Dubai Parks and Gardens For Family Holidays

A holiday in Dubai will find many families enjoying the time in many of the emirate's parks and gardens. The Dubai parks and gardens are actually one of the reasons why the emirate is experiencing a continuous increase in the number of tourists visiting the place each year.

Planning a family holiday in Dubai is easy because there simply are many parks and gardens in the emirate to spend the day. Seven of the most popular parks and gardens in Dubai are listed below:

1. Jumeirah Beach Park - This park occupies a long, rectangular 30-acre land along the Jumeirah Beach Road. It is close to the Hilton Beach Club. The park has a beach frontage of more than half a kilometer, which extends its length. It is equipped with all the necessary amenities, including food kiosks, barbecue areas, children's play areas, and volleyball sites. It also has jetty areas with lifeguards on duty.
2. Al-Mazmar Park - This park spans some 262 acres of land in Deira Dubai. It is located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) after the turn off to Hamriya Port. It is one of the most frequented parks in Dubai. Its features include children's play areas, a swimming pool, food kiosks, barbecue sites, and grassed picnic areas.
3. Mushrif Park - This is a desert-like park spread across 306 acres of land near the Khawaneej suburb in the eastern part of the city. The park is home to the famous Ethiopian hedgehog as well as to different bird species. Its features include swimming pools, camel and pony rides, play areas for children, and fountain and lakes. The park also features an "International Garden Area," where miniature houses from different countries are exhibited.
4. Jumeirah Beach Corniche - This park is situated next to the Marine Beach Club, just off the Beach Road. It has about 800 meters (2,625 feet) of beach front. The park's features include several children's playing areas, shaded picnic tables, showers, and a shaded swimming area.
5. Za'abeel Park - This 126-acre park is another one of the favorites among tourists. It features ponds, lakes, and a clubhouse. It also has sports facilities and jogging track.
6. Creekside Park - This park is located in Bur Dubai, and is one of the largest waterfront parks in the emirate. The park spans two bridges - the Al-Garhoud Bridge and the Al-Maktium Bridge. It is a big attraction among tourists for its dhow cruises, abra rides, restaurants, amphitheaters, and beaches.
7. Safa Park - This approximately half-mile park runs from Al-Wasi Road to Sheikh Zayed Road. It occupies a 158-acre land some 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Dubai central along Sheikh Zayed Road. The park's features include an area for playing cricket and a lake where families can spend the day. Paddleboats are available here.

Every park or garden in Dubai offers a wide range of recreational activities. On top of this, the quality of service it provides is something that will make visitors look forward to visiting the place again.

Dubai Nightlife in Some Of Its Famous Bars

The progressive and bustling lifestyle Dubai enjoys is consummated by its vibrant and sprightly nightlife. Bars and nightclubs open their doors to locals and especially to tourists to make their stay in the city as memorable as possible.

Indeed tourists can make the most of the trip to this beautiful and lively emirate by spending the night away in one of its famous bars or nightclubs. Among the most frequented bars in Dubai are the Alamo Bar, the Bridges Bar, the Fairmont Cigar Bar, Carter's Cafe Bar, and the Atlantis Nightclub.

The Alamo Bar:

This bar is a favorite hangout among locals and tourists alike. It is easily accessible and is close to the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The bar offers live entertainment, which is provided by its in-house Cuban band named the Costarena. The bar has an evident groovy ambiance, the result of the combination of margaritas and Latino tunes. A night in this bar can mean an almost endless night of Samba and Salsa dancing.

The Bridges Bar:

Those who've been to this bar swear the place seems to have a magnet that pulls night revelers to it. This bar is located at Sheikh Zayed Road, and adjoins the equally popular Fairmont Hotel. Beer and champagne are the usual drinks served here. A feature unique to this bar is the enchanting music played by its in-house musician on a piano. Inside this bar, the atmosphere is sublime.

The Fairmont Cigar Bar:

This bar is considered one of the finest bars in Dubai. It is located on the 2nd floor of the Fairmont Hotel. A feature unique to this bar is its walk-in humidor, presenting the bar's exclusive collection of cigars. Cigar lovers will have a wide range of choices of the best in Cuban cigars here. The bar also serves a wide range of international cuisine.

Carter's Cafe Bar:

This bar is unique for its Egyptian-themed interiors. It is situated in the heart of the Wafi City. The splendid views of Wafi Gardens from the bar's open terrace never fail to entice visitors to keep coming back here. A wide range of drinks, ranging from the strongest of beers to the oldest of wines, is offered here. Served in this bar are some of the finest French white wine varieties, including Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The bar is also noted for its wide variety of international cuisines.

