Culture and Tourism
At the 2008 edition of the Arabian Travel Market, held in May in Dubai’s state-of-the-art International Convention and Exhibition Center, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced that Dubai is expected to welcome 10 million hotel visitors in 2010, up from around seven million in 2007. This growth builds on 2007’s impressive results: Dubai’s hotel revenues grew by 15.7 percent last year to reach AED 12.5 billion.
Global capital of tourism and culture
Impressive as these figures are, they may fall short of what Dubai’s tourism sector actually achieves over the next two years, since Dubai has a history of achieving well beyond its own goals, well ahead of its own schedules. As Khalid Ahmed bin Sulayem, DTCM Director-General, explains, “The visionary and iconic projects currently underway in Dubai are guaranteed to surpass our estimates for tourism growth by 2010.” In fact, by 2018, Dubai’s tourism projects are expected to be worth around USD 122 billion.
Tourism sector 18 percent of GDP
The tourism sector already accounts for around 18 percent of Dubai’s GDP in direct contributions and almost 30 percent in indirect contributions. Dubai has led the way in turning the Gulf region into one of the world’s top tourism destinations, and still attracts the lion’s share of the region’s international visitors and tourism investments.
Investments in tourism projects in the United Arab Emirates now total AED 858 billion (USD 233.7 billion), and Dubai’s tourism projects, totaling AED 454 billion, represent almost half of all tourism projects in Gulf Cooperation Council countries to date.
2015 strategic plan targets tourism and culture
Dubai’s ‘Vision 2015’ plan targets tourism and culture as top priorities. The plan focuses on promoting local culture, making sure new tourism and cultural developments follow the highest international standards (including environmental standards), and supporting tourism through continuing investments in infrastructure. Capacity at Dubai International Airport, for example, will be expanded to 70 million passengers by 2015, while the new airport at Jebel Ali will be able to handle an astonishing 120 million passengers. Both Dubai’s busy cruise port and local carrier Emirates Airlines will be expanded as well.
Culture and Arts Authority established
Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman
Managing DirectorCAA
Signaling the importance of culture in Dubai’s development plans, Sheikh Mohammed recently created the Culture and Arts Authority (CAA), whose Managing Director is Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, also Governor of Dubai International Financial Center, and whose chairman is Sheikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
According to its mission statement, the CAA aims “to position Dubai as a vibrant, Arabian global city which shapes 21st century culture and arts in the region and the world” and “to highlight Dubai as a dynamic culture, heritage and arts center.” Current initiatives for the CAA include creating the world’s first museum in honor of the Prophet Mohammed (Mohammed the Messenger Museum).
Khor Dubai to help make emirate global culture capital
Creating more cultural offerings is an important part of Dubai’s tourism strategy as the emirate positions itself as much more than a shopping and entertainment destination. The ambitious Khor Dubai project launched by Sheikh Mohammed in March this year is designed to make Dubai a global capital of culture as well as honor the emirate’s past, present and future.
The project, overseen by the new CAA, will stretch 10 miles along both sides of Dubai Creek, and will involve the creation of more than 10 thematic museums; nine public libraries dedicated to poetry, music and literature; 14 new theaters; an opera house; 11 art galleries; seven cultural and art institutes; and various workshops for local and foreign artists as well as residents.
In announcing the project, Sheikh Mohammed commented, “We have come together to launch the Khor Dubai cultural project in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015. The initiative will draw its roots from our heritage and history and embrace our present to build the future, taking our country to new horizons of prosperity and development for further gaining international status.”
Khor Dubai will involve the kinds of public-sector/private-sector partnerships that have worked so well for Dubai in the past. It is certain to become one of the leading destinations in the Middle East.
Enhancing Dubai’s international profile
This focus on culture is a new direction for Dubai, which in the past has targeted economic growth much more than cultural awareness. Sheikh Mohammed and other leaders have recognized, however, that Dubai’s traditional culture, which is very rich, is often overlooked now that the emirate has become an ultra-modern business hub whose current population is largely from somewhere else. Khor Dubai and other projects are designed to bring local culture to the forefront once again.
