As your flight begins to descend through the clouds there’s stretches of dusty desert as far as the eye can see... and then... Dubai.

The dominating cityscape spans a good portion of the coastline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), extending further out to sea to form the artificial archipelago known as the Palm Jumeirah.

Impossible to miss is the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, comprising 160 stories and soaring 828 metres into the sky, it’s literally a must-see.

Dubai is constantly buzzing with activity and with a population of over two million, 80 percent of those expatriates; it’s easy to see why.

Upon visiting this popular Emirate, you’ll realise there’s endless amounts of entertainment options and limitless possibilities to please every palette.

Dining in Dubai is fantastically fanciful, affording visitors a variety of sumptuous selections at hotel restaurants and bars.

Enjoy a luscious Lebanese lunch at Al Nafoorah, Jumeirah Emirates Towers; get a taste of tradition while visiting the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding for breakfast; or savour the sweetness of a hot chocolate while tackling the slopes at Ski Dubai.

Atlantis on the Palm is home to Aquaventure, the largest water park in the Middle East. Offering fun for the whole family the theme park has rapids, a private beach, children’s play areas and a frightfully steep speedslide.

For those looking for a little less action, a cruise down the Dubai River provides the perfect backdrop for some extravagant photo opportunities and won’t break the budget at just 1 Dirham per crossing on a traditional dhow vessel.

The city’s nightlife can be considered outlandish and overly opulent, but that’s the charm. Sink into a state of serenity, savouring the sweet sensation of cocktails, fabulous fine wines and bountiful beers on tap.

Dubai is also a shopper’s utopia, ranked the second most popular destination for shopping behind the United States. Seek out that special gold necklace in the side-alley souks or visit the world’s largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall for an intensive session of retail therapy.

Kids can act out their adult aspirations while you shop at the educationally entertaining Kidzania, incorporating a unique, role-playing theme in a scaled-down city within the Dubai Mall.

Visiting Dubai is inspiring, uplifting, and abundantly affluent. The crown jewel of the Arabian Peninsula continues to be a growing tribute to manpower, ingenuity and infinite possibilities.

Forget the overnight layover and take the time to really indulge in the lap of luxury.

Treat yourself to a few days of downtime and desert delights, just say ‘Definitely Dubai’.