Dubai life style: Duty free shop

Dubai life style: Duty free shop: "Duty free shop link on facebook kindly like this page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zainab-Duty-Free-Karachi-Airport/233856446656169"

Duty free shop

Duty free shop link on facebook kindly like this page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zainab-Duty-Free-Karachi-Airport/233856446656169

Dubai life style: Duty free shop

Dubai life style: Duty free shop

Dos and Don’ts

Greetings: “Dubai is home and host to visitors from around the world and is a melting pot of cultures, but the Arabic greeting ‘al-salaam alaykum’ (peace be with you) (the reply will be ‘wa alaykum e-salaam’/peace upon you) is always welcome and is a great icebreaker. Never offer your hand to an Arab woman unless she offers hers first. Upon entering an Arab home it’s customary to remove your shoes—make sure your socks are clean.”

Clothing: “Dubai’s dress code is liberal, but dress modestly out of respect and save the beachwear for the beach. On the Jumeirah Mosque tour, men should wear trousers with a shirt, and ladies a long skirt or loose trousers, long-sleeved blouse, and head scarf. Slip-on shoes are best as shoes are removed before entering the mosque. If you don’t have appropriate clothes, don’t worry, we provide sheylas (head scarves) and abayas (a long cloak)."

Ceremony: “Emiratis are open-minded, tolerant, and hospitable. Integral to that hospitality is the coffee ceremony. Always accept the tiny cup in your right hand—it’s polite to drink at least three—and after finishing gently shake the cup side to side; this is a signal that you’ve finished."

Manners: “At meal times your Arab hosts will be generous with portions, so forget calorie counting! Be prepared to sit in the traditional manner (on the floor); women should wear a long skirt. Try not to sit so that the soles of your feet are presented to another person; it’s impolite. Food is eaten with the right hand but you may use your left to drink.”

Smoking: “If here during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, remember not to smoke, eat, or drink in public from sunrise to sunset. Kids are an exception and can discreetly drink and eat as usual. Hotels keep eateries open for non-Muslims, as do some malls; your concierge can advise you.”

Phrase Book

Marhaba: Hello.
Al Salaam alaykum: And peace be with you (alternative to ‘hello’).
Wa alaykum e-salaam: Peace be upon you (response to ‘hello’).
Kay fahlak?: How are you?
Zein, shukran: Well, thanks.
Ma’al salaama: Goodbye.
Na’am: Yes.
La: No.
Insha’Allah: God willing (it will happen).
Min fadhlak: Please (to a man).
Min fadhlich: Please (to a woman).
Shufi mafi?: What’s up

The best places to stay in four price ranges: budget ($), moderate ($$), expensive ($$$), and luxury ($$$$)

$ 

Ibis World Trade Centre Dubai

Contemporary, comfortable, 210-room budget business hotel linked to the Exhibition Centre and Convention Centre of Dubai. Super chic lounge lobby; unfortunately offset by small rooms. Popular Italian restaurant and bars. Centrally located. Behind World Trade Centre. Off Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 332 4444.

Orient Guest House
“You’re talking traditional courtyard living, a Dubai rarity.”—Claire Malcolm, editor, Concierge magazine. Ten spacious rooms in historic Bastakiya quarter spread across two courtyard houses; traditional decor; tranquil, atmospheric, and laid-back. Al Fahidi Street, Bastakiya; tel. 971 4 351 9111.

$$

Hilton Dubai Creek
“Slap-bang in the city with funky boutique appeal.”—Claire Malcolm. Swish Carlos Ott-designed glass tower with 154 spacious rooms; creek-view rooms offer sublime sunset vistas; the penthouse suite is a sleek apartment with panoramic views. Gordon Ramsay’s Verre restaurant. Small rooftop pool. Beniyas Road, Deira; tel. 971 4 227 1111.
Al Manzil Hotel
“Nouvelle Arabia architecture, no-nonsense business vibe.”—Claire Malcolm. Chic, 197-room four-star in the shadow of the world’s tallest building; contemporary Arabian style melds modern and traditional—backlit mashrabiya (carved wood) screens and orange-glowing lamps; creative room layouts; complimentary high-speed Internet access; flat-screen TVs that hide away. Burj Dubai Boulevard, Old Town, Burj Dubai; tel. 971 4 428 5888.
Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City
“In the heart of Dubai’s media hub with an alfresco, rooftop bar overlooking new Dubai’s scores of skyscrapers, spectacular when lit up at night.”—Zoe Rawlins, editor, Visitor Magazine. Hip business hotel with 246 rooms; spa, pools, and gym; award-winning Italian restaurant; stylish bars attract local advertising crowd. Free, fast wireless Internet. Dubai Media City; tel. 971 4 366 9111.

Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers
Fully renovated creekside five-star; 262 spacious rooms decorated in various styles; opulent and plush. Tower floors offer excellent creek views. Extensive facilities and excellent restaurants (Ashiana and Creekside). Walking distance to shopping and dhows (boats) on the waterfront. Beniyas Road, Deira; tel. 971 4 228 1111.

$$$ 

BurJuman Rotana Suites

Stylish serviced apartments in a sleek new tower; enormous one-, three-, and four-bedroom suites with kitchenettes; 148 rooms; excellent views from higher floors. Adjacent to swanky BurJuman shopping center and linked to state-of-the-art fitness center. Trade Centre Road, Bur Dubai; tel. 971 4 352 4444.
Dusit Dubai
Distinctive and luxurious Thai hotel with 321 generously appointed, comfortable rooms in an understated Asian style; floor-to-ceiling windows and large bathrooms. Dusit Club rooms offer excellent value for business travelers. Superb Thai cuisine at authentic Benjarong restaurant. Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 343 3333.
Grosvenor House
Chic cosmopolitan hotel and serviced apartments with big-city sophistication; 217 spacious, comfortable rooms in a chic contemporary style; enviable eateries and hip Buddha Bar. West Marina Beach; tel. 971 4 399 8888.
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
An anodyne exterior gives way to a dramatic lobby: transparent Philippe Starck-designed Kartell chairs in the contemporary Aspen Café. Features 393 spacious mod rooms and elegant suites; 15 “ski chalets” overlook snowy slopes of Ski Dubai, the world’s first Alpine-themed snow park; excellent spa and gym. Superb shopping at adjoining Mall of the Emirates. Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 341 0000.

One&Only Royal Mirage
Three opulent Arabian-style hotels, nearly 500 rooms, most have balconies or terraces with sea views; pristine beach with regal pavilions overlooking Palm Island; superb spa and hammam (bath); hip bars and restaurants. Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 399 9999.

Park Hyatt Dubai
White, Moroccan-style, low-rise resort with 225 sleek Middle Eastern-accented rooms; sublime creek and marina views; creekside Terrace bar; authentic Thai restaurant; and decadent Friday brunch. Play golf at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club next door. Dubai Creek Golf andYacht Club, Deira; tel. 971 4 602 1234.

Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort andSpa
Family-oriented luxury beach resort: enormous, well-appointed resort; over 500 enormous, well-appointed rooms, from beachfront to butler served. Verdant landscaped gardens, several pools, pristine private beach, and extensive water-sport facilities. Myriad dining and drinking options, including the magical Maya restaurant for Mexican fine dining. Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 399 5555.

$$$$

Burj Al Arab
Ostentatious and iconic Dubai landmark; self-appointed “five-star deluxe” property (often referred to as “seven-starred”) featuring 202 two-story suites, catered to by more than 1,200 attentive staff including a personal butler for each suite. Sleek “dhow sail” exterior gives way to a kaleidoscopic interior of glitzy gulf style. Stunning views from Skyview Bar. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 301 7777.

Mina A’ Salam
This “harbor of peace” has 292 traditionally decorated rooms facing the Arabian Gulf: opulent public spaces feature handcrafted mashrabiya screens, Asian lamps, and plush furnishings. A bevy of restaurants, bars, and shopping at Souk Madinat. Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 366 8888.

Photo Gallery: Dubai City Life

Bastakiya Quarter

The traditional wind towers in the restored Bastakiya Quarter were designed as a household cooling system.

Gold Suq 

The Gold Suq is home to myriad shops with dazzling displays of gold jewelry; be prepared to bargain.

Muslim Woman 

Dubai woman wearing a sheyla (head scarf) keeps in touch.

Nighttime Scene 

A Chinese businessman in Dubai looks out from a Chinese restaurant in Deira, Dubai’s chaotic suq district.

