It seems that anyone who’s anyone doing business in Dubai takes a room in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on the Sheikh Zayed Road. It's a huge building in the middle of the central business district and has a business centre with full secretarial services, as well as workstations in all the rooms and free Wi-Fi. For female guests who want it, there’s even a ladies floor where all the staff are women. The advantage of this is that they put a yoga mat in your room and there’s a nice array of luxury cosmetics. Also, if you’re a woman doing business in Dubai it’s best to pack trouser suits rather than skirts; despite the large amount of foreign business here it's still a conservative place.

At Dubai Airport, it’s a real hike from arrivals to baggage reclaim, so if you can it’s best to take a wheeled case that is small enough to be taken on as hand luggage.

www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com

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If you want to up your understanding of the history and culture, then a short trip round the Dubai Museum at the Al Fahidi Fort will really put everything into context for you – you can then impress your hosts with your knowledge.

www.ritzcarlton.com,
www.ichotelsgroup.com

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Best restaurant in town. Try the salmon carbonara and tiramisu. Superb service too.

Da Vinci's restaurant, airport hotel

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Bear in mind that if you are entertaining a mixed group including locals, they will always be reluctant to be seen in public having too much of a good time anywhere where alcohol is obviously served, whatever their private feelings about it. A good solution to this problem is horse racing at Nad Al Sheba which happens on most Thursdays in the winter.

Patronised by the ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, horse racing is widely regarded as a good thing. It is enjoyed by all and there are a variety of corporate options provided by Dubai Racing Club which are cheaper than you would expect. Food and alcoholic drink is available to whoever wants it and the privacy of a box will be appreciated by locals.

Nad Al Sheba
www.dubairacingclub.com/

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One reason why Emirates Towers is the hotel to be in if you are doing business with the Dubai government (or one of its agencies) is because, as well as being an excellent business hotel, it is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It’s worth extending this principle to other business you may be doing in the city. Most businesses based in Dubai itself, rather than one of the Free Zones, are part of large, family-owned holding companies, many of which will have hotels among their interests. It’s always worth staying in the leading hotel of the group you are doing business with. It probably won’t make the deal but such courtesies are valued highly in the Gulf.

You are likely to meet plenty of extremely well-educated, modern young Emirati women – particularly if you are dealing with the government. However, remember that traditionally Muslim women are not supposed to touch men outside their family. Therefore, however warmly they smile when they hand over their cards, don’t automatically attempt to shake their hand unless they offer it. I might also add that Arab men are normally slightly more sensitive when touching each other and no one will infer weak character from your failure to crush their hand with your firm grip.

Favourite restaurants: Gordon Ramsay’s Verre at The Hilton Dubai Creek for European cuisine. Go for the food, not the décor, and because it’s somewhere you can actually talk. Lebanese is often the fallback for mixed entertaining but Iranian is a good alternative and in many ways closer to the Emirati palate; I would recommend the Shabestan at the InterContinental. Sadly, both are on the Deira side of town - but they are well worth the effort.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers, PO Box 72127, Dubai, UAE.
Tel.: +971 4 3300000
www.jumeirahemiratestowers.com

Verre at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Beniyas Road, PO BOX 33398, Dubai, UAE.
www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/dining_detail.jhtml?ctyhocn=DXBDCHI&index=1

Shabestan at the InterContinental, Dubai Bin Yas Street, PO Box 476, Dubai, UAE.
Tel.: +971 4 222 7171

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If you get bored or blinded by the bling, visit the recently restored Bastakia area of Dubai down by the Creek. Here you will find the only decent domestic architecture in the city, built about 100 years ago by Iranian and Arab merchants from the other side of the Gulf.

Apart from pleasure for it’s own sake, a familiarity with Bastakia can be a useful conversation starter. Not only does it demonstrate interest in Dubai’s heritage, but a fair number of the city’s movers and shakers over the age of 40 will have grown up in Bastakia. On more than one occasion, the recollection of those days has opened up these essentially private people.

The area is called Bastakia - don't miss the Majlis Gallery, which is the local arts centre

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Arrange a hotel pick-up before you arrive in Dubai. You'll be met off the plane and sped through passport control, beating the long queues.

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Try the Shisha cafe in the Metropolitan Hotel. They have a whole range of flavoured tobaccos to give you a taste of this traditional Arabic pastime.

The Metropolitan Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road

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If you are doing business in Dubai, particularly anything legal, patience is the key. Tea will be served regardless of deadlines and fairly lengthy requests after the health of family members and mutual acquaintances will follow thereafter. My tip is follow the maxim 'less haste, more speed.' Observe your hosts' order of proceedings and the goodwill engendered will ultimately be to your benefit.

Hospitality is taken very seriously and if at all possible accept invitations to dinner if given. Most of all, enjoy the different way of doing business, engage in the sometimes convoluted process and the subtle verbal games and learn that there is another way of doing things.