The Atlantis Nightclub:

This bar is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Hard Rock Cafe. Lively music, mesmerizing lights and enjoyable drinks are the main features of this bar. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved for ladies of all age. The bar offers a mixture of jazz, rock, disco, R&B and techno music. A wide range of drinks and a comprehensive menu are likewise offered here.

Tourists who want to spice up their night ventures in Dubai can also try some of the other popular bars in the city. The other most frequented ones include the Hard Rock Cafe, the Peppermint Club, the Copacabana Nightclub, Irish Village, the Planetarium Nightclub, the Tropicana Night Club, and Jimmy Dix.

Dubai Healthcare City: Dubai's Most Extensive Medical Project To Date

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai, envisioned a grand project that will make Dubai a highly-preferred healthcare center in the world. And so the Dubai Healthcare City came into being.

The Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is an integration of the best in clinical services, research, and medical education. Basically, two very important zones make up the DHCC - the Medical Community and the Wellness Community. The former is already operational, while the latter is still in the planning stages.

The Medical Community:

This zone, which has an area of 380,902.5 square meters (4.1 million square feet), has seen rapid growth since its establishment. The 80 or so clinics located here are staffed by more than a thousand healthcare professionals, all of whom are licensed by the Centre for Healthcare Planning of the DHCC. This licensing prerequisite ensures that all the services being provided at DHCC satisfy the standards set by the different international accreditation bodies (example, the Joint Commission International).

The Medical Community houses the following medical entities:

• Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre (HMSDC) Institute for Postgraduate Education and Medical Research;

• University Teaching Hospital (UH);

• Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR);

• Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai (BUIDRE).

• Al Maktoum Harvard Medical Library.

The Wellness Community:

This zone, which has an area more than four times that of the Medical Community's (1.77 million square meters or 19 million square feet), is intended to serve as the region's center for integrative and preventive medicine. As the name it carries suggests, this zone also aims to be the region's primary center for the advancement of wellness.

The Wellness Community will have the following features:

• A health and long-term care facility;
• Outpatient clinics;
• A facility for sports medicine;
• A cosmetic services center;
• A center for the promotion of active lifestyle;
• A five-star hotel and spa resorts;
• A residential district with food and retail outlets.

As a whole, the DHCC offers a complete range of medical and other complementary services, which include those in the following 19 fields:

1. Cardiology
2. Immunology
3. Chiropractic
4. Family medicine
5. Anesthesia
6. Dentistry
7. Pediatrics
8. Obstetrics
9. Urology
10. Dermatology
11. Orthopedic
12. Neurology
13. Internal medicine
14. Physical therapy
15. Radiology
16. Plastic surgery
17. Endocrinology
18. Gastroenterology
19. General surgery

Consider these big names that are getting on board the DHCC: Johnson and Johnson, Novartis, the Mayo Clinic, Astra Zeneca, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, and the German Heart Center, among others.

The entire Dubai Healthcare City is expected to be fully operational in 2011 at the latest. It is strategically located at the heart of Dubai City, in the historic district of Bur Dubai. It is near the Dubai Creek and is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the Dubai International Airport. The best way to reach DHCC from Abu Dhabi is via the E 11 highway.

Dubai Desert Classic: One Of The Biggest Dubai Sports Events

Dubai, one of the seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as an important tourist destination. Visitors to this city find the place excitingly attractive and bustling with activities. Mega construction projects are going on all over the city, most of which are either the "first" or the "best" in their respective categories.

Adding to Dubai's popularity are the many sporting events it holds. And these are not just ordinary sporting events; they're Dubai sports events - considered the richest, again, in their respective categories. The Dubai World Cup, for example, is considered the richest horse race in the world. The Dubai Tennis Championship, on the other hand, is an important tournament where the biggest names in tennis participate.

Another one of the biggest Dubai sports events is the Dubai Desert Classic. This is a professional golf tournament held annually at the Emirates Golf Club. But first, let's look back at how the Dubai Desert Classic started.

In 1986, the plan for constructing a world-class golf course in Dubai was approved. The plan became a reality a couple years later, when the Emirates Golf Club was completed. Soon after, the "Majilis" course was created at the Emirates Golf Club. It is in this par-72, 7,301-yard course where the Dubai Desert Classic is being held every year since (the 1999 and 2000 editions of the tournament, though, was held at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club).

The tournament's format is known as the "stroke play." This is a scoring system in which the total number of strokes taken on each hole during the series of rounds is counted. The player with the least number of strokes for the rounds wins the tournament.

