A few days in Emirati state of Dubai and wow, what a place. Imagine lots of Las Vegas and a bit of Miami rolled into one, and you sort of get the idea. There are lots of gee whiz factors, including the biggest, first of its kind and “how the heck did they build something like that?” sky scraper. The world’s tallest building looms on the horizon and opens in September. There are sprawling shopping malls filled with outposts of every designer under the sun. Then there’s the man-made Palm Jumeirah islands with the mirage-like Atlantis The Palm resort; the Burj Al Arab, the famous sail-shaped hotel situated on a miniature island in the Arabian Sea; six-lane super highways; and a flashy royal palace where peacocks honk and holler in the front yard. It’s all a bit surreal and brand new.
A few highlights are below.
Let’s Shop!
Here I am en route to my favorite Dubai shop, Boutique 1, a fabulous, multi-level concept store that offers everything from coffee table books to fashion and furniture. Divine! Look at all those skyscrapers in the background.
Cranes!
There are cranes everywhere on the Dubai skyline. Cranes, cranes and more cranes! The construction seems to be in every part of the city, and the workers don’t stop after sundown.
QE2
The retired Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner awaits its eventual transformation into a luxury hotel that will add yet another gee whiz factor to Dubai’s glitz-and-glam equation.
The Burj
The fabled Burj Al Arab hotel—with its distinctive sail-shaped exterior—lights up dramatically after-hours. But don’t think about popping in for a visit unless you have a reservation. And expect steep prices: Appetizers at the disco-fabulous Al Muntaha, the restaurant on the Burj’s vertiginous 27th floor, came in at around $70 each! And my martini was $47!
Burj Atrium
The inside of the Burj is a soaring atrium painted with what seems to be constellations. It’s all very Vegas.
Burj Lobby
If you like a red-and-gold color scheme, then you will go nuts for the Burj. If you prefer a more minimalist chic, book at the far more subdued and stylish Park Hyatt Dubai.