From the eternal tranquility of the desert to the unceasing action of the souk, Dubai offers visitors a kaleidoscope of activities.

In a relatively small land area, the Emirate harbors a wide variety of landscapes. In a single day, the tourist can discover them all: rugged mountains, impressive sand dunes, sparkling beaches, lush gardens, dusty villages, luxurious residential neighborhoods, ancient houses with wind towers and ultramodern business districts.

For the tourist, the Emirate represents a destination for both business and recreation, a city where 21st-century modernity meshes perfectly with tradition.

These contrasts provide Dubai with a unique personality and flavor. It's a cosmpolitan society with an international lifetyle, and a culture deeply rooted in traditional Arabic Islamic tradition.

Since the dawn of time, Dubai has been a meeting place, between the desert Bedouins and the pearl fishers, between the sellers and the sea fishermen.

The edges of downtown Dubai extend northward toward the Emirate of Sharjah, and to the south and west through the Satwah, Jumeriah, Umm Suqeim and other new suburbs located around the Dubai Marina in a long urban ribbon that lies along the Gulf.