A Taste of Dubai (Dubai, UAE 05/13/2019)

The skyline of Dubai is a feast for the eyes, and the many attractions offered throughout the city will feed the rest of your senses.  In the late 1990’s government officials made the decision to move Dubai from an oil-based economy to one rooted in the service and tourist industries.  To be successful they believed they would need to create over-the-top experiences that would garner international recognition and encourage outside investment.  It looks to us like they’ve succeeded.  Dubai is a city of “tallest,” “biggest” and “best” of just about everything.  Here are the highlights of our 6-hour visit to this beautiful city…

Atlantis at the Palm – Located on the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial cluster of islands shaped to form the outline of a palm tree under a crescent sun or moon, whichever you prefer.  Its construction increased Dubai’s shoreline by 320 miles.  It is the world’s largest artificial island and is referred to by some as the eighth wonder of the world.  It was created using 7 million tons of rock and dredging 131 million cubic yards of sand.  The total amount of sand and rock used is enough to build a two-foot thick wall around the circumference of the earth three times.   A 6-lane sea tunnel connects the “trunk” to the “crescent.”  More than 44 million gallons of water had to be displaced to build the tunnel, and more than 2,000 fish were captured and relocated as part of the project.  Thirty thousand tons of reinforcing steel and 110,000 tons of rock were used to build the tunnel.  It took six years to build the islands at a cost of $12 billion, and no time to fill it with high-end condos, hotels, office buildings and retail space.   It is amazing!

Dubai Eye – Currently under construction, the Eye will be the world’s largest Ferris Wheel when it is completed.  At a whopping 700 feet tall, it will easily eclipse the current record holder located in Las Vegas, which is only 550 feet tall. 

Mall of the Emirates – An 800,000 square foot shopping and recreational mecca billed as “the world’s first shopping resort.”  It houses more than 600 retail brands, a massive amusement park and an indoor ski resort where the temperature is always right for a downhill run and you can rent not only your skis and boots, but the parka, gloves and goggles to go with them.

Burj Khalifa – The World’s Tallest Building stands 2,722 feel tall and has won numerous awards/recognitions, including:  World’s largest light and sound show staged on a single building; world’s highest nightclub; word’s tallest free-standing structure and tallest structure every built.

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