Welcome to the world's fastest-growing city

Dubai is one of the planet's most exciting urban destinations. The world's fastest-growing city. A place which, literally, changes before your eyes on an almost daily basis.

This is where you'll find some of the 21st century's most memorable landmarks: the world's tallest building, largest artificial island and biggest mall, to name just three – along with other attractions ranging from the sublime Burj al Arab, one of the world's most iconic modern buildings, to the surreal Ski Dubai, where you can go skiing in the desert.

There's plenty of glitz, glam and seven-star luxury, including opulent hotels, gorgeous restaurants and bars, and some truly spectacular shopping. There's also a surprising amount of history and culture too in the old centre, with its bustling souks, distinctive old wind-towered houses and fleets of chuntering Arabian dhows sailing serenely down the waters of the breezy Creek.

Dubai *Essential* Guide features expert coverage of all tourist attractions in and around the city, including details of day-trips to Sharjah, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. There are also full listings of all the best places to eat, drink and shop in the city.

Need to find the nearest cheap cafe or the best traditional souk? The easy-to-use interface means that attractions can be sorted by area, price or type, while the built-in locator means that you can instantly find all the places that are closest to wherever you happen to be – and then tap through to find them on the map.

The guide also features over a thousand evocative and high-quality photos – almost as good as being there yourself.


About the Author

Gavin Thomas is a UK-based freelance travel journalist specialising in Arabia and South Asia. He is the author of the Rough Guide to Dubai and Frommer’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi Day by Day, while other writing credits include the Rough Guide to Oman, Rough Guide to Sri Lanka, Berlitz Guide to Sri Lanka, DK Eyewitness Top 10 Delhi, and the Rough Guide to Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra. He has also contributed to numerous other guidebooks, magazines and websites.


About Sutro Media

This guide is published in partnership with Sutro Media. By enabling local writers to share their expertise on mobile phones, Sutro Media is making it easier and more fun to explore the world!

If you have any problems, comments, or suggestions for improvement, we'd love to hear from you - letusknow@sutromedia.com