Not so long ago, it was just a barren desert divided by a saltwater creek, dotted with a few fishing, pearling and trading communities.
Fast-forward 30 years and skyscrapers have sprung up everywhere, in every shape and size imaginable. Lush green trees line the 10-lane boulevards, and the streets are spotlessly clean.
Welcome to Dubai: the commercial centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Some would argue that Dubai is nothing but concrete and steel- and it's true, there isn't much in the way of natural beauty. So if you're a naturalist, my advice would be to stay away. But if you're into architecture, be prepared for the time of your life.
Quite simply, the city has some of the quirkiest, boldest, most innovative and stunning buildings in the world. Chief among them is the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Its three-lobed design is inspired by the Hymenocallis flower and, although the tower narrows as it ascends, its sheer height makes it visible from all over the city.
A trip there wouldn't be complete without a visit to the 124th-floor indoor/outdoor observation deck. But a word of warning: the view isn't quite as breathtaking as one might expect. Perhaps it's the brown, barren patches of sand between the buildings below- or maybe, as I later found out, it's the fact that the Burj Khalifa doesn't have the highest observation deck in the world (that honour goes to the Shanghai World Financial Center). Nevertheless, it's still recommended.