From out of the desert, an ever increasing number of “super hotels” have emerged combining accommodation, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shopping and sports facilities under one roof. Traditional attractions are also numerous, from lively souk markets to tranquil beaches. Football and cricket are the most popular sports in Dubai; the city has five teams in the UAE professional football league and in 2005, the International Cricket Council (ICC) moved its HQ there from London. Horse racing, tennis and golf are also popular pastimes, and rugby enjoys a strong expat following, with the annual Dubai Sevens tournament attracting spectators from across the world. A new development, Dubai Sports City, featuring 50,000,000 square feet of sporting venues, academies and leisure attractions promises to have some of the facilities in the world.











