Drenched in Dubai
10/16/2006 4:00:53 PM by Jorge Arauz
Looking at Dubai as solely a saturated development mecca would be a mistake: This small city-state off the Persian Gulf has a bevy of water-related activities that are sometimes overshadowed by its majestic building boom.
Photos courtesy of the Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing
The smallest of the UAE’s seven states is on the verge of becoming the world’s grandest. With a plethora of water-themed destinations and enough fishing to keep even the most avid angler occupied for months, it’s no wonder Dubai is being recognized for more than just its real estate boom. Waterparks, marinas, fishing tours and world-class water tournaments abound in this seemingly untapped Middle Eastern hotspot.
DESIRABLE DESTINATION
In 2005, Dubai reported more than six million visitors; an increase of 50 percent since 2001. By 2008, Dubai International Airport is expected to expand its capacity capabilities to more than 70 million, and the new Jebel Airport is expected to welcome an estimated 120 million passengers a year when it’s completed in 2009.
The government in Dubai has made it an effort to debunk the American misperception that the city, located in the Middle East, is affiliated with terrorism. “One of the greatest mistakes anyone in the U.S. can make is to avoid Dubai because they think it’s dangerous or that they will be attacked by extremists,” says Prakash Johari, a publisher who recently launched a new luxury lifestyle title in the city. “A trip to Dubai should be on everyone’s itinerary at least once in their lifetime.”
David Youssef, managing director of Goodhealth Worldwide, LLC, agrees. He arrived in the area 11 years ago after working extensively in the American corporate pensions market. “Dubai and the rest of the Arab world is not what you read in the media. They’re great places to visit and are actually very safe,” he says. “I leave my door open at night here. I was walking next to the Capitol in D.C. a few years ago and I got mugged. There’s a lot of pluses here, one of the prime ones being that we don’t worry about crime.
“I’m spoiled,” he continues, mentioning the vast entertainment options in Dubai. “When I first arrived in Dubai, there was one movie theatre — now we have 80.” This includes theaters that introduced lounge chairs and waiter service, which are unique to the region.
WATER TIME
Water activities abound in Dubai. Amongst the best is the Bateaux Dubai Cruise, featuring live entertainment, laser shows, fireworks and a world-class restaurant with a 360-degree panoramic view. Charters are available daily.
If cruising isn’t your thing, there’s enough opportunities for fishing, diving and water sports to keep you entertained. The Dubai Fishing Tour is famous because of the abundance of kingfish, queenfish, dorado, long tail tuna, giant trevally, bonito, Spanish mackerel, cobia, blue sharks and barracuda that you’ll encounter while out on the water. Additionally, shore fishing yields barracuda, big saltwater catfish, stingrays, guitarfish and various species of shark. The fishing season runs from October through May, with fish well over 120 pounds not uncommon. Last year, the UAE harvested the biggest crop of sailfish in the world.
DEBONAIRE DHOW
Perhaps the more prestigious events hosted in Dubai are the ISAF World Sailing Championships as well as numerous dhow sailing, rowing and wooden powerboat races held annually from October to May.
The dhow sailing races are probably the most gracious of the competitions, with each vessel designed in exactly the same fashion as those used by ancient pearl sailors. The enormous sails are made from silk or nylon fabric, with few faltering from the traditional white. Each boat must have at least 10 crewmembers, with many consisting of up to four generations from a single family. The dhow season culminates in May with the 54-nautical-mile Sir Bu Naair race that can take up to eight hours from start to finish. Currently, only UAE nationals have been allowed to participate in the races, although that’s expected to change as worldwide interest in the city continues to gain momentum.
WATERPARK MANIA
Dubai prides itself on establishing a family-friendly environment year-round and has become almost as famous for its water parks as it has for its surreal real estate and golden sands. With almost 20 hectares of fun water activities, Dubai’s SpashLand is a family favorite. The park features scores of waterslides, wave pools, roller coasters, a log flume, bumper boats and inner tubes.
Another great waterpark is Wild Wadi Waterpark, located between Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The park flaunts 24 rides and attractions, most of which inter-connect, including cliffs, waterfalls and lagoons. The “Jumeirah Sceirah” waterslide hurtles you one hundred feet before crashing into the valley below. The park recently earned the World Waterpark Association’s Industry Innovation Awards for Outstanding Accomplishment in Design and Theming.
BIGGER IS BEST
As everyone knows, Dubai is all about being the biggest and breaking world records. Examples abound. A year ago, Dubai built Ibn Battuta Mall, the world’s largest themed mall, inspired by the travels of the 14th-century explorer. DubaiLand, projected to be the Middle East’s bigger-than-life version of Disneyland’s Epcot Center and the Burj Tower, set to be the world’s tallest skyscraper, are two other impressive examples. Then there’s The Palm and The World, two manmade islands off the coast of the city that resemble exactly what they’re named after, and the Dubai Waterfront project, expected to be the largest waterfront development on the planet.
The projects are so massive, they could easily be labeled mini-continents and will brag beachside villas, condos, shops, hotels, marinas, water theme parks, spas and enough dive sites to keep you submerged for the better part of the year. Even Trump has jumped on the golden bandwagon, planning to open the Trump International Hotel & Tower on the trunk of Palm Island in 2008.
This month, The Palm will start to welcome its first frond and trunk residents who sealed the deal to the tune of $600,000-$1.6 million, the price they paid in 2002 when The Palm hit the market and sold out within 48 hours. Since, value has increased by 20 percent. Currently, for about $750,000 to $2 million, you can purchase what’s left of the second palm-shaped island, Palm Jebel Ali, set to open in 2009. The final island, Palm Deira, has more than 8,000 villas for sale and is expected to start welcoming residents by 2015.
In a country immune to natural disasters because of its ideal location, all 300 islands that will make up The World are set to become the most sought-after addresses on Earth. Accessible only via boat or helicopter, they will also be among the most private. The entire project is expected to be complete by 2008. Each island is priced at around $45 million and Nevada, Hawaii, Thailand and Kuwait have already been bought. You can get an island-by-island tour at theworld.ae under “Master Plan.” Island Global Yachting is the exclusive provider for all of Nakheel’s marina properties, encompassing more than 40,000 marina slips.
It seems when one combines the abundant opportunities available to yacht owners with the hundreds of activities that appeal to water lovers and anglers throughout the year, Dubai can look forward to welcoming an affluent influx of tourists and residents for centuries to come — and perhaps claim its well-earned title as the tourism capital of the world.
