Sayı 11- Ocak/Mart 2013 - Antalya Rehberler Odası

Dubai:The Shining Star of Middle East...Dubai, Şehir Görünümü / City Night ViewEngin MERDAN, Tour GuideWe are together with you againin the new issue of our Quarterly.In this issue, I will try to introduceyou a star shining in recent years;DUBAI...My first visit to Dubai was in 2007.At that time, the name of Dubaiattracted everyone as the symbolof luxury and the shopper’sparadise. The hotel opened in1999 had become the symbol ofthe city as the world’s first 7* andthe world’s most expensive hoteland was identified with the nameof Dubai. Just as how Paris wasfamous with the Eiffel Tower orVenice with its gondolas, Dubaihad become a symbol with thisfabulous hotel; the name of thishotel was BURJ AL ARAB (ArabTower).Although Burj al Arab means the“Arab Tower,” it is also referredto as the Sail Hotel as its architectureresembles a sailing ship.The construction of the hotel wasstarted in 1994, and it was openedin 1999. Although a lot of speculationhas been made so far aboutits cost, it is denoted that morethan 1.5 billion dollars have beenspent. It is 60-storey and 320 min height; it consists of 202 suites,the smallest suite is 170 m 2 , andthe largest suite is 780 m 2 .In general, instead of staying atthe hotel, we have a souvenirphoto taken in front of it. The hotelis constructed 200 m from theshore by filling the sea so as notto shut out the shore due to itsheight.Today, Dubai both continues toincrease its “the most”s with itspopulation approaching 2 million,and occupies an important placein the finance sector of the world.Dubai is the largest of the 7 emiratesof United Arab Emirates, andalthough Abu Dhabi is the capital,it is the emirate attracting the mosttourists. Each emirate consists ofseperate families of amirs. It hasdeclared its independence from aBritish colony in 1971. The emiratefamily in Dubai is the family ofMaktoum. About 80% of its populationconsists of foreign citizens,and the most crowded populationamong them are the Indians…Dubai is also known as a tax haven.There is no income tax in thecountry, fuel costs less than 1 lirawhen compared to TL; therefore,it is possible to see the most fabulousvehicles again here.“Burj Khalifa,” i. e. “the caliphtower,” which is opened in2012, is the world’s tallesttower with 828 m.The 165-storey building again hasthe world’s fastest elevator; 65km per hour. The world’s highestmosque is also in this building;on the 158 th floor… You can befascinated by a great sound andlight view in the huge artificiallake in front of the building until11 PM. There is the soundtrackof the TV series named “Ezel”among the musics selected, andthe company making this soundand light show is the companymaking the sound and light showsof the world-famous Bellagio Hotel