My tip for a hotel is the Marriot in Deira. Away from the glitz so that you can concentrate but close enough to everything that you want, first class business facilities and a rooftop pool. The best restaurants are the Sphinx at the Pyramids and Shabestani Iranian restaurant at the Hyatt.

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My tip for a hotel is the Marriott in Deira. Away from the glitz so that you can concentrate but close enough to everything that you want, first class business facilities and a rooftop pool. The best restaurants are the Sphinx at the Pyramids and Shabestani Iranian restaurant at the Hyatt.

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Oriental, seafood restaurant at the Grand Hyatt in Deira. The restaurant location and setting are ideal for meetings, the staff are quietly efficient and knowledgeable about the food, they have a great selection of wines while the signature dish, Pepper Crab, is truly outstanding.

Grand Hyatt, Deira

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Hotel Bab Al Shams is top for luxury, away from all the hustle and traffic of central Dubai (50 minutes by taxi from the airport) with service levels rarely matched for twice the price and a unique location. Simply a desert oasis.

www.jumeirahbabalshams.com/

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If you want to catch some sport on television go to Champions, a good bar in the Marriott hotel. Shows a lot of live sporting events like football, rugby etc. Popular with locals and expats alike.

Marriott hotel

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Beautiful hotel located on Sheikh Zayed Road. Stayed here on my first visit a few years back and have been there ever since. You get stunning views over the star wars part of the city from the higher rooms (and the top floors are there executive rooms complete with nice lounge and food all day). The pool is small enough to seem private yet busy enough not to seem like a loner, there are no screaming kids around and the staff seem to go out of their way to help you. They also have those curtains that open and close with a button so you can feel like James Bond.

Sheikh Zayed Road
www.shangrila.com

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The queues at immigration can be huge at peak times. Pre-book the Marhaba service. They will meet you from the jetway, drive you through the crowds and escort you through dedicated lines at immigration. They will then find your baggage whilst you browse the inbound Duty Free. I've saved at least an hour, the best value $21 in the Emirate!

www.marhabaservices.com/Source/meetandgreet.aspx

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Got a few hours off and don't want to sit in the sun? Then go to the snow. You know that huge silver bit you see jetting off of the Mall Of The Emirates when you zoom past in a cab, well that my friends, is a ski slope, with real snow and everything. A great way to kill time, and get your practice in for your next visit to the slopes, is to go to Ski Dubai and spend an hour or two zipping your way down their real snow slopes. There are two runs, a fairly mild blue/red and a black (which is more red than anything else!) and plenty of space for beginners to learn on the nursery slope area. They provide all the kit except hats and socks… so bring some with you, even though it's weird putting them in the suitcase to visit the desert, or you can buy them there. Go get completely weirded out and go from 40 degrees to minus 2 in the space of a few footsteps.

Mall Of The Emerites
www.skidxb.com

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Moet Champagne brunch that, in my opinion, is the best Friday brunch in Dubai. More expensive than most, but worth it. Food cooking stations of all types from Indian to Thai to Japanese, plus oyster shots and a cheese room. And the Champagne just keeps flowing... and flowing. I've been several times now and I never get tired of it. Plus the desserts are to die for. It gets very busy, so reservations are a must.

P.O. Box 97555, Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
P.O. Box 97555,

T.(971) 4-332-5555
F.(971) 4-332-4555
email:dubai@fairmont.com

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Fantastic! a great experience..we've been there only 3 days on stop-over but definetely to come back again.A local friend suggested us Net Tours to discover the country and they just showed us the paradise. Fun, Adventure, Culture, Traditions..all over palaces, dunes, unbelievable skylines with a professionality and friendliness we never met before. We went in every corner of Dubai, then continued to Abu Dhabi, Hata over the mountains and the most fascinating place in the desert we ever met. We were lucky to ride the camels and to assist a falcon demonstration. On the way to Abu Dhabi we went to a unknown place and photographed an old Oryx. The emirates are just fascinating and the contrasts among them captured our hearts from the beginning..

+971 4 2666655. Our local friend suggested us but we later found them in the Web and discovered they are the pioneers in tourism www.netgroupdubai.com and www.netgroupauh.com

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Yes, the restaurants, hotels and shopping are great but please note - Dubai isn't a country, the UAE is.

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This is a very ex-pat establishment where you'll instantly feel comfortable if you're from the U.S. I love the communal table stacked with magazines. Wi-fi access is a plus. The menu is varied and extensive: I enjoyed both my breakfast and lunch here. Has outdoor seating. Visit Bliss Spa (one hour reflexology: $35) right around the corner. Full description of each (with photos) at:

www.travelmusings.net

They don't have a website, but Time Out Dubai and Luxe Guide Dubai both have listings for it.

Shk Zayed Road
Tel: 971 4 343 3779

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