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MY DUBAI
AN ITINERARY TO DISCOVER THE EMERALD CITY WHERE THE FUTURE WAS ALREADY YESTERDAY. MAURO MARZOCCHI, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE IICUAE, TAKES US ON A TOUR OF THE HEART CITY’S PLACES edited by Teresa Favi
Burj Al Arab the jewel of Jumeirah beach
CITY ITINERARIES
“I began discovering this coun- ket. Then, in 1999, the Burj Al try in 1985. I was export manager, Arab was inaugurated, and I and I was invited to participate would call it the cornerstone of in a fashion fair in Dubai with the new Dubai. At this point, we our associate companies. At the decided to invest in this country. time, the city was purely Asian; Even now, Dubai’s success with there was no trace of the Dubai tourism is due to its warmth, soof today. It was made up of the cial tranquillity, and safety. old part, the Creek (around the To this, we must obviously add arm of the Persian Gulf sea that the relative distance from Euruns through the city like a river) rope, the cold one I mean, bethat was its beating heart. Then cause you land at the airport in there was 2nd December Street 5 and a half hours. In the winwith a few shops, which already ter, the temperature gets up to was the location of the World 23-25° (our April) and then inTrade Center, the white building creases. We have six months of that still houses the Italian Con- beautiful weather and six very sulate and continues to have its MAURO MARZOCCHI hot months. own aesthetic that has not aged. IS SECRETARY- Businesses and companies arSheikh Zayed Road, the most beautiful road in Dubai that today has 16 lanes, had only 4, two in each direction without a trafGENERAL OF THE ITALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE rived after tourism. First came the big companies, then the small and medium-sized ones, and a contribution that fic barrier. In 37 years, which for UNITED ARAB EMIRATES we also gave. Italy’s commercial Europe is almost nothing, Dubai success in Dubai is now a mahas been completely transformed with skyscrap- ture and greatly expanding phenomenon. Keep in ers, 34-lane roads, artificial islands, and spectacular mind that our country exports about 50% more to shopping malls. There were very few Italians here. the Emirates than it exports to Brazil and India.
BURJ AL ARAB JUMEIRAH. MADE IN ITALY IN DUBAI
THE BIRTH OF TOURISM Italians are loved because there is a very high per Those who, like me, chose to establish themselves capita spending capacity here, the fourth highest in Dubai did it because they liked the location, in the world. People from the Emirates make up the warmth, the beautiful sea, and the spice mar- only 10% of the population of Dubai, but they are
Aerial view on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Downtown at down
No trip to Dubai is complete without a desert excursion
CITY ITINERARIES
heavy spenders. Anyone arriving in Dubai will see a swarm of Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis, to just mention cars. If we delve into the world of restaurants, all the greatest Italian names are present. There are 200 of them! Shall we talk about fashion? All the most notable Italian fashion brands are here, most concentrated in the top fashion location, the Dubai Mall. But we are also the second country in Europe, behind Germany, to export industrial machinery to Dubai.
THE SPIRIT OF DUBAI
Hospitality and international character. I am still struck by how easy human relations are here, facilitated, I think, by the fact that almost everyone here is a foreigner. There is a vast sea of languages and cultures concentrated here. So, we all feel like we are citizens of this country. No matter where you go, you feel this hospitality. As we were saying about the international character, one thing that jumps out at you as soon as you arrive in Dubai is that, despite being in an Arab country, it actually seems as if you are in Milan, New York, or Melbourne. It is an international metropolis to all intents and purposes, even in how people dress and behave and in their lifestyle.
THE NOT TO BE MISSED PLACES
There is truly so much to see. Obviously, people don’t come here for museums as they do in Florence, Rome, London, or Paris. This is spending tourism linked to lifestyle, shopping, and the highest level of entertainment. Deira, which corresponds to the old part facing the sea, with the Gold Souk and the Spice Market, is not to be missed and should be considered to be the starting point for enjoying modern Dubai. Deira also gives the idea of what Dubai was like; you are in Asia. Once you pass the Creek, you find yourself in a sparkling modern metropolis, where you must definitely see the tallest skyscraper in the world, the Burj Kalifa, with its deck on the 125th floor from which you can see the whole of Dubai. Another beautiful view can be had from the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the famous Sail on the sea, which continues to exude a unique aesthetic and architectural charm despite being twenty years old. There is also a fabulous Zoo, which is not get the publicity it deserves. It is a very beautiful place in terms of size, number of animals, and their care. The Dubai Marina is a true community on the sea, a vast area dedicated to young tourism full of hotels, clubs, and restaurants. We should point out La Mer, an exclusive area of Jumeirah where there are shops and restaurants on the sea. It is a good place to enjoy beautiful walks, a bit like along the waterfront in Italy, but on a larger scale. To enjoy life on the sea, I would absolutely recommend going to Al Mamzar (just 20 minutes from downtown). There are vast beaches of fine white sand, and the water is like what you would find in the Caribbean.
SPORTS
Hawking is a very exclusive, traditional, and historic hobby practised especially by those from the Emirates. As for horseback riding, the Arabs’ passion for horses is well known, and there is a spectacular hippodrome, the Meydan, for galloping and show jumping competitions. However, endurance riding is the real horse sport of the sheikhs and the most popular in the Emirates. For years, Italy has hosted the endurance riding world championships. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is also well-known internationally as an endurance rider and has always participated successfully in competitions, as have his family members.
Above: aboard a light boat along the waters of the Creek the arm of the Persian Gulf sea that runs through the city like a river Below: Deira, the old Dubai
Ain Dubai is the huge Ferris wheel inaugurated to coincide with the opening of Expo 2020. At over 250 metres high, it stands on Bluewaters Island, off the famous Jumeirah Beach Residences. It offers a 360-degree view of the Dubai skyline
CITY ITINERARIES
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5 places not to be missed
DEIRA Deira is a famous part of Old Dubai and its historical commercial centre. It hosts many colourful souks and markets, such as: the Gold and Spice souks and the Deira Fish Market.
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BURJ KHALIFA Be thrilled by the world’s fastest double-deck elevators, cruising at 10m/s. At 456 meters, Level 125 offers a spacious deck tastefully decorated in Arabic mashrabiya for stunning 360-degree views. DUBAI MALL Located in the heart of the prestigious Downtown Dubai it is the most-visited retail and entertainment destination with over 1,300 retail outlets and over 200 food and beverage outlets.
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LA MER It is a world-class beachfront in the prestigious Jumeira 1 neighbourhood with shops, restaurants and cafés, leisure and entertainment along 2.5 kilometres of relaxing white sand.
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MEYDAN RACECOURSE It is the centrepiece of Meydan real estate projects and offers a full season of exemplary horseracing, the highlight of which is the world’s most spectacular race day, the Dubai World Cup.
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