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DUBAI |
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Day 1 - Depart the USA: Depart Washington Dulles for Dubai. Day 2 - Dubai: Welcome to Dubai! Upon arrival, proceed to baggage claim and after clearing customs you will be met by your ABC Destinations representative. You'll be transferred to your first class hotel located in the renowned sunshine and business paradise of Dubai. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Tonight there will be a welcome dinner at the hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 3 - Dubai: After breakfast, we begin our Dubai tour with a drive along the skyscraper area of Sheikh Zayed Road, also referred to by the locals as "Little Manhattan", where we pass by the Emirates Towers and the Dubai World Trade Center. Then we drive along the Zabeel road, passing by the Palace of Sheikh Mohammad, as well as the Rashid Palace, home to the Royal family of Dubai. Visit the Al Fahidi Fort, which houses the Dubai Museum. Its colorful life size dioramas vividly depict everyday life in the days before the discovery of oil. Also on display, are artifacts from several excavations in the emirate, recovered from graves that date back to the third millennium BC. Then we cross the Creek of Dubai by traditional boats to reach the SOUK - which is the Arabic word which stands for the market or place where any kind of goods are brought or exchanged. This evening enjoy a romantic dinner aboard a traditional Arabic Dhow that glides silently along the creek of Dubai under a starry sky. This cruise aboard this traditional wooden vessel offers an intriguingly different view of this amazing city. Enjoy the scenery by night with its beautifully lit city, which is truly mesmerizing. Admire the architecture of places such as the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the spectacular Chamber of Commerce building and also Sheikh Saeed'fs house and the Heritage Village. A sumptuous dinner is served whilst you cruise along. Enjoy the delicious taste of true Arabian hospitality. This unforgettable romantic evening cruise includes an international buffet dinner. Relax! Indulge! Enjoy! (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 4 - Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Dubai: After breakfast, we depart to tour the city of Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the Capital of United Arab Emirates and the largest Emirate. One of the richest and most modern cities of the world, Abu Dhabi is the center of the oil business and administration of the country. Built on a natural sand island, the emirate includes a number of offshore islands and vast expanses of desert. The city is renowned for its lush greenery, planned development and beautiful cornices and also includes mangrove swamps, fine beaches and coral reefs. Abu Dhabi offers some spectacular desert scenery. Our first stop will be at the magnificent Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is the largest mosque in the U.A.E. and the sixth largest mosque in the world. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahvan, the founder and the first President of the U.A.E., who is also buried there. Our next stop is the Heritage Village. Here you can journey to the past and experience traditional life in Abu Dhabi before oil revenues altered the landscape, economically and socially. In addition to Bedouin tents, there are reconstructions of palm ('Arish'f) and other houses, old fishing villages and traditional Souks. Given its location along the seafront, maritime traditions are a special feature. As part of this tour we will be arranging an event to connect U.S. businesses with businesses and trade organizations in Abu Dhabi. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 5 - Dubai: After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure. For business minded travelers this morning we will be arranging a Chamber of Commerce event to connect U.S. businesses with U.A.E. businesses and trade organizations. This afternoon, head out to the desert for a Desert Safari Extravaganza! Your driver takes you on a roller coaster ride over dune after dune before, at the top of one of the high dunes, we watch a magical sunset. Then drive to a Bedouin camp after sunset, where you are welcomed in traditional Arabic style with dates and Arabic coffee. Settle in for the evening to the sound of the Arabic music and belly dancer giving a glimpse of Arabian culture. Music playing whilst you take drinks from the open bar, the ladies can have their hands painted with beautiful designs drawn by henna ladies whilst the men can smoke the 'sheesha' popularly known as the hubbly-bubbly. End the evening with a sumptuous barbeque dinner and a belly dance show performed by an expert dancer. Return to the hotel in 4x4 vehicles after an evening that will definitely be a memorable one. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 6 - Dubai: (Optional Tour) After breakfast, the day is at leisure for shopping, enjoy various facilities at the hotel or take an optional tour to visit The Mall of the Emirates, the ultimate leisure, entertainment and shopping resort is strategically located in the heart of what is now deemed 'New Dubai'. This 223,000 square meter center offers a full range of shopping, leisure, and entertainment. Mall of the Emirates features 466 international brands including department stores, fashion, lifestyle, sports, electronics and home furnishing outlets, the largest Carrefour in the city and over 60 stores that are unique to the center. Ski Dubai, in the Mall of Emirates, is the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East and offers an amazing snow setting to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing, or just playing in the snow. Ski Dubai is a unique mountain-themed attraction that offers you the opportunity to enjoy real snow in Dubai all year round. Tonight, why not experience an event not to be missed. The nations passion of horse racing, at Nad Al Sheba (event calendar willing). The venue for the richest race night in history, this year, its top-class race track must be seen to be believed. When horse owners and equine sport lovers throng the grand stand on a race day, it's an event to be remembered for the excitement and the glamour. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 7 - Dubai/Fujairah, Dibba, Masafi & Khor Khalba (Optional Tour)/Dubai: After breakfast, the day is at leisure for you to explore Dubai or take an optional tour to Fujairah. The east coast of the U.A.E. is a place to escape from big city life, a place to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature as you journey through the lush green lands in the valley of the Hajjar Mountains. Today we drive by the Fujairah Port before arriving at the Bidiyah Mosque. This is the country'fs oldest mosque, situated below the historic watch towers that were built to protect the ancient sea routes. We then proceed to the seaport town of Dibba where we drive past date and palm farms, close to the Omani border. Driving to a hill top in Dibba we stop to give you a photo opportunity and to view the contrasting silhouette of the Hajjar mountain range. Moving on through Masafi, we arrive at the town'fs colorful Friday market. This market is a great place to pick up pottery, carpets and other handcrafted goods. Our next stop is the Bitnah Oasis, with its impressive fort, guarding a mountain. Moving south from Fujairah, we drive to the quaint town of Khor Kalba and then onwards to the Fujairah Museum and Fort, where historic artifacts dating back 3,000 years are on display. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 8 - Dubai/Ajman & Sharjah (Optional Tour)/Dubai: After breakfast, the day is at leisure for you to explore Dubai or take an optional tour to Sharjah. A day away from Dubai on camelback, a century ago, but only half hour'es drive on today'es world class expressways, the Emirates of Ajman and Sharjah are worth a visit. Go back in time to experience history at the museum, explore the local marketplace and a few other landmarks before arriving in Sharjah, the green emirate, famous for its architecture. Sharjah has been recognized by UNESCO as the cultural capital of the Arab world and you will see why as you take in its exquisite government buildings, museums and universities. Stop at the lagoon for refreshments before moving on to the legendary Sharjah Blue Souk. Needless to say, the Souk is packed with all kinds of traditional jewelry, fabrics, antiques and other collectibles. We'ell end the day with a visit to the bustling fish and vegetable market. (Breakfast, Dinner) Day 9 - Dubai/USA: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (Breakfast) |