This huge mall opened in 2005 and contains 466 stores, including department stores, clothing boutiques, jewelry shops and furniture outlets as well as 70 restaurants and cafes. It also offers the visitor entertainment, with the Magic Planet amusement park and a 14-screen multiplex movie theater. The mall also contains Ski Dubai, the only ski and snowboarding destination in the Middle East.
Although Dubai is a modern city, archaeologists have found hundreds of artifacts from the Al-Qusais archaeological dig demonstrating that people inhabited the area as far back as 2500 B.C. The Dubai Museum contains a collection of weapons, coins and pottery that have been recovered from the dig. The museum itself is housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, once the government headquarters of Dubai's rulers.
Souks are the traditional outdoor markets where many locals still shop. They are great places to get a peek into the old Dubai before it became a multi-ethnic, cosmopolitan urban center. One of the most popular souks is the spice market, where merchants sell aromatic spices and dried fruits directly from enormous sacks.
Wadis are riverbeds or valleys that are dry most of the year, except for the rainy season. One activity available to the adventurous tourist is to go wadi bashing in Dubai's deserts. This entails riding through the wadis in four-wheel drive vehicles. The best time for wadi bashing is between October and April.
The center's philosophy is "Open Doors, Open Minds," reflecting its aim to help the varied people living in the United Arab Emirates to understand the country's culture and religion. The center offers cultural breakfasts and lunches in which authentic Middle Eastern food is served in a traditional environment. They organize tours to the Jumeirah Mosque four days a week. The staff also conducts walking tours of the Bastakiya district of Dubai, the historic residential area dating to the late 19th century.