Since its inauguration in 1989 (then known as the Karl Litten Desert Classic), the Dubai Desert Classic has been part of the European Tour timetable. The tournament was likewise the first European Tour event to be held in the Middle East. The following year (1990) the tournament was called the Emirates Airlines Desert Classic.

Dubai Desert Classic became the official name of the tournament beginning in the 1992 edition, which was won by Severiano "Seve" Ballesteros Sota of Spain. Past winners of the Dubai Desert Classic were as follows:

• 1993 - Wayne Brett Westner of South Africa
• 1994 - Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els of South Africa
• 1995 - Frederick "Fred" Steven Couples of the United States
• 1996 - Colin Stuart Montgomerie of Scotland
• 1997 - Richard George Green of Australia
• 1998 - Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain
• 1999 - David Alexander Howell of England
• 2000 - Jose Eusebio Coceres of Argentina
• 2001 - Thomas Bjorn of Denmark
• 2002 - Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els of South Africa
• 2003 - Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands
• 2004 - Mark Francis O'Meara of the United States
• 2005 - Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els of South Africa
• 2006 - Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods of the United States
• 2007 - Henrik Stenson of Sweden
• 2008 - Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods of the United States
• 2009 - Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland.

Ernie Els and Tiger Woods, both big names in golf, were the most successful participants thus far in this tournament. The Dubai Desert Classic has a purse of 2.5 million US dollars.

Dubai Foreign Trade: Exports and Imports

Toward the latter part of 2008, many countries started to feel the effects of the brewing troubles that hit the world economies. Export and import activities were declining; foreign trading transactions were simply on the downturn. Through all these, one economy continued to thrive - Dubai's.

During that period of recession, Dubai even managed to get its non-oil exports increase by almost 40 percent vis-a-vis the previous year (2007). And in that period too, Dubai's bilateral trade partnership with India remained strong. This is true for both export and import activities.

The six-year period prior to the recession saw brisk Dubai foreign trade activities. For instance, the five-year period ending 2005 had the Dubai government investing close to 11 billion dirham (AED 11bn)) in developmental undertakings. This translated to certain positive effects on the foreign trade of the emirate. In particular, total Dubai foreign trade shot up about 150 percent, from AED 112bn to AED 280bn, between the years 2001 and 2005. The Dubai foreign trade, in connection with the emirate's gross domestic product (GDP), likewise rose by about 30 percent during the same period.

Being both a free economic zone and a trade hub strategically situated in the Middle East, Dubai is indeed ideal for foreign trade. The Dubai International Airport and Dubai's two main sea ports (Port Rashid and Jebel Ali Port) boast world-class facilities, which make handling of exports and imports a lot easier.

Already Dubai's public works and transportation system are first-class. But because improvements and increases in Dubai foreign trade are expected to continue, the government still undertakes numerous infrastructure developments and improvements.

A big part of Dubai's exports and imports go by sea. Using the figures in the year 2005 as examples, total exports and imports by sea amounted to AED 152bn, which was approximately 54 percent of the total Dubai foreign trade transactions for that year.

Dubai is noted for its production of oil and gas. Ironically, though, this makes up only about 5 percent of its economy. Its non-oil exports represent approximately 80 percent of the total UAE transactions in this area. Some of the traditional products that make up part of Dubai's non-oil exports include scrap metals, dates, and frozen fish. These products are exported mostly to India, Pakistan, and the neighboring emirates.

Liquefied gases, cement, aluminum ingots, and clothing are some of the manufactured products that Dubai exports, mostly to India, Japan, the United States, and China. As for Dubai's free-zone trading transactions, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and India make up the top three destinations, in that order.

Dubai's import transactions are going briskly as well. In fact, Dubai brings in more than 60 percent of the total requirements of the entire UAE. Some of the countries it deals with in this area include China, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Germany.

No foreseeable problem is expected to cause a slowing down in Dubai foreign trade activities; thanks largely to Dubai's strategic location on the Persian Gulf and to its world-class infrastructure.

Dubai Cruises and Water Sports: Dubai's Must-Not-Miss Attractions

Dubai is a favorite tourist destination mainly because of its many attractions. It has fine beaches, theme amusement parks, gardens, archaeological sites, and museums and galleries to name a few.

Dubai likewise boasts of cruises and water sports, and these two are attractions that tourists do not want to miss when traveling to the Emirate.

