Dubai is full of contrasts. There’s the glittering skyline, made up of skyscrapers so tall they defy imagination; the modern collection of stores and eateries, offering up every kind of option a traveler could possibly want; and the luxurious hotels, ready to welcome even the most discerning traveler in style and excess.
Then there’s the desert with its rolling hills of sand stamped with the footprints of Arabian oryx and gazelles; the souks with their labyrinth of stalls, bins overflowing with a rainbow of spices, the scent filling the air; and the traditional abra boats ferrying riders across the Dubai Creek.
The city has sprouted up from its desert port beginnings to become a sprawling metropolis full of vibrant neighborhoods, record-setting buildings, and over-the-top shopping centers all in the last several decades
Dubai is hot throughout the year, but winter is one of the best times to visit, followed by the fall. Those who love to pack a sweater are in luck too as early mornings and evenings in the desert tend to be much cooler while air conditioning is plentiful throughout Dubai.