These are photos of stop #3 on my Aroun-the-World trip 2009. March 3, 2009. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
DUBAI, UAE
Dubai (in Arabic: دبيّ, transliteration: Dubayy) is one of the seven emirates and the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. The Dubai Municipality is sometimes called Dubai city to distinguish it from the emirate.
Written accounts document the existence of the city for at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. Dubai's current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
The emirate's main revenues are from tourism, trade, real estate and financial services. Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% (2006) of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy (2005). Real estate and construction, on the other hand, contributed 22.6% to the economy in 2005, before the current large-scale construction boom. Dubai has attracted attention through its real estate projects and sports events. This increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has highlighted labor and human rights issues concerning its largely foreign workforce.
Written accounts document the existence of the city for at least 150 years prior to the formation of the UAE. Dubai shares legal, political, military and economic functions with the other emirates within a federal framework, although each emirate has jurisdiction over some functions such as civic law enforcement and provision and upkeep of local facilities. Dubai has the largest population and is the second largest emirate by area, after Abu Dhabi. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are the only two emirates to possess veto power over critical matters of national importance in the country's legislature. Dubai has been ruled by the Al Maktoum dynasty since 1833. Dubai's current ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
The emirate's main revenues are from tourism, trade, real estate and financial services. Revenues from petroleum and natural gas contribute less than 6% (2006) of Dubai's US$ 37 billion economy (2005). Real estate and construction, on the other hand, contributed 22.6% to the economy in 2005, before the current large-scale construction boom. Dubai has attracted attention through its real estate projects and sports events. This increased attention, coinciding with its emergence as a world business hub, has highlighted labor and human rights issues concerning its largely foreign workforce.
A view of the Suadi Arabian Desert from the plane.
The Persian Gulf from the plane
First glimpse of Dubai from the plane
The Dubai International Airport
My ride and driver on my excursion into the Desert.
The Mall of the Emirates
The Mall of the Emirates is a shopping mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently owned by Majid Al Futtaim (MAF Holding). The mall was designed by the American architectural firm, F+A Architects. Prior to the opening of the Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates was the largest shopping mall in the Middle East. It contains approximately 2,400,000 square feet (223,000 m2) of shops and the entire mall forms a total of approximately 6.5 million square feet. In a global perspective, the World's largest shopping mall, the South China Mall in Dongguan, China, contains approximately 7,100,000 square feet (660,000 m2) of shopping space in a complex that totals approximately 9,600,000 square feet (892,000 m2). Although it features the usual amenities for a mall (a fourteen-screen movie theater, a gaming arena, a typical variety of stores, and a dramatic theater), its biggest claim to fame is the Middle East's first indoor ski slope, Ski Dubai. With the ski area, one of the largest in the world, the Mall of the Emirates seeks to differentiate itself from the dozen or so other newly completed malls in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. Half of the mall opened in September 2005, then officially opened in late November 2005 with the inauguration of the ski area, although it had already been in operation for several weeks. It is located in the Al Barsha area of Dubai.
Ski Dubai
Ski Dubai is claimed to be one of the largest indoor ski resorts in the world, with 22,500-square metres of indoor ski area. It is a part of the Mall of the Emirates, which is one of the largest shopping malls in the world.
An extremely efficient insulation system is the key to maintain the temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees during the night when the snow is produced.
Ski Dubai is part of the Majid Al Futtaim Group of Companies, a leader for shopping malls in the region. Ski Dubai has 5 runs of varying difficulties, the longest being 400m.
An extremely efficient insulation system is the key to maintain the temperature of -1 degrees Celsius during the day and -6 degrees during the night when the snow is produced.
Ski Dubai is part of the Majid Al Futtaim Group of Companies, a leader for shopping malls in the region. Ski Dubai has 5 runs of varying difficulties, the longest being 400m.
Facts:
- 22,500m² covered with real snow all year round – (equivalent to 3 football fields).
- 85 metres high (approximately 25 stories) and 80 metres wide.
- Full capacity of 1500 guests.
- 5 runs.
Snow skiing in the middle of the desert at the Mall of the Emirates
Outside the Dubai Mall
The Burj Dubai
Dubai City Skyline
Into the desert......dune bashing.
Posing next to my ride in the middle of the desert
A dune-buggy
Posing in the desert outside Dubai
Four-wheeling......(not me)
Holding the sun with one finger
The Beautiful desert sunset
A hunting falcon at the Bedouin desert camp
Holding the falcon
The Bedouin desert camp
Smoking sheesha at the Bedouin desert camp
The belly-dancer
The Burj al-Arab at night
The Jumeirah Beach Resort
Posing next to the Burj al-Arab
The Dubai city skyline at night
Excellent videos of me dune bashing in the desert....was amazing!
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