Photography - Ivan Andrejić
Dubai is one of the world’s most romantic destinations,
a glittering city that offers swathes of golden beaches and world-class shopping, dining and nightlife. It hosts electrifying events and sporting championships, and for all the family, is one big, adventurous playground. A place where tradition meets ambition, where the past meets the future, the visionary city is also proud to display its rich heritage and culture. Extraordinary images of Dubai’s skyline have been seen around the world, but this is a city that must be experienced to be believed. Where else can you spend the morning on the beach, the afternoon snow skiing and the evening camel riding in the desert? Where else can you dive with sharks in a shopping mall and watch dancing fountains at the base of the world’s tallest tower? Whatever your passion, whatever your age – Dubai will never disappoint. With changes constantly afoot, Dubai is a city that can be visited year after year, after year. The pace of progress has been phenomenal and it takes some believing to imagine that just 50 years ago Dubai was little more than a fishing village beside the famous Creek. It was here that the Bani Yas tribe and the forefathers of the Maktoum dynasty first settled back in 1800. Even in the 1950s when the rest of the world was exploring space and New York’s Times Square had been illuminated for a good 50 years, Dubai still sat in darkness without electricity. But it was also here that the vision of Dubai first came about. The seeds of ambition were sowed and that small fishing village blossomed into the modern, multicultural and dynamic metropolis we see today. Dubai dares to dream big and then turns that dream into reality.
Centuries before it became the international destination that we all know today, Dubai was inhabited by nomadic tribes that left little trace of their existence. Then, in the 18th century, members of the BaniYas tribe settled on the banks of the Dubai Creek. Their natural commercial instincts, allied with liberal attitudes, attracted the attention of neighbouring traders from India and other Gulf countries. By the late 1870s, Dubai had become the main port of the southern coast, developing major souqs to enable visitors to barter their wares. It was in these clamorous Arabian souqs that spices were traded, potters and weavers worked, butchers hung carcasses, carpenters carved their wares and the waters of the Creek were congested with wooden abras and dhows ferrying passengers and unloading their cargo. It was a chaotic home to Iranians, Omanis and tribal Bedouins.
Pearls, collected from offshore beds, and gold were key to the emirate’s prosperity. Yet with the collapse of the pearling industry in the 1930s, Dubai fell into a deep depression, and many residents starved or migrated to other parts of the Arabian Gulf. Yet thanks to the implementation of favourable tax incentives, Dubai blossomed into a burgeoning trading hub. By the early 1950s, the Creek was at bursting point and it was down to the sheer determination and survival instinct of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum – the Ruler of Dubai from 1958 to 1990 – that the money was raised to dredge the Creek, building up its banks with bulkheads and sheet piling. Remarkably, all of this was done without the basic aid of mainstream electricity. At the same time that the Soviets were sending satellites into space and some 50 years after New York’s Times Square was ablaze with multi-coloured illuminations, Dubai still remained in darkness. It was not until 1961 that Dubai flickered to light. Fortunes changed in 1966. Long after oil had been discovered in neighbouring Abu Dhabi and after years of drilling one dry hole after another, ‘black gold’ was eventually found in Dubai. This led the emirate to grant concessions to international oil companies, thus igniting a massive influx of foreign workers. Between 1968 and 1975 the city’s population grew by over 300 per cent. In 1960, Dubai’s 60,000 residents lived in an area of just two square miles, the size of a few city blocks. By 1970, the city held 100,000 people in a seven-square mile area. Five years later Dubai doubled again reaching 18 square miles, home to 183,000 people.
On 2 December 1971, Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain, formed the United Arab Emirates – Ras al-Khaimah joined a year later. Dubai’s new-found fortunes and independence was not wasted and, thanks to the foresight of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the infrastructure to create a city of the future began to take shape. In 1971, Port Rashid opened, providing access for large container ships. At the time, the port only had two gantry cranes. In 1978, the port was expanded to include 35 berths (five of which could be used by the largest container ships of the time). Yet these developments were still not enough, so in 1979, to supplement the facilities at Port Rashid, Jebel Ali Port opened. Covering over 134 square kilometres, the port is today home to over 5,000 companies from 120 countries. With 67 berths Jebel Ali is the world’s largest manmade harbour and the biggest port in the Middle East.
