North-east of Abu Dhabi lies the city and Emirate of Dubai.  With an area of almost 40,000 sq km, it is the second largest of the seven Emirates.

Dubai is trade. For  over three hundred years it has been a major trading post of the southern Gulf, with regular dhow traffic north and east to Iran, further east to India and south to East Africa.  This stems partly from the superb natural harbour that is provided by  the Creek, which curves through the city like a river.  It provides the protection from the open sea that the relatively small dhows need, and gives direct access to the center of the city.  Suqs and trading houses grew up on the sides of the Creek, and Dubai became ever more cosmopolitan and successful.

 But this success is chiefly  the result of the policies of His Highness the late Sheikh Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum, who became Ruler of Dubai in 1958, and guided the Emirate through  most of its first years of independence. He foresaw that oil revenues would give Dubai the opportunity to transform itself into a modern city, based on its trading tradition.  At Port  Rashid he  build marine facilities ( including a dry dock) that could service the largest ships, and he ensured that the Creek  was not allowed to silt up.  He encouraged the creation of the infrastructure that businessmen needed, including banks and hotels, but also liberal laws and minimum red  tape.  He built a very large port and a free zone at Jebel Ali, 4 kilometers south of  the city; this project was considered very risky, but investment has paid off as the  Free Zone achieves critical mass and grows from strength to strength.  Hundreds

Of companies now use  it  as their regional base. But above all,  Sheikh Rashid managed to inspire the necessary confidence  in the business community.  The most hard-headed businessmen could see that he would do whatever was necessary to make sure that his policies  succeeded and  that he made a long-term commitment to Dubai.  His sons have continued his policy of developing Dubai as an entrepot.

The Maktoum family (part of the Bani Yas tribe) first moved to Dubai, and quickly benefited from the  truces that were negotiated all along the Trucial Coast.  The peace at sea favoured trade, particularly with Iran and India.  The re-export trade had started by the time the pearling industry died in the 1930s, and suqs grew to  serve not only residents but also visiting importers from neighboring Countries.

Dubai has become an oil producer in the last few decades, and this is an important source of revenue.  But the amount of oil is  nothing like the vast quantities found in places like Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and so Dubai has never been tempted to see it as an alternative to commercial success.  Oil finances the infrastructure, which in turn attracts business. One of the delights of  Dubai  is that  tourists can easily witness this economic activity.  The giant container ships at Port Rashid seem to come right into the city.  Just a few minutes away, small dhows in the Creek load up with fresh fruit, refrigerators, toiletries and all manner of goods and ferry them up or down the Gulf.  In the old suqs on either side of the Creek one can see the hyperactive traders selling video players to Indians, radio cassette recorders  to Africans, spices  to Arabs, microwaves to Russians,  carpets to Germans, guitars to  Filipinos and gold to everyone.

Most visitors are very happy  to join in this activity and avail themselves of the special shopping opportunities.  Taxes are negligible and the range of goods on sale is Incredible because they come from so many different countries.  The  latest and best consumer products are available, ad so are more economical alternatives.  Traditional goods are the most obvious area for the  tourist, and bargains can be had in carpets, spikes, jewellery and other ornaments.

 The Creek is more than a natural harbour; it also serves as a focus for the city.  Every visitor should take the abra or water bus from the suq in Bur Dubai( the south side) to Bur Deira as it provides a fascinating view  of life on the water.  Visitor who want to go beyond the  Creek to the Gulf can take a trip on a dhow, or even hire a dhow for themselves.  The  waterfronts on both sides of the  Creek  have an unusual variety of architecture.  The Municipality has set the tone for exciting architecture by choosing a most imaginative design for its own offices.  The  new  ETISALAT Tower for telecommunications is an enormous tower crowned with a giant ball which is illuminated at night.  The Economics Department and the Chamber of Commerce have maintained the distinguished architectural standard with their new buildings.  On the Creek’s south side the  old suq buildings are built right into the water, Venetian style.  One can also see the recently preserved traditional buildings of Bastakia, Al Fahadi fort and museum and Sheikh Saeed al Maktoum House (the family home of  the ruler of  Dubai before  1958). A few kilometers away  the skyline is dominated by the Trade Centre  which was for long the tallest building in the Middle  East and is  visible from almost and point in Dubai.

Dubai has many other notable buildings and more are being built all the time.  The palaces and the major mosques are best example of architecture in the  Arab tradition.  The new shopping malls are structures that cannot be ignored, though not to everyone’s taste. The parks and the new landscaped areas by the Creek are fine examples of intelligent town planning Dubai is ambitious.  It past growth is an nothing compared to its plans for expansion.

