubai is affiliated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a partnership that was formed in 1971 and consists of seven various cultures that have come to see themselves as one complete nation. The UAE is made up of different emirates. These are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. While Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, each emirate has its own ruler.
Dubai is a commercial city with many of the amenities that cosmopolitan cities have. However, Dubai has not forsaken its ancient ways in the name of progress. Though skyscrapers now litter the skyline and souqs (markets) live side by side.
Dubai is divided into two by Dubai Creek. Down Bani yas road, you will pass the Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Department of Tourism and Marketing Commerce, National Bank of Dubai, Etisalat Dubai Inter Continental and the Twin Towers.
It is only when you cross the creek and drive down Al Seef Road that you get the full picture of the buildings whose glasses glitter, reflecting the images of your car and other buildings as you drive past them especially the National Bank of Dubai.
Sheikh Zayed Road, which is situated some five kilometres from the city centre links up with the road to Abu Dhabi. Along both sides of this road for are most of Dubai’s skyscrapers, including the tallest –– The Emirates Towers and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Interesting enough, the World Trade Centre belongs to the ruling family. It was completed in 1979 and it is the tallest building in Dubai. Anxious to protect their prized building for several years, the ruling family would not permit the construction of a building taller than theirs.
Outside central Dubai, some 10-15 kilometres, lies Dubai’s most famous skyscraper, The Burj Al Arab Hotel, which is one of the world’s most beautiful skyscrapers. It is the tallest all-hotel building and the only existing 7-star hotel in the world and comes complete with a heli-pad that literally hangs off the edge.
When the golfer, Tiger Woods, flew in for a golf classic, he was whisked straight from the airport by helicopter to the hotel thus thwarting the attempts of the media to take pictures of him.
The building is guarded like a little fortress and entrance without a hotel pass is almost impossible.
Adjacent to Burj Al Arab Hotel is the equally impressive Jumeriah Beach hotel, which almost cascades in from the sea and looks like a giant ocean liner complete with a lifeboat in the foreground.
Though not built in glass but with qually, impressive too is the Jumeria Mosque on Al Jumeria Road. During the day, it’s architectural beauty is hidden, but come night, when it is all lit up, it sparkles almost like it is littered with a foil of gold.
Meanwhile in Wafi City, the mani attraction there, are is the reconstruction of the pyramids.
Truly, Dubai is indeed a city to be marvelled at. Dubai during the day is stunning but is does not just stop there.
Once night falls and the buildings are lit up, it gives not only the city skyline a new perspective but the buildings too appear to be re-born. Just look at Jumeria Mosque. Simply (no amount of words can describe its beauty)!
The writer flew to Dubai courtesy of AfricaOne which, flies to Dubai every Tuesday and Saturday.
in Dubai, UAE
Mention Dubai and what springs to mind are cheap shopping, second hand Toyota Corona cars and the bleached skinned ‘Dubai women’ who shop there and litter their wares down Luwum Street and Kikuubo.
But there is more to Dubai than just the bleached skinned women. It has history, culture and more importantly, it has architecture.
Apart from say Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo –– cities renowned for their stunning architecture, little is said of Dubai, the tiny desert oasis which has a number of stunning skyscrapers to marvel at.
Dubai is affiliated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a partnership that was formed in 1971 and consists of seven various cultures that have come to see themselves as one complete nation. The UAE is made up of different emirates. These are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. While Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, each emirate has its own ruler.
Dubai is a commercial city with many of the amenities that cosmopolitan cities have. However, Dubai has not forsaken its ancient ways in the name of progress. Though skyscrapers now litter the skyline and souqs (markets) live side by side.
Dubai is divided into two by Dubai Creek. Down Bani yas road, you will pass the Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Department of Tourism and Marketing Commerce, National Bank of Dubai, Etisalat Dubai Inter Continental and the Twin Towers.
It is only when you cross the creek and drive down Al Seef Road that you get the full picture of the buildings whose glasses glitter, reflecting the images of your car and other buildings as you drive past them especially the National Bank of Dubai.
Sheikh Zayed Road, which is situated some five kilometres from the city centre links up with the road to Abu Dhabi. Along both sides of this road for are most of Dubai’s skyscrapers, including the tallest –– The Emirates Towers and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Interesting enough, the World Trade Centre belongs to the ruling family. It was completed in 1979 and it is the tallest building in Dubai. Anxious to protect their prized building for several years, the ruling family would not permit the construction of a building taller than theirs.
Outside central Dubai, some 10-15 kilometres, lies Dubai’s most famous skyscraper, The Burj Al Arab Hotel, which is one of the world’s most beautiful skyscrapers. It is the tallest all-hotel building and the only existing 7-star hotel in the world and comes complete with a heli-pad that literally hangs off the edge.
When the golfer, Tiger Woods, flew in for a golf classic, he was whisked straight from the airport by helicopter to the hotel thus thwarting the attempts of the media to take pictures of him.
The building is guarded like a little fortress and entrance without a hotel pass is almost impossible.
Adjacent to Burj Al Arab Hotel is the equally impressive Jumeriah Beach hotel, which almost cascades in from the sea and looks like a giant ocean liner complete with a lifeboat in the foreground.
Though not built in glass but with qually, impressive too is the Jumeria Mosque on Al Jumeria Road. During the day, it’s architectural beauty is hidden, but come night, when it is all lit up, it sparkles almost like it is littered with a foil of gold.
Meanwhile in Wafi City, the mani attraction there, are is the reconstruction of the pyramids.
Truly, Dubai is indeed a city to be marvelled at. Dubai during the day is stunning but is does not just stop there.
Once night falls and the buildings are lit up, it gives not only the city skyline a new perspective but the buildings too appear to be re-born. Just look at Jumeria Mosque. Simply (no amount of words can describe its beauty)!
The writer flew to Dubai courtesy of AfricaOne which, flies to Dubai every Tuesday and Saturday.