Dubai

The most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is also one of the most rapidly-developing and most exciting and vivacious cities in the world.

With almost constant sunshine and a growing reputation as an essential place to do business, Dubai has continued to attract world attention through innovative real estate projects such as the world’s tallest building – the Burj Dubai, and the globally-famous sail-shaped hotel, the Burj al Arab. The city boasts a number of world-class sports events, conferences and enormous construction and development across various industries.

Strategically located between Europe, Asia and Africa, Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The city is known to be a low-crime and politically-stable one.

The city is unusual in that its population is comprised mainly of expatriates with the largest group of expatriates hailing from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and members of other Asian communities.

Entertainment and Sport

Dubai has many shopping malls - the new, vast Dubai Mall which hosts both an aquarium and ice skating rink, the Mall of the Emirates with the world’s first indoor alpine skiing slope, Ski Dubai. There is also the Ibn Battuta Mall, which is the largest themed mall in the Middle East and features impressive courts including China, Persia, India, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia. For the more adventurous shoppers, the traditional souks are a must-see.

Dubai also has a vibrant and diverse nightlife, with many state-of-the-art nightclubs and bars in all corners of the city. It also offers a great range of activities from water sports in the sea to dune bashing in the desert.

Dubai is also host to some of the world’s best sporting events. Apart from the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, Dubai’s impressive portfolio of world-class events includes the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, the Dubai Rugby Sevens and the Dubai World Cup, an annual horse racing event with over US $21 million worth of prize money. In addition, 2009 saw the World Cup Rugby Sevens arrive in Dubai for the first time.

The Aviation Club

The Aviation Club, home to the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships is undoubtedly one of Dubai’s best venues for sports and leisure. Having recently added the “BEST CLUB IN DUBAI 2008” Award to its many other culinary accolades and awards, The Aviation Club enjoys a world-class reputation for its extensive recreation and entertainment facilities.

Gym

The Club boasts a spacious gymnasium with the latest resistance and 'cross training' cardiovascular exercise equipment.

Fitness is taken very seriously at The Aviation Club. Fully qualified Personal Trainers help you achieve the highest level of proficiency by developing a specific programme tailored to meet your individual requirements.

The Group Exercise Membership offers a wide range of classes including Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack, Body Balance, RPM, Step Aerobics, Boxing as well as Yoga and Pilates. All classes are run in a modern aerobics studio and a dedicated spinning studio. Dance lessons like Ceroc and Salsa add to the fitness offerings. These facilities are complemented by a two-level temperature controlled swimming pool, with 25-metre lap lanes and two squash courts.

The Akuru Spa

The Akaru Spa is a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city and is the club’s newest and most elegant addition. It offers a variety of treatments ranging from facials treatments to body wraps and massages. For a complete beauty programme, Akaru Spa has recently launched slimming and firming treatments using exclusive world-renowned products and techniques.

A separate floor of the spa is dedicated to men where treatments use products developed exclusively for male grooming.

Eating out in the Aviation club

The Cellar - A popular restaurant, The Cellar serves international specialties in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere. The contemporary cuisine is complemented with a wide selection of excellent wines. The Cellar’s Friday and Saturday brunches are not to be missed as are the monthly themed wine dinners.

The Rainbow Room - The perfect venue for banquets; be it a wedding, a corporate meeting or a function, the Rainbow Room accommodates parties of up to 450, with doors opening onto the pool terrace. Regular comedy evenings are held here as well.

The Coffee Bean - A Health Club café, it offers a variety of snacks and daily specials from a deli-style counter and salad bar.

The Irish Village - Recently nominated one of “The Best Pubs in Dubai”, The Irish Village restaurant and bar recreates the culture and hospitality of a traditional Irish pub, in the heart of Dubai. Having recently celebrated its 12th Birthday, The Irish Village deserves its long-standing popularity for always bringing world–renowned acts and brilliant concerts.Over the years, many celebrities have visited The Irish Village and Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern was no exception when he was invited to officially commemorate The Irish Village 10th anniversary - in January 2007 during his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates - by unveiling a bronze sculpture by Irish artist Austin McQuinn. 'The Session' is a life-size bronze of three Irish musicians, celebrating the musical roots of the Emerald Isle. Cast in Ireland. 'The Session' has surely made a big impression and graces The Irish Village terrace. The Craftshop at The Irish Village offers genuine superior quality Irish art and crafts.

Century Village is a culinary haven; with its park-like setting of leafy trees, rocks, fountains and rustic benches. Century village has a cosmopolitan ambience that is unique to the city. It houses twelve licensed restaurants serving various cuisines: Lebanese, Italian, Portuguese, French, British, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Indian and Mediterranean. Whatever is your dining choice, Century Village has it all!

Currency

The local currency is the U.A.E Dirham. The Dirham is fixed against the US Dollar at the rate of Dhs. 3.67. Dollars are widely accepted in souks and shops. Other exchange rates (subject to change): UK: 5.9 AUS: 3.34 EURO: 5.38

Language and religion

The official language is Arabic but English, Urdu and Hindi are widely spoken. Islam is the official religion if the emirate, while there are also minority Hindus, Sikhs and Christians.

Dress Code

Dubai's liberal attitude means that there is not much that visitors in Dubai cannot wear. However, as in all countries, a healthy respect for the local customs and sensibilities should not go amiss. Dubai is an Islamic state and hence one’s outfit should be modest, especially when visiting the traditional areas of the emirate.

Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed in the evening for the winter months. During the day, good quality sunglasses, hats and sun-cream are a must!

Drinks

Dubai water is drinkable but bottled water is available and is reasonably priced.

Tipping

Practices are generally the same in Dubai as elsewhere in the world. Even where a service charge is applied, staff expects a little extra. Ten per cent is acceptable in hotel restaurants, while for luggage porters at the airports a tip of Dhs 20 is acceptable.

