Fact Sheets & Video - Dubai

Traditionally, Singapore and Hong Kong were the big stopover cities on the way to Britain and Europe from Australia. Then came Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. But now there is another city to add to the list, in a big way - Dubai.

Currently the fastest growing city in the world, Dubai is flashy, fun and slightly surreal. If 24 hours are all you have in this eye-popping city, it helps to know what the city's highlights are..so here's a start:

Firstly, Madinat Jumeirah - 'The Arabian resort of Dubai' is the perfect place to rest your head, but you won't be wanting to rest for long, with the array of activities on offer in the resort.

Located along one kilometre of private beachfront and styled to resemble an ancient Arabian citadel, the resort offers accommodation in two grand boutique hotels & courtyard summer houses. It also features 3.7 km of working waterways with fully operational abras (traditional water taxis), a bustling retail souk with 75 shops and 23 bars, cafes and restaurants & a Six Senses Spa.

If you drag yourself away from the resort there is plenty to explore in both the old and new areas of Dubai. To experience traditional Dubai, take a Cruise on Dubai Creek in an Afra, for as little as $20 Aussie dollars for a 1 hour private cruise, shop in the many traditional souks, or wander through the narrow lanes and traditional wind towers in the Bastakia Quarter.

For a little upmarket luxury put on your Sunday best for a drink in Dubai's most recognised modern building, the Burj Al Arab hotel, ranked one of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire.

This all-suite hotel reflects the finest that the world has to offer. but expect a big price tag to match and remember to make a reservation, even for a drink, and dress smart.

Finally a visit to Dubai with your family can not finish without a trip to the ski slopes, inside one of Dubai's many amazing shopping malls. Mall of the Emirates houses the Ski Dubai complex, the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East, and offers an amazing snow setting to enjoy a play in the snow, or something more active, like skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing. Who would have thought you'd find a ski field in the Arabian desert! But that's Dubai for you!

Contacts & Costs:

Madinat Jumeirah - Accommodation from: $815 Mina A'Salam Suite, $840 Al Qasr Suite and $925 Dar Al Masyaf Suite. See 'Related Links' for website details.

Ski Dubai - Shiekh Zayed Road, Dubai UAE. Opening times: Sunday - Wednesday 10.00 - 23.00, Thursday - Saturday: 10.00 - 24.00. Costs: Snow Park From A$21 per Adult or child. Ski Slope (2 hours) from A$52 per Adult & A$45 per child. Call the Sydney office on (02) 9956 6620 or visit their website for more details (see 'Related Links').