Dubai Sites to See, Things to Do

Dubai’s fascinating transformation from quaint fishing village surrounded by vast desert planes to a thriving cultural melting pot is one that many residents – and visitors – are well versed in. Dubai, a city of wonders, continues to stand out with its record-breaking engineering marvels. One could call it the world’s most “superlative-filled” town, boasting the world’s tallest building, the world’s fastest rollercoaster, the world’s longest zipline, along with many others.

Dubai is Larger Than Life

Dubai’s goal seems to be to constantly have the biggest and best of everything. Its hotels try to be the most luxurious on earth, including what’s said to be the best hotel in the world: The Burj Al-Arab. And on top of that, the city has one of the largest indoor malls in the world, one of the biggest aquariums, the biggest automated fountain, the tallest hotel, and one of the largest indoor ski slopes…

1. The Burj Khalifa, can be seen from 95 km away and is 163 stories high, is the tallest building in the world. With a total height of 830 m the Burj Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its inception in 2009. It has as well, one of the fastest elevators in the world. It boasts more than 160 stories and seven world records. People living on the higher levels have to wait approximately two minutes longer for the sun to set before they can break fast during Ramadan.
2. The Burj Al Arab hotel uses enough gold to cover the Mona Lisa Painting 46,265 Times. The interior of the Burj Al Arab is decorated with around 1,790 square meters of 24-carat gold leaf; that’s equivalent to seven (7) full-sized tennis courts! Dubbed the world’s first seven-star hotel, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab is located on its own private island, accessed via a private bridge.
3. Dubai is developing a new skyscraper named ‘The Tower’ that’s inspired by the mythical hanging gardens of Babylon and will be taller than the current tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
4. Standing at an impressive 75 floors, the 4-star Gevora Hotel is the world’s tallest hotel; at a 356 metres tall i.e.  50 metres taller than The Shard in London, and 56 metres taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower. JW Marriott Marquis is the world’s tallest five star hotel at 355 metres.
5. Dubai’s Artificial Palm Islands use enough sand to fill 2.5 Empire State Buildings. Its construction required 94 million cubic meters of sand; whilst the Empire State Building only 37 million cubic meters. In fact, the amount of rock and sand used here could form a 2-meter wide wall that would circle the globe three times! Man-made Palm Jumeirah spans 600 hectares of land and is made from all-natural materials. The Palm Jumeirah can be seen from space.
6. The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system; choreographed by the masterminds behind The Bellagio’s dancing water show in Las Vegas.
7. Dubai Is Building the World’s Largest Retail and Entertainment Destination. The Dubai Square, will be equivalent to the size of 100 football fields! It is inspired by the world’s best shopping destinations such as London’s Oxford Street and Los Angeles’ Beverly Hills. Link: https://youtu.be/5lDlM8vqHaw.
8. Dubai deepest swimming pool on the planet, complete with a “sunken city” for divers to explore. Deep Dive Dubai prides itself as the only diving facility in the world where you can go down 60 meters, 15 meters deeper than any other pool, as confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) by Guinness World Records. The pool contains 14.6 million liters (3.8 million gallons) of fresh water, a volume equivalent to six Olympic-size swimming pools.
9. The United Arab Emirates is considering proposals for an artificial mountain that could help increase the country’s rainfall. Researchers are exploring different approaches to creating more rain in the country, according to reports. One option is to construct an artificial mountain, which would increase cloud production and make it possible to create rain on demand. The UAE government spent a reported $558,000 (£400,000) on cloud seeding. The experiments are believed to have played a part in record rainfall, which was also accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds.
10. Dubai attracts a wealth of Michelin-star and celebrity chefs.
11. 25% of All Cranes in the World Were Once Located in Dubai.
12. Dubai Loves Gold: There are ATMs in Dubai that dispense gold bars! More than 25% of the world’s physical gold passed through Dubai. Dubai’s holds a world record for making the longest gold chain that measures 5,522 meters!
13. Dubai is the fourth (4^th) most visited city in the world after London, Paris and Bangkok.
14. The Police Force in Dubai uses Super Cars, such as the Ferrari FF (US$ 500,000), Lamborghini Aventador (US$ 397,000) and an Aston Martin One-77 (US$ 1.79 million). And they hold a world record for the fastest police car; a Bugatti Veyron which they purchased for US$ 1.6 million!
15. Roughly 85 Percent of Dubai’s Population Is Foreign.
16. In Dubai Robots are replacing illegal child labor in Camel Racing. They cost anywhere from $300 to $10,000.
17. The Lost Chambers Aquarium – located in Atlantis, The Palm – is home to more than 65,000 marine animals and offers a host of interactive experiences.
18. Dubai is always at the forefront of innovation, and that is further emphasized with the city’s new 3D Printing Strategy. The city aims to exploit 3D technology and says that by 2030, 25% of its buildings will be 3D printed.
19. Dubai Water Canal is a 3.2km long waterway which winds its way from the creek through Business Bay. A top romantic spot, the canal includes a mechanical waterfall as well as five pedestrian bridges that offer great vantage points.
20. Talking of breaking records, once completed, the Ain Dubai observation wheel is set to become the largest and highest in the world, taking Las Vegas’ high roller’s crown.
21. Dubai Metro was the longest automated rail network in the world, but currently was demoted to third place.
22. Dubai has been awarded more than 130 Guinness World Records. These include 3 for Dubai Miracle Garden; and no less than 11 for the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Weirder and wonderful achievements include fastest police car in service, most people to parachute from a balloon simultaneously and longest underwater live radio broadcast.
23. It wasn’t until 2015 that Dubai started assigning so-called Makani numbers – a unique 10-digit code – to all buildings to help identify them.
24. You Pay No Income Tax in Dubai.
25. Tourists can now apply for a licence to fly their drones around landmarks in Dubai. After registering online, tourists will receive a certificate that is subject to an in-house validation of their skills.
26. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a dedicated Minister for Happiness, who’s in charge of (unsurprisingly) promoting happiness among residents in Dubai and the other six emirates that make up the UAE. Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi has held the position since it was introduced in 2016.
27. In 1991, Dubai World Trade Centre was the only skyscraper in Dubai. Three decades later, there are 215 skyscrapers across the city.
28. Fuel is only slightly more expensive than water.
29. Dubai’s land area has increased. Dubai covered an area of 3,900 square kilometres, but due to land reclamation and the construction of man-made islands, the emirate has increased to a size of 4,114 square kilometres.
30. There are no permanent rivers in Dubai.
31. In 1968, Only 13 cars were registered in Dubai.
32. Only non-Muslims are allowed to buy and consume alcohol and pork.
33. Kissing or holding hands in public is illegal and can result in fines or deportation.