It was in 1999 that Dubai really grabbed the world’s attention with the opening of the Burj Al Arab on an artificial island off Jumeirah Beach. What many bill as the ‘world’s only seven-star hotel’, this sail-shaped building is now a world-famous icon. The headlines didn’t stop there. In 2006 (the year that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum became the Ruler of Dubai and the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE), the first residents moved onto the artificial archipelago that is the Palm Jumeirah . Today, this palm-shaped island with 17 fronds is home to luxury beachside residences, apartment buildings and resort hotels – including the colossal Atlantis, The Palm resort, which sits on the tip of the Palm’s crescent and opened to a grand display of fireworks in 2008.
Travel within the city undergone a revolution, most markedly with the launch of the Dubai Metro, the driverless, fully automated metro rail network spanning 75 kilometres – declared by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest fully-automated metro network. Since its launch on 9 September 2009 at 9pm, the Dubai Metro has completely changed the way the city ticks, with thousands of commuters using its Red and Green lines each day. In 2014, Dubai’s public transport was strengthened further with the launch of the Dubai Tram, incorporating 11 stops between Al Sufouh and Dubai Marina, with more to come.
Another first came on 4 January 2010, with the opening of the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa. As if symbolising that the city really is a capable of making the impossible possible, the tower reaches some 828m into Dubai’s cloudless skies. This urban masterpiece is a symbol of strength, determination and a demonstration of Dubai’s capabilities. It’s home to thousands of metres of office space, 900 private residences, the 160-room Armani Hotel and At the Top, the outdoor observation deck on the 124th floor. The most recent addition is At The TopSKY, a record-breaking observation deck on the 148th. At.mosphere is the world’s highest restaurant, with stunning views and an equally stellar menu. The Burj Khalifa is also an art lover’s paradise: There are more than 1,000 specially commissioned works of art from Middle Eastern and international artists throughout the building. Yet a true test awaits Dubai in 2020, when the city will host the World Expo. It’s a test that the city is sure to pass with flying colours and, as vowed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Expo is an opportunity for Dubai to “astonish the world”.
In a city that’s home to over 200 nationalities, Dubai has developed a culture that’s one of a kind. A culture in which global traditions, attitudes, customs, religions and lifestyles have merged harmoniously. Yet, despite being a uniquely tolerant and multi-cultured society, Dubai prides itself on its Arabian roots. At its core, Dubai will always be a city where the mystique of Arabia ultimately prevails; where the sound of the Imam’s call to prayer floats throughout the air; where the skyline of twisting and billowing towers intermingles with the domes and minarets of majestic mosques; and where the air is filled with the aroma of exotic spices. Emiratis are justifiably proud of their heritage – it wasn’t too long ago that this city was little more than a village beside The Creek and where much of its population lived in its glorious desert. Life has progressed here much faster than in any other city in the world and, as such, traditional survival techniques are now revered and have become heritage sports that proudly pay tribute to a bygone era.
More about Dubai’s past is on display at the fascinating Dubai Museum – housed in the oldest building in Dubai built around 1799 - where dioramas of potters, weavers and fishermen tell the story of life long before Dubai’s discovery of ‘black gold’ in 1966. The museum itself is located in Dubai’s oldest part of the city – the historic Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Dating back to the end of the 19th century, this is where Dubai’s first wealthy traders settled and built their grand coral-clad houses. These homes have been painstakingly restored and are still alive today in the form of art galleries, boutiques, museums and cafes. Take a moment to explore the labyrinth of winding pedestrianised lanes in this peaceful district; pop into a gallery or cafe and be sure to admire what many bill as the real architectural jewels of the city – the wind towers. This district sees the biggest display of wind towers on the Arabian side of the Gulf. In days gone by, these ingenious towers created a cooling breeze for the occupants of the courtyard houses.
