Dubai is not just for retirees. It’s not just for the uber-rich. And it’s not just for people who like fancy hotels and shiny shopping malls.
Dubai Tourism brought its message to the Canadian trade in Toronto on 26MAR, holding an information-packed session at a waterfront hotel and handing out free hotel stays and other prizes. Another event is slated for Montreal on 27MAR.
Justin Gosling, Director Canada, Discover the World, told Open Jaw that his company and Dubai Tourism work closely with the trade in Canada, staging events and webinars and helping bring advisors to the destination.
Their travel agent training program, Dubai Expert, has more than 1,000 graduates delivering Dubai’s tourism message around the world.
“There’s more air lift and more connections to Dubai,” Gosling told advisors and Dubai tourism partners, including Air Canada, Emirates, Orient Tours, Riya Travel & Tourism, Rixos Hotels and The Address Beach Resort. “It’s a destination that’s really on the up and up; a destination you need to know more about.”
Cibele Moulin, Director International Operations, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said Dubai was voted the world’s most popular destination by Trip Advisor users for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
A little more than 17 million international visitors touched down in Dubai last year, she said, and Canadian visits were up 37%.
When your Open Jaw correspondent visited in 2010, he was told there were roughly 350 hotels in Dubai. Moulin said there are now 821, with more than 150,000 rooms.
It’s a good destination for Canadian advisors to book as the average Canadian stays seven nights in Dubai, Moulin noted.
Pax can fly direct to Dubai with Air Canada and Emirates, with flights during part of the year or all-year-long from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, she said.
Keshwar Bhagat, Discover The World Representative Canada, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said Dubai has a great mix of luxury and affordable hotels to offer.
TOP SIGHTS
The top attractions in Dubai are quite varied, Bhagat said, outlining such sights as the sail-like Burj Al Arab on the shores of the Persian Gulf, the towering Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, which is 275 meters long and shoots water more than 150 meters into the air in time with Arabian, North American, Indian music and more.
Dubai is quite popular with families and makes for a great multi-generational trip, Bhagat said. Two of the top family attractions are the Dubai Aquarium and underwater zoo and Dubai Legoland.
If you’re looking for attractions that are a little more on the adult side, Arte Museum Dubai is billed as the ultimate immersive art experience.
Recent openings include Cloud 22, a stunning rooftop pool takeover by Dolce&Gabbana at Atlantis the Royal that features cabanas and private plunge pools.
I was quite surprised by the quality of the beaches when I visited some years ago. I also snuck out one afternoon to enjoy the Wild Wadi Water Park, a highly entertaining attraction that’s just steps from Burj Al Arab.
Bhagat said Dubai is home to year-long festivals and will soon boast Real Madrid World, an attraction that will be focused on one of the world’s most famous football/soccer clubs.
While most people know Dubai for its stellar skyline, posh hotels and shopping, I found myself particularly taken with Old Dubai on my visit.
I was told the spice market isn’t as large as it used to be, but when I went I loved wandering the laneways and spotting boxes of frankincense, dried lemon and bright red-orange saffron as local dealers egged shoppers to open their wallets. I also enjoyed watching the traditional dhows move up and down the waters of Dubai Creek.
Also in the old city is the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, where you can sign up for a lunch with locals who will explain their culture and the Islamic faith. It’s an experience I highly recommend for an age where religious understanding isn’t in plentiful supply.
NEARBY NATURE
Bhagat said Dubai’s big city attractions are only a 90-minute drive from beautiful deserts and towering mountains, where visitors can go hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and take hot air balloon rides. There are regular buses to the desert region from the city centre, she said, with one every 20 minutes.
When I visited, I spent a night at what is now the Al Maha Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa by Marriott to get a taste of the Dubai desert. I had my first-ever camel ride and admired sand dunes marching silently off towards distant purple mountains. I also admired tiny gazelle and large, sharp-horned oryx that gather around watering holes to gain sustenance for hot, desert days.
Guests at Al Maha stay in tent-like cabins with gorgeous furnishings, great food, and all the amenities you could want, including a mini-bar and a splash pool.
