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The best of Dubai
Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: Allphoto
The City of Merchants, a shimmering oasis at the edge of the Arabian
Gulf, providing the finest facilities, attractions and environment
for both business and tourism. Dubai is a clean, contemporary city
where commercial towers blend with ancient Middle Eastern designs
and customs.
Renata Talacková
sales manager, Concorde Group
Favorite hotel: Rotana Towers, 1 Sheikh Zayed Road,
tel: +971 4 3438000
Favorite restaurant: Fish Market, InterContinental,
Bin Yas Street, tel: +971 4 222 7171
Favorite night club: Long's bar, Towers Rotana
Hotel, tel: +971 4 312 2202
Favorite attraction: Jeep safari
Best-kept secret: Kasbar, The Royal Mirage
Hotel, tel: +971 4 399 9999
Favorite shop: Armani, Al Maktoum Road
Advice: Take your Platinum credit card and
forget your troubles! |
Jan Papež
general manager, Marco Polo International Favorite
hotel: Metropolitan Beach Resort, P.O.BOX 24454,
tel: +971 4 399 50 00
Beautiful beach, wonderful tropical garden, swimming pool
- excellent place to relax. High quality rooms, pleasant service
for a decent price.
Favorite restaurant: Long Yin, Le Méridien
Hotel, Deira Dubai, tel: + 971 4 282 4040. Chinese restaurant;
delicious food and excellent service.
Favorite night clubs: There are many Irish
pubs with live music and great beer.
Favorite shops: Quality goods for reasonable
prices can be found in big shopping centers as well as markets.
Favorite attraction: Safari. Driving a jeep
4x4 in sand dunes increases your adrenaline rate and the sunset
is very romantic. The ride finishes in Bedouin camps, but
be careful to chose smaller, untouched camps with atmosphere.
Best-kept secret: Take a companion with you
(advice for both genders). Emirates is really not the most
convenient place for a holiday romance.
Advice: Have a shot of your favorite "disinfectant"
in the morning..
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Marcus Platzer
director of sales & marketing, InterContinental
Hotel Prague Favorite hotel: Business
Hotel: InterContinental Dubai, Bin Yas Street, P.O. box 476,
tel: +971 4 222 7171
Leisure Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Dubai, P.O.
box 26525, tel: +971 4 399 4000
Favorite restaurant: Shabestan, InterContinental,
Bin Yas Street, PO Box 476, tel: +971 4 222 7171 -The only
place in Dubai where you can sample authentic Persian cuisine.
Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab Hotel, 6 Al-Jumeirah Road, tel: +
971 4 348 0000 - probably one of the best seafood experiences
in the world
Favorite night club: Kasbar, Royal Mirage
Hotel on Jumeirah Beach, tel: +971 4 399 9999
Favorite shops: Wafi Mall, Bur Dubai, tel:
+971 4 3244 555 and Burman Centre, probably two of the most
exclusive malls in the world
Favorite attractions: Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi
Road, tel: +971 4 353 1862, This museum houses Al Fahidi Fort.
The "Souks" traditional market in Deira - either
at 6 am or late at night, where local firshermen unload mountains
of fresh fish.
Best-kept secret: Nad Al Sheba Club, tel:
+ 971 4 336 3666 -One of the finest floodlit golf courses
in the world. Open until midnight.
Advice: -Bargaining - this is a part of the
fun of shopping in Dubai. While some shops and department
stores may operate on a fixed-price basis, most other outlets
consider friendly negotiations as a way of life. Enjoy it. |
Jean-Paul Ghoneim
attaché audiovisuel, Ambassade de France en République
tcheque Favorite hotels: InterContinental,
Bin Yas Street, tel: +971 4 222 7171,
Marriott, Abu Baker Al Saddique Road, tel: +971 4 262 4444
Favorite restaurants: Shabestan, InterContinental
Dubai, Bin Yas Street tel: +971 4 222 7171, Oriental food
La Cucina, JW Marriot, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, tel: +971
4 262 4444, Italian restaurant
Favorite night club: Irish village, Aviation
Club, Garhoud, tel: +971 4 282 4750
Favorite shops: Wafi Mall, Bur Dubai, tel:
971 4 3244 555
Favorite attraction: A sail accross the gulf
on a Douk, strolling into the gold market (an unforgettable
sight), and the "Souks".
Advice: Shopping for spices, especially saffron
(the best quality comes from Iran - a bit expensive, but worth
it). With the exception of the latest mobile phones, electronics
are no less expensive than in most European countries.
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Basic facts
Location: Southern shore of the
Arabian Gulf, northeastern United Arab Emirates.
Population: 858,000.
Ethnic mix: 60% Indian, Pakistani
and Filipino, 25% Emirates, 12% Arab, 3% Western ex-pats.
Religion: 57% Muslim, 20% Hindu,
20% Roman Catholic, 3% other.
Time zone: GMT + 4.
Electricity: 220 or 240 volts AC,
50 Hz; square three-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 24° C (75°
F).
Average July temp: 41° C (106° F).
Annual rainfall: 300 mm (11.8 inches).
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated
to Dubai:
http://www.dubaicityguide.com/
-a great place to start, as it has numerous links as well as an
event guide that's updated daily.
http://www.dubai.com/
-for the "well-informed" traveler, this site offers news/current
events that may be useful before take-off.
http://www.godubai.com/
-this on-line magazine offers articles ranging from hard news to
cooking tips.
http://www.timeoutdubai.com/
-the folks from the "Time Out" guides offer a well-rounded,
if not insightful, overview of the city.
http://www.asiatraveltips.com/BarsinDubai.shtml
-if you're traveling more for pleasure than business, this site
is worth checking out.
http://www.worldroom.com/
-Taj partner hotels present a site for business travelers seeking
accomodation..
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Prices
· one-liter bottle of mineral water: AED
4
· 33-cl bottle of beer (only available in certain
hotels/restaurants): AED 17
· Financial Times newspaper: from AED 12
· 36-exposure color film: AED 26
· city-center bus ticket: AED 1-3.5
· three-course meal with wine/beer: from AED
110
1 United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED) = CZK 8.32; GBP
0.18; USD 0.27; CAD 0.43;
Source:
http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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Business PROFILE
It is a major faux pas to break certain conventions when doing
business in Dubai. Conservative clothing is expected, despite the
often soaring heat. The terms "Sayed" (Mr) or "Sayeda"
(Mrs), followed by the first name, should be used in polite greetings.
The Arabic handshake involves touching the heart with the palm of
the right hand after each shake, although when greeting Arab women,
one should not offer their hand unless the woman extends hers first.
Also, never sit in such a way that your feet are pointing directly
at someone else. Friday is a day of prayer and rest, so meetings
should not be scheduled, and calls to Arab people should be avoided.
Likewise, locals won't answer the telephone during siestas (between
14:00 and 17:00). Business meals may be served at venues that do
not serve alcohol. Asking for it may cause embarrassment or insult.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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