One of seven emirates within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai is a former trading port that has transformed itself into a bastion of cosmopolitan luxury. Dubai meeting venues and hospitality offerings reflect this luxury. Golfers will be amazed by greens that flash like emeralds in the Dubai's desert climate. Dubai incentive programs are similarly exotic, running the gamut from traditional overnight desert treks to safaris.
Recognized for such unique hotel venues as the Burj Al Arab near the luxurious Palm Jumeirah resort area, Dubai continues to expand its inventory. Recent 4 and 5 Star properties include the 481-room Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, with about 9,000 square feet of meeting space; and the twin-tower JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai - one tower of which opened in early 2013. On the horizon: A 559-room Conrad Dubai and a 330-room W Dubai Festival City, both expected to open in summer 2013; and many more on the way.
Chief among convention venues, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre at the Dubai World Trade Centre features more than 1 million square feet of meeting and event space. The center expanded to its present size in 2009, with the debut of the four Sheikh Saeed Halls, which added more than 269,100 square feet. Other Dubai venues include the new Dubai Airport Expo with 355,212 square feet.
The premier shopping and event venue in Dubai is the Mall of the Emirates, which can take days to fully explore. Not only are more than 1,200 retailers to be found, the Mall features the world's largest indoor ski slope. Opened in 2005, the Ski Dubai slopes measure nearly one-quarter mile (400 meters) long and are packed with 6,000 tons of snow. Ski or snowboard excursions with lunch or dinner are easy to arrange for groups, who can dine at the nearby St. Moritz restaurant, evocative of a typical, Swiss mountain ski resort. Other excellent venues include the Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.
For those interested in learning more about Dubai's culture, the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding can arrange visits (including breakfast and lunch programs) to the Jumeirah Mosque or walking tours through one of the oldest districts in Dubai, Bastakiya. They may also visit the Souk Al Bahar, an entertainment district that replicates the stalls, shops and eateries of a traditional Arabian souk (or market).
It is a tenet of Dubai's Arabic heritage to make visitors feel welcome. When meeting and planning events in Dubai, it's important to remember that local etiquette requires clothing to be circumspect; women should avoid short, tight or revealing attire, and hemlines should fall, at minimum, just below the knee. Shoulders and arms should be covered, especially during Ramadan. Also during Ramadan, stores close during the day and reopen in the evening. Alcohol can only be consumed in hotels, restaurants and other licensed facilities; even so, avoid rowdy behavior and loud conversations during the calls to prayer. Always ask permission before taking pictures.
