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TRAVEL TIME

The Disneyland of the East does have more than sheikhs, employed Malayalees and oil reserves. Like underwater hotels, man-made islands and dinosaurs in malls!

Burj Al-Arab
The Burj is the tallest hotel in the world, and it just happens to be shaped like an old-fashioned Arab dhow. Imagine, for instance, a 60-storey skyscraper in India in the shape of a rickshaw. Something of that sort, though prices are as record-shattering as the building itself ($1,500-$15,000 a night). Just don’t break anything or you'll be in financial ruin forever.

The Palm and the World.
The Palm is a giant island in the shape of a palm tree, though it’s soon to be outdone by The World, a series of islands which placed together resemble (you guessed it!) the map of the world. This year the world’s first underwater hotel, Hydropolis, is scheduled to open its doors (don’t worry, the doors do not open underwater), promising stunning views of extremely jealous marine life.

Indoor Ski Slope
Located in the largest shopping mall in the world outside of the US, Dubai seems poised not only to conquer the regional tourism market, but the entire Guinness Book of World Records as well. The energy required to maintain a ski slope in the hottest place on earth would be enough to power a small African country, but it’s worth it just to watch people hurtling downhill while wearing veils.

World’s Largest Shopping Mall
Not to be outdone by the US, of course, Dubai will soon open the actual largest shopping mall in the world – The Mall of Arabia. This super souk will feature a thousand stores, parking spaces for 10,000 cars, and a theme park filled with giant robotic dinosaurs. We are hoping the
computer reptiles will go haywire and take over the mall first... then the world!

Dubailand
Described as ‘the biggest, most varied leisure, entertainment and tourism attraction on the planet,’ at twice the size of Disney World, Dubailand will certainly give Mickey Mouse a run for his money. But then, little Mickey didn’t enjoy massive oil profits and an unquestioned totalitarian monarchy. Turns out that America’s greatest export might not be democracy after all, but world-class kitsch.

Souk
Souks were once dirty and dangerous markets where thieves rubbed shoulders with sheikhs. Today in Dubai most are clean and safe, and the only thieves around are of the white-collar variety.The Gold Souk is the largest gold market on earth with the world’s lowest prices. Beware of fishmongers at the Fish Souk – they tend to slip fish in your basket and then demand you pay for it. Don’t fall for that “carp”!

Annual Shopping Festival
What’s more universal than greed? That’s the idea behind the Dubai Annual Shopping Festival, where slogans like “One World, One Family, One Festival” pay testament to the fact that it’s not the colour of your skin that
matters – it's the colour of your credit card.

Horse Racing
At Nad al Sheba racetrack. In the daytime, mangy camels lope around the track. At night, they’re replaced by world-class thoroughbreds. The $6 million purse at the Dubai World Cup is the world’s richest. Gambling is forbidden, however, Dubai makes it hard not to be bad. Place bets via the infidel internet, instead.