Exciting New Attractions Tempting Luxury Travellers To Dubai

(Thu Jul 15th, 2010, by Isla Campbell)

Dubai has been one of the major success stories of international travel in the past decade, rising to prominence as a hotspot for luxury holidaymakers seeking something more from their holidays than just sun, sea and sand - all of which the United Arab Emirates destination already offers in abundance. The city's dedication to providing a unique experience for visitors is continuing in the new decade with initiatives such as the world villas project, a land reclamation scheme that aims to create a microcosm of the whole world for visitors to Dubai and is expected to be completed in 2011. These new projects complement other admirable achievements by Dubai in recent years, including signature landmarks of its skyline such as the Burj al Arab and Burj Khalifa, which opened earlier this year and is currently the world's tallest building. At a height of 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa is visible from the air when approaching Dubai, and from its observation deck offers an unparalleled view of the city, making it a top choice for luxury holidaymakers. Even completion of this engineering achievement has not tempered Dubai's desire for all things large and grand, however, with other structures such as the work-in-progress Emirates Park Towers Hotel and Spa continuing to expand the city's offerings and ever-changing skyline. Dubai is not just a destination for tourists either, with many of its achievements being in the area of retail. Like everything else in the city, Dubai's shopping malls don't do anything by half measures, and the new Dubai Mall has been praised as the world's largest shopping centre, as well as one of its most involved. Combining big name brands from around the world with a 22-screen cinema, waterfall feature, Olympic-sized ice rink and Sega Republic indoor amusement park, the Dubai Mall is more than just a place to shop, and a major destination for families. That's not to say that all of these new developments have seen Dubai losing touch with its heritage, however, and visitors looking for authentic Dubai holidays can still find a wealth of traditional shopping opportunities at the market souks of Bur Dubai, as well as museum exhibits focusing on its colourful history. With the global economy beginning to recover, particularly in the travel sector, many industry bodies have already reported a rise in bookings for luxury holidays to Dubai, as ever more travellers are eager to experience its unique attractions firsthand.