It wasn’t long ago that Dubai barely registered a blip on the radar of American jetsetters looking for the next “it” destination. They parked their yachts in the standard favorites of South of France, Monaco and Sardinia – the more adventurous stopped at the Italian island of Pantelleria. But all of a sudden, Americans discovered what Europeans had known for years – that with its year round sunshine, ideal location on the Arabian Sea, and luxurious hotels beyond compare, Dubai is an exciting travel destination for those looking for a truly luxe experience.



For its part, the city of Dubai has kept pace with the tourist demand and initiated an incomparable year round schedule of special events to entertain the travelers who venture to the port from around the world. A cosmopolitan city, Dubai attracts business travelers from throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East and leisure seekers from the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia, and increasingly, the United States.

Background:
In the early 1800s the area where the creek met the sea was settled by members of the Bani Yas tribe, led by the Maktoum Family (descendents of which still rule the Emirate.) The strategic location soon became a leading trading port in the region. By the early 20th century Dubai had flourished with both a local population and a 20 percent expatriate population who came for the immense business opportunities. Dubai was already a thriving business hub when oil was discovered in 1966, which proved to be a significant economic supplement to the local economy, enabling the rapid development of the city’s infrastructure. With its natural advantages of location, beaches and sun and a city-wide telecommunications, education, health and transportation infrastructure in place, Dubai was poised to develop as a tourist destination in the 1980s and 1990s. Emphasizing luxury quality and striking architecture, developers brought hotels to the commercial centers as well as along the beach, the primary attraction for European tourists.

Dubai continues to develop its hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and nightclubs for the ever-increasing number of visitors, while the city has also begun to cater to the newer market of secondary home buyers. The most talked about developments are The Palm and The World, two man-made island groupings just off the coast containing luxury villas, apartments and hotels. Visitors now have the opportunity to view a rapidly changing Dubai, where it is as common to see a dramatic sunset over the Sea as it is to see a row of development cranes.

When To Go:   
What was once a winter sun destination has become a year round hotspot with events in every season. However, the sun does beat heavily in the summer, so a visit between May and September requires serious sun protection and refuges indoors for all except the most devoted sun worshippers. The city runs a series of “Summer Surprises,” sales and children-focused events from June to September. Kids also cool off all summer long at the Wild Wadi Water Park in the center of the Jumeirah neighborhood along the beach. Though there are Fall events, the local social season truly begins in December and continues through March.

The Dubai International Film Festival, taking place this year from December 10 – 17, kicks off the social season with a dynamic series of film screenings and lavish parties. Attracting a truly international group of film industry professionals, the festival screens films organized around themes and geography. European films comprise one series while American, Middle Eastern and Bollywood movies are featured in their own series. In recent years, the festival’s judging committees have brought such a diverse group of international stars as Morgan Freeman, Catherine Deneuve and Orlando Bloom. The opening gala is a glittering affair with a carefully selected film to satisfy the curious. Every day following features film screenings, discussions with directors and stars and opportunities for meeting and mingling. Of course, the evenings are reserved for glamorous events culminating in the closing night gala. 

Following closely after the film festival is the Dubai Shopping Festival, quite possibly the biggest shop-till-you-drop extravaganza in the world – not to mention Dubai’s most popular worldwide attraction. The festival begins on December 20 of this year and continues until February 2, 2007. The month-long event draws at least three million people to the city all with one shared goal – to buy more for less than anywhere else. Dubai boasts traditional souks, or markets, in addition to dozens of hyper-modern malls. International brands like Cartier, Gucci and Lanvin fill the malls alongside a Saks Fifth Avenue, top Indian designer boutiques and Villa Moda, an innovative Middle Eastern department store which features selections from Prada, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and many, many more. Shoppers come for clothes, jewelry (gold is sold by the gram weight), cars and the latest electronics. But, as if the deals were not enough, shopping is not the only draw of the festival! To entertain shoppers and visitors, the festival contains a full program of fireworks displays and pop stars (think heavyweights like Mariah Carey) from around the world to perform exclusive concerts.