PERSONAL POSTCARD
DUBAI: DESERT OASIS
By Leonard Finkel

I suppose when money is no object, you can have anything you want. That seems to be the goal in Dubai, creating a hybrid combination of Disney World, Hong Kong and Pinehurst in the Middle East. With oil revenue expected to run dry in less than 10 years, the Emirates is looking to diversify. Construction is everywhere. New cities are rising as far as the eye can see, as rapidly as humanly possible. It’s estimated that 20% of all the giant cranes in the world are in Dubai, creating quite a contrast between modern skyscrapers and old world Arabic culture. I have to admit I can't recall seeing such architectural variety and creativity.

There are currently more than a dozen golf courses in Dubai and more under construction. During our trip, we played four courses; the Emirates Golf Club, The Montgomerie Dubai, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club and the Four Seasons Golf Club. The first thing that struck me about the courses was their condition. I know how difficult it is to maintain adequate playing conditions through the heat of the summer in places like Florida or Arizona, and here in Dubai, temperatures can soar past 130°. Though the speed of the greens varied from course to course, these courses were in beautiful shape. While the courses were strewn with palm trees, I wouldn't call them desert courses at all. All provided ample fairway landing areas and unlike true desert courses, if you missed the fairway you were not dead. They were very user friendly. The clubhouses at the Dubai golf courses were in a word, magnificent. The facilities were awesome, the architecture unique, each with their own individual character. Pulling up to the Four Seasons Golf Club, it looked like a hotel, but it was just the clubhouse. I found it amusing to see the signs stating, men's room, ladies room, prayer room. You just don't see that in America. Located in the largest shopping mall in the world, Ski Dubai is an indoor, climate controlled mountain comprised of two runs 400 meters long featuring a fairly significant vertical drop. I was hoping to find spring skiing conditions but it was pretty chilly inside. I suppose when it's hot outside, this climate can be very appealing.

It's been quite a while since I last skied so I planned on taking only one or two runs. But I had so much fun; I kept on going until we had to leave. All the equipment necessary is available on site and far superior to the equipment I remember skiing on. The property also offers a family play area, toboggan hills and twin-track bobsled racing. Our desert adventure incorporated two distinct activities: dune driving then dinner and entertainment at a Bedouin camp. I assumed that we would be in individual dune buggies but we wound up in four-wheel-drive vehicles as a group. After a few turns and slides over and across monstrous red sand dunes, I understood why. Drivers must train for a minimum of a year for a license. I got this queasy feeling in my stomach as we would rise and drop over and around taller and taller dunes while at the same time experiencing a thrilling rush of adrenaline. As we pulled into camp, camels were waiting. The camel rides were pretty tame but for the adventurous soul, dune surfing was available. It's considered poor taste and insulting for non-Arabs to dress in traditional Arabic garb but at the camp, it was encouraged. During a barbecue dinner we were treated to a traditional local music performance. For those that wish to partake, Arabic henna tattoos and long drags off hookah’s (tobacco water pipes) are part of the evening festivities. Accommodation Deluxe Situated on a man-made island more than 900 feet offshore, Burj Al Arab, a unique building designed in the shape of a billowing Arabian dhow sail is a testament to extravagance and opulence. Fireballs 8 feet in diameter are propelled skyward at the entrance. A cornucopia of vibrant colors along with 17,000-plus feet of 24-karat gold leaf embellish the interior. A cascading waterfall surges between towering escalators leading up from a lobby that combines finely atomized water with fiber optics to produce a kaleidoscope effect. At over 590 feet in height, this hotel is home to the world's tallest atrium, providing panoramic but dizzying views from the upper floors. The rooms in this all suite (each of which is a multi-level) hotel range in size from 1,830 to 8,400 square feet and provide every possible amenity including an extensive selection of complementary Hermes products. Towering almost 700 feet above ground, the Al Muntaha (Skyview) restaurant features contemporary European cuisine and breathtaking views.

The Madinat Jumeirah Resort is a sprawling luxury beachfront complex featuring two boutique hotels and 29 traditional Arabic summer houses nestled among tropical gardens. Each component of the property is reachable via water taxi through a series of canals.

The property is constructed around Souk Madinat Jumeirah, a re-creation of the ancient Arabic marketplace, featuring 75 boutique-style, open-shuttered shops and intimate galleries. A diverse array of more than two dozen restaurants and lounges are positioned throughout the property. With its unique shape and omnipresent wind towers, this sand colored property aims to deliver old world charm while providing modern facilities and luxurious interiors.

Park Hyatt Dubai is nestled between the Dubai Creek golf course and marina and is positioned around a beautifully landscaped pool area with a series of palm islands built into the pool. I found the setting very peaceful and refreshing as I strolled through the grounds pre-dawn.

The property features 225 rooms and suites, many with private terraces that provide stunning views of Dubai Creek with separate living and work areas. Elegant decor complements cozy furnishings, including a full bar and a bath with separate tub and walk-in rain shower.

An assortment of fine dining options is available on site; my favorite, Café Arabesque, I will discuss later. Award winning spa, Amara, is a sanctuary of luxury and tranquility, where exotic rituals have been created to stimulate the senses, soothe and rejuvenate both body and soul.

The facility features eight spacious luxury suites, each with its own private outdoor terrace, lounge area, indoor and outdoor rain showers. Amara also boasts a fully equipped 24-hour gym. With its adjoining private courtyards and cascading water features, Amara is in perfect harmony with the sophisticated retreat atmosphere of the hotel.

Dining in Dubai runs the gamut from typical American fast food outlets to gourmet European dining options such as Traiteur (Park Hyatt). Exotic and ethnic cuisines abound. My favorites were the Café Arabesque and lunch at the Spike Bar at the Emirates Golf Club. The day we were at the Spike, a lunch buffet featured an assortment of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes plus a great dessert and fruit bar. The chocolate mousse cake was extremely rich. I had two pieces. A regular menu is also available.

I didn't have an opportunity for dinner at the Café Arabesque, but they offered up a great breakfast and lunch. Hot dishes and main courses were ordered off the menu, but for all meals there is an extensive buffet-style selection of Middle Eastern dishes.

In the morning there was a vast assortment of meats, cheeses and fruits as well as two Middle Eastern bread and pastry stations. Lunch at the café was my favorite meal. As with breakfast, main courses were ordered from the menu, which I actually passed on.

I went right to the buffet which featured three stations divided into Lebanese, Jordanian and Syrian cuisines. Each station consisted of 15 to 20 different dishes, most of which were vegetarian. Two additional stations featured a wide variety of European style and Middle Eastern deserts. I could have eaten here every meal.

The best time to travel to Dubai is between October and April. We went the first week in October and the weather was beautiful. Though a Moslem country, most people dress in casual Western attire. Alcohol is readily available at the golf courses and in hotels and nightclubs.

Delta Airlines now offers direct service to Dubai from Atlanta. International BusinessElite customers can sit back and relax in newly enhanced, all-leather sleeper seats, sip one of Delta’s award-winning wines and savor creative dishes – all while watching first-run films on personal in-seat video monitors. In 2008 Delta will add fully-horizontal personal sleeper suites in BusinessElite.