Probably the most famous of all the wind-tower houses – albeit further along the Creek at Al Shindagha– is the former home of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai from 1912 to 1958, and the grandfather of Dubai’s current ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. On exiting this museum go next door to the Dubai Heritage Village or take some time out to sit in a Creek-side café and watch the hustle and bustle on the water. It was around this very harbour that Dubai’s story first began when 800 members of the BaniYas tribe settled. Dubai’s Creek is of such historical significance that UNESCO is considering adding it to its list as a World Heritage Site. And of course the site will incorporate Dubai’s renowned souqs. These supermarkets of yesteryear are still very much alive today. Shop (and barter) for silks, throws and cushion covers in every colour and shade imaginable in the Textile Souq before heading across the Creek in a wooden abra (boat) to reach the aromatic Spice Souq where baskets burst at the seams with all manner of spices, dried fruits and frankincense. Close by on the Deira side of the Creek you’ll discover the dazzling Gold Souq with over 300 shops crammed into this glittering covered market.
To really understand how the Emirati people tick, be sure to visit the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). This centre, with its headquarters based in the Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood, was set up to help visitors really understand the local culture, its history and its people. This is every visitor’s opportunity to ask questions – no matter how sensitive – to the local Emirati guide; to tour Dubai’s exquisite Jumeirah Mosque and to join them in a typical Emirati meal. Much like its culture, the local cuisine is rich, varied and full of flavour with recipes telling a tale of the country’s fascinating journey – an unforgettable and remarkable journey on which Dubai invites the world to share and experience for themselves.
It’s on Dubai’s beaches that the world meets – its more than 11.6 million visitors a year combined with its residents of over 200 nationalities. It’s here that beach games are won, the sand castles are built, the bodies are tanned, the picnics are eaten and the watersports are played. Families flock here and it’s always reassuring for parents to learn that, on the whole, the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf tend to enjoy gentle currents and, thanks to a slowly graduating sea bed, the waters alongside the shore tend to be relatively shallow – at low-tide you can easily walk out up to 100m and still only be ankle deep (perfect for paddling, collecting shells and hunting for crabs).
There are long stretches of sand that are open to all, stretching along the Dubai coast from Jebel Ali to the outskirts of neighbouring Sharjah. For a beach spot that’s at the heart of the action, head to The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence. This beach has the benefit of being fringed by a promenade of restaurants, boutiques, markets, The Beach mall and even an outdoor cinema. Changing and shower facilities are all on tap too. For the perfect picture of the iconic Burj Al Arab, head for Sunset Beach at Umm Suqeim. Many a tourist has clicked their camera here, capturing their photos of this famous “world’s most luxurious” hotel. From here it’s also the best launch pad for some stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking around the hotel’s island. Go early in the morning and you’ll get so close that you’ll even be able to smell the seven-star aromas of breakfast being eaten on the restaurant terrace.
Dubai Marina is one of the best-established modern districts in town. It’s built around the largest man-made marina in the world and contains a number of top restaurants as well as outdoor recreation and entertainment complexes. The towers and residences that house the expats who flock here are some of the world’s tallest apartment buildings. You’ll find many delightful diversions in this waterfront development, from the restaurants, boutiques, and markets located along the seven-kilometre-long Dubai Marina Walk, to the boat and dhow trips that set sail from the Dubai Marina Yacht Club. The Red Line of the Dubai Metro connects the marina with Downtown Dubai and other central locations.
The anchor of Downtown Dubai is the Burj Khalifa. Not only is it the tallest building in the world, it’s accompanied by the stunning displays of The Dubai Fountain and The Dubai Mall — the largest in the world. The development also includes residences and a number of hotels and malls. The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system, this popular son-et-lumière show jets up to 22,000 gallons of water as high as 150 metres in the air at any one time. Each colourful, illuminated jet sways in time to music, producing what has become the most popular show in Dubai. The beam of light shining upward from the fountain can be seen from more than 30 kilometres away.