Dubai cruises:

Couples traveling in Dubai, for example, book on one of the Dubai cruises for a romantic evening. They enjoy the Arabian Gulf's stillness and unspoiled water. Dubai cruises offer the following sights:

• The Bastakiya area, which has been restored, with the elegant windrowers (called barajeel);
• The Gold souks (traditional markets in Dubai);
• The abras (small motorboats) crisscrossing the water;
• The heritage village;
• The spectacular skyline of the financial district of Dubai.

Dubai's dhows-wooden cruise cruisers is a special attraction because those who take these cruises are treated to the breathtaking picture offered while traversing the famous Dubai Creek. They are regaled by the beautiful view of Dubai's skyline and major tourist sites. The average number of dhows that traverse the waters of Dubai Creek on a daily basis is one hundred fifty.

Taking one of the Dubai cruises is a real experience. The best views are presented at dawn, nighttime, or dusk. The services one gets from a cruise are comparable to those provided in a 5-star hotel. An international buffet menu is served to tourists, with a choice of continental or oriental fare.

Taking their adventure a little further, some tourists also try fishing while on the cruise. Each cruise takes about 3 hours to complete.

Water sports:

Most travelers to Dubai look forward to experiencing some of the recreational activities offered in the Emirate, and the water sports are almost always on top of their list. Dubai's pleasant climate and the tranquility of the waters of the famous Dubai Creek are the reasons why the water sports in Dubai are popular.

The adventure begins at the Wild Wadi Water Park. It has 24 rides, with eight Master Blaster and two Flow Riders. Children and adults who are fond of water sports will have a great time, especially with the many thrills and spills that are offered here.

More adventures are offered here with the following:

• Fishing - This is the most favorite and, understandably, the easiest water sport.
• Water skiing - This water sport offers the chance of experiencing the gentle sea breeze as well as the cress of the azure waters.
• Scuba diving - This is a great water sport in Dubai, since the scuba diver will encounter many different marine life forms, such as sharks, eels, turtles, shoals, various species of small fish, and aquatic plants.
• Sailing - This is a highly-recommended water sport when in Dubai. The facilities offered for this adventure provides all the luxury the tourist needs.

It is obvious that the single biggest factor that makes Dubai cruises and water sports famous is the serene condition of Dubai Creek, where all these adventures take place.

All About The Weather in Dubai

What's the weather like in Dubai? People wishing to travel to this beautiful and highly developed state in the United Arab Emirates, but who've never been to anywhere in the Middle East before, have this question.

One of the factors that seem to dictate the trend in Dubai tourism (i.e., the number of tourists to Dubai at any given period of the year) is the weather. Throughout the year, the weather in Dubai is characterized by sunny days. This is understandable considering that Dubai has an excessively dry subtropical climate.

Summer in Dubai, which is during the months of July to September, can be very humid and hot. The temperature during this time is around 45 C (113 F), although it can peak to 48 C (118.4 F), especially in the inner areas of the city. The humidity level, on the other hand, can get to as high as 90 percent. Shamal (Arabic for wind) blows from mid-May to mid-July, and causes large sandstorms.

A marked decrease in temperatures is experienced beginning October. For the entirety of this month, temperatures range from a low of 26 C (78.8 F) to a high of 36 C (96.8 F). The weather in Dubai begins to be comfortable for tourists in the months of November and December. During this period, temperatures range from 21 C (69.8 F) to 30 C (86 F). Some rainfall likewise occur during these two months.

Winter sets in at the start of the year and ends around the end of March. It is during this time of the year when Dubai experiences an increase in the number of tourists because of the ideal weather. Average minimum temperature during this time is 14 C (57.2 F), while average maximum temperature is 29 C (84.2 F).

Beginning April up to late June, the weather in Dubai turns warmer. Temperature during this period is anywhere between 34 C (94.2 F) and 41 C (105.8 F). Humidity level at this time ranges between 50 and 56 percent. Also during these months, the days remain sunny for 10 hours or so.

Rain is scanty for the entire year, with the highest precipitation taking place during the winter months of January to March. The average rainfall in Dubai for the entire year is only about 13 centimeters (just a little over 5 inches).

Here are the temperature averages in Dubai, on a per-month basis:

• January and February - 20 C (68 F)

• March - 23 C (73.4 F)

• April - 25 C (77 F)

• May - 30 C (86 F)

• June - 33 C (91.4 F)

• July and August - 35 C (95 F)

• September - 31 C (87.8 F)

• October - 28 C (82.4 F)

* November - 25 C (77 F)

* December - 22 C (71.6)

In a nutshell, the weather in Dubai is marked with year-round sunshine and very little rainfall. Those who are planning to visit Dubai should choose the period in the year in which they think they will best enjoy their travel to that destination.