Dubai is simply bursting with shops and markets where you can buy absolutely anything. And, like Las Vegas (USA) and Singapore, Dubai has been created out of nothing. It is built on sand, with a scorching climate, no scenery, little history and not much water - and is now attracting 10 million tourists a year.
Dubai's ruling al-Maktoum family have successfully pursued a strategy to transform their tiny fishing village into the trade and tourism hub of the Middle East. Huts made from palm fronds and houses built of blocks of coral, stuck together with mud and lime, have been replaced with gleaming steel-and-glass skyscrapers of the most extraordinary design. Dubai is sort of Las Vegas meets Singapore. Like the wise guys in Vegas, the sheikhs in Dubai seem engaged in a competition to see who can produce the most extraordinary buildings.
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Burj Dubai Opening 4 Jan 2010
The world's tallest building is declared opened for business by the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Hovering at the height of over 818 metres (from ground to the spire) and with more than 160 floors. The Burj Dubai observation deck is located on the 124 floor with is highest and only publicly accessible observation deck with an outdoor terrace. A standard visit to At The Top Observation Deck at Burj Dubai lasts approximately 60 minutes, allowing ample time for you to relax and enjoy the Dubai skyline at your leisure. The Observation Deck opening hours are between 10am to 12am (mid-night) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Other days, between 10am to 10pm. You need to purchase tickets from the Ground Floor (Dubai Mall) 15 minutes before ahead of your schedule visit.
A Marina in The Sahara
Marina, a family-owned funishing shop that was established in 1997, which offers rustic and exotic products has just opened it´s 16th showroom in Sharjah´s Sahara Centre. The 12,000 square feet showroom, will provide a shop window for Marina´s beautifully handcrafted range of fusion-based home interiors. Designed in-house by Marina´s Dubai design team and sourced from around the world the Hard Furniture (sofa, bedroom and dining room sets), Home Decoration and Accessories (lighting, wall decor and accessories) and Home Fabrics Lines (curtains, covers, throws, runners and table-linen), deliver a unique lifestyle. The Sahara Centre offers the investor a unique business opportunity, one of the best in Sharjah and the UAE. We have a complete cross-section of brands that continue to attract new customers.
Jewellery sales surge
Despite a high gold price and a traditional lull in shopping activity during the summer, Dubai's retail jewellery trade registered an overall sales surge of five per cent in June-August period compared to the same time last year (2003). Trade has been witnessing a sustained upswing since the Dubai Shopping Festival when the sales recorded a 40 per cent surge over the previous year.
Dubai Tour Guide Gets Guided
A nine-day Dubai Tour Guide Course, started on August 2004, was held at the state-of-the-art Dubai Cruise Terminal. The course was 
conducted by a Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing appointed training center, which attracted 24 participants from 12 nationalities including the UAE, India, Ukraine, Germany, Czech Republic, UK, Finland, Phillippines, France, Russia, Canada and Sri Lanka. They are provided information that enhances their knowledge about Dubai’s geography, history, culture and heritage, economy and key organisations, local regulations and places of interest in addition to the tourism contribution to the economy.
Ramada Continental Hotel opens in Dubai
Ramada International Hotels & Resorts, a division of Marriott International - a leading lodging company with over 2,860 properties worldwide, has announced the opening of the Ramada Continental Hotel in Deira, Dubai. This is Ramada's second hotel in Dubai. Centrally located in the city of Deira, it is just ten minutes from Dubai International Airport and offers roundtrip airport transportation. The hotel offers 192-rooms and guests can enjoy the rooftop swimming pool which offers spectacular views of the city.
Better Taxi Service in Sharjah
Sharjah Transport launched recently a taxi service that was franchised to two companies namely City Taxi and Emirates Taxi, with each of them operating 80 cars. The advantages of franchised taxis is that its operators are guided by Sharjah Transport rules and regulations. Private owned taxi service have no system to guide their haphazard operations. Fares is Dh2 for pick-up during morning and Dh3 from 10pm to 6am, in addition to Dh1 per each kilometre. FYI: Dh1 (UAE Dirhams) is approximately US$ 0.25 (United States Dollars).
Horseback patrol is back in Dubai
The distinctive clippity clop of hooves heralds the arrival of the Mounted Police along the night street in Dubai. These mounted patrols can also go through narrow areas that police cars can't reach. The fact that the officers are mounted also helps them cover large areas. About 200 horses make up the main Bur Dubai Mounted Police Department and its other branch in Deira.
UAE host international chess festival
Players from over 25 countries and regions will take part in Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be opened on Saturday, 14 August 2004. The event is organised by the Abu Dhabi Chess and Culture Club (ADCCC) and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation (ADCF), under the patronage of UAE government. The festival will include five competitions - the Masters, the Open Tournament for men which has attracted more than 150 participants, the U-16 youth competition, the U-12 competition, the Blitz competition and for the first time a computer competition featuring the German chess program Shroeder.
Leading UAE women's player Fatima Al Hammadi will also be in action. The Abu Dhabi International Chess festival will also feature players from Azerbiajan, India, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Pakistan, Tunis, Sudan, Turkey, Britain, France,Germany, the Philippines, Romania, Denmark, Morocco, Qatar, Yemen and the UAE.
OXBOW's second boutique in Dubai
The Souk Madinat outlet is smaller than the Village Mall's colorful shop. It will still maintain the spirit that embodies this French brand - conveying a specific attitude related to personal achievement and fulfillment in sports via refined cuts, eye-catching prints and quality of materials.
Colin McRae coming to the Desert
World Rally Champion, Colin McRae, will participate in the UAE Desert Challenge in October, as a 'warm-up' for the Dakar. He will be driving for Nissan. Desert Challenge 2004 will starts on the 11 October 2004 and ends 15 October 2004. Moreeb Hill is the location for the Bivouac for the four night spent in the desert. It lies 20 kms south of the heart of the Liwa Oasis and is accessible by asphalt/blacktop road. For more information, visit UAE Desert Challenge website.