Al Nasr Leisureland (Dubai)
Located in Bur Dubai, off Zabeel Road, is this modern leisure park offering a variety of sports facilities including an amusement park, ice rink, a bowling alley swimming pools, restaurants and evening entertainment. Phone: (+971) 04 3371234.

Dubai Shopping Festival
One of the biggest events of the year, electrifying the city with concerts, art exhibits, street performers, sport activities, amazing raffles and huge sales lasting for one month. Shopping centres have big sales and discounts, and there are rides and shops everywhere. There are massive fireworks displays each night. Don’t miss “Carpet Oasis” selection of over 100,000 exquisite handmade carpets from the Gulf region. Book hotels and flights well in advance as everything fills up rapidly. The festival changes dates each year between January, February or March and usually draws around 3 million shoppers. Phone: 600-545-5555.

Abu Dhabi
The capital city of Abu Dhabi is a smaller, slightly more conservative version of Dubai. Predominantly a modern city with luxurious hotels, slick shopping malls, and lively souks, Abu Dhabi manages to retain some of its ancient past. The restored Diwan Amiri (White Fort) was built in 1793 and is still stands today as the centre of cultural events and exhibitions. The 7km waterfront Corniche is the activity centre with people picnicking on shaded grass, jogging, skating or strolling along the seafront promenade, fishing in the Gulf, and holding various cultural activities. People who stay in Abu Dhabi are seeking a quieter version of Dubai. There is still a good variety of restaurants, nightlife, shopping and hotels, but it feels less chaotic than Dubai. Abu Dhabi has many mosques, a museum and numerous offshore islands that have a surprising amount of wildlife living on and around them. Dolphins can be spotted, along with flamingos, parrots, camels and gazelle. Take a dhow cruise out to tiny sandbars that disappear in high tide.

Getting to UAE
Most of the world’s leading airlines fly into the UAE’s six international airports.
Most passengers fly into Dubai Airport. Other international airports are located at Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ra’s al-Khaimah and Fujairah.

The UAE Dirham (Dh) is pegged to the US Dollar. Notes are in denominations of Dh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Dh1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 fils. One dirham = 100 fils.