Around Dubai If you want to discover Dubai and around the best possible way is to hire a professional tour agency. Orient Tours is known as the market leader in offering a high quality product with personalized, flexible and individual service. The Company specializes in bringing groups and individuals from Europe, Japan, Americas, Asia and Australia into Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. Established in 1982 in Sharjah, UAE, by H.E. Sheikh Faisal Al Qassemi, Orient Tours has own branch offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Oman. In both United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, the company offers a variety of carefully planned tour programs, innovative desert safari trips, overland tours between Dubai and Muscat, tailor-made round trips & study trips, adventurous expeditions, exploring sea-safaris, relaxing dinner-cruises, individual fly & drive programs, and corporate events & launches. A separate Cruise Ship Department provides complete services for cruise ship handling in the United Arab Emirates and in the Sultanate of Oman.
Orient Tours is considered one of the major and most well established tour companies in the region. In October 2008, Orient Tours Chairman Sheikh Faisal Al Qassemi received the Global Achievement Award from the World Travel Award organizers in recognition of his efforts for pioneering tourism into the Arabian Gulf at a ceremony held in Dubai. Orient Tours was one of the first tour companies in Dubai to obtain the Dubai Department of Tourism’s License to conduct Overland Tourist Safaris.
Al Qasr by Jumeirah One of the most romantic Hotels in Dubai is Al Qasr by Jumeirah. Designed in the style of a Sheikh’s summer residence, a majestic arrival experience welcomes you to Jumeirah Al Qasr. A journey through luxury offering palatial guestrooms decorated in traditional Arabian style with stunning views to the sea and the resort in opulent surrounding.
Radisson Blu Media City Hotel Whether you’re looking for the perfect candlelit dinner or a cozy gathering, this stylish hotel offers superb on-site dining at several restaurants, bars and lounges. Choose from the buffet at Chef ’s House, an elegant meal at the cozy Library Lounge or classic Italian cuisine at the award-winning Certo restaurant, where guests can enjoy the sunshine on our outdoor terrace. Other first-class amenities include two outdoor pools with decks that allow guests to soak up the Arabian sun. Choose from a wide range of rejuvenating spa treatments at the Senso Wellness Center. And start the day with an energizing workout at the fully equipped gym, featuring the latest power plate fitness technology.
Hotel cater to business travelers with 12 naturally lit meeting rooms, spanning 582 square meters and outfitted with the latest audio-visual technology. The largest room can host up to 150 people. Our Media City hotel is ideal for business gatherings; it’s close to public transportation and to local business hubs such as Dubai Internet City and Knowledge Village Dubai. Hotel offer a free shuttle bus service for Media City corporate clients and a full-service Executive Lounge that provides a private work space for Suite and Executive Room guests.
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Radisson Blu Motor City With a brilliant location overlooking the Dubai Autodrome Racetrack and the Dubai Marina skyline serving as an impressive backdrop, the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Motor City is the ideal base for both business and leisure trips. This unique city development offers a multitude of recreational facilities and exciting experiences as you explore its innovative design. Motor City’s sense of adventure and fun is perfectly mirrored in the contemporary design and philosophy of the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, which offers a high standard of service and comfort for the ultimate hassle-free stay in the UAE.
Four Seasons Dubai With the most convenient location of any beachfront hotel in Dubai, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is the ideal holiday destination – right on the sand, yet close to the city’s famous shopping and attractions. Just 25 minutes from Dubai International Airport, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach is set in the prestigious coastal residential area of Jumeirah. Often called the Beverly Hills of the Middle East, this highly desirable, well-established neighbourhood features large private villas set within private courtyards and dotted with greenery. The area is administratively divided into three areas, named Jumeirah 1, 2 and 3. Four Seasons is located within Jumeirah 2. This section of Jumeirah 2 offers a natural beachfront – rare in Dubai – that’s ideal for sun worshippers and for swimmers dipping into the warm waters of the Arabian Sea.
