Dubai, where the world is yours

DUBAI is a bustling cross between Monaco and Orlando - with a little bit of Las Vegas thrown in.

Dubai lies on the Arabian Gulf and is the second largest of the United Arab Emirates.

Development is centred on the coastal districts of Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim and Al Sufouh and has the enthusiastic backing of the government.

This high level of commitment has its benefits, says Sue Morris, director of Morris Properties. She says: "There is a massive amount of development at present but with rents still escalating and many more people coming to live and work in Dubai, there is still a great demand for property and there does not seem to be any sign of a slow down in the near future.

"In addition to the housing developments, the Dubai Metro Project with a budget of 14 billion Dirhams will mean that the metro system will be the longest state of the art fully automated system in the world.

"And competition in the mortgage market should result in a lower cost of monthly ownership for buyers who need finance. The arrival of more mortgage finance in the Dubai real estate sector will also be good."

Despite all the positive news, buyers should - as always - do their research. It's a `new' market and still needs time to settle down.

Sue agrees that buyers need to take time to make the right decision about buying a property but she does anticipate a good return as there are still many groups of people still to be wooed by Dubai's charms.

Long-term expatriates, for example, should be the next to enter the market.

There's a good range of property available in Dubai - as long as you like new-build apartments in striking blocks, or you have very deep pockets and can afford a piece of action on `The Palm' or `The World'. These are man-made islands pushing far into the Arabian Gulf.

They have proved something of a magnet for the rich and famous and certainly helped put Dubai on the jet-set's property-buying map.

Other developments tend to reach for the skies with towering apartments.

High-spec finishes and air-conditioning come as standard and buying off-plan may mean you can have a say in the fixtures and finishings.

But once you've bought the penthouse pad, just what will spending time in Dubai entail? Dubai is sub-tropical which means sunshine and high temperatures - up to 40 degrees C - most of the year.

The Arabic cuisine is a tasty combination of Lebanese, Syrian and Iranian influences.

While there are many international restaurants ranging from English to Italian and French you shouldn't turn your back on the cafes and street-side stalls which will give you a taste of life in old Dubai at the same time.

While delicious food is always available, alcohol is more problematic. It's served only in licensed restaurants linked to hotels and clubs.

So a standalone restaurant on the street is an alcohol-free zone. Mind you, it might not be a bad idea to cut back on the booze - it's pricey and could easily set you back £25 for a bottle of wine.

Mike Hayes, editor of Homes Overseas Magazine, has been keeping an eye on the property scene in Dubai and says: "Property prices, although not rising as impressively as a year or two ago, are still on the up.

"The quality of build - as well as fixtures and fittings - is generally extremely good and Dubai's infrastructure means accessibility is not a problem. Furthermore, the lack of taxes for foreign buyers is incentive enough for many investors.

"In fact, the vast majority of property purchasers are investors, so current purchase prices may be a little unrealistic - this is still a very immature market, after all, and it's hard to tell how it will settle down.

"Construction is continuing at such a pace, there are concerns that supply will outstrip demand at some point, bringing prices tumbling down."

Getting there: There are scheduled flights from Manchester to Dubai with Emirates Air and Srilankan Airlines.

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