CAA’s Bin Sulaiman explains, “The Khor Dubai project will make Dubai Creek the most comprehensive cultural destination in the world. The CAA will actively encourage Dubai’s community – which embraces over 200 nationalities living and working together in harmony – to contribute to the culture and heritage renaissance.”
Dubai retail therapy
A checklist of the tourism attractions Dubai already offers reads like a fantasy – except that it’s all very real. In addition to some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts on the planet – including Burj Al Arab, the first ‘seven-star’ hotel – as well as an amazing variety of theme parks to suit all ages and interests, Dubai has some of the most inventive upscale shopping malls anywhere on the globe, and deserves its reputation as the world’s shopping capital.
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) highlights the emirate’s attractions for anyone seeking the ultimate in retail therapy. Recently turned into a private-sector company headed by CEO Laila Suhail, DSF attracted 1.6 million visitors in 1996, its first year. In 2005, the festival attracted 3.3 million visitors who spent a total AED 6.67 billion, and prizes won by lucky visitors included top-of-the-range Lexus cars, millions of dollars in prize money, four luxury villas, and kilos of gold and diamonds.
From the first DSF in 1996 to the 2006-2007 edition, the DSF attracted more than 28 million visitors who spent a total of around AED 54 billion. DSF 2008 brought in more than 5 million visitors and involved more than 3,500 boutiques and 40 state-of-the-art shopping malls, as well as 100 spectacular events. Clearly, the 2009 DSF is not to be missed.
Theme parks, cultural venues, and more mega-projects in the works
In addition to DSF and a stunning array of shopping options available year-round, Dubai offers many other attractions for visitors of all ages and interests, including Dubai Museum, some of the world’s finest sports facilities, the world’s richest horse race, and a stunning indoor ski slope, to name just a few. Even more ambitious tourism-oriented developments are underway, including Dubailand, Aqua Dunya Theme Park (the largest theme park in the Middle East), the upscale Bawadi hotel project, and many others.
Dubai has also achieved outstanding success at positioning itself as a top choice for meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibits (MICE) tourism. Dubai hosted more than 250 major events and attracted more than one million visitors in 2007, and the new Dubai Exhibition World facilities currently under construction will make the emirate an even more attractive MICE choice.
The DTCM’s Bin Sulayem, who points out that national carrier Emirates Airlines has been instrumental in supporting Dubai’s tourism programs, says that recent trends include the growing popularity of beach hotels and themed hotels. He adds that DTCM would like to “educate both tourists and local residents about the culture and heritage of the United Arab Emirates, especially since Dubai is a melting pot of cultures living and working together in harmony.”
The United States is an important market for Dubai; Bin Sulayem says that around 385,000 American travelers visit Dubai each year, and that numbers of visitors from the United States are already up 20 percent this year. Offering exceptional amenities, one-of-a-kind attractions and easy access from all over the world, Dubai is sure to strengthen its role as a top international tourism and cultural destination in years to come.
An Iconic Pyramid in a Magical Garden: Dubai’s Hotel of Choice
An elegant pyramid whose top three layers are shimmering glass rises 300 feet above a lush garden in the heart of Dubai’s upscale Wafi lifestyle development. This is Raffles Dubai, a unique new member of the Raffles Hotels and Resorts family.
Raffles Dubai, which opened in November 2007, was named one of the best new hotels in the world this year by both the American and British editions of Condé Nast Traveler. The American magazine praised Raffles Dubai for its “friendly and efficient staff [that] beat the liveried pants off their counterparts at other Dubai luxury hotels; unlike many new arrivals from far-flung worlds, Raffles employees actually take messages, summon taxis and can expertly direct guests around the city.”
Such accolades do not come as a surprise to travelers who have stayed in any Raffles hotel worldwide. All properties in the group are known for their exemplary service, ultra-luxurious amenities and distinctive architectural styles.
