Although Dubai is nestled along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf near the Arabian Peninsula, it is uniquely different from the southern portion of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Much of Dubai’s landscape is shadowed and colored by sandy desert patterns, as opposed to gravel deserts. With fine, clean and white sand consisting mostly of crushed shell and coral, nature’s palette has been most generous with this locale.

East of the city, the salt-stained sabkha (coastal plain) loses its way in a range of dunes that run from north to south. The level, barren desert rolls right up to the Hajar Mountains, which themselves run along Dubai’s border with neighboring Oman. The Western portion of the Hajar range has a dry and craggy personality, with peaks rising to over 1,300 meters in some places. This alone makes for world-class scenery. The people, the culture, the amazing coexistence of the timeless with the timely – these influences join hands with nature, light and a palette of colors both bright and muted to create a unique set of portraits of near-magical beauty.

How can this natural beauty best be communicated? It would seem that an artist’s eyes, combined with the wonders of the latest photographic technology, would be the best way. And so it is – the beauty of Dubai is best revealed through the majesty of photography. Even seeing the area in person can be enriched by viewing Dubai through the artist-photographer’s eyes.

Dubai is a very diverse and multicultural city to visit. This makes your potential opportunities for entertainment and exploration virtually endless. There are numerous beaches to visit, as well as shopping centers, exhibitions, cinemas, restaurants and festivals. Last but not least, the views at night, and the international-class nightlife itself, are yet additional subjects for the artist’s eyes.

Juxtapositions of all kinds

The dramatic juxtapositions – desert and city, old ways and new, the earth and the sky – are always in evidence in this captivating region. The old and the new meet each other throughout this land, providing rich raw material for photo exhibits, and the translation of life, and living things, into a two-dimensional art form seems almost a magical occurrence. Powerful images, of light and dark and shadow and color, resonate with all who have eyes to see.

There are also many events that take place throughout the year in Dubai. For example, January and February is the time to enjoy the Dubai Marathon, a charitable event with three types of races enabling the event to attract a wider scope of entries. There is the “fun run”, which is only a 3km distance for those who have not attained first-rate fitness status, and the “over 15’s” run, a 10km contest. Finally, there is the long distance race, a 50km marathon that is restricted to those 18 years and over.

Although Dubai is well known as a shopper’s paradise throughout the year, the month of January is particularly good for bargain hunters. Throughout January, over two million visitors flock to Dubai for the month-long Shopping Festival, which seems to involve every shop in the city. Concerts, children’s entertainment, fireworks displays and other events offer a welcome break from the regional shopping frenzy.

Life in action

These events, as much of the fabric of Dubai as the sands and skies, also speak to the world through the medium of the photograph. The sights and sounds and meaning of these cultural and social events somehow inhabit the pictures, as if the photographer’s camera – his third eye – captures every dimension of the subject, communicating far beyond mere images. Perhaps those who can hear a picture and see a song can understand what it means to meet Dubai in a photo. It can be done, and the estimate of “1000 words” that a photo is said to be worth seems far too low. A million words or more wait to pour forth on viewing the majestic beauty of Dubai in the photographs that are taken with such love and care – and honesty.

Dubai has always been a fantastic vacation spot for the world traveler and can be especially exciting for younger individuals looking for something out of the ordinary. Dubai is a beautiful and majestic city to travel to, as can be learned from the many deeply moving portraits taken of its people and its places. For those who feel like there are no Shangri-La’s left to find, who might be a bit played out in terms of places to visit, there remain a few spots in the world that are truly different and in a league of their own. This is certainly the case with Dubai, whose epic beauty and effortless grace are captured through the majesty of photography, and which invite you to see it all up close and personal, for yourself, someday soon.

Nestled deeply in the mysterious but ever alluring United Arab Emirates, Dubai has for decades been hidden from the Western world, only recently opening its golden doors to eager tourists desperate to experience all this desert kingdom has to offer.

Located in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, Dubai is one of the world’s hottest tourist’s destinations and has become a leading figure in business, IT and the finance world. Built on the back of rich oil reserves, the city has transformed into an oasis of high rise buildings, world class shopping and dining and competitive sports, without forfeiting its exotic culture and spice filled history.

Nicknamed the ‘City of Merchants,’ the desert life of Dubai is seeped in centuries old history and traditions. Ruled by the Al Marktoum since 1833, the kingdom’s rich treasures and unique heritage are put on display through archeological sites, museums, palaces and villages, opening visitors up to the exotic secrets of Old Dubai. Spread throughout the city are some of the Middle East’s most beautiful mosques, capturing the splendour of Islamic architecture these places of worship are striking works of art embellished by beautiful domes, stained glass windows and colourful mosaic pieces.

Whether it’s the traditional souk markets or the ultra modern shopping malls, Dubai offers a shopper’s paradise with low import duties and tax free treasures. Alive with the vivid colours and aromas of the desert, souk markets are a vibrant affair where exotic spices, fish and vegetables line the narrow village streets, next to elegantly crafted furniture, carpets and gold that sparkles in the hot Arabian sunlight. A sharp contrast to this very earthy and colourful style of shopping, Dubai’s department stores house a wide range of shops, restaurants and boutiques selling everything from high fashion to the latest technology at great and often unrivalled prices.

When not enjoying the wonders of Dubai’s shopping districts, visitors to this desert paradise can try their hand at a little golf or yachting or simply soak up the beauty of the landscape on a river cruise or camel ride. A pioneering sporting nation in the Middle East, Dubai has an exciting and full sporting calendar that includes horse racing, golf, football and the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. For the spectator who wants to get active the city also has numerous sporting facilities open to all ages.

A land incredibly rich in a unique natural beauty, this part of the Middle East is best experienced through the traditional Arabian activities offered in Dubai. Desert safaris, dune driving and cruises on Dubai Creek take visitors into the heart of this vibrant landscape, where exotic and incredibly rare bird species make their homes. As the sun sets in Dubai, traditional Middle Eastern and international cuisine is being served in world class restaurants and eateries, allowing visitors to sit back, relax and enjoy a culinary adventure and the vibrant Arabian nightlife.

Dubai is a city of fascinating contrasts that has managed to seamlessly fuse the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a modern city with the timeless and unique beauty of the desert and its Middle Eastern culture. A city that has for centuries been shrouded in an air of mystery and ambiguity, Dubai mixes old with new in a tourist destination that first inspired Lawrence of Arabia and continues to draw all of us with its alluring secrecy and striking beauty.

More infos about Dubai in Italian language : http://www.adubai.it