Economy

Today, Dubai is an important tourist destination and port but is also increasingly developing as a hub for service industries such as IT and finance, with the new Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The property boom is largely driven by mega-projects, whether off-shore such as The Palm and The World or inland such as the Dubai Marina, the Burj Dubai Complex, Business Bay and the Dubai Sports City amongst many others.

Dubai Duty Free are the owners and organizers of the Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai Duty Free is a shopping paradise second to none, and arguably the best duty free shop in the world. Dubai Duty Free opened for business on December 20th 1983 and over the past two decades has grown to become the number one airport retailer in the world with a turnover of US$1.1 billion in 2008.

On average, Dubai Duty Free handles around 60,000 sales transactions per day, resulting in over 20 million transactions per year. The operation doubled its retail space from 7,000 square metres to 15,000 with the opening of Emirates Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport in October 2008. In line with its expansion and development, Dubai Duty Free opened its purpose-built Head Office and Distribution Centre in Ramoul last year, with the 27,000 square metre warehouse facility featuring a semi-automated storage and retrieval system which is amongst the best in the world.

Employing over 3,500 people, the operation has consistently raised the benchmark for airport retailing in the Middle East. Its founding principal of offering international travelers a wide range of quality merchandise and a high level of service in a shopper-friendly environment still holds true to this day.

The operation also runs innovative and successful promotions: the Finest Surprise luxury car draw and the Millennium Millionaire. Both promotions have captured the imagination of travelers around the world and their popularity shows no sign of abating. The Finest Surprise luxury car promotion began in December 1989 and to-date has resulted in over 1400 cars being won by travelers from over 68 countries. The Millennium Millionaire, which offers 5,000 ticket holders the chance to win US$1 million, is now celebrating its 10th anniversary during which time it has created 100 dollar millionaires from 24 countries.

Dubai Duty Free has introduced a new addition to its world famous promotions with the launch of ‘Double Millionaire’, which offers 5,000 ticket holders the chance to win US$2 million. Tickets for the promotions can be purchased at Dubai Duty Free in Dubai International Airport or online at www.dubaidutyfree.com.

There have been many remarkable stories linked to those who have been lucky enough to win a luxury car, a Harley Davidson motorbike, or the US$1 million. There have also been several cases of multiple winners and to-date, there have been 15 double winners in the Finest Surprise promotion. There has been one double winner in the Millennium Millionaire promotion when, on October 6th 2009, the ticket of Mr. Khoury, a Dubai based Canadian, was drawn in series 99. Mr. Khoury won his first US$1 million in the same promotion in January 2004. To date, Dubai Duty Free has received more than 150 awards from industry, media and government bodies which bear testimony to the operation’s retail success.

The resultant campaign for the 25th Anniversary won the Frontier Award for ‘Best Marketing Award by a Retailer’ which was announced in Cannes on October, 21st 2009. This latest award marks the 10th Frontier Award received by Dubai Duty Free since the awards began in 1984. The operation has won the Marketing Award three times now (1986, 1990 and 2009), while it has won the Airport Retailer of the Year award a record five times (1985, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007). In 1986, Managing Director Colm McLoughlin, won the Frontier Award for ‘Duty Free Person of the Year’ and in 2004, he became only the second person after Dr. Brendan O’ Regan, the ‘founder’ of the duty free industry, to win a Frontier ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.

In addition to the Frontier Award, Dubai Duty Free’s Managing Director, Colm McLoughlin recently received the Middle East Business Achievement Award for ‘Businessman of the Year’. The Award which was presented by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, acknowledged the leadership role of Mr. McLoughlin over the past 26 years in establishing Dubai Duty Free as the No. 1 retailer in the world. And recently, Mr. McLoughlin has been chosen by the judges of the Aviation Business Awards to win the ‘Duty Free Manager of the Year Award, 2009.’

In parallel with its retail success, Dubai Duty Free continued to invest heavily in marketing with a busy sponsorship and event management programme over the past year across the UAE and the world.

Dubai Duty Free hosts a series of high profile golf tournaments which includes the annual Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, Dubai Duty Free UAE Nationals Cup, Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup, Dubai Duty Free Seniors Cup, the Dubai Irish Golf Society tournament, and the Dubai Duty Free Mixed Greensomes Open.

Away from the golfing fairways, the firm tennis favourite with UAE tennis fans and a global TV audience is the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free. The event comprises a WTA Premier 5 tournament played back-to-back with an ATP World Tour Series 500 Tournament. Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships 2010 will be held from 14 – 27 February at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, with Venus Williams and Novak Djokovic looking likely to defend their titles. Attracting worldwide media attention, the tournament creates huge publicity for both the Dubai Duty Free and the emirate.

Horse racing continues to play a vital role in Dubai Duty Free’s marketing strategy. Dubai Duty Free is a founding sponsor of the Dubai World Cup, the richest horse race in the world. International horseracing has provided an excellent medium for Dubai Duty Free to capture the global media attention and the Dubai Duty Free Stakes in the UK in April, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (Ascot) in August, the Dubai Duty Free International Raceday in September are part of the operation’s racing sponsorship in the UK. The operation is also the title sponsor of one of the biggest races in Europe, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, which is held at the Curragh racecourse in Ireland each June.

Other sporting events benefiting from Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship and support include WPPA/UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, Dubai International Basketball Championships, Dubai Rugby Sevens, and the recent FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. By supporting so many events at the highest level and all around the globe, Dubai Duty Free is effectively promoting Dubai's sporting, leisure and business facilities, which are second to none.

Dubai General Links

www.dubaitourism.ae
www.dubai.ae
www.godubai.com
www.dubaiairport.com
www.aviationclub.ae