Discover Dubai
with Cathay Pacific
More than a man-made oasis in the desert with year-round sun, the Emirate boasts sleek beach bars, Michelin-starred restaurants and has a quiet reputation for art and design.
Dubai’s five-star hotels, which overlook the turquoise Persian Gulf and white sand beaches, are the city’s big draw — the coastline spans 563km with the help of three artificial palm-shaped islands. But pockets of creativity can be found in Al Serkal and plenty of Middle Eastern culture exists beyond its glitzy front. Visit the historic quarter of Al Bastakiya, which is as close to the fisherman village Dubai was before the oil boom in the 1970s, then hop on a wooden abra across Dubai Creek to shop at the gold and spice souks, where opulent heaps of saffron also hide hole-in-the-wall Arabic restaurants. Don’t miss kayaking in the arid landscape of Hatta and nights in the red desert of neighbouring Sharjah either.