Raffles Dubai is ideally located near Dubai’s financial district only 10 minutes from the international airport, but convenience is not why one comes here. This is not just a hotel; it is a sanctuary in the bustling city, a luxurious, private and discreet retreat.
Its lobby is both elegant and cozy, lined with books about the region’s arts and culture. Stunning interiors throughout the hotel are inspired by the Middle East, ancient Egypt and Asia. The enchanting Raffles Botanical Garden is themed around the four elements of life – Earth, Wind, Fire and Water – that are central to Egyptian philosophy. The garden contains more than 120,000 varieties of plants, including the Traveler’s Palm that is a Raffles hallmark.
Exceptional suites
Raffles Dubai contains 248 palatial suites, all with balconies or terraces. The Penthouse Suites have splendidly appointed sitting and dining rooms and provide a sophisticated home-away-from-home for residents. Each of the four elegantly appointed Presidential Suites is designed to reflect one of the four elements, and each has a spacious living room, a dining room for 10 people, a large private terrace, a luxurious bedroom and separate his-and-hers bathrooms.
The two spectacular Royal Suites, each almost 780 sq yards, are the ultimate in luxury. The décor of one is inspired by Asia, the other by the Middle East. Each has a master bedroom truly fit for royalty as well as a guest bedroom, two en-suite his-and-hers bathrooms, an elegant dining room seating 12, a separate kitchenette, a majlis (entertainment room) and bar, and a vast terrace with spectacular views.
The best in business and leisure amenities
Hagop A. Doghramadjian, General Manager of Raffles Dubai, explains that the hotel’s all-suite offering has proved particularly popular among senior executives, and that the hotel has been achieving occupancy rates of more than 50 percent since it opened. “Raffles gives a balance of leisure and business, with the best of both. We accommodate the business person’s every need,” he says.
Providing exceptional personalized service is the guiding principle at Raffles Dubai as at all Raffles properties. Doghramadjian explains, “We want to know all our guests. We want to know what a guest’s favorite flower is, and if it’s red roses, the next time the guest visits us, he or she will find red roses in the suite. We provide a special, endlessly exciting experience for our guests at Raffles Dubai.”
The hotel has already won several prestigious awards, including the ‘Best New Hotel in the Middle East’ prize at the fourth Arabian Hotel Investment Conference held in Dubai recently. At the awards ceremony, Raffles Dubai was cited for its interiors that “offer a treasure trove of ancient legends, exceptional artworks and design excellence.”
The peak of the pyramid
The peak of the pyramid in Raffles Dubai offers panoramic views and is the setting for the hotel’s restaurants and bars, which are also garnering awards. The Noble House restaurant at the pinnacle of the pyramid won the coveted ‘Best Restaurant of the Year’ award from Time Out Dubai; it was also named ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’. Fire and Ice Cellar & Grill was also cited by Time Out Dubai as one of the emirate’s best international restaurants.
An exceptional hotel deserves an exceptional spa, and guests at Raffles Dubai can pamper themselves with wellness treatments in the supremely luxurious RafflesAmrita Spa. The Robb Report has cited the RafflesAmrita Spas in Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles Resort Canouan Island as the best spas in their destinations.
Raffles Hotels and Resorts are ranked among the world’s very best hotels on the ‘Condé Nast World’s Best Places to Stay’, ‘Travel & Leisure World’s Best’, and ‘Condé Nast Traveler Business Travel’ lists. The flagship Raffles Hotel Singapore was voted ‘Best Hotel in Asia’ by readers of Ultratravel magazine.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, which has 88 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont- and Raffles-branded residences, estates and luxury private-residence club properties. More than 20 new Raffles hotels are set to open over the next three years in the Middle East and throughout the world.
General Manager Doghramadjian explains that Raffles Dubai is a strong supporter of Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘Vision 2015’ tourism goals, which include enhancing Dubai’s cultural and tourism attractions. He urges American travelers to come to Dubai and treat themselves to a stay at Raffles.