DID YOU KNOW? Some of the 18 amazing things you probably didn’t know about Armenia

1. It’s home to the world’s oldest winery
2. It was the first nation to adopt Christianity
3. It is called the “land of churches”
4. Chess is part of the curriculum
5. It lost 1.5 million people in the Armenian Genocide
6. More Armenians live abroad than in Armenia
7. It has celebrity connections (Aznavour, Cher, Agassi, Kardashian..)
8. Armenians think they know where Noah’s Ark is
9. It has one of the world’s oldest capitals
10. It is known as the “Pink City”
11. Churchill had a taste for Armenian cognac
12. In fact Armenian cognac oiled the wheels of Yalta
13. It has a record-breaking cable car (Tatev Aerial Tramway, which clocks in at 5,752 m long)
14. You can go skiing there (27km of slopes)
15. It’s big on birds (home to 345 of Europe’s estimated 530 bird species. Highlights include falcons, swans and eagles)
16. Its bread Lavash is Unesco-listed
17. It boasts the largest lake in the Caucasus (Lake Sevan covers 1/6 of Armenia territory)
18. It has three (3) Unesco World Heritage Sites (monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; the cathedral and churches of Echmiatsin and the archaeological site of Zvartnots; and the monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley)

Armenia is a land of mysticism that will at once capture your imagination evoking past centuries, while awakening your senses to the present.

Armenia is a country with ancient history and rich culture. It is one of the oldest countries in the world. Scientific research, numerous archaeological findings and old manuscripts prove that the Armenian Highlands are the very Cradle of Civilization. In fact, the world’s oldest leather shoe (5,500 years old), sky observatory (7,500 years old), depictions of agriculture (7,500 years old) and wine-making facility (6,100 years old), were all found in the territory of Armenia.

The current Republic of Armenia makes up only a small part of what the historical lands used to hold. Armenians are native to the land of the Armenian Highlands which covers over 400,000 km².

Since prehistoric times, the territory of Armenia has been populated by different tribes. The first evidence of human settlement in Armenia dates back to 90,000 BC. Further findings in caves and stone inscriptions are a proof of human settlement in Armenia through Paleolithic period.

Yerevan is a delightful capital. Its wide, leafy boulevards are lined with cafés and wine bars where Armenians like to sit chatting late into the night.

Look up to the horizon and there, towering over everything, is the magnificent, awe-inspiring snow-capped peak of Mount Ararat, 5,165m high.

