HOT
IF EVER THERE WAS A PLACE TO KEEP TRAVEL WRITERS ON THEIR TOES, IT'S DUBAI. WARM, WELCOMING AND CHANGING BY THE DAY…
Words by Simon Hacker; Pictures by Corbis and Getty Images
Arabia's Disneyland, the Las Vegas of the East, Legoland on Gas Mk7 - Dubai has heard it all before. But the fastest-growing city on the planet is happy.
With its hotel count rising from 42 in 1985 to 371 by 2004, the city has already crushed the super-rare statistic of welcoming more than five million visitors a year. If you think that's impressive, consider this: Dubai's government has pledged to attract 15 million visits by 2010.
Dubai is fast becoming a city of superlatives. Its buzz is unique, and although average temperatures top 100 degrees from May to
September, your visit can kick off with the thermostat set fairly low…
HISTORICAL COOL: Old Dubai takes a little finding, but Bastakia's ancient walls, on the south bank, are where the story began. Stroll down these ancient side streets and you'll notice intricate gypsum decorations and woodwork.
Look above the coral walls though and you'll also spot old barjeel towers, at regular intervals. Designed to catch the breeze and funnel it into the house below, these towers were a lifeline during the city's searing summers in a pre-aircon age.