With a location at the northern end of Jumeirah Beach, Four Seasons is the closest beachfront resort to Downtown Dubai, including the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the 1,200-store Dubai Mall, also home to attractions such as the Dubai Fountain, the Dubai Aquarium and the famous indoor skating rink. It’s a lively area that features other popular shopping centres and restaurants. From Four Seasons, it’s only about 15 minutes to the heart of the downtown action – compared to other Dubai resort areas, which can be up to 45 minutes away. But you don’t have to travel far to find interesting shopping. The main streets of Jumeirah are lined with interesting restaurants and boutiques. Street Art is a colourful gallery for lovers of graffiti, street art and pop art. Bambah is known for vintage fashion and accessories. D.Tales specialises in Scandinavian-inspired interior design, while Comptoir 102 is a concept store for interior design, art, fashion and jewellery, also including a café. Historically, the Emirati people living in the Jumeirah were fishermen and pearl divers. You can get a taste of this world in the Fishing Harbour – a 15-minute walk from Four Seasons – a new development that aims to bring back Dubai’s ancient trade and cultural roots. Stroll the jetty and look at the boats, then choose from about five restaurants and cafés. You might even want to set sail! The neighbourhood is also home to the Jumeirah Mosque, the only mosque in Dubai that is open to the public and dedicated to receiving non-Muslim guests. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about Emirati culture and religion in a relaxed, casual and open atmosphere. For a holiday in Dubai, Four Seasons offers the ultimate Jumeirah beach hotel experience. Balance hours of relaxing in the sun with exploring the best of the city. In a destination as big and busy as Dubai, the concierge team at Four Seasons truly holds the keys to the city – accessing reservations at the hottest international restaurants and helping you select the best things to do in Dubai.
Buying diamonds in the Middle East Buying fine jewellery can be one of the most confusing gift scenarios in the world, especially because traditionally, fine jewelers have succeeded for a long time by keeping the general public in the dark. The diamond trade especially is shrouded in mystery, with jewellers able to charge more because a lot of us don’t know our facets from our cuts. But buying a diamond is as straightforward as buying anything else – do your research, shop around and you’ll get a high quality diamond that’s worth double or triple what you paid. And Good readers have it even easier than most people, because Dubai is not only one of the cheapest places to buy diamonds, it’s one of the top three diamond trading hubs in the world, along with Belgium and India. As with much in the Middle East, however, diamond sellers love a haggle, so one big tip is instead of telling them your budget up front, get the specifications for the diamond you want firmly fixed in your head, research how much it generally costs, and then engage with sellers. Diamond sellers such as www.dubairocks.com have clear, transparent pricing on their website, which lets you choose the rock you want in terms of size, colour, quality, setting, etc. So what’s most important when looking for a diamond? Sarah Williams, Queen of Sparkle at Dubai Rocks, the only British-owned diamond seller in Dubai, shares the shine facts with us. “Unlike a lot of items you can buy, a diamond’s specifications and quality are set things certified by an independent body,” says Williams, “So that means with enough information, you can get a big budget sparkler without breaking the bank.”
Williams advises getting familiar with the 5 C’s – these are the technical aspects of a diamond which are measured, analysed and certified by the diamond trade, and knowing the order of importance is paramount in order to get a good bargain. The 5 C’s are, in order of importance: Certification Most diamonds at reputable jewelers will be certified by an independent organisation as to the qualities of the diamond, which is done during an independent examination. There are a number of different global certification institutions, but the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) sets the standard within the industry. Dubai Rocks sticks with GIA certified diamonds. So make sure the diamond you’re getting has a certificate, and that the certificate matches what your eye is balling.
Cut Diamonds start out as a stone that resembles a plain, grey pebble. They’re not very sexy, so they have to be faceted by an expert to show all that shiny goodness. Cuts range from Excellent to Fair and cut is by far the most important of the C’s when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck. Let’s break it down: a 1 carat diamond with a Good cut will cost you more money but look less blingtastic than a 0.9 carat diamond with an Excellent cut. Why? The better the cut, the more the diamond will sparkle and the better light will bounce off of it, which means your partner will literally be more dazzled. Diamond cuts are like the foundation – get that right and the rest will follow. Carat This is the one everyone knows, and we all know that more carats = bigger, but here’s the size dilemma broken down: 1 carat = 200 milligrams in terms of weight. Jewellers refer to diamonds by ‘points’ and 1 carat = 100 points. Price rises significantly for every additional 50 points or half a carat, even though the difference in weight is minimal. Break it down: the price of a 1ct rock is approximately 30-40% more expensive than a 0.9 ct rock, even though the difference is barely noticeable to the naked eye.
