With ATMs that dispense gold, ski slopes in the middle of the desert, and the police driving Bugattis, Lamborghini Aventadors, and Aston Martins, Dubai is a city of excesses. Did you know Burj Al Arab is decorated with over 19,000 square feet of 24-carat gold leaf? Guests at the Burj Al Arab Hotel are even offered 24-carat gold-coated iPads during check-in! No wonder Dubai is called The City of Gold. The city is no stranger to world records – Dubai has been awarded over 300 Guinness World Records.
But it is also a city of contrasts. Even before Dubai became a modern architectural marvel, it had a thriving pearl diving industry. The Bur Dubai waterfront has beautifully preserved its culture and history. Al Bastakiya has several historic buildings, including the Al Fahidi Fort, the Dubai Museum, and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding.