More than anything, the whole of Dubai is creating itself as a premiere tourist oasis in the middle of the arid Arabian Desert.  No visitor in this bustling metropolis can escape the city’s undeniable charm and its magnificent landmarks that have come to define the city. 

Landmarks are defined as a “prominent or conspicuous object on land that marks a location or serves as a guide to travelers on the road”.  It may also be defined as “a structure of outstanding aesthetic, historical, and cultural value that is given a special status and set aside for preservation”.  With these definitions in mind, together with Dubai’s current state of construction frenzy, the list of these astounding and most notable structures is far from reaching its end.

Al Fahidi Fort

Built in the late 18th century, this centuries-old stronghold was primarily erected to protect the town from neighboring warlike tribes.  In its whole existence, it had also served as the seat of the government, the ruler’s residence, storage for ammunition, and as a prison.  The walls of the structure were built with coral and shell rubble cemented together with lime.  Thus, supporting the upper floor are wooden poles, called handle, with its ceiling made up of mud, palm fronds, and plaster.  Standing at the entrance is a massive iron studded gate, and found all over the structure are the scars of the battles that it had fought over the centuries.

On May 12, 1971, Al Fahidi Fort was converted into the Dubai Museum to provide for a venue to preserve the emirate’s history and its traditional way of life.  Included in the museum’s collections are local artifacts, as well as those of from Africa and Asia with whom Dubai had traditionally traded with.

Bait Al Wakeel

The most prominent landmark along the Dubai Creek is the Bait Al Wakeel.  Standing by the abra landing on the Deira side of the creek, Bait Al Wakeel is the first office building built entirely for administrated purposes.  It had also figured prominently in the early years of the emirate’s export and import sectors, as the most successful and leading shipping companies would take up their offices there.  It is now converted into a maritime museum that displays the ancient maritime activities and fishing practices of its people.  It also houses a restaurant that specializes in seafood with Arabic aromatics and delicacies.

Burj al-Arab

Otherwise translated as the “Tower of the Arabs”, the Burj al-Arab is hailed as the world’s tallest hotel, whereby it stands at a towering 321 meters.  This 7-star luxury hotel stands on an artificial island that is situated about 280 meters off Jumeirah Beach, wherein a private curving bridge connects it to the mainland.  This iconic tower, designed by British architect Tom Wright and built by Said Khalil, was made to mimic the likeness of a sailing boat, consequently symbolizing Dubai’s remarkable urban transformation.

Aside from its iconic status that sets it as a landmark, the construction of the Burj Al-Arab is an achievement in itself that equally deserves admiration.  In order to secure its foundation on the artificial island, engineers drove 230 40-meter long concrete piles into the sand.  These foundations were held in place by the friction of the sand and silt along the length of the pile.  To protect the foundation from erosion, engineers built a surface layer of large rocks encircled by concrete in a honey-comb pattern.  During the construction of the hotel’s 180 meter atrium, the building’s interior was cooled by one degree per day over six months to prevent large amounts of condensation or even the formation of a rain cloud inside the structure.

The Burj Al-Arab’s exterior is a showcase of ultra-modern sculptural design.  Most notable of its exterior structural feature is the Teflon-coated fiberglass Dyneon sail that connects the two “wings”.  The white fabric allows a soft milky light into the building during the day, while at night the fabric is illuminated by changing lights from both within the atrium and outside the structure.  Designed by Khuan Chew, its interior exhibits luxurious architectural styles from the east and the west.  Its most lavish feature is an 8,000 m2 22-carat gold leaf and 24, 000 m2 of 30 different types of marble.

Emirates Towers

Standing along the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Emirates towers is a structural twin complex that houses the Emirates Office Tower and the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.  The two towers, rising at 355 meters and 309 meters respectively, rank as the 12th and 29th tallest buildings in the world.  A 9,000 m² two-storey retail complex, known as the “Boulevard”, connects the two towers.  The complex is set upon a 42-acre land, amidst landscape gardens, lakes, and waterfalls.  It features a public seating area and a parking space that can accommodate 1,800 cars.

Although they stand at different heights, the two towers nearly have the same number of floors.  The taller Emirates Office Tower has 54 floors, while the much shorter Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel has 56 floors.  This curious detail is due to the Emirates Office Tower’s individual floor design are greater than that of those found in the hotel.

Etisalat Tower 1

The Etisalat Tower 1, one of the world’s most distinctive skyscrapers, is Etisalat’s head office in Dubai.  Etisalat is the UAE’s state-run telecommunication company, and is strikingly represented in each emirate by their characteristic Etisalat Tower buildings.  Designed by the renowned Canadian architect Arthur Ericson, this Dubai tower is a 100 meter cylindrical tower made of concrete, glass, and steel.  It consists of 15 levels adjoined by a 3-storey cylindrical annex that houses public service offices and facilities. The tower is constructed with two opposite concrete thrusts; each contoured in a 45-degree arc that ascends from the foot of the building all the way to the top.  Between the two arcs are the office spaces, which are veiled by dark green-colored glass and steel.  The floors project out from the building in staggered, vertical columns.  Atop the building is Etisalat’s trademark communications orb, which is likened by many to a giant golf ball.

Dubai World Trade Center

Standing along the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Dubai World Trade Center is a vast commercial complex commissioned by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.  The complex consists of the original tower built in 1979, the Dubai International Convention Center, 8 exhibition halls, and residential apartments.  Its 39-storey office tower was the first high-rise building along Sheikh Zayed Road.  At the time of its construction, it stood as the tallest building in Dubai and in the UAE with its height of 149 meters.  An image of the DWTC tower is featured on the 100 dirham banknote.

Jumeirah Mosque

One of the most prominent landmarks and the largest of all sacred structures in Dubai, the Jumeirah Mosque stands as a modern respect for Islamic architecture, culture and tradition.  It is the only mosque in Dubai and one of the only two mosques in the UAE open to non-Muslims through guided tours.  The tours provide its visitors greater understanding of Islam, the mosque’s architectural design, and the religious significance of its key design features.  This beautiful white stone structure stands along the Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai’s beachside area.  It exhibits a seashell-like finish with a large central dome framed by two towering minarets.

Dubai Clock Tower

The Deira Clock Tower, otherwise known as the Dubai Clock Tower, is an imposing road junction in Deira’s locality of Al Rigga.  This prominent monument allows passage to the Al Maktoum Bridge, which the first land crossing between the Burj Dubai and Deira.  Having been built in 1969, the clock tower was recently refurbished to look well with its modern metropolitan background.

Saeed Al Maktoum House

Also located along the Dubai creek is another historical landmark known as the Saeed Al Maktoum House.  Built around 1894 in the locality of Al Shindagha, the structure primarily served as the seat and residence of the Al Maktoum family.  It currently serves as a museum that exhibits old photographs of the family, the old Dubai, old coins, and historical documents.

Verily, landmarks do not simply define a society.  They also exhibit the growth and history that a city or locality that had gone through to reach its present state.  Perhaps next time anyone would come and visit Dubai, It would certainly be worthwhile to put some time to appreciate the magnificent landmarks of this bustling city.  Doing so would certainly provide one a deeper understanding and view of the city, its locals, and the history that had created this uniquely modern city of the world.