Places of Interest in Dubai

DUBAI Dubai is one of the most beautiful, modern and well kept city of the world. In this country the tourist can experience everything from rugged mountains and awe-inspiring sand dunes to sandy beaches and lush green parks, from dusty villages to luxurious residential districts and from ancient houses with windtowers to ultra-modern shopping malls. The Emirate is both a dynamic international business centre and a laid-back tourist escape.

The Creek

This historic focal point of life in Dubai, The Creek, a natural sea-water inlet which cuts through the centre of the city. It is very interesting to see the colour and bustle of the loading and unloading of dhows which still ply ancient trade routes to places as distant as India and East Africa.

An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from an abra, one of the small water taxis which criss-cross the Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai side. Boatmen will also take visitors on a fascinating hour-long trip from the abra embarkation points to the mouth of the Creek and inland to the Maktoum Bridge, passing on the way many of the city’s historic and modern landmarks.

Redevelopment work has transformed parts of the Creek’s banks. On the Deira side, a broad and well-lit, paved promenade extends from the Corniche, which faces on the Arabian Gulf, all the way to the attractive purpose-built dhow terminal constructed beside Maktoum Bridge. On the Bur Dubai side between Maktoum and Garhoud bridges, Creekside Park provides pleasant paved walks and extensive landscaped public gardens. At the inland end of the Creek is a large, shallow lagoon, now a wildlife sanctuary which has become a haven for migrating shore birds. Some 27,000 birds have been counted here at one time during the autumn migration. The most spectacular are the many Greater Flamingos which have made the Creek their permanent home.

Dubai Adventures   Dubai’s has the perfect climate and first-class sporting facilities which make it an ideal holiday destination for people who like adventure packed holiday. The variety of sports available is on a par with the best resorts of Europe and Asia, while there are others unique to the region. They range from deep-sea fishing to ice-skating, and from golf on grass courses to sand-skiing in the desert.
All most all major Dubai hotels boast well equipped sports centres, where holiday-makers will find floodlit all-weather tennis, squash and badminton courts, swimming pools, snooker, table-tennis and fully equipped health and fitness centres at their disposal as part of their accommodation package.
Golf
Dubai is the pioneer of golf in the Middle East with three championship standard grass courses open to visiting Golfers. Emirates Golf Club, the venue for the annual Desert Classic PGA tournament, has two 18 hole courses and a floodlit driving range, and is also spread over 7100 yards attracting many players of international caliber.
The 6800 yards Creek Golf and Yacht club has been carved out of 180 acres of once flat and barren land. The white concrete Sails of the golf club house, arch gracefully to a height of 35 mt has become one of the major landmarks of Dubai. This Golf Course offers flood light facilities for the night time players. Bookings may be made via leading hotels and tour operators.
The popular golf clubs are:
	Emirates Golf Club Tel
	Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
	Dubai Golf and Racing Club
Diving
Dubai offer considerable attractions and variety for scuba-divers, both novice and expert.
With minimal tidal flow, the Gulf is safe for beginners. The weather is seldom a negative factor, visibility is good and the marine life rich. Dubai’s diving clubs and centres are well equipped to cater for visitors, hiring out a comprehensive range of equipment, offering courses with internationally-qualified instructors, and supervised shore and boat dives.