Dubai

Dubai is one of the seven emirates which make up the United Arab Emirates and is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. Its capital city, referred to as "Dubai City" in order to distinguish it from the Dubai Emirate, is the largest city of the UAE. Dubai was originally established from the proceeds of its now-dwindling oil reserves and it has subsequently started to focus on trade, real estate, financial services and tourism in order to generate its income. It has a sub-tropical, arid climate and experiences perfect weather for at least half of the year with infrequent bouts of rain occurring in the winter.

The city of Dubai is renowned for hosting a number of international sporting tournaments including: Golf's PGA Dubai Desert Classic, the Dubai Rugby Sevens, the Dubai Tennis Championship and the world's wealthiest horse race - the Dubai World Cup. Shopping in the emirate is a major tourist attraction with over 50 shopping malls providing some of the world's leading designer brands. The region is a golfers' paradise with luxurious facilities and five star services provided at its seven championship courses. Skiing is an unlikely sport in the middle of the dessert but this has not stopped the Al Maktoum family in their attempt to make Dubai the leading tourist destination on the planet; Kempinski Mall offers the opportunity to slalom on real snow at the world's third largest indoor ski slope which measures 400m and uses 6,000 tons of ice. Another of Dubai's record breaking achievements is its Burj Al Arab hotel, voted the best hotel in the world and recognizable by its sail-shape structure which soars 321 m into the sky.

Dubai is a property market like no other on the globe, offering a range of properties and facilities second to none. A perfect example would be the Palm Jumeirah also referred to as "The Palm Dubai". Each of the islands - Palm Jemeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira - are being built in the shape of a date palm and consist of a trunk, a crown with fronds and are surrounded by a crescent island acting as a breakwater. They are the largest man-made islands in the world and have been referred to by many as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The islands support freehold residential villas, water homes, shoreline apartments, marinas, theme parks, shopping malls, health spas, restaurants and luxury hotels.