Things to do

-Shopping. Dubai is already world-renowned for its exceptional variety of shopping experiences. There are at least 15 major malls here, with massive examples to be found at Mall of the Emirates, which is home to an indoor ski slope, Dubai Mall, Mercato and Ibn Battuta Mall. For something a little more traditional you could head for the historic Gold Spice Souks.

-Beaches. Dubai offers plenty of stunning beaches, a number of which are connected to waterfront hotels and reserved for their guests, but there are also a wealth of public options to be found at locations such as Jumeirah Beach Park, Kite Beach, Jebel Ali Beach and the beautiful Mamzer Beach Park, which consists of five separate sandy stretches complemented by amenities.

-Visitor attractions. Over the past decade, a range of premier family attractions have been developed, like the Wild Wadi water park, with its wide range of slides and amusements. You could also visit the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on the planet – the observation deck is little more than halfway up the structure, but is still the world’s highest open deck.

-Golf. If golf is your game then you won't be short of options on holiday at villas in Dubai – it is emerging as a top destination for the region and is host to some important events on the pro calendar. There are ten courses in the Emirate, including the Montgomerie, which features an 18-hole championship course and modern practice facilities.

-Desert trips. Inland from Dubai is a spectacular desert landscape that often gets ignored by visitors but is nevertheless available for exploration via specially arranged off-road vehicle trips. An hour or so from the cityscape is Al Ain, a natural oasis with some vivid greenery preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Weather in Dubai

Dubai apartments are set in a destination with a hot desert climate, which brings, long, hot and humid summers, and warm weather for the rest of the year. Temperatures in mid-summer rise well above 30 degrees during the day and barely drop below 30 degrees at night. Rainfall is virtually non-existent, apart from during the period from December to April, when there are a couple of rainy days each month. The coolest month is January, when daily temperatures still usually reach well above 20 degrees.

Travel to Dubai

Dubai International Airport serves the Emirates, and has connections worldwide. In recent years it’s also become an important hub for flights between Oceania and Europe. Public transport in Dubai is developing. The Dubai Metro was unveiled in late-2009 and spans more than 70 kilometres, with more than 40 different stations. There’s also a comprehensive bus network, with 193 different routes. The vast majority of journeys within the Emirate are still made by car, and the roads are known to get rather congested at peak travel hours.