Did you know? Armenians produce what they say is the best brandy in the world, Ararat brandy.

Armenia is home to 345 of Europe’s estimated 530 bird species.

People in France are being asked to vote for their favorite French monument to be revealed in the fourth series of French TV show Le Monument Préféré des Français (The Nation’s Favourite Monument). Presented by Stéphane Bern, the show was aired on France 3 to coincide with the 38^th celebration of the European Heritage Days on September 18 and 19.

Forty-two (42) places of exceptional cultural, historical and architectural interest in France were whittled down to 14 in voting which took place between May 25 and June 11. Vying for the position of nation’s favorite monument, the 14 monuments in the grand final are:

1. The Rotonde Ferroviaire in Chambéry – Savoie (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
2. The Hôtel-Dieu Museum – Côte-d’Or (Bourgogne-Franche-Comte)
3. The ramparts of Saint-Malo – Ile-et-Vilaine (Brittany)
4. The Briare Aqueduct – Loiret (Centre-Val de Loire)
5. The Citadel of Bonifacio and the King Aragon Steps – Corse-du-Sud (Corsica)
6. Place Stanislas in Nancy – Meurthe-et-Moselle (Grand Est)
7. Chateau de Pierrefonds – Oise (Hauts-de-France)
8. The Caillebotte Property – Yerres – Essonne (Ile-de-France)
9. The Balata Gardens – Fort-de-France – Martinique
10. Chateau de Falaise – Calvados (Normandy)
11. The towers of La Rochelle – Charente-Maritime (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
12. The Pont du Gard Aqueduct – Gard (Occitanie)
13. Passage Pommeraye in Nantes – Loire-Atlantique (Pays de la Loire)
14. The Roman Theatre of Orange – Vaucluse (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)

Previous winners of Le Monument Préféré des Français have included the Royal Monastery of Brou (Rhône-Alpes), the Belfry of Arras (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), and Belfort Citadel and the Lion of Belfort (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) in 2014, 2015 and 2020, respectively.

For more details, please click on the links:

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Join-TV-voters-in-crowning-your-top-French-monument-of-2021-from-final-shortlist-of-14

https://www.france.fr/en/places-to-go

http://www.atout-france.fr/content/journal-destination-france-1

file:///D:/RoxaneN/Downloads/df_55.pdf

TOURISME ET PATRIMOINES

Avec plus de 170 milliards d’euros de consommation touristique en France, le tourisme est un facteur clé de l’économie de la France…. D’où la nécessité de réfléchir à la possibilité d’améliorer les méthodes de travail, l’accueil, l’offre et la promotion touristiques des patrimoines :

• 45 Biens inscrits sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO
• 17 Eléments inscrits sur la liste représentative du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’UNESCO
• 5 Biens labellisés Patrimoine européen
• 27 Itinéraires culturels du Conseil de l’Europe traversent le territoire
• 23 Centres culturels de rencontres
• 45,684 Monuments historiques (classés et inscrits)
• 300,000 Objets mobiliers protégés au titre des Monuments historiques (classés et inscrits)
• 810 Sites patrimoniaux remarquables
• 2,920 Sites classés
• 4,500 Sites inscrits
• 8,000 Musées
• 202 Villes et Pays d’art et d’histoire
• 245 Edi­fices label­lisés Maisons des illustres
• 2,900 Edifices labellisés Patrimoine du XXème siècle
• 433 Jardins remarquables
• 100 Monuments nationaux
• 51 Parcs naturels régionaux
• 10 Parcs nationaux
• 48 grands sites de France, dont 25 en cours de candidature
• 89 Communes et territoires labellisés Ville et Métiers d’Art
• 71 Sites remarquables du goût
• 191 Petites Cités de Caractère
• 159 Plus beaux villages de France
• 107 Plus beaux détours de France
• 367 Maisons d’écrivains et des patrimoines littéraires
• 1,400 Entreprises du Patrimoine Vivant

https://whc.unesco.org/fr/etatsparties/fr

Madrid, Spain’s central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry… Spain’s dazzling capital is filled with intriguing stories and hidden secrets. These interesting facts about Madrid will definitely surprise you!

