For Winter Sun, Unwind in Dubai
Mid-winter England. Draw an arc of flight times to warmth and you are looking at medium to long haul. Any idea that you can swim in the sea with rays on your face on any Mediterranean island is a myth. Even north Africa is chilly. The Caribbean to the west is nine hours. Gambia or Kenya to the south are both eight. Dubai to the east is seven hours and brilliant for a few days.
You can unwind by the pool and do nothing or wander through dizzying architecture, wildly extravagant shopping malls, whacky bars and fine-food restaurants. Should the spirit veer toward the ultra-bizarre, you can even go indoor skiing.
The hub of Dubai is around its historic creek which for millennia has attracted traders from all over the world. How a small fishing settlement became such a global commercial magnet is a remarkable story. Dubai is to Middle East what Hong Kong is to Asia. One moment you can be in the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the next absorbing desert air amid camels, falconry and sand dunes. The coastline with water sports, parasailing, jet-skis and kayaking resembles the turquoise seas of Thailand or Bali. The bustling, bling back drop screams more of Manhattan or Miami.
I have filmed and reported from Dubai many times and opted for chill time at Raffles on the man-made island of Palm Jumeirah where you step into tranquil luxury that does not break the bank. The man-made Jumeirah Islands are a residential and hotel development about half an hour from the Creek district. They were built by dredging sand from the seabed and form shaped land masses. From the air, the islands seem to grow out of the coastline like palm leaves with long stretches of sand beaches and views across the Arabian Sea and towards the Dubai skyline. Apartments cost millions with one recently selling for US$30 million. Some of the world’s wealthiest have bought homes there.
Photo credits: Humphrey Hawksley & Pixabay
A British Airways three-night break included a room with chandelier, terrace and stunning sunsets and half board with imaginatively designed breakfasts and dinners, a global conglomeration of fruits, spices, pastries, vegetables seafoods and meats. A glass of wine is three times London prices.
Dubai is one of seven United Arab Emirates which run along the coast of the Arabian Sea. The Capital emirate is Abu Dhabi, less than two hours drive from Dubai. Muscat in neighbouring country of Oman is about a five-hour drive. Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, named Dubai as the Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Destinations for 2023. For those few extra hours in the air, sunshine, variety and good service is guaranteed. Metered taxi from the airport is about £25. Pretty much everything works better than in the Caribbean or Africa.
HH – February 2024
Humphrey Hawksley flew British Airways to Dubai and stayed at the Raffles Palm Jumeirah https://www.raffles.com/thepalm-dubai/