Dubai

There’s nothing small or shy about Dubai. From the minute your plane descends towards this cityscape on the Persian Gulf, you’ll be gripped by the spectacle of space-age skyscrapers looming out of the endless desert and shimmering ocean.

Here you can dine at the world’s highest restaurant and tallest building, shop at the largest global mall, sleep in an underwater hotel or even ski on an indoor snow slope. For a more traditional Arabian experience, set sail on a dhow while feasting on Middle Eastern cuisine, gaze at the sunset across the undulating desert dunes and search for unusual treasure in the old souqs.