Dubai Attractions

Dubailand
This massive development, comprising myriad attractions, hotels, sports and leisure centres, is expected to be completed by 2015. Phase one of Dubailand is now complete and offers five attractions including Dubai Outlet Mall, Al Sahra Desert Resort and Dubai Sports City. The many more ambitious projects yet to be completed include a Tiger Woods-designed golf course, a Universal Studios theme park, the Great Dubai Wheel (bigger than the London Eye) and Bawadi (the world's largest hotel project with 51 hotels and 60,000 rooms).

Tel: (04) 368 0000.
Website: www.dubailand.ae

Jumana
Jumana, in Al Sahra Desert Resort, is one of the first Dubailand attractions to fully open and is well worth the hike out into the dark deserts. The set-up is dinner buffet or à la carte before moving on into the massive 1,500-seat outdoor auditorium. Here an audiovisual extravaganza, Jumana: Secret of the Desert, awaits with a collage of spouting waterworks, bursting fireworks, first-rate dancers, wandering camels, galloping steeds and piercing lasers telling the Arabian tale of love and family lost and found. Omar Sharif is on hand with a typically smooth voice-over to complete an impressive picture.

Al Sahra Desert Resort, Dubailand
Tel: (04) 367 9500.
Website: www.alsahra.com  
Opening hours: Tues-Sat, show starts 2100.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: N.
UNESCO site: N.

Jumeirah Beach
Much of the long expanse of Jumeirah Beach is dominated by luxury hotels and their facilities. However, there is a stretch of public beach available, with clean white sand, crystal clear seawater and bath-temperature surf. Some of the hotels allow non-guests to use their pools and stretches of beach if they buy lunch or pay a nominal fee.

Al-Jumeirah Road, next to Marine Beach Resort