At a glance
Dubai today is flashy, fun and slightly surreal. Renowned for its sand, sun and shopping, it was once a tranquil town of coral-and-gypsum courtyard houses built by Persian traders and palm-frond huts housing Bedouin fisherman and pearl divers. Today shiny new skyscrapers reflect the mosques and wind towers of Old Dubai. The audacity of the city's rulers is breathtaking. Running out of coastline to build hotels? Build vast artificial islands with 120km (74.5mi) of new beachfront. Need better connections with the world? Build up an award-winning international airline in 15 years.

When To Go
The best time of the year to visit Dubai is between November and April, when the weather is coolest. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and exploring. Ramadan, which takes place at a different time each year on the Western calendar, is the Muslim month of fasting and is strictly adhered to throughout the UAE. That means that it's illegal, not to mention rude, to eat, drink or smoke in public from sunrise to sunset at this time. On the 'up' side, hotel rates drop to 50% of their usual cost.

Places to See
There are two sides of Dubai to explore - the flashy world of breathtaking hotels, gourmet treats and luxury shopping; and the earthier old Dubai of wind towers, mosques, shwarma and souqs.

Places to Eat
The rich cultural mix of Dubai's population is echoed in the myriad choices of restaurants and coffee shops across the city. From the simplest Indo-Pakistani workers cafe in Karama to the gastronomic delights and design of restaurants at swanky five-star hotels, Dubai offers a huge range of dining experiences.

Night Time Venues
Abundant entertainment options mean you can keep exploring Dubai well into the early hours. Listen to live Oud or Moroccan music, dance to the world's hottest DJs, and smoke traditional sheesha (water pipe) in a lively cafe.

Places to Shop
Dubai's shopping muscle draws lifeblood from the thriving contrast of traditional souqs, enormous malls and funky clothing boutiques; each overflowing with fresh produce, old-world exotica, designer collections and new-wave gadgetry. Shopaholics won't know where to begin.

Tipping
In Dubai most hotel and restaurant bills will have 10% TACKED ON FOR A SERVICE CHARGE AND ANOTHER 10% for a municipality tax. If a price is quoted 'net', this means that it includes all taxes and service charges. As a rule of thumb, in taxis, round the fare up to the nearest dirham.

DUBAI HOLIDAYS AT JETLINE TRAVEL