Colour This is a confusing one, as the gemstone we think of as diamonds are actually clear or ‘white’. The diamond colour scale starts at D, which is actually a colourless diamond, and is extremely rare. The further along the alphabet the letter is, the more colour can be seen in it. That said, anything between D-I colour is still a beautiful white sparkler. Clarity Every diamond has tiny imperfections in it (they’re called ‘inclusions’ in the diamond trade) that lower the value of the diamond – the less there are, the more the diamond costs. Clarity is a funny one, because no one wants to look at a diamond and think they can see a tiny speck of dust. At the same time, most of those imperfections are unnoticeable to the naked eye – also, once the diamond is put into a ring setting, it’s often not visible in the slightest. So while customers tend to put a big emphasis on clarity, Dubai Rocks does remind you that clarity has the least impact on a diamond’s sparkle, so losing some of the perfectionism can help save you money.
Shape The other feature to consider is shape, which tends to be dictated by fashion and current trends in design and beauty. Diamonds come in several different shapes, but there’s a clear favourite: eight out of 10 engagement around the world contain round diamonds.
Round shape diamonds offer a larger selection, as there are more of them out there. They can also appear larger, giving more for your money. The Marquis shape also maximises size of carat and gives an appearance of larger shape Ascher, Oval, Marquis and Emerald are longer stones vertically on the finger, so can help slim the finger if your beloved is a bit sausagey in the metacarpal department. If the diamond gift you’re looking to purchase this Valentine’s Day is an engagement ring, keep in mind that Dubai Rocks’ most recent survey revealed that 54% of women would prefer to be surprised. That means doing some more research into what your beloved wants – that can be achieved by simply strolling through the mall, looking casually at some jewellery shop windows, observing the styles she points out. Obviously looking at the jewellery she already has, and of course, asking her friends and family, will really help. Trends It’s also important to know the trends in jewellery at the moment and as always, Tiffany, De Beers and Cartier are leading the charge. Keep in mind that most of the engagement rings Dubai Rocks sells are classic solitaires, or classic designs with a few embellishments, such as the wave. (photo) Another popular design at the moment is to have side diamonds around the band, and surrounding the main rock, such as the Tiffany Soleste or the Cartier Destinée. In terms of diamond shapes, Dubai Rocks has seen a 300% rise in requests in 2015 for cushion cut diamonds (think of a square with rounded off edges), photo which have been popularised in recent years by Tiffany.
If the Valentine’s Day gift you’re looking for is a necklace or earrings, the big trend toward the end of 2015 and a definite one to watch for in 2016 is geometric shapes. Think rectangular drop earrings with a small diamond at the bottom, instead of the classic hoop, and pendants with minimalist, geometric designs. As online diamond shopping becomes more popular, there’s been a big rise in educated, saavy consumers who buy the diamond they want and then have it designed to their own specifications, either with Dubai Rocks or with a specific designer that’s gained celebrity recently. Price It’s especially important to be wary of ‘super low prices’ from some of the sellers in Dubai, according to experts. There are several tricks employed by diamond sellers, including claiming to sell the same diamond for thousands of dollars less, when in reality, they are replacing it with an inferior diamond. Always ask to see the GIA certificate, and then look at the diamond with a jeweller’s loupe and match the laser-inscripted GIA number on the diamond with the number on the certificate, advises Williams. Another top tip is that the jewellery setting must match the diamond. “Buying a high quality diamond and then compromising on the setting makes no sense,” says Williams. “There are a lot of jewelers in Dubai who are focused on high turnover sales – quantity over quality. And that’s great if your main driver is budget. But we are seeing a lot of customers come to us with broken settings or diamonds which have fallen out, because the quality isn’t there.
“With Dubai Rocks jewellery, customers are taking their jewellery back to Europe, Australia or the US and finding that it’s worth double what they paid. So make sure that you’re not just bargain hunting when buying a diamond in Dubai! Go quality hunting as well!”