Dubai

Dubai is the ultimate statement of 21st-century ambition — a city that built the world's tallest tower, its largest mall, its biggest indoor ski slope, and its most ambitious artificial islands within a single generation. Yet beneath the superlatives lies a genuinely exciting destination: the historic Al Fahidi District preserves wind-tower architecture from the original fishing village, the Gold Souk and Spice Souk in Deira retain old-world trading atmosphere, and the desert dunes 45 minutes from the city deliver extraordinary sunset and stargazing experiences. Dubai's food scene spans from the world's best Lebanese restaurants to Michelin-starred dining at impossible altitudes. The Dubai Creek still hosts traditional abra water taxis.