Expatriates at Arabian Ranches 

Basking in the good life, expatriates watch a polo match at Arabian Ranches, a suburban-style development in Dubai

Mass Wedding Guests 

A guest at a mass wedding in Dubai peruses the thick program, which lists 47 couples.

Dubai Creek Dockside

A sailor loads consumer goods onto a dhow on a Dubai Creek dock.

United Arab Emirates Facts

Population:
4,618,000 Capital:Abu Dhabi; 630,000                                             
Area: 77,700 square kilometers (30,000 square miles)
Language: Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Religion: Sunni and Shiite Muslim, Christian, Hindu
Currency: Emirati dirham
Life Expectancy: 74
GDP per Capita: U.S. $22,100
Literacy Percent: 78


Seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula combined to form a federation after Britain pulled out of this barren coastal region in 1971. The United Arab Emirates comprises Abu Dhabi, seat of the federal government and the oil capital; Dubayy (Dubai), the main port and commercial industrial hub; Ajman; Umm al Qaywayn; Ras al Khaymah; Al Fujayrah; and Sharjah. Oil, discovered in 1958, is the major income earner. Oil wealth brought foreign workers, who now make up about three-quarters of the population. A favorite destination for tourists, the country has a liberal attitude toward other cultures and beliefs.

ECONOMY

* Industry: Petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, construction materials
* Agriculture: Dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry; fish
* Exports: Crude oil, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Bastakiya Quarter
Tranquil turn-of-the-20th-century Persian neighborhood on Dubai Creek; labyrinthine lanes; restored courtyard residences with wind towers; art galleries, cafés, tiny museums, and boutique hotels. Tip: “Don’t miss XVA and Ave galleries’ shows of upcoming Arab and Iranian artists.

Burj Al Arab (Arabian Tower)
“Dubai’s own Eiffel Tower: futuristic, iconic, and the quintessential vacation photo op.”—Claire Malcolm, editor, Concierge magazine. Ostentatious “seven-star hotel;” dancing fountains; “underwater” restaurant. Tip: Book ahead for sunset cocktails at Skyview Bar. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah;
tel. 971 4 301 7777

Desert Safari
“Ride nature’s roller coaster then feast under the stars with shisha and belly dancing.”—Claire England, managing editor, Explorer Publishing based in Dubai. Dune driving, camel riding, sandboarding. Arabian Adventures; tel. 971 4 303 4888.
Dubai Creek
“Grab an abra for a trip down Dubai’s original lifeline where dhows unload cargo beneath sculptured skyscrapers.”—Claire England. Tip: Abras (water taxis) crisscross the creek, leaving when full. Hire one for sunset.

Dubai Museum
“The best way to comprehend Dubai’s meteoric transformation from desert settlement to Arabian megalopolis.”—Sarah Monaghan, author, DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Dubai. Evocative quirky dioramas; archaeology, weapons, instruments, costumes inside an old fort. Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai; tel. 971 4 353 1862;

Dubai Suqs
Bargain for gold, spices, perfume, and textiles at atmospheric creekside suqs. Tip: “Offer half what they ask, walk away if they don’t agree; they’ll call you back and drop their prices

Heritage House & Al Ahmadiya School
“Old-school style and courtyard calm offer shaded respite from Deira bustle.”—Claire Malcolm. Restored merchant’s residence and one of Dubai’s first schools. Al Ahmadiya Street, near Gold Souq, Deira;
tel. 971 4 226 0286.

Jumeirah Mosque
“This forward-thinking tour offers an opportunity to understand Islam.”—Sarah Monaghan. Elegant, intricately detailed; only mosque in the country that non-Muslims can enter, enlightening guided visits. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 226 0286.

Madinat Jumeirah
Contemporary incarnation of mythical old Arabian city; opulent hotels; air-conditioned suq; myriad cafés, bars, restaurants; abras gliding on canals; mesmerizing vistas. Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah; tel. 971 4 366 8888.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
“A bite-sized introduction to local culture.”—Zoe Rawlins, editor, Visitor Magazine. Elegant old courtyard residence; meet Emiratis at a cultural breakfast. Bastakiya; tel. 971 4 353 6666.

Ski Dubai
“Artificial piste action inside a mega mall—only in Dubai!” —Claire Malcolm. Tip: Snow is best and crowds less in the morning. Mall of the Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road; tel. 971 4 409 4000.