Last year the New York Times named Dubai as the best travel choice for partying. The last decade has seen this one-time trading post turn into one of the world’s premiere vacation and entertainment destinations.

Located on the beautiful waters of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is both a city and an emirate in the UAE. The city has blossomed with the development of new sports venues, expensive hotels, shopping complexes, and entertainment centers as well as recreational, business, and residential areas. The city is even building artificial islands offshore to increase the amount of beach property.

It’s easy to find a 5 star hotel in Dubai and beach resorts are plentiful. Restaurants offer a wide range of cuisines, with Arab, Chinese, and South Asian foods being the most popular. Many of the top chefs from Europe and the US have opened restaurants in Dubai to take advantage of the refined tastes of the city’s visitors.

Shopping is practically a national sport in Dubai. In addition to bustling souks (traditional markets), the area is full of designer boutiques and full-scale malls. The Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Summer Surprises bring in over 4 million shoppers each year who spend over US$1 billion during the two events.

In recent years the development of Dubai Sports City has attracted numerous international competitions to the city. Cricket, rugby, golf, and tennis are just a few of the sports holding major tournaments in Dubai. The Dubai World Cup, a thoroughbred horse race, is the richest race in the world.

For those who prefer other forms of entertainment, Dubai is full of options. From Bollywood films to the Dubai International Film Festival, from jazz to metal to pop music, there’s usually something for everyone. Some of the recent international stars to grace the stage of Dubai include Elton John, Aerosmith, Pink, Celine Dion, and Shakira. Kylie Minogue was paid a reported US$4.4 million for a fifteen minute performance at the opening of the Atlantis resort in November 2008.

Last, but not least, is the fabulous nightlife. Although Islamic law prohibits alcohol, Dubai restaurants and clubs are allowed to sell drinks to non-Muslim tourists. Most of the bars and dance clubs are located in hotels and resorts, to make it easier to comply with the local restrictions.

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