Dubai, a state of the United Emirates, is located on the southern coast of the Persian Coast. Dubai has grown in the last 20 years from a vast stretch of desert-land and oil rigs to a major tourist destination. Oil used to be the main source of industry and income but around 1990 it was decided that Dubai should become a tourist destination.

Dubai is home to the world's tallest man-made structure ever built, the Burj Dubai. It has been under construction since 2004 and the projected completion date is December 2009. The building will have 162 stories standing at 2684 feet tall and will house the world's fastest elevators (traveling at a speed of 59 feet per second).

Dubai is also home to the world's only 7 star luxury resort, the Hotel Burj Al Arab. It stands on an artificial island off of Jumeirah Beach. The structure was built to resemble the sail of a sailboat, as they wanted something original to stand as an icon for Dubai. Its construction began in 1994, was completed in 1999 and at 1053 feet tall it is the 2nd tallest building in the world used only as a hotel.

Off the coast in the Persian Gulf is Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island formed in the shape of a palm tree. The shape consists of a trunk, 16 fronds and a broken C-shaped breakwater that surrounds the palm. It is the smallest one of the three "Palm Islands". The Palm Jumeirah has many activities to offer the traveler, such as going to Aquaventure-a water park, swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Bay, and exploring a maze of underwater passageways and tunnels at Lost Chambers.

For shopping, Dubai is known as a shopper's paradise with many malls, boutiques and souks. A souk is a local market where shoppers have a vast variety of goods to choose from, and is said to be an entertaining time by both shopper and merchant. Typical hours for shopping in Dubai are from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Please note that it is advised to avoid traveling to Dubai during Ramadan-the fasting month of Muslims. The fasting begins each day at 5:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. (sunrise to sunset) and no one, including tourists, is allowed to eat, drink, smoke or even chew gum in public places until the breaking of the fast has been declared.