The infrastructure of the city is being recreated on a scale much greater than before.  The Municipality given pride of place to its beautification programme and ensures that the growth of the city is not haphazard.  The vision of the new city is now becoming a reality; a visitor of just a few years ago would have  difficulty finding his way around today.

Dubai has also succeeded  in making itself the sports capital of the Middle East, with a view to making its name well known throughout the world.  It now has a wide range of both spectator and participatory sports for the resident and tourist alike, with world-class facilities.  I has rejected the old notion that many sports could not be played in this climate.

The duty-free facility of  Dubai International Airport hosts a snooker classic which is now firmly established as one of the major snooker tournaments, attracting the best players from around the world.  Important international soccer matches are played in Dubai’s fully equipped stadiums.  It is the only place where soccer league winners of England and  Scotland have played each other.  More recently, the Dubai Tennis Open has attracted world famous players who find that Dubai provides the perfect climate in February.  This annual event takes place at the  new, beautifully landscaped tennis courts at the Aviation Sports Centre right beside  the Creek, and is sponsored by  Emirates airline and  BMW.  There are many first-class tennis courts in the city and professional coaches are available.

Camel-and horse-racing are very popular, though the latter has become a major attraction only in the last few years.  Much of its success is doubtless due to the  experience and interest of the Maktoum family.  The four brothers own over 2,000 throughbreds and in 1994 His Highness the Minister of  Defence Sheikh Mohammed was the top owner in Britain, France and Ireland.  Many of the Maktoum horses are now stabled in Dubai during the winter, and raced on the new Nad al Sheba racecourse.  The Dubai International Jockeys Challenge, which attracts world wide competition, was won in 1995 by jockeys based in the UAE Show-jumping has been organized by Captain Mark Phillips for the Dubai Horse Show.

Camel-racing is still the preferred sport of most nationals and is a startling experience for the first-time spectator.

The lush green Emirates Golf course, just south of the city, has long been a talking point amount businessmen visiting the region.  It was the first course outside Europe to host the  Professional Golf Association European Championship, and the Dubai Desert Classic is part of the PGA circuit.  An Equally spectacular course, the Dubai Creek Golf Club and marine Resort, has been built right in the city.  Dubai has also hosted the World chess Championship, the World Karate Championship and the World youth Volleyball Championships.  The  Dubai  Sevens, an annual international rugby  sevens tournament, draws great numbers of expatriates from all around the Gulf.

The  availability of year-round water sports is an obvious sporting attraction..  The Dubai International Powerboat Race has attracted top competitors every year since its inception, and huge crowds are also drawn, party by the free entertainment on the beach featuring top pop signers from India, the West and the Arab world. It has been further promoted by the success of the local Victory team in the world championships.  And now the Abu Dhabi team is showing promise of having equally winning ways.  Many residents prefer the gentler power of sailing boats.  There are plenty of clubs that enable short-term visitors to try their hand at sailing in the warm blue waters of the Gulf.  Other watersports include windsurfing (not too cold if you fall  in ), water-skiing and deep-sea fishing.  Some visitors come to Dubai to go scuba-diving, which is exciting, safe and inexpensive.  The water is warm enough for swimming throughout the year, either in a hotel or resort  pool or off Jumeirah beach.

The Middle  East Rally has also produced a local success story in Mohammed bin Sulayem; the  best driver in the world on sand.  Less brilliant drivers can take part in the local sport of ‘wadi bashing’. Convoys of off-road vehicles set off into the desert and hills in search of wadis, riverbeds that are occasionally flooded with rainwater crashing down from the impervious mountains.  It is essentially an opportunity to see the most interesting landscapes around in the safety of numbers; there is rarely a serious competitive aspect.  The gulf news no organizes an annual event which attracts hundred of entrants who see it as a fun run.

Visitors are better advised to go  on a desert safari with a professional guide because both desert and mountains can be deadly for travelers who break down or get lost.  The rulers are never to go alone  and always to inform someone of the planned route and times.  Driving through wadis which are full of water has its own perils; the rocks below can be sharp enough to cause punctures, and sudden pot-holes can cause the engine to cut out when the vehicle dips too far into the water.  But it is a glorious experience after these struggles to enjoy a picnic beside a beautiful wadi.

Another popular trip for visitors is to Hatta, Dubai’s attractive enclave in the Hajar Mountains.  It is 110 kilometers south-east of the city, and is suitable for a day or a weekend excursion.  The road goes through some beautiful desert, and there is more chance of .