1. Madrid is thought to be over 2000 years old. The Umayyad emir Muhammad I built an impressive fortress designed to protect the lands south of the river from incursions from the northern kingdoms of León and Castile in the 9th century. This later developed into a flourishing town. One of the most interesting facts about Madrid is that the old walls of the Muslim fortress can still be seen today.
2. The name ‘Madrid’ might be over 2,200 years old…. There are more plausible theories that Madrid’s name actually has Roman ancestry. This is based on the fact that there had indeed been a Roman settlement called ‘Matrice’ right at the Manzanares River over 2,200 years ago!
3. Madrid was founded around the year 860 A.C. A ruler that was known as Muhammed I chose to start a city in the region. Advantages being its good location and proximity to the Manzanares river, and its elevated position. This settlement turned into a fortress and then eventually became Madrid as it is known in the present day.
4. The Moors were responsible for the initial development of Madrid. The Moors ruled Madrid through the 11th century. They left a complex irrigation system that allowed the agricultural industry to flourish. Perhaps you have read the famous poem, “Ay de mi Alhama”, which depicts the fall of Granada. This ultimately successful attempt of the Christian army to claim back the land marked the end of Moorish rule in Spain. It was the year 1086 when Alfonso VI captured back the area.
5. Madrid’s name means ‘place of abundant water’. The etymology of Madrid’s name is shrouded in myth. According to legend, the original name of the city was ‘Ursaria’, a reference to the large number of bears that once inhabited the region. Some scholars believe it comes from a Roman settlement, ‘Matrice’, established on the Manzanares River. However, the earliest recorded name of the town is ‘Magerit’, from the Arabic meaning ‘place of water’, and this is the most likely explanation for how the city got its name.
6. Madrid became the capital of Spain in the 16th century. Because of the central geographical position of Madrid and the abundance of water and game in its surroundings.
7. Much of Madrid was built by the Habsburgs. This historical influence can be seen in many of the modern sites of Madrid, like Plaza Mayor. This center forms part of El Madrid de los Austrias, the old quarter of Madrid, which extends between the metro stops Sol and Opera. But the name isn’t random. For a brief history lesson, the Habsburgs was the royal dynasty that ruled the Holy Roman Empire, and the Spanish Empire was an ally of the Habsurgs. During the Siglo de Oro, or Golden Age, Spain experienced substantial economic growth.
8. Madrid is not only a city, but a ‘state’. The southwest city, Toledo, was the original capital of Spain until the 1500s when Madrid earned the title. Spain had its regions separated into different categories. The Madrid region is one of the most successful parts of Spain and is seen as a crucial area for the entire European Union as well.
9. It’s home to some of the best museums in the world. Madrid is an art-lovers paradise, and many visitors flock to the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’: the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemiszia Museum and the Museo Reina Sofia. Madrid was – and is – a European Cultural Capital. he city might first win you over with its overwhelming museums like the world-famous Prado, museum of 12th-19th century European and Spanish art, or the Reina Sofía Museum of Modern Art.
10. The Coat of Arms of Madrid – a Bear and a Tree, standing broad and clear in the middle of Puerta del Sol. The coat of arms of Madrid is one of the most unique and strange emblems in the world, consisting of a bear reaching up to a strawberry tree, surrounded by the seven stars of the constellation ‘great bear’ (Ursa Mayor). The image of the bear had been linked to Madrid since the medieval period, when knights from the city rode into battle at Las Navas de Tolosa carrying a banner that depicted a bear. It is not known when or why the strawberry tree came to be associated with Madrid, although its Spanish name, madroño, bears some resemblance to madrileño, the name for Madrid’s inhabitants. Whatever the reason, this cute image is intertwined with Madrid’s history and identity, and you can see a statue of the bear and the tree today in Puerta del Sol!

1. The Spanish King does not reside in the Royal Palace in Madrid. Even though the Palacio Real is still the official royal residence, the members of the royal family have been living and receiving guests in the petite Palace of Zarzuela since 1962. Situated at the outskirts of the city, all ceremonial events and official meetings with the current King, Felipe VI, have taken place in this rather modest royal mansion.
2. Cibeles Fountain: you might be surprised to hear that the fountain has been designed to flood the Bank of Spain’s chamber of gold if anyone breaks in!
3. The old Atocha train station is now a lush garden: the botanical garden is housed inside an abandoned section of Atocha train station. Filled with lush tropical flowers and rare trees and plants, a trip here is one of the best things to do in Madrid for a moment of serenity during a busy commute!
4. Madrid is home to an ancient Egyptian temple. Temple of Debod, close to the Plaza de España. This enigmatic monument stood for thousands of years in Egypt’s Nile Valley before travelling to Madrid in 1968 as a thank-you gift for Spain’s assistance in saving historic Egyptian monuments during the flooding of the Aswan Dam.
5. Madrid is the third (3^rd) biggest city in the European Union in terms of peaking population numbers …. Right after the spectacular demographics of London (home to around 8.5 million people), Berlin (around 3.6 million inhabitants).
6. It’s one of the highest capitals in Europe. Madrid lies at around 700 meters of altitude. There might be palm trees in Madrid, but fact is that the voluptuous city of Madrid lies at an astounding 667 meters above sea-level.
7. It’s one of the greenest cities in the world: 300,000 trees and 6400 hectares of green space, it’s the second most sustainable city after Tokyo. It’s also home to more trees and green space per inhabitant than any other European city.
8. It’s one of the sunniest cities in Europe. Madrid averages over 300 days of sunshine per year.
9. Madrid is a city of students. Various of its many universities and business schools are counted as being some of the oldest and most prestigious learning facilities worldwide. For example, the economical Masters program of the University Charles III, is ranked on the list of the ‘Global top-50’; the founding of the Universidad Complutense dates back as early as the year 1293; the University of Salamanca, which is the oldest university in Spain and the fourth (4^th) oldest in Europe, was founded back in 1218.

1. It’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Over 6 million visitors visit Madrid each year, to take advantage of the fantastic nightlife, world-class art galleries and museums, and stellar shopping.
2. Madrid is one of the 4 richest cities in Europe. With an estimated GDP of 133 billion euros, sectors like government and technology are the most profitable for this local economy, and service jobs are the most prominent in Madrid.
3. Madrid is the Financial Center of Spain.
4. Madrid has the only monument of the devil in the world – located in the lush Retiro Park. Known as the ‘Fountain of the Fallen Angel’, and sculpted by Ricardo Bellver for the World’s Fair in Paris in 1878, it depicts the moment of Lucifer’s fall from heaven. The statue is known for the realism and anguish depicted on the angel’s face and it’s the only monument in the world to depict the devil in this way.

1. The city is home to one of the best football clubs in the world. Football is a pretty much a national religion for madrileños and the city is home to one of the most successful clubs in the world: Real Madrid. It takes its name from the royal (‘real’) blessings bestowed on the club multiple times over the course of the 20th century (which may also explain its incredible success!)
2. Madrid is home to the oldest restaurant in the world: Restaurante Botin, founded in 1725, is officially the oldest restaurant in continuous operation in the world! It’s known for fantastic local delicacies such as suckling pig, a dish that Ernest Hemmingway wrote about in glowing terms when he visited back in the 1920s.
3. Spanish roads start in Madrid. You might have heard ‘all roads lead to Rome’, but it seems in Spain all roads lead from Madrid. If you visit the Puerta del Sol you’ll see a small sign in the square showing Kilometer 0 with the 6 main roads branching off from Madrid.
4. Madrid’s metro system is one of the largest in Europe. Public transportation in Madrid is known for being one of the largest and most efficient metropolitan networks.
5. The city is home to the biggest seafood market in Europe, and the second (2^nd) largest in the world (Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo takes that prize!). Unfortunately MercaMadrid isn’t open to the general public. Considering how far Madrid is from the coast, it’s surprising to have such an epicentre for seafood in the heart of the country!
6. Madrid Has a Large Bullfighting Arena. It can seat as many as 25,000 people and is quite a sight to behold.
7. Madrid holds an annual Flamenco Festival. Since 2005, Suma Flamenca is an important festival that showcases many dancers, singers, and guitar players. The event is based out of Teatros del Canal and spreads out into more of the city as well. The event takes place in June and is one of Spain’s finest flamenco events.
8. Madrileños take their siestas seriously. The Spanish prefer to sleep for a few hours after lunch before returning to work. This means that stores may be closed from about 2 to 5pm. But, they usually open again until around 8 or 9pm.
9. Madrileños are known as ‘cats’ (Gatos) because they stay out all night. Madrid is known throughout Europe for its buzzy nightlife.
10. You Can Find Churros at Any Time in Madrid. Churros dipped in chocolate are one of those popular snacks commonly found in Spain.
11. You can see the skeleton of one of the tallest Spaniards of all time. Born in 1849 in Puebla de Alcocer in Extremadura, Augustín Luengo Capilla grew to a height of 7 feet and 8 inches (roughly 2m.33), making him one of the tallest Spaniards on record. His skeleton was given to the head of the National Museum of Anthropology (with Augustín’s prior consent), and it remains on display in the museum today, alongside countless other fascinating human artefacts.
12. The Golden Mile of Shopping is located in Salamanca, Madrid.
13. Madrid is the birthplace of multiple celebrities. (Actress and Oscar winner Penelope Cruz and the pop singer Enrique Iglesias).