WHERE ARE THE HOT NEW TRAVEL SPOTS?

For an exotic cultural experience from Chicago, you can hop on a flight to Dubai operated by Delta Airlines via Atlanta or on United Airlines via Washington D.C. or go non-stop to Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airlines, a code-share partner with American Airlines in the One World Alliance. The airports in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are new and modern and frequently teeming with people departing on evening flights.

The uniqueness of these two Gulf emirates comes from their desert locations, and the recent development of luxury hotels, office buildings, museums, super highways, and extravagant shopping malls as the result of their oil wealth. The world’s tallest building, the Burj Al Arab Hotel, was built in Dubai and is only accessible to hotel guests. As you zip down the multi-laned super highways, your head swivels back and forth to try to take in the extraordinary array of over-the-top architecture on both sides.

The indoor shopping malls are large and elegant showplaces that you would visit just to see how they have been designed to look like a picturesque Mediterranean village or an opulent palace. Many have intricate mosaics in beautifully colored patterns that are worth a visit to admire.

One of the most famous malls, Mall of the Emirates, contains the world’s third largest indoor ski slope with lifts up to the top, which is a true anomaly in the desert. The skiing is a popular attraction and both the mall and the ski slope are attached to the Kempinski Hotel, allowing guests to enjoy both without ever venturing out into the intense heat.

To see shopping on a local level, it is important to visit the large market or souk in the old part of the city, where life was centered before the big economic boom.

Although generally hot and humid in Dubai, the temperatures drop to a more comfortable level during the high season between December and March. The worst months for the heat and humidity are from June until September. Air conditioning is essential in all of the hotels and major buildings, although some of the small cultural museums do not have it throughout. Even though the air conditioning seems too cold at times, it only takes a few minutes outside in the heat and humidity to appreciate how much more comfortable it is inside.

Although the official religion of the United Arab Emirates is Islam and the official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken in most places because the majority of the people that visitors meet are not from Dubai. Some come from other Arab countries, and many come from India and Pakistan on special work permits which can be suddenly withdrawn at any time. To lose their work permit is a great fear of the guest workers, since they are able to send quite a bit of money home to their families and give them a livelihood not possible from working in their own country.

The true natives of Dubai can be seen in the hotels and in the shopping malls. The amount of total coverage for women varies from having just the body and head covered by a long black burqa to also having the lower face or the entire face covered, either with or without a slit for the eyes. It is difficult to imagine how the full face coverage allows a woman to see where she is going, and she is invariably being led by her husband. Although the black burqas all appear very similar, if you look carefully you will see that some of the fabrics are much finer and elegantly draped. So, there is definitely an upscale version of the burqa.

Since there are so many European executives working in Dubai, as well as a great deal of international tourism, the clothing requirements for foreigners are more relaxed. It is still mandated, however, that women avoid short dresses, sleeveless garments, and any type of provocative apparel. The Arab women actually go to the beach in burqas, even though foreign women do not.

What would intrigue you about a visit to Dubai? It is a very modern, cosmopolitan place with a culture that is quite different from ours. There are several interesting cultural museums in the area, along with a highly entertaining evening show in the desert, luxury beach resorts out from the main city, unique shopping malls, and a traditional culture in the old downtown area. There are a number of cruise ships that either include a port stop in Dubai or begin or end a cruise here, allowing you a few days before or after your cruise to explore the area.

I found it to be a great study in contrasts and a real learning experience in cultural diversity. All of the conveniences and luxuries are there, although the packaging is a little different. I would recommend a visit during the cooler time of the year to anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Are you likely to travel to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for pleasure in the near future?