| Dubai has been built on the premise that most people | | | | infested with sharks. |
| are shopaholics, on the desire to break world records | | | | Reactions to this resort complex range from totally |
| and to entertain both locals and visitors with endless | | | | kitch and over-the-top, to opulent and like 'paradise |
| themed structures, like something from Disneyland. | | | | on earth'. |
| Two complexes that represent Dubai's addiction to | | | | The Dubai Mall, in the new precinct of Burj Dubai, |
| excess that can be visited free of charge and are | | | | was also built at unbelievable cost and opened at the |
| stop-off points on the relatively cheap get-on-and-off | | | | end of 2008. It is the largest mall in the world and |
| Big Bus Tour of the city are: | | | | the adjacent needle-like tower is the tallest building in |
| - The Atlantis Hotel and aquapark | | | | the world. The mall is the size of 50 soccer fields |
| - The Dubai Mall | | | | with 15 malls-within-a-mall including the world's largest |
| Like many things in Dubai, there is a touch of fantasy | | | | gold souk among its 1200 stores. However, this mall |
| in the luxury-themed resort on the Atlantis Hotel. It is | | | | is more than just a shopping experience. It is also a |
| based on the drowned continent of Atlantis | | | | massive entertainment complex with an Aquarium |
| mentioned by Plato, a legend fancifully embellished | | | | and Discovery Centre containing 10 million litres of |
| over the centuries, and attempts to provide a | | | | water, 33 000 species and the world's largest acrylic |
| window into a lost world. The complex was built at | | | | viewing panel. There is an Olympic-sized skating rink. |
| the staggering cost of $1.5 billion in 2008 on the | | | | 22-screen cinema complex, Kidzania, a children's |
| artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. The hotel is | | | | entertainment centre and SEGA Republic, an indoor |
| decorated with ceilings of marine life, shell-topped | | | | themed park where visitors can go into sensory |
| columns, a Neptune-like gilt throne, Lost Chambers | | | | overload. It is easy to get lost in this massive glitzy |
| with a maze of tunnels, sunken ruins, drowned halls | | | | mall that provides everything including a refuge from |
| under a lagoon that has 65 000 marine creatures. | | | | Dubai's excessive heat. |
| Some of the 1539 rooms and suites (Lost Chamber | | | | There is no doubt that a visit to both of these new |
| Suites) have floor to ceiling views into the water | | | | Dubai landmarks is a memorable experience and gives |
| world. In the aquapark there is a 30-metre ziggurat | | | | one perspective on Sheikh Maktoum's showcase city. |
| that provides an almost vertical slide into a lagoon | | | | |