While it's reputation as the shopping capital of the world is well deserved, Dubai doesn't have to be all about retail therapy. Tourists willing to spend a bit more time exploring will discover entrancing deserts, innovative architecture and a fascinating culture.

For an incredible cultural experience a visit to the Jumeirah mosque is something no tourist to Dubai should miss out on. Guided tours take place on Thursday and Sundays at 10am. The visits form part of the 'Open Doors, Open Minds' programme to promote cultural understanding and explain how prayers take place in a mosque, Muslim culture as well as the basic tenets of Islam. It’s a fascinating visit for anyone wanting to learn more about what has become a much-demonised religion in recent years.

Although Dubai has developed remarkably quickly — it was a small fishing village just 50 years ago — the emirate still offers some fascinating history to explore. Your best starting point is the Al Fahidi fort in the heart of Bur (old) Dubai. Once home to the early ruler of Dubai it has since been converted into a museum illustrating the history, economy, culture and development of Dubai.

A short stroll east of the fort is the historic Bastakiya area. Filled with traditional coffee shops, it’s one of the few areas where barajeel wind towers, an early form of air-conditioning, can still be seen atop traditional courtyard houses. Also in this area is the Heritage village, which offers a glimpse into Dubai’s traditional culture and lifestyle, and the Sheik Saeed Al Maktoum House, a national monument that was once the seat of local government.

While Bedouin food and crafts can be purchased in the Heritage village, the way to really get a feel for the Bedouin way of life is to head out into the desert on a 4x4 tour. An hour or so from Dubai sees the low scrubland disappear and the desert proper begin; wave after wave of rolling ochre sand dunes stretch to the horizon and it’s easy to imagine Bedouin camel trains traversing these endless sands. However, this is the 21st century and all modern nomads have to do is make sure that the seatbelt is firmly fastened as the convoy of 4x4’s heads off into the dunes. At speed….

Dune cowboys
Crashing over dunes and wheel-spinning out of dips is all part of the fun, but after an hour’s dune bashing you’ll be glad to pull up at the desert camp for an evening under the stars. The cost of the tour includes a three course ‘traditional’ Bedouin meal of flame grilled meat, chicken, pita breads, humous and salad. Its easy to be cynical about Bedouin ‘camps’ purpose built in the desert for tourists, but in the same way that game lodges and bomas in South Africa provide visitors with a bush experience, the dune dinner is a Dubai experience not to be missed.

If you need to wash some of the sand out of your ears the next day, then head straight for Wild Wadi. One of the world’s most advanced water theme parks, Wild Wadi boasts the world’s tallest and fastest water rides outside the USA. While water-soaked thrill-seeking is the name of the game here, there are also more sedate rides for you to catch your breath before going back for another dose of adrenaline.

Whether it’s shopping, culture, adventure, history, sports or just plain relaxation, Dubai has it all. Yes, many tourists visit this fast-paced emirate purely for the world-class shopping, but the traveller willing to spend a bit more time here will be richly rewarded by this world-class destination.

    Dubai fact file
  • Emirates airlines flies direct from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Dubai
  • Dubai is part of an Arabic country, but is at the same time extremely liberal. Modest dress is expected in the city and in public places, but swimming costumes and bikinis are quite acceptable at the beach or pool.
  • Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood.
  • The official currency of Dubai is the dirham (dhs), with the echange rate at roughly R1.8 to the dirham. Click here for the latest exchange rates
  • Summers in Dubai can be extremely hot, with temperatures reaching 50°, and humidity above 80 percent. The best time to visit is in winter (Nov – April), when the temperature is a more moderate 25°.
  • South Africans require a visa to visit the UAE.
  • And 'What about alcohol?' I hear you ask. Alcohol is freely available in hotel restaurants and bars, but not outside the hotels. Penalties for being drunk in public and drunk driving are strict though, so don't take any chances!
  • Click here for more information from the